National Assembly, Cape Town: Thursday, 28 October 2010

Honourable Speaker:

It has come to the attention of the IFP that the selection process for appointments to the National Youth Development Agency's Provincial Advisory Boards has been hijacked and manipulated by the ANC Youth League to such an extent that of the 63 positions filled, 62 have gone to ANCYL comrades.

Many of the worthy applicants from different political organizations and youth formations, who were successful during the interview process, were rejected for appointment in favour of weaker ANC applicants.

The NYDA intends to implement and monitor youth development interventions, to reduce youth unemployment and promote social cohesion across cultural, racial and political divides. But we are now witnessing an illegal take-over of the NYDA by the ANCYL.  The NYDA's core mandate has been subverted; now it will serve only the interests of the ANCYL.

The IFP believes that this is yet another example of abuse of power by the ANC and ANCYL, which places our democracy at stake.

In the interests of all of South Africa's youth, the IFPYB will explore all avenues to have these appointments nullified. We have written a letter to the Minister in the Presidency, Hon Collins Chabane, to look into the matter urgently and to nullify the appointments without delay. Finally, I call on this honourable House to launch an urgent investigation into the matter.

Contact: Ms Pat Lebenya-Ntanzi MP, Acting Chairperson of the IFPYB, 078 186 3619.

Media enquiries: Liezl van der Merwe, 082 729 2510.