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In light of reports that the treasury has budgeted R187.5 million in the current financial year for salaries for the NYDA’s 363 staff members, amounting to an average of R517 000 per employee per anum, the DA Youth repeats our call to the President to disband the NYDA immediately and put its budget towards meaningful and tangible youth development programmes in South Africa.

The R187.5 million or staggering 48% of the NYDA’s annual youth development budget being spent on salaries, amounts to nothing more than a state funded ANC YL gravy train, with the boards and staff complement of the organisation both nationally and provincially being almost exclusively populated with ANC YL cadres. The NYDA Chief Executive, Steven Ngubeni, who is also the ex-ANC YL Deputy Secretary General, alone earns a lavish R1.8 million per anum, the same as a cabinet minister.

As an alternative to funding an ANC YL employment agency, the NYDA’s budget of R1.2 billion over the next three years could create approximately 32 400 job opportunities for unemployed young people, at an average cost of R37 000 per job, if it were used to fund a youth wage subsidy.

The DA Youth has repeatedly implored the President to intervene and disband this farcical organisation, and for its budget to be directed to meaningful and tangible youth development programmes, like the introduction of a youth wage subsidy or the scrapping of VAT on books.

That he stands by idly and allows youth development funds to be wasted in such a brazen manner is a slap in the face of every young South African.