NYDA's hand caught in cookie jar

AfriForum Youth today expressed their joy after the arrest of Andile Lungisa, former head of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), for alleged fraud of about R2.5 million. 

"If the allegations are true, it's especially deplorable as funds are stolen from the pockets of entrepreneurs," Henk Maree, spokesperson for AfriForum Youth said.

AfriForum Youth reported the NYDA to the Auditor-General (AG) as well as the Public Protector (PP) in the past two years, and directed personal letters to Collins Chabane, Minister in the Presidency. The AG agreed that there were merits for an investigation and referred it to National Treasury. The aim of the investigation was to hold individuals within the NYDA accountable for wasteful expenditure.

"The arrest confirms our letter to the AG and PP. We now want to see that the case is followed through and that justice prevails without political interference. The taxpayer has now coughed up enough. We request that the investigation be made public as it's money from the public that is stolen and wasted," says Maree.

AfriForum Youth last year directed a letter to the NYDA in which they indicated that they're prepared to sponsor the NYDA management to a course in the management of income and expenditure, basic financial management and correct tendering procedures to train them in cost saving. 

"If Mr Lungisa accepted AfriForum Youth's invitation, he could have been on the right side of the law today," Maree concluded.

Statement issued by Henk Maree, Organiser AfriForum Youth, October 5 2013

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