(Subcommittee) NYDA Board Interviews Day 3

Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities

30 July 2020
Chairperson: Ms C Ndaba (ANC); Co-Chairperson: Ms M Gillion (ANC, Western Cape)
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Meeting Summary

Video: Joint Meeting: Sub Committee of Select Committee on Health & Social Services & Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth & Persons with Disabilities 

The Joint Sub-Committee of the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and the Select Committee of Health and Social Services met for Day 3 of interviews to fill seven vacancies on the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Board following the expiry of the term of the previous Board in May. Nine of the 30 shortlisted candidates were interviewed.
 

Meeting report

Ms C Ndaba (ANC), Portfolio Committee Chairperson, explained the interview procedure as well as the social distancing protocols to be observed.

Candidate 1: Ms. Gcali Cikida 

The Chairperson made brief introductory remarks, explained the interview procedure and the social distancing protocols to be observed. The Chairperson handed over to Members to introduce themselves. She asked the candidate to tell them about herself and why she thought she would be a suitable candidate for appointment on the NYDA Board.

Ms T Mgweba (ANC) asked the candidate to explain in detail the roles, responsibilities and mandate of the NYDA.

Ms M Khawula (EFF) asked a question that was not in English [24:55].

Ms F Masiko (ANC) said it was inspiring to see women advancing in the sector, breaking the glass ceiling, particularly younger women. She asked the candidate which sectors the NYDA should focus on to create jobs and advance youth development.

Ms Masiko asked a follow-up question saying that there were young people in rural areas who do not have access to computers and have not even laid eyes on an IPad. She asked the candidate how to address the limitations in access and deal with the digital divide between the rural and urban areas.

Mr M Bara (DA, Gauteng) thanked her for her input saying that it opened up a particularly wide range of issues that need to be followed up on. He asked the candidate how she would ensure that the NYDA would consistently abide by and be guided by the principles of youth development without prejudice.

Ms A Maleka (ANC, Mpumalanga) said the NYDA offers financial and non-financial support to qualifying young entrepreneurs and asked how she would manage the implementation and accountability of this funding, if appointed to the NYDA Board.

Mr L Mphithi (DA) asked the candidate how she would ensure young people in rural areas are taught about technology and are assisted to connect to job opportunities. What is the journey the candidate will ensure she travels for the young person in the rural community.

Mr E Nchabeleng (ANC, Limpopo) asked what available tools she would use to ensure the NYDA remains compliant with National Treasury regulations and that the budget is used for its intended purpose so as to eliminate fruitless and wasteful expenditure. He asked the candidate to briefly touch on the Presidential Youth Employment intervention and what needs to be done to ensure that this works.

The Chairperson asked if the candidate had any questions, explained the selection process going forward and thanked her for availing herself for the interview.

Candidate 2: Mr Masilo Tampe
The Chairperson explained the interview procedure and asked the candidate to tell them about himself and why he thought he would be a suitable candidate for appointment on the NYDA Board.

Ms Mgweba asked  the candidate how he would ensure that persons with disabilities have access to equal opportunities and rights, if appointed to the board.

Mr Mphithi said he appreciated the candidate’s comments on how he wanted to advocate for persons with disabilities. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities flags the importance of using ICT infrastructure as a means of being able to mainstream people living with disabilities into the work force thus increasing economic activity for them. In South Africa, the public and private sectors have not fully integrated people living with disabilities within their workforce. He asked the candidate how he would advocate for ICT infrastructure for the benefit of persons with disabilities.

Mr Nchabeleng asked the candidate what he would do to ensure that the programmes run by the youth movement some years ago such as Youth for Environmental Access continue and what programmes will the candidate create to ensure all South Africans have access to what is provided by the government for them and ensure all buildings are accessible to everyone.

Ms B Maluleke (ANC) asked what the candidate would do to change the negative perception that the NYDA was not for all youth and to ensure the Agency was visible in rural areas.

Ms Khawula asked a question that was not in English [58:43].

Ms Masiko asked how the candidate would ensure good governance in the NYDA, if appointed to the board.

The Co-Chairperson asked the candidate how he would ensure that financial accountability continues or improves at the NYDA, if appointed to the board as the NYDA needed to keep a clean record.

The Chairperson asked if the candidate had any questions, explained the selection process going forward and thanked him for availing himself for the interview.

Candidate 3: Ms Nina Sen Singh
The Chairperson explained the interview procedure and asked the candidate to tell them about herself and why she thought she would be a suitable candidate for appointment on the NYDA Board.

The Co-Chairperson said the country was currently faced with the COVID-19 pandemic and gender-based violence and femicide. She asked the candidate what she would do to assist in curbing gender-based violence and femicide amongst young women and children. What could the NYDA do to assist?

