Lottery wastage: Lottery wastes R40m on totalitarians-in-training conference

The Democratic Alliance Youth believes the Lotteries Board needs to withdraw the R40 million that the National Lottery Board has pledged for the "Let's defeat imperialism!" conference that the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) is hosting this month.

We reiterate our dismay at the Zuma administration's support for this anti-democratic conference that will apparently cost as much as R370-million. Public funds spent on this event could have gone into real youth development projects that offer practical skills rather than radical rhetoric.

Meanwhile, this money is supposed to fulfill the Lottery's mandate to fund charities, arts, culture and national heritage initiatives. Yet numerous outstanding charities that rely on Lottery funding to serve disadvantaged South Africans must watch their money frittered away on this dubious festival. Never should our charities have to compete with political opportunists for their rightful funding.

The "Let's defeat imperialism!" conference answers none of the needs of South African youth, nor will it promote job opportunities or skills training to the unemployed. It will simply allow members of the most anti-democratic youth leagues in the world, from Zimbabwe to North Korea, to network.

The NYDA is meant to be an impartial government entity that truly uplifts the youth with innovative programmes. Instead of hosting anachronistic jamborees, the NYDA should be spearheading anti-unemployment and anti-poverty drives. The DA Youth believes this R40 million pledge needs to be withdrawn, in favour of projects that could be beneficial to ordinary South Africans.

Statement issued by Makashule Gana, Democratic Alliance Federal Youth Leader, December 9 2010

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