Ngubeni should have left a long time ago, says AfriForum Youth

The suspension of the CEO of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Steven Ngubeni, during the past week is long overdue and a relief for taxpayers," said AfriForum Youth.

AfriForum Youth has been reporting the NYDA to the Auditor-General and the Public Protector for over two years, and has written to Collins Chabane, the Minister in the Presidency. The AG has agreed that the matter warrants an investigation and referred it to National Treasury. The aim of the investigation was to hold individuals in the NYDA personally accountable for unwarranted expenditure.

"The NYDA is not a sustainable organisation, especially if its executives continue to receive exorbitant salaries and bonuses. Ngubeni was like a thorn in the flesh that was starting to get infected, but the NYDA kept them in taxpayers' flesh for as long as possible," said Charl Oberholzer, National Chairperson for AfriForum Youth.

"Ngubeni failed to attend a meeting of the Portfolio Committee in Parliament last month where he had to account for the expenditure of the NYDA. This was a contravention of the Public Finance Management Act," said Oberholzer.

It has been reported in the past that directors had received bonuses which ranged from between 17% and 21% of their annual salaries. Ngubeni signed off on a catering contract in 2012 which amounted to R22 million, which was awarded to his wife's uncle. In the 2011/2012 annual report of the NYDA it was indicated that R14 million was spent on transport and entertainment and R33 million was spent on communication and public relations.

Statement issued by Charl Oberholzer, AfriForum Youth National Chairperson, July 25 2013

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter