Johannesburg - A youth agency set up by North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo has been accused of blowing almost R10 million within six months of its existence.
The allegations were made by DA North West leader Joe McGluwa, who accused the North West government of having spent the R10m on 39 young people through its Youth Entrepreneur Services (Yes) programme for the development and empowerment of the youth of the province.
“A report on the programme released this month reveals that Yes (established in May) started with a bank balance of R10 million, which has all been blown by Mahumapelo’s government on just 39 young people.
This amounts to a quarter of a million rand for each youth. The report reveals that R1.7 million was used to pay service providers for T-shirts, caps, the production of a magazine and a DVD.
The Defence Department was paid R1.4 million to conduct “youth camps” in Potchefstroom, Zeerust and Mafikeng.
Almost R4 million was paid out in “grants” to these young persons.
McGluwa said the current balance of the Yes account stood at R267 800.
“Most of the R10 million budget was utilised for frivolous purposes that have not capacitated the general youth of the North West. I will be asking Premier Mahumapelo to explain why R1.7 million of caps, T-shirts, a magazine and a DVD was necessary when only 39 youth were included in the programme.
“I will also be asking Premier Mahumapelo to release details of the 39 beneficiaries, so that scrutiny of the enormous spending on their capacitation can be done openly and transparently,” McGluwa said.
“It is not the job of the government to pick winners, especially just 39 of them at a cost of R10 million,” he said.
Mahumapelo’s office has dismissed the allegations and accused the DA of playing to the gallery.
The premier’s spokesperson, Brian Setswambung, said the premier entered into a strategic partnership with the North West Development Corporation (NWDC) to support youth in business and those wanting to start their own businesses.
Detailing the outcomes of the partnership deal, Setswambung said that 115 youth businesses were funded based on the business plans submitted in response to an advertisement placed in the media in June 2015.
Thirty-nine of these were legally registered businesses owned by the youth from across the four districts of the province.
Seventy-one of the 115 businesses were individual youth identified from indigent households in the 18 municipalities of the province who were identified to sell the Yes magazine at R10.
“Each youth was allocated 200 copies of the magazine and all proceeds of sale are retained by the youth. This had a positive impact on the livelihood of the households the youth come from. Government departments, municipalities, State Owned Entities and the private sector are encouraged to advertise in this magazine as a way of subsidising the production costs,” Setswambung said.
Sunday Independent