Pillay, Moela front runners for NYDA post
FORMER National Youth Development Agency chairperson Yershen Pillay, who is also the national chairperson of the Young Communist League, and ANC Youth League deputy president Desmond Moela have emerged as the front runners to head the NYDA.
The process to appoint the new NYDA board was started from scratch by Parliament after the initial process collapsed. The ANCYL and YCL backed their leaders to take over as chairperson of the NYDA. The joint ad hoc committee into the NYDA will today begin with the process of appointing a new board.
It will recommend seven candidates, to be appointed by President Jacob Zuma.
But there are currently 14 candidates to be interviewed by the ad hoc committee, starting today. Other candidates for the board include Kenny Morolong, who served as deputy chairperson of the NYDA, and Zandile Majozi, another former board member.
Morolong made it back on the list after last year’s debacle over his qualifications.
Morolong was removed as a candidate after his interview when it emerged he did not have a post-matric qualification, a factor that is no longer an issue. Last year, allegations emerged that Parliament relaxed the requirements for candidates eligible to sit on the board to accommodate Moela, who did not yet have a three-year tertiary education.
According to this CV, Moela only holds a supply chain management certificate and is pursuing a diploma in public management, which he will complete this year.
And in 2016 all that was required was for candidates to be South African citizens and to comply with the NYDA Act, which speaks of the roles and requirements of board members once appointed.
YCL national spokesperson Molaodi WA Sekake yesterday reiterated their call for a chairperson to be appointed based on their level of experience and qualifications.
“There are only two things at play here: it’s either the portfolio committee takes into consideration Pillay’s track record as former chairperson or they ignore his past work.
“If the former happens then they will have done justice to the NYDA and the advancement of youth economic empowerment, but if the latter happens then we will see it as a tragedy. His credentials speak for themselves: he is of the right age, he is well educated, has served on the board and is familiar with its processes.”
ANCYL national spokesperson Mlondi Mkhize said they still hold the view that Moela should be appointed chairperson, but insisted they respect processes and would await the president’s decision.