More than 6m jobs are to be created in South Africa over the next five years through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

President Jacob Zuma announced the news on Friday as he launched the third phase of the EPWP in Keiskamashoek, Eastern Cape Province.

He said: “The EPWP’s aim was to ensure that a significant number of the unemployed are drawn into productive work and more importantly, that these workers should gain skills while they work.”

According to a government statement, most of the 6m jobs will be for women, youth and people with disabilities in four sectors – infrastructure, environment and culture, social and the private sector.

Of the 6m, 3.5m will be created in the first three financial years, starting this year, and the rest will come in the following two years.

Since its inception in 2004, the programme has created 5.5m jobs.