National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Chairperson Sfiso Mtsweni says a plan to sustain clean audit outcomes and exceeding 100 percent performance of annual performance targets for the 2017/2018 financial year is already in motion.
Mtsweni said this on Thursday during a NYDA media briefing that he led to announce the agency’s third consecutive unqualified audit opinion and achieving 100% of its annual performance targets for the 2016/2017 financial year.
He was joined by the Minister in the Presidency, responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Chairperson of National Commission, Jeff Radebe, and NYDA Chief Executive Officer Khathutshelo Ramukumba.
“Our vision is to become a credible, capable and activist development agency that is responsive to the plight of all South African youth. We hope to achieve this by mainstreaming youth issues and facilitating youth development within all sectors of society,” said Mtsweni.
According to Minister Radebe, the NYDA remains a beacon of hope for South African youth.
“… Any positive development within the agency translates to positive change in the lives of young people in South Africa. We must fulfil our mandate of youth development.”
The agency’s CEO Ramukumba said at the core of NYDA’s mandate is values of integrity and honesty, excellence, respect and humility, and striving to always deliver its services professionally and ensuring accessibility to youth of South Africa.
Economic participation
With regards to economic participation, about 698 new youth and youth-owned enterprises received funding through the NYDA Grant Fund programme. Of these, approximately 69 were cooperatives, 34 were individuals and 495 were registered companies.
The funding through the grants, cooperative funding and vouchers created and sustained at most 3 718 jobs. A total of 63 407 aspiring and established young entrepreneurs were also supported through the NYDA Business Development Support Services.
The agency said about ten community projects were implemented which saw young people venturing into new areas such as forestry and furniture manufacturing as well as hydroponics.
Education, skills development
On education and skills development, the NYDA said about 745 young people have participated in its technical skills programmes, while just above 71 300 youth had an opportunity to be placed in jobs through its jobs programme.
It said a further 981 088 young people received individual and group career guidance through its various touch points, and also about 444 young people were supported the Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund.
“This meant that these young people had their tertiary education being fully paid for by the NYDA.”
The NYDA has also facilitated for about 348 623 young people to access programmes and inventions designed to improve their health and wellbeing. - SAnews.gov.za
