Deputy Speaker and Members of Parliament, the Ad Hoc Joint Committee for the appointment of candidates to the National Youth Development Agency board, which was established by a resolution of both Houses, has concluded its work. Today the committee presents its resolution to the House for adoption.
Hon members, let me start with the process. The process started with the advertising of the posts and a request for members of the public to submit nominations for members to serve on the NYDA board. This was followed by the screening process of the 99 CVs that we had received. The committee deliberated on the names and resolved to shortlist 23 candidates out of the 99 for the interview process.
The shortlisted names were published in the newspapers before the interviews commenced, as required by the National Youth Development Agency Act. During this period, we received concerns from the Khoisan community and coloured individuals, who felt that they had been left out of the process. As co-chairpersons, we responded to the letters received and advised that the National Youth Development Agency Act be amended to specifically indicate in future how to deal with such matters. While acknowledging that the board would not be able to address all the demographics of our country, it is important that there is inclusivity when dealing with this type of appointment.
The interviewing of all the candidates was open to the public and media so that they could observe the process. We wanted to have a process that was transparent and accountable to all. Two candidates were left out of the initial interview process due to security screening concerns. The co- chairpersons undertook to engage these two candidates on the concerns by inviting them to the meeting and then conducting interviews thereafter. Only one of the two candidates took up the offer of discussions with the co- chairpersons and was therefore interviewed prior to the deliberations. The House must note that the process according to which security clearance is undertaken is prescribed by the National Youth Development Agency Act. As the committee, we believed this to be part of the process. Hence we ensured that we engaged the candidates and did not penalise them in the course of the process, to ensure that they were also included in the process.
Hon members, while we were concluding the interviews, one of the candidates unfortunately withdrew and therefore left us with few candidates to consider in our deliberations. The process ended up with the committee deliberating on all the names and they were agreed upon unanimously by all committee members, without any of them being subjected to the process of voting.
The conclusion of the work of the committee resulted in the report that is before the House, recommending that the following candidates be appointed. In alphabetical order the names are: Ms Xoliswa Ayanda Bambiso; Ms Zandile Majozi; Mr Mothupi Phaladi Modiba; Mr Itiseng Kenny Morolong; Ms Maropene Lydia Ntuli; Mr Yershen Pillay; and Ms Nyalleng Potloane.
As I conclude I would like to thank all committee members who took up the responsibility and worked hard to ensure that we completed the task. At times we sat till very late in the evening to ensure that we concluded everything that we had been tasked with.
Again, as I table this report for adoption by the House on behalf of the committee, I thank all the young people who participated in the process. For us as committee members, it was quite inspiring to listen to these young people. We would like to wish well the candidates who have made it this far. We hope that once they are appointed, they will live up to expectations; serve the young people of the Republic with dedication, integrity, honesty, commitment and passion; and always remember that the young people who are in the rural areas, townships, informal settlements, hostels and urban areas have the hope that they will make youth development a reality in this country and contribute positively to their lives. We say to them: You dare not fail those young people! [Applause.]
There was no debate.
Question put: That the following candidates be recommended for appointment to the National Youth Development Agency Board: Xoliswa Ayanda Bambiso; Zandile Majozi; Mothupi Phaladi Modiba; Itiseng Kenny Morolong; Maropene Lydia Ntuli; Yershen Pillay; and Nyalleng Potloane.
Declarations of vote:
Deputy Speaker, the ID, in full accord with the DA, cannot condone the nominated candidates of South Africa's National Youth Development Agency Board because we do not support the existence of this institution. The NYDA has proven itself to be nothing more than a vehicle for national government to use public funds to reward ANCYL cadres for political loyalty. Last year, the NYDA's chief executive officer earned R1,8 million and its current chief executive officer earns R1,2 million annually.
While our members tried hard to make their inputs felt in the committee, it is absolutely a tragedy that the House today, again, is sanctifying this political abuse of state resources when 3,2 million of our young people are unemployed and in need of our help. This multimillion rand budget should be put towards initiatives that will truly uplift South Africa, like the youth wage subsidy. [Applause.]
Madam Deputy Speaker, as Cope we would like to declare in this House that we participated in the selection process of the members of the NYDA board in good faith. Our understanding is that the youth of our country is confronted by major challenges in relation to youth unemployment, poverty, and the rural youth being marginalised. It is our concern - and we think the President should consider this when making a decision - that the parliamentary security advisors misled the committee in relation to some candidates who were screened. It turned out at a later stage that the candidates qualified in terms of the Constitution. The President should therefore consider the possibility that this Parliament might be challenged at the end of the day. Cope made it clear to the committee that the Constitution of the Republic of SA should always be respected. When people are screened for senior positions in government, something similar happens - people use their power as state institutions to abuse and discriminate against other individuals. Therefore, Cope distances itself from this process.
Question agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Congress of the People and Independent Democrats dissenting).
Xoliswa Ayanda Bambiso, Zandile Majozi, Mothupi Phaladi Modiba, Itiseng, Kenny Morolong, Maropene Lydia Ntuli, Yershen Pillay, and Nyalleng Potloane accordingly recommended for appointment.