Interviews of short-listed candidates for appointment to the National Youth Development Agency Board: day 3

Meeting report

Opening Remarks
Ms Kubayi informed Members that the Committee would meet the following day to deliberate on the candidates interviewed. The Committee would be meeting immediately after the plenary session of the National Assembly (NA) around 15:15pm. The Committee would need to meet again next week because after it had finalised the deliberations the support staff needed to compile a report and this had to be adopted by the Committee.

Ms Kubayi noted that both Houses had their own schedules; however she urged Members to prioritise the work of the Committee. Members would deliberate on the 21 candidates and should not be tempted on discussing technicalities. The Committee had to agree in terms of approach and procedure about how they were going to deal with the deliberations.

Mr Z Mlenzana (COPE) suggested that the Committee meet the next day and spend more time on deliberations and consolidating opinions rather than spending more time on adopting.

Mr J Skosana (ANC) said the Committee should have enough time also to deal with the report the following even though Members would be outside of Parliament. Secondly, on the issue of deliberations there should be ample time provided for this.

Mr J De Villers (DA) stated that he would not be available in the morning but was free from 3pm-5pm for the next day’s deliberations.  He would be available for the following week’s meeting when the report had to be adopted.

Ms Kubayi proposed that the Committee cancelled the tomorrow’s planned meeting and move it to next week because it was not proper to break between deliberations.

Mr N Bhanga (COPE) suggested that the Committee meet on Friday morning for deliberations because if it moved the deliberations for next week and had to adopt the report on that same week, it would be too much burden for Members in terms of commitments from other Committees

Mr S Makhubela (ANC) proposed that the deliberations take place on Friday and next Monday since most members were available on those days.

Mr M Hlengwa supported Mr Bhanga in that the Committee meet on Friday morning for deliberations.

The Committee agreed to meet on Friday morning for deliberations of interviewed candidates.

Interviews of short-listed candidates for appointment to the NYDA Board
The following questions were asked to the short-listed candidates:

•Candidates were asked to explain the linkage between the National Youth Commission Act and the National Youth Development Agency Act.

•They were asked to comment about the plight of young people despite the laws established by Parliament.

•Candidates were asked to explain why it was relevant for them to be part of the Board.

•They were asked to explain what they taught about the perception that the NYDA was an extension of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), and what implications that could have in the eyes of the public, and how they would change that perception.

•They were asked to comment about the recent Spear painting controversy and the DA march on the youth wage subsidy.

•They were asked to explain the non-accountability of NYDA on finances and programmes that were not welcomed by the majority of young people in South Africa regardless of the fact that the Agency obtained unqualified reports or clean audits for the pass two financial years. It was noted that young people were not happy about how the agency was being managed. What would the candidates do to change the Agency if given an opportunity to serve on its board and how would they ensure that the majority of youth supported and appreciated the programmes of the Agency.

•Candidates were asked to give their turnaround strategy for the Agency since 42% of the total budget of the NYDA was spent on administration and salaries. How would they change that situation so that most of the budget was directed to priority programmes of the Agency.

•Candidates were asked what other major challenges the young people of South Africa especially young women and the disabled youth were experiencing.

•They were asked what they could do to ensure that the youth of South Africa accessed the services of NYDA in remote and rural areas.

•They were asked how they could extend the services and programmes to youth structures with similar objectives as the NYDA in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) so as to curb the immigration of SADC youth to South Africa.

•Candidates were asked how they would ensure there was good governance in the systems and programmes of NYDA.

•Candidates were asked what their views were on the sustainable capacity of the NYDA.

•They were asked if they taught there were legislative bottlenecks in terms of the execution of the mandate of the Agency.

•They were asked to explain the demographics of the youth of South Africa.

•Candidates were asked what did they taught the role of NYDA should be in the public domain and how it could be achieved, especially if one looked at the current debate about the youth wage subsidy.

•Candidates were asked if they were fit to become members of the NYDA board.

•They were asked what special attributes or values a person should have to be a member of the NYDA board.

•Candidates were asked since the majority of young people in South Africa were facing so many challenges, why did they think they were best candidates to assist in addressing the challenges of the youth.

•Candidates were asked what they would do to encourage young women to have interests in the programmes and services of the NYDA.

•Candidates were asked whether the agenda of the NYDA was relevant or not, was it felt by its constituency and people with disabilities, and did it had an impact on them.

•They were asked what they knew about public accountability and transparency in terms of Chapter 10 of the Constitution.

•They were asked if they were familiar with the 7 generic functions of the Agency in fostering intergovernmental relations.

•They were asked to share with the Committee their vision if they were given an opportunity to serve on the NYDA board.

•They were asked what they could do to ensure the programmes of NYDA were captured in Local Government programmes.

•They were asked what should be done to ensure that young people had sustainable businesses since most small businesses collapsed at an early stage.

•Candidates were asked to explain the role of the NYDA in ensuring social cohesion for the youth with regards to nation building and reconciliation.

•They were asked to explain the legislative process of the country, how laws were passed.

•Candidates were asked if they would have enough time to serve on the NYDA board since they had other commitments in their careers.

•They were asked what could be done by the NYDA that was not done by the National Youth Commission.

•They were asked whether the merger between the NYC and Umsobomvu Youth Fund was the right move.

•Candidates were asked what would be the role of NYDA in shaping the youth in public debate.

•Candidates were asked what skills, knowledge and experience they were bringing to the agency if they were appointed to serve on the board.

•They were asked whether the process of nominating candidates was fair and what should be improved in the process.

Candidates were asked if there were any questions they wanted to impose to the Committee.


Please refer to audio recording for responses.