Entire NYDA board must answer for corruption

At a Parliamentary hearing yesterday, it was revealed that suspended National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) CEO Steven Ngubeni is being investigated for approving a R9 million project without following proper procedure.

NYDA is using this investigation to pretend that it is on a "clean-up" mission. This is nonsense - Ngubeni's dealings are only the tip of the iceberg.

There are many more questions about the millions that NYDA has squandered:

- R10 million on a Youth Awards ceremony
- R11 million per year on salaries for the NYDA board
- R28 million for travel and accommodation in the last year
- R 100 million for the World Youth Festival, also known as the "Kissing party", in 2010.
- Unknown amounts allegedly lost to credit card fraud

The investigation into Steven Ngubeni must continue, but it is not an excuse to forget about the millions that the NYDA has squandered elsewhere. Parliament's Standing Committee on Appropriations must also investigate, and demand answers, on every other instance of waste by the NYDA.

I will request that our representative on that Committee, Tim Harris MP, demand such an investigation.

It's obvious that NYDA isn't getting it together - and Steven Ngubeni shouldn't be accepted as the fall guy. The entire board from the start has been set up for ANCYL cadres to enrich themselves. This is the real scandal that must be investigated.

Ultimately the best way to help South Africa's youth would be to disband the NYDA, and spend the money directly on policies that will help young people - like bursaries, better schools and a youth wage subsidy for more jobs.

Statement issued by Mbali Ntuli, DA Youth Leader, August 7 2013

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