Youth agency honoured for first clean audit

JOHANNESBURG: The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) does not belong to any youth political party or organisation, Deputy Minister in the Presidency Buti Manamela said yesterday.

“The NYDA cannot be politically ring-fenced. We had to change the wide perception that the organisation belongs to either the Young Communist League of SA (YCLSA), the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) or any structure… that was the beginning of restoring the confidence of the youth in the NYDA,” he said.

Manamela, who is responsible for youth development, briefed reporters on the organisation’s first clean audit from the auditor general.

The auditor general presented the organisation with an award on Friday for its performance.

Manamela added that the days of people from outside the NYDA treating the agency “as a cash cow” were long gone.

“In the past, we had people instructing managers and board members on how to spend the money meant for youth development,” he said.

“We are awaiting a report from the public protector regarding expenditure at the NYDA,” he added.

Following his election as ANCYL president, Collen Maine lashed out at the NYDA at the ANCYL congress two weeks ago and said its mandate should be revisited.

“We need to check if the NYDA is serving the youth. The tendency by NYDA leaders to visit provinces to just make promises must stop

The problem was when the NYDA became a bank for some of the factions

right here and right now,” Maine said.

Youth organisations had the right to express their views on the work of the NYDA, said Manamela.

“The problem was when the NYDA became a bank for some of the factions within the movement,” he said.

“The important thing is that principles have been laid and institutionalised… and these have to be upheld.

“It really does not matter who is coming in at the organisation.

“What is important is to not set up the NYDA as a cash cow for individuals or any particular organisation.”

The previous ANCYL leadership, led by current EFF leader Julius Malema, was accused of plundering from resources at the agency, and hiring ANCYL members and and pals to run the NYDA.

The NYDA management would meet all youth organisations soon.

Manamela said: “I hope the ANCYL’s new structure will engage with the board further on these youth matters.”

The end of this year would see the NYDA board’s threeyear tenure come to an end, he said.