Parly orders NYDA board to ease youth unemployment, steer clear of corruption
The National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously supported a shortlist of nine names for the president’s consideration to take up seven seats on the board.
Picture: @ParliamentofRSA/X
CAPE TOWN - The new board of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) has been given its marching orders by Parliament even before its appointment to make a meaningful difference in the lives of unemployed youths, and to rid the organisation of corruption and patronage.
On Tuesday, the National Assembly unanimously supported a shortlist of nine names for the president’s consideration to take up seven seats on the board.
The agency is currently being led by an interim board.
Although the declarations by parties denigrated into a shouting match as the African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) bumped heads over the process, political parties agreed they had come up with an impressive shortlist after three days of public interviews in February.
With an average age of 30, the shortlisted candidates include a non-binary person, a person with a disability, and two with doctoral degrees.
While most parties supported the list presented by the committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, several of them took issue with the bad reputation of the agency and its failure to address youth unemployment, despite an annual budget of over R1 billion.
Build One South Arica (BOSA) member of Parliament (MP) Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster was among the critics.
“The NYDA was established as a vehicle to address these issues, not as a vehicle for patronage and wasteful expenditure.”
Meanwhile, the EFF’s Sihle Lonzi said his party deserves praise for exposing unsuitable candidates – a reference to ANC Youth League (ANCYL) treasurer-general Zwelo Masilela, whom he grilled in the interview over his qualifications.
“This process was more than just exposing corruption. This process is about the youth of South Africa. The unemployed hustlers and survivors.”
ActionSA’s Malebo Kobe questioned the effectiveness of the agency and said she hoped the new board would be more than a political tool.
RISE Mzansi’s Makashule Gana, meanwhile, said it’s unfair the agency is expected to be largely responsible for addressing youth unemployment when it needs to be properly funded to boost youth entrepreneurship.
Parliament has approved the following candidates for recommendation to the president: Kelly Sandra Baloyi, Thembisile Precious Mahuwa, Mfaniseni Wiseman Mbatha, Bonga Siphesihle Makhanya, Sibusiso Makhathini, Irfaan Mangera, Sunshine Minenhle Myende, Busisiwe Nandipha Nxumalo, and Xabiso Nicholas Nyati.