OBSCURITY OF YOUTH FESTIVAL FUNDING - UNACCEPTABLE

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) today announced that the controversial Youth and Student World Festival which was hosted by the agency during December 2010, amounted to R100 000 000,42. "It is ridiculous that this festival's costs amounted to R100 million. The NYDA initially indicated that the costs would be R69 million - it is unacceptable that there is so much uncertainty about the costs and funding of this event," Wouter Wessels, the national spokesperson of the FF Plus Youth said.

The FF Plus demands that the NYDA reveals where this R100 million came from. It was said prior to the festival that the National Lottery Board would give R40 million, the Presidency R27 million and the Department of Arts and Culture R3 million for the hosting of the festival. "It is taxpayer's money which was wasted on such a festival and the public therefore has a right to know exactly where the total amount comes from and on what it was spent on," Wessels said.

The FF Plus submitted a complaint with the Public Protector (PP) on 17 January 2011 in which we requested that the alleged irregularities surrounding the NYDA and the World Festival be investigated. The PP has already acknowledged receipt of this complaint. The FF Plus will add the additional R31 million to the complaint with the PP. It is of critical need that this agency is investigated and the government intervenes in the running of the agency.

"The NYDA managed to collect R100 million to host a festival - why can they not with the same vigour manage to execute their mandate with regards to youth development?" Wessels asked.

Statement issued by Wouter Wessels, FF Plus Youth Spokesperson, February 8 2011

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