DA PROVINCIAL legislature member Veliswa Mvenya has written to public protector Thuli Madonsela asking her office to investigate why Social Development funds were used to finance ANC Youth League events in the Eastern Cape.

This follows a Daily Dispatch exposé last week which revealed that the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) secured funding from the Department of Social Development to pay for several regional events on behalf of the ANCYL. “I have also asked a parliamentary question for the MEC for Social Development, Pemmy Majodina, to explain whether her department does any oversight of [the] funds to the NYDA, and whether they are satisfied that this funding went to youth development summits or to fund ANCYL regional conferences.”

However, social development spokesman Gcobani Mswana said the MEC’S office had not received Mvenya’s parliamentary question.

In the Dispatch report, a Cacadu ANC branch leader said when they were invited to a Kenton-on-sea NYDA development programme, instead youth league election matters were discussed.

The provincial head of the NYDA, Ayanda Matiti, is also chairman of the ANCYL in the Eastern Cape. Other key positions in the NYDA are also held by members of the ANCYL. “As a government institution, the Department of Social Development may not fund regional conferences of the ANCYL via the NYDA.

“Because this is being allowed, the youth in general in this province will forever be neglected.

In the rural areas of this province you won’t find any young person who has been helped by NYDA,” Mvenya said.

“This NYDA is just a tool to misappropriate government funds. It is no different from the Youth Commission that was disbanded.”

Referring to statements ANCYL president Julius Malema made when the Youth Commission was disbanded three years ago, Mvenya said: “Malema had rightfully said at the time that the Youth Commission was serving the girlfriends and family of that entity. This is no different.” — zineg