Ms Maleka asked the candidate to describe her understanding of the Presidential Youth Employment intervention and to indicate the goals stated in the NDP for the youth.

Khawula asked a question that was not in English [17:39].

Ms Mgweba asked  the candidate how she would help the NYDA to support young people who aspire to be entrepreneurs to digitilise their operations, especially in townships and villages, to equip them with the required skills and be ready for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Mr Nchabeleng asked the candidate a question on finances, but this was inaudible [34:34].

The Chairperson asked if the candidate had any questions, explained the selection process going forward and thanked her for availing herself for the interview.

Candidate 4: Mr Thulisa Ndlela
Ms M Gillion (ANC, Western Cape), Select Committee Chairperson, explained the interview procedure and asked the candidate to tell them about himself and why he thought he would be a suitable candidate for appointment on the NYDA Board.

The Chairperson asked a follow-up question to the introduction the candidate provided, but this was not in English [9:01].

Mr Nchabeleng asked the candidate how he would change the negative perception that the NYDA only serves some youth and not others and if the candidate believed this.

Ms Maluleke asked how he would ensure visibility of the NYDA in rural areas, if appointed to the board.

Ms Mgweba asked  the candidate what his analysis was of the NYDA in terms of its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Ms Masiko asked the candidate what innovation he would bring to the NYDA board, if appointed.

Ms Khawula asked a question that was not in English [35:34].

Mr Mphithi asked the candidate what he would do to address the lack of skills development and successful policy implementation. How would he assist the young graduates with degrees, but no employment.

The Chairperson asked if the candidate had any questions, explained the selection process going forward and thanked him for availing himself for the interview.

Candidate 5: Ms Sunshine Minenhle Myende
The Chairperson explained the interview procedure and handed over to Members to introduce themselves. The Co-Chairperson asked the candidate to tell them about herself and why she thought she would be a suitable candidate for appointment on the NYDA Board.

Ms Khawula asked a question that was not in English [15:55].

Ms Mgweba asked  the candidate about the NYDA mandate and its functions.

Mr Bara asked the candidate if she anticipated any economic breakthrough for young people and what should be done to address youth unemployment.

Ms Masiko asked the candidate about the negative perception the youth has of the NYDA and that it only serves some people. What would the candidate do to change this perception, if appointed to the board.

Ms Masiko asked a follow-up question on the candidate's PhD research and questionnaire she was developing.

Mr Mphithi said he appreciated that the candidate felt all young people are important and they should all be important to the NYDA. The candidate raised a topic which other candidates did not – maritime and exports as well as young people owning land. He remarked that the candidate had made a very important observation here and asked how the candidate would assist young people without experience and what type of programmes would the candidate create for this.

Ms Khawula asked a question that was not in English [54:50].

The Chairperson asked if the candidate had any questions, explained the selection process going forward and thanked her for availing herself for the interview.

Candidate 6: Ms Thutukile Zuma
The Chairperson explained the interview procedure and handed over to Members to introduce themselves. The Co-Chairperson asked the candidate to tell them about herself and why she thought she would be a suitable candidate for appointment to the NYDA Board.

Ms Mgweba asked  the candidate what she would do to assist the government with the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide, if appointed to the board.

Ms Maluleke asked the candidate how she would deal with resolving conflict, if appointed to the board.

The Chairperson asked the candidate about the number of NYDA board members. The Act did not speak to matters such as when the term of board members lapses and she asked what should be done about this.

Mr Nchabeleng asked the candidate what available tools she would use to ensure the NYDA remains compliant with National Treasury regulations and that there is no fruitless and wasteful expenditure, if appointed to the board. In the State of the Nation Address (SONA), the President has spoken about youth empowerment. He asked what the candidate would do to ensure economic empowerment of the youth. He asked the candidate to describe her understanding of the Presidential Youth Employment intervention.

Ms Masiko asked the candidate if she thought the NYDA fulfils its mandate efficiently, if so, how and if not, what are its shortcomings. What would the candidate propose to ensure that the NYDA performs to its maximum ability?

Mr Mphithi asked the candidate about the removal of experience as a requirement for young people in applying for jobs. He asked if the candidate thought the NYDA was successful in advocating for this.

Ms Khawula asked a question that was not in English [54:21, 1:05].

The Chairperson asked if the candidate had any questions, explained the selection process going forward and thanked her for availing herself for the interview.

Candidate 7:Ms Khomotjo Joy Maimela
The Chairperson explained the interview procedure and handed over to Members to introduce themselves. The Co-Chairperson asked the candidate to tell them about herself and why she thought she would be a suitable candidate for appointment to the NYDA board.

Ms Maluleke asked the candidate what the challenges and gaps were in the NYDA Act and what can be done about this.

