Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities expressed its concern on Friday about the delayed appointment of the new permanent board of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
Committee member Sihle Lonzi from the EFF said he finds it problematic that the NYDA is led by an interim board whose term of office ended last November.
Committee chairperson Liezl van der Merwe, from the IFP, said the committee has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, to find out why the permanent board recommended by the committee in March is not yet appointed.
Interim board at the helm
The committee held a virtual meeting on Friday to receive a briefing from the NYDA on its strategic plan and annual performance plan for the 2025-2026 financial year.
This presentation was made by the interim board of the NYDA. The board was appointed in November last year by Ramaphosa.
The NYDA delegation during the virtual meeting consisted of NYDA interim CEO Mafiki Duma, NYDA interim board chairperson Asanda Luwaca, NYDA executive director of operations Nontsikelelo Makaula, and NYDA senior manager responsible for monitoring and evaluation Walter Bango, among others.
Newly appointed NYDA CEO Ndumiso Kubheka was present as well. His term of office officially begins next week.
“My big problem with the NYDA board is that its term ended in November last year. It is more than seven months after the term ended. This committee underwent an important, good, and robust process to interview a group of young people who, according to the Act, must now take over from the old board.
Board term ended in November
“We are now approaching July, and there is no new appointment of the new board. It is extremely problematic to millions of young people who were watching the process. And they wanted to see new and fresh minds,” said Lonzi.
“I have a strong objection to the continuation of this interim board whose term ended in November last year. It would have been nicer to have the new, permanent board presenting the targets and strategies for us. So that we can hold them accountable in future. Now, the targets are made by people who might not be in the NYDA in future. It is concerning,” said Lonzi.
Van der Merwe echoed Lonzi’s sentiments.
“We share the concerns around the interim board and a permanent board not being in place. I have made a public call to the President [Ramaphosa] to finalise the appointment process. I have written to the Speaker [Didiza] to engage the leader of government business [Deputy President Paul Mashatile]. This to finalise the process as well,“ said Van der Merwe.
A recruitment and interview process took place in March this year. The committee recommended the names of nine candidates for appointment by Ramaphosa. They are to serve as NYDA board members for a period of three years.
Recommended names yet to be appointed
The nine candidates are Kelly Sandra Baloyi, Thembisile Precious Mawuha, Dr Wiseman Mfaniseni Mbatha, Bonga Sipheshile Makhanya, Sibusiso Makhathini, Irfaan Mangera, Sunshine Minenhle Myende, Busisiwe Nandipha Nxumalo, and Xabiso Nicholas Nyati.
The names of the recommended candidates were sent to Ramaphosa in March for appointment.
Ramaphosa is yet to make the recommended appointments.
Meanwhile, the NYDA’s presentation to parliament showed that the NYDA currently has a total of 119 vacancies.
The presentation showed that out of 586 total permanent positions at the NYDA, only a mere seven are currently occupied by employees with disabilities, which reflects a 1.2% representation rate.
Youth unemployment
According to the most recent Quarterly Labour Force Survey by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the official unemployment rate for young people aged 15 to 34 years is 46.1%. This survey covers the first quarter of 2025 (January – March 2025).
According to Stats SA, 62.4% of young people between 15 and 24 years were unemployed.
The youth unemployment rate for those between 25 and 34 years is 40.4%, according to Stats SA.
