EFF cries foul over ‘semi-literate’ ANCYL nominees for NYDA board

The Economic Freedom Fighters has cried foul over the nomination of “underqualified” ANC Youth League national executive committee members on the board of the National Youth Development Agency.

The party claimed that the parliamentary ad hoc committee tasked with the appointment of the NYDA board had shortlisted underqualified ANCYL members while deliberately side-lining highly qualified professionals. The party demanded that the committee restart the process to ensure suitably qualified members were appointed

A similar objection was made earlier by the Black Management Forum, which complained about the exclusion of suitably qualified youth in the process.

EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the EFF has learned that the committee shortlisted 14 candidates despite an agreement to extend the due date for that to March 31.

“The co-chairperson of the ad hoc committee specifically said in the National Assembly that they are requesting for time extension because they wanted to guarantee public participation,”Ndlozi said.

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He alleged that they learnt that on December 7, the committee met and shortlisted 14 candidates without consideration of a sensible sub-criteria.  He said the 14 shortlisted included six ANCYL national executives, of whom four had no post-secondary qualification as required.

“The EFF is of the strong view that the NYDA governance must be entrusted to suitably qualified people, and not deployed semi-literate youths who will not bring about meaningful value on the interests of the youth in South Africa.

“The NYDA manages a budget of over R400 million annually and should be led by suitably qualified youth and not deployees of political parties,”Ndlozi said.

He said the NYDA Act required youth to participate in the nomination process, that it should be transparent and open and that a shortlist of candidates should be published.

Ndlozi said the committee shortlist omitted candidates such as charted accountants, lawyers and auditors who have experience in management, accounting and governance.

“We believe that the process undertaken thus far is not only unlawful, but is based on irrationality inspired by narrow partisanship rather than the interests of youth development in South Africa,” he said.

ANCYL national spokesperson, Mlondi Mkhize confirmed that some members of the ANCYL NEC were nominated for appointment to the board. Mkhize lashed out at the EFF, saying its statement implied that the committee, in which EFF members also served, was unable to do its job.

He said the four candidates nominated by the league were Joy Maimela, Bavelile Hlongwa, Ndumiso Mukoka and Desmond Moale  while Thembinkosi Josopu was nominated by the South African Youth Council.

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