National Youth Development Agency on the 2010/11 Annual Report and World Festival

10 Oct 2011

Today City Press reported on the funds used by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) on the World Festival of Youth and Students (World Festival) based on a file which was presented to Media 24 by the NYDA following their application through the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (see here). 

Throughout the year the NYDA has been open about the cost of the World Festival however it was appropriate to wait for the Auditor-General (AG) to audit the World Festival and the NYDA before communicating the information.

On 29 September 2011 the NYDA hosted a media briefing where the organisation presented its Annual Report for the 2010/11 financial year that included the audit of the World Festival. During this media briefing the NYDA laid bare its successes as well as challenges for the financial year.

It is regrettable that not all media houses (City Press included) were present at the media briefing, as this opportunity could have provided valuable information and facts around the World Festival. However, the CEO statement and Annual Report were widely circulated to the media and uploaded on the NYDA website.

In his address to the media, the NYDA Chief Executive Officer, Steven Ngubeni highlighted that the organisation had received an unqualified audit opinion from the Auditor-General of South Africa with a few emphasis of matters. He said, "...on the Financial Information, the AG found the finances of the organisation to be in good order, in all-material fairness.

The AG has, without amending his clean audit opinion, highlighted few matters of emphasis. It is important to note that some have since been resolved, whilst we are working tirelessly to improve on others. These matters include the following: 

• Restatement of prior year figures
• Irregular Expenditure
• Fruitless and Wasteful Expenditure 
• Material Impairments

The full statement is available at www.nyda.gov.za. At no point did the NYDA try to conceal the issues raised as emphasis of matter by the Auditor-General.

As indicated above the World Festival was audited as part of the routine annual audit of the NYDA and still the NYDA received an unqualified audit opinion. It would therefore be prudent for all to familiarise themselves with the contents of the two documents before making any public statements and writing any articles.

Contrary to reports and minor teething issues, the World Festival, which was held under the theme "Lets defeat imperialism for a world of peace, solidarity and social transformation, "was a success. The event was held from 13 - 21 December 2010 and attended by about 15, 000 delegates including over 4, 500 international delegates from 126 countries. These countries include Angola, Cuba, Mozambique, Spain, Sweden, Venezuela, United Arab Emirates, United States and Zambia.

The World Festival was the biggest single youth gathering ever held in South African and provided an important platform for young people from around the world to network and to discuss critical issues affecting them in an effort to finding lasting solutions to world challenges.

It was an opportunity for young people to exchange ideas on a variety of pressing issues such as unemployment, education, the rights of the child, fighting racism, migration, xenophobia, women's rights, human rights and the rights of indigenous people, HIV/AIDS and many other issues. The recommendations presented through the World Festival declaration are shared with various world governments including through the United Nations.

There were 19 sessions held every day and they came in the form of seminars, workshops and conferences. These gatherings were attended and addressed by youth leaders from all the countries represented at the World Festival. The event also created a platform for young people to network and exchange ideas on a variety of pressing issues affecting them including unemployment, education, the rights of the child, fighting racism, migration, xenophobia, women's rights, human rights and the rights of indigenous people, HIV/AIDS and many other topics.

In addition, over 1, 200 volunteers were recruited and trained to provide support services at the World Festival. In return they benefitted from the short-term employment and gained valuable skills including in hospitality services. An amount of R3, 360, 345-41 was expended on creating these jobs including stipends for the volunteers.

The overall total cost for hosting the World Festival was R106, 376, 000, which translates to R709-18 per delegate per day on average for the ten days spent in South Africa. Because it is a condition of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (host organisation for the World Festival of Youth and Students) that all host countries should transport and accommodate the Cubans, the NYDA provided for them. Cuba has been one of the biggest and strongest supporters of the World Festival having hosted the 11th and 14th World Festival.

The organisation chartered a flight at the cost of R5, 599, 889 for the 227 strong delegation from Cuba because this was the most cost effective means of transporting them, as there are no direct flights from Havana to Johannesburg. Cuba also provided 40 interpreters for the 17th World Festival.

The NYDA has been open about the cost of the World Festival however it was appropriate to wait for the Auditor-General to audit the World Festival and the NYDA before communicating information regarding the cost of the World Festival as such would have been speculation on our part.

We believe we are close to laying the matter of the World Festival to rest, what is outstanding is the enquiry report from the Public Protector of South Africa that is currently seeking to answer the following questions; was the World Festival of Youth and Students within the mandate? Were the monies allocated for the World Festival not misappropriated? We are confident that the NYDA will once again be in the clear, following the report from the Public Protector.

In conclusion, we invite the media and all members of the public to review the 2010/2011 NYDA Annual Report available from www.nyda.gov.za; it can also be requested via email from [email protected]. We understand the extent of the unemployment challenge and as such will continue implementing youth development programmes and contribute to the 61, 341 jobs already saved because of NYDA interventions.

We remain committed to serving the youth of South Africa and are confident we can record a hat trick with a third unqualified audit opinion from the Auditor-General for the 2011/12 financial year.

Statement issued by Siyabonga Magadla, National Youth Development Agency, October 10 2011

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