Mr Mphithi asked the candidate if she thought that it was a fair critique that the NYDA does not reach young people in all areas, does not fully disburse funds to young people and is seen as an organisation that prefers certain young people over others.

Mr Mphithi asked a follow-up question but this was inaudible [19:59].

The Chairperson asked if impact is measured on NYDA services to young people and what her experience was of this.

Mr Bara asked the candidate what she thought she could have done differently [inaudible 30:13]

Ms Khawula asked a question that was not in English [39:28]

Mr Nchabeleng asked the candidate to describe her understanding of the Presidential Youth Employment intervention and what makes this different from past government programmes.

Ms Masiko asked the candidate if she thought the NYDA was getting value for money in the grants it invests in young people.

The Chairperson asked the candidate if she thought investing in a car wash was really empowering young people and if it was sustainable. What did the candidate perceive to be a good investment.

Ms Khawula asked a question that was not in English [1:06,1:12].

The Co-Chairperson asked if the candidate had any questions, explained the selection process going forward and thanked her for availing herself for the interview.

Candidate 8: Ms Paballo Ponoane
The Chairperson explained the interview procedure and handed over to Members to introduce themselves. The Co-Chairperson asked the candidate to tell them about herself and why she thought she would be a suitable candidate for appointment.

Ms Maluleke asked the candidate to explain the roles, responsibilities and mandate of the NYDA.

Ms Mgweba asked the candidate how she would ensure that the NYDA is participatory in an organised way and able to attract the hearts and minds of all youth across the country so that the NYDA would be visible.

Ms Masiko asked a follow-up question. She said that the NYDA funding was not enough to finance many offices across the country. What measures would the candidate take to finance the vision to establish offices across the country where young people are able to access NYDA offices within walking distance.

Mr Mphithi said it was inspiring to see a 24-year-old having achieved all the things the candidate has. He asked what her advice would be to young people who are facing mental health issues and depression.

The Chairperson asked the candidate if she thought the problems young people in the Eastern Cape were faced with were the same as those living in Gauteng or KZN. If the candidate introduces skills-based programmes, if appointed to the board, will this meet the needs of young people?

Ms Khawula asked a question that was not in English [42:21].

Ms Masiko asked a follow-up question on the global issue of youth unemployment which has been an issue in South Africa for a long time and has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. What interventions would the candidate bring about to ensure that youth unemployment in South Africa is reduced and which sectors should the government be focusing on to create more employment opportunities for young people.

The Co-Chairperson asked the candidate how the PFMA applied to the NYDA and what role does the board of directors play.

The Chairperson asked if the candidate had any questions, explained the selection process going forward and thanked her for availing herself for the interview.

Candidate 9: Mr John Sifiso Mtsweni
The Chairperson explained the interview procedure and handed over to Members to introduce themselves.

The Co-Chairperson asked the candidate to tell them about himself and why he thought he would be a suitable candidate for appointment.

The Co-Chairperson said there was a negative perception that the NYDA was only reaching certain people and was not for all youth. She asked how the candidate would tackle this and ensure that the NYDA image improves for the better.

Ms Maleka asked how he would ensure adherence to good governance, if appointed to the NYDA board.

Ms Mgweba asked  what he thought the gaps were in the NYDA Act and how he would ensure the implementation of the National Youth Policy 2015-2020 as a guide to youth development.

Mr Mphithi said there has been a perception that the NYDA works only for a certain group of people who come from a certain political party. This statement is not unfounded as six of the seven board members of the previous NYDA board came from the ANCYL. He asked the candidate what he would do to change this.

Ms Maluleke asked a question that was not in English [38:30].

Ms Khawula asked a question that was not in English [47:43]

Ms Masiko asked the candidate about gender-based violence which was announced as a second pandemic. How has the NYDA dealt with gender-based violence in general and what other interventions could government make to stop the cycle.

Mr Bara commented that it was an interesting engagement and asked the candidate what he would want to bring across at the NYDA which would benefit many young South Africans who have given up and are abusing drugs across the country. What could the candidate give them or promise them which would make them look forward to tomorrow.

Mr Nchabeleng asked the candidate a question but this was inaudible [1:10].

The Chairperson said she was concerned about people enrolling for HR degrees, especially in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. She thought skills matching was a problem and due to this, high unemployment rates would remain prevalent. The NYDA must take these issues very seriously to transform the education system which should start in Grade 1. The NYDA should also do an audit of the skills the country needs the most. Young people should be skilled so as to be independent from government. Most young people have an entitled attitude toward the government.

The Chairperson asked if the candidate had any questions, explained the selection process going forward and thanked him for availing himself for the interview.

The meeting was adjourned. 

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