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Johannesburg - The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) has a new vision that seeks to restore the agency's credibility, chairman Yershen Pillay said on Thursday.
"We are convinced that it will certainly be three years of hard work to restore credibility to the NYDA in the eyes of young people," he said in a statement.
"However, there are many products, services, and programmes that have had great success and remain relevant."
Pillay encouraged the private sector to note the "optimism and passion" in the new leadership of the NYDA.
"This new vision is informed by the need to restore credibility to the NYDA, and to be adequately capable of delivering as many opportunities as is possible with our resources, to the youth of South Africa."
The NYDA board had shifted its core business away from enterprise and finance to education and skills development, and devoted 40% of its financial resources to the cause.
The change came after studies indicated that most young people in the country derived their income from salaries and remittances.
However, the NYDA would still offer "a range of products, programmes, and services" to young entrepreneurs.
"The NYDA will no longer be offering loan finance to young entrepreneurs, [and] instead grant finance in the form of micro-finance grants for survivalist youth entrepreneurship, and co-operative grants for greater participation of youth in the co-operatives sector."
The board had requested a report on the R2.4m spent on funding the SA Youth Council (SAYC) congress earlier this year.
It was reported that delegates at the SAYC congress did nothing for the entire duration of the event.
Pillay said he had also written to the office of the Public Protector, requesting the immediate release of a report on the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) festival.
"[This is]... so that the matter can finally be brought to rest. The NYDA needs a fresh start," he said.
The agency hosted the WFDY festival in 2010, which cost taxpayers over R100m.
The NYDA was criticised when festival-goers complained of long queues, going hungry, and disorganisation. Some attendees reportedly played kissing games outside instead of attending scheduled sessions.
