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According to reports, the budget for last week’s Youth Day event – which was funded in part by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) – was used as a personal slush fund by ANC Youth League (ANCYL) Eastern Cape Provincial Leader Ayanda Matiti.

Mr Matiti is also the NYDA chairperson in the Eastern Cape.

This misuse of public money is an insult to our youth, and further proof that the NYDA exists only to serve the interests of the ANCYL, not all young South Africans.

Reports indicate that Mr Matiti was responsible for spending irregularities such as:
Meat donated for the Youth Day event was used by Mr Matiti for his own event when he entertained “youth league members, friends, and influential local businessmen”.
He instructed that a R600 000 tender to construct the stage for the event be transferred to someone connected to him.
He ran up a car hire bill of R29 000 in June, and hired luxury hotel rooms to the value of over R20 000.
This is not the only controversy surrounding the Youth Day event.

Despite reportedly being scheduled to attend the Youth Day celebration, President Zuma failed to do so, and demonstrated once again that he has no interest in engaging with the youth of South Africa.

I will be submitting parliamentary questions to Minister in the Presidency, Collins Chabane, who oversees the NYDA, regarding the funding of last week’s Youth Day event.

I want to know:
How much the NYDA contributed to the Youth Day event in total, and a full breakdown of expenditure;
who from the NYDA was responsible for arrangements for the Youth Day event;
full details of the car hire bill incurred for the event, and whether the NYDA paid Mr Matiti’s car hire bill; and
full details of the accommodation bill incurred for the event, and whether the NYDA paid Mr Matiti’s accommodation bill.
Parliament is currently interviewing candidates for the board of the National Youth Development Agency.

Indications thus far are that a number of those nominated to serve on the board have links to the ANC and its alliance partners.

The DA’s representatives on this committee will do all they can to ensure that those selected to serve on this board are appointed on merit, not on the basis of their political connections.

The misuse of public money through the NYDA cannot be allowed to continue.

It is a disgrace that, at a time when millions of young South Africans face poverty and unemployment, funds intended for the youth are spent on funding the lifestyles of ANCYL leaders.

Minister Chabane must provide a full explanation for this.