OPPOSITION parties have vowed to keep a close watch on millions given to the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) by the office of Premier Noxolo Kiviet to organise national youth celebrations in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.
The office gave a whopping R2,2-million to the NYDA for the one-day event to be addressed by President Jacob Zuma. More than 10000 young people s from across the country are expected to attend.
The NYDA is no stranger to controversy. In 2010 the agency organised a World Youth Festival that saw thousands of youths from around the world attending.
More than R100-million was used for the event, which included young people playing kissing games.
DA MPL Bobby Stevenson said: "This expenditure needs to be monitored extremely carefully because after the NYDA splurged millions on the World Youth Festival, we do not have much confidence in their ability to spent wisely.
"But what is also of concern is the fact that this event was put together at the last minute. This means that normal tender procedures will be by-passed. This province has a history of paying exorbitant amounts for these events where huge profits are made by middlemen with actual work being sub-contracted."
UDM MPL Zukisa Hlekiso-Thabaneng said she did not understand why so much money had been given to the NYDA.
"If the funds are to be used for youth celebrations, why are other young people sidelined" she asked.
Cope's Ntombesine Ndabeni said her party would also monitor the expenditure and claimed "it's a disgrace that the premier approved so much money to be used in one day".
Eastern Cape provincial government spokesman Manelisi Wolela said: "We are confident of success." - abongilem@dispatch.co.za
Concern as Eastern Cape splurges on Youth Day
OPPOSITION parties have vowed to keep a close watch on millions given to the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) by the office of Premier Noxolo Kiviet to organise national youth celebrations in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.
The office gave a whopping R2,2-million to the NYDA for the one-day event to be addressed by President Jacob Zuma. More than 10000 young people s from across the country are expected to attend.
The NYDA is no stranger to controversy. In 2010 the agency organised a World Youth Festival that saw thousands of youths from around the world attending.
More than R100-million was used for the event, which included young people playing kissing games.
DA MPL Bobby Stevenson said: "This expenditure needs to be monitored extremely carefully because after the NYDA splurged millions on the World Youth Festival, we do not have much confidence in their ability to spent wisely.
"But what is also of concern is the fact that this event was put together at the last minute. This means that normal tender procedures will be by-passed. This province has a history of paying exorbitant amounts for these events where huge profits are made by middlemen with actual work being sub-contracted."
UDM MPL Zukisa Hlekiso-Thabaneng said she did not understand why so much money had been given to the NYDA.
"If the funds are to be used for youth celebrations, why are other young people sidelined" she asked.
Cope's Ntombesine Ndabeni said her party would also monitor the expenditure and claimed "it's a disgrace that the premier approved so much money to be used in one day".
Eastern Cape provincial government spokesman Manelisi Wolela said: "We are confident of success." - abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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