Auditor General Terence Nombembe.
In the NYDA's annual report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, Nombembe noted more than R133-million in irregular expenditure. That meant more than two-thirds of the agency's spending did not comply with national treasury regulations.
Nombembe highlighted various gaps in its financial reporting. The NYDA management did not submit quarterly budgetary reports, as required by law. Other flaws relating to the procurement of goods and services were also identified.
"Goods and services with a transaction value below R500 000 were procured without obtaining the required price quotations, as required by Treasury Regulation Act 16A6.1," said Nombembe.
In addition, contracts worth over half a million rand were concluded without inviting competitive bids, as required by treasury.
The NYDA leadership was blamed for not fulfilling its oversight function and ensuring the entity did its work within the confines of the law.
Democratic Alliance spokesperson Joe McGluwa said this was proof the NYDA should be disbanded. McGluwa said he would be writing to Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Collins Chabane, asking him to scrap the entity.
The opposition party member said the money the NYDA siphoned from the public purse should be used for initiatives that could offer real opportunities to the country's youth. "The NYDA is, and continues to be, a one-stop job centre for connected comrades, rather than an agent for real and lasting change. It is time it was dissolved once and for all." – Sapa