CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE — The escalating National Youth Development Agency crisis has been laid bare in a highly contentious joint parliamentary sitting, revealing a staggering financial deficit and systemic political interference that advocates warn is crippling youth development efforts across South Africa.
During a rigorous joint session involving the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) and the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, lawmakers grilled the agency’s board and the Minister in the Presidency, Cindy Siwiunga, over a grim financial and governance landscape.
Staggering Deficits and Irregular Expenditure
Parliamentary oversight has uncovered a growing deficit of nearly R70-million at the entity, with current liabilities now outstripping its assets. Compounding these financial woes is an irregular travel expenditure bill totaling R46.6-million, which is currently under assessment.
Youth development advocate and Rivonia Circle Director Tessa Dooms highlighted the stark contrast between the agency’s financial mismanagement and the realities faced by the demographics it serves.
“What we are seeing here is unchecked political power and unchecked political privilege in the form of using the institution for personal gain,” Dooms stated. She pointed to shocking allegations of a R1-million trip to New York and the R46.6-million in irregular transport spending, noting that there is very little accountability from leaders who feel emboldened by political cover.
Toxic Governance and Legal Bullying
Beyond the financial shortfalls, the parliamentary sitting exposed a culture of toxic governance and factional board splits. In a particularly shocking revelation, it was brought to light that taxpayer funds are being utilized to bankroll a legal application brought by NYDA Board Chairperson Dr. Sunshine Myende. The litigation aims to gag a Sunday Times journalist who is investigating claims made by a whistleblower.
Despite stating in an affidavit that the litigation is in her personal capacity, the NYDA is reportedly footing the bill. Furthermore, severe infighting has paralyzed the board, with Dr. Myende and her deputy, Bonga Makhanya, publicly clashing over whether the board actually sat to authorize key governance resolutions.
Systemic Political Interference
A central theme of the crisis is the deep-rooted political interference hindering the agency’s operations. The board chairperson herself admitted during the sitting that board members frequently receive calls from senior politicians who dictate not only the meeting agendas but also the decisions to be made.
When pressed by Scopa Chair Songezo Zibi to name the politicians responsible for this interference, board members were highly reluctant to do so.
“It’s not just political oversight, it’s political interference,” Dooms explained. “You can imagine that in a context where the people putting the interference into the system are either at the level of the minister, who is politically connected to some board members, or other politically influential people. These are young people coming up in politics, and they would not want to sour relations with people who might have their political futures in their hands.”
While Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga suggested that the unfolding chaos indicated a need for a more thorough induction for the board, Dooms dismissed this as incredibly shortsighted. She argued that the issues are historical and structural, rather than a simple lack of mentorship for a board that is only 10 months into a three-year term.
Structural Flaws and Wasted Budgets
The crisis has also brought the fundamental structure of the NYDA under the spotlight. EFF MP Sihle Lonzi pointed out severe structural and legislative flaws during the assembly, a sentiment echoed by governance advocates.
Currently, the NYDA operates with executive chairperson and deputy chairperson roles. These individuals receive standard board fees—which are R60,000 a month per board member—but also draw monthly salaries for being present on a day-to-day operational basis.
“Why would that be? What is their business being there operationally day-to-day when they’re supposed to be board members?” Dooms questioned. She noted that the agency is spending more than 50% of its budget on salaries for an executive structure that the public knows nothing about, while the actual managers of the NYDA remain unnamed and unaccountable.
The Call for Parliamentary Intervention
For the millions of unemployed young South Africans relying on the NYDA for a lifeline, the boardroom squabbles and financial mismanagement are devastating. However, Dooms notes that the youth are largely in “survival mode” and lack the time or avenues to hold these leaders accountable through traditional protests.
“Our politicians and the political infrastructure of this country are entirely unaccountable to the majority of people,” Dooms said. “If young people cannot even hold the minister or a president accountable, what more a board chairperson?”
Consequently, the onus now falls on the legislature. Advocates are urging Parliament to fulfill its oversight duties on behalf of the youth, emphasizing that if the current board cannot be held to account, they must be removed from their positions before the end of their term to prevent further erosion of public funds and youth development initiatives.