The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has raised serious concerns regarding governance challenges and the treatment of whistleblowers at the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).

Committee Chairperson Ms Liezl van der Merwe briefed the committee on what she described as a worrying trend of negative media coverage involving the NYDA. She noted with concern that the entity has repeatedly appeared in the media in recent weeks for adverse reasons, raising questions about leadership, governance and accountability within the institution.

Ms van der Merwe reminded the committee that they had previously referred whistleblower complaints to the NYDA prior to the committee’s engagement with the NYDA in Johannesburg on an oversight visit. During the oversight meeting, the NYDA had assured the committee that it was conducting internal processes to investigate the substance of the allegations. The committee, through its adopted budget vote report, requested detailed feedback on allegations of meddling in the affairs of the Board, progress on whistleblower matters and the status of audit and risk committee appointments.

Ms van der Merwe informed members that no formal responses have been received from the NYDA on these matters. She further expressed concern over media reports suggesting that, instead of focusing on the allegations raised, the entity may be attempting to identify whistleblowers. Ms van der Merwe cautioned that such actions, if proven,...

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