The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) remains firmly committed to fulfilling its legislative mandate of coordinating, advocating and lobbying for youth development across all spheres of government, NYDA Board Chairperson Dr Sunshine Minenhle Myende told delegates during the Youth Parliament held in Gauteng on Monday.
Delivering a keynote address during the second session of the Youth Parliament, Dr Myende outlined the NYDA’s progress since the appointment of the current board in August 2025 and highlighted several strategic interventions aimed at expanding opportunities for young people across South Africa.
The theme for Youth Parliament, convened to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 16 June 1976 youth uprising, was Youth Empowerment for a Sustainable Future. Young people across all nine province and stakeholders came together to reflect on the state of youth development in the country.
Addressing delegates, Dr Myende said the NYDA’s work continues to be guided by its legislative responsibility to champion youth development and ensure that young people’s interests are prioritised across government.
“The role of the NYDA, as stipulated in the Act, is to lobby, advocate and coordinate youth development. We have declared this year as the Year of the Youth because we believe young people must be placed at the centre of government planning, implementation and accountability,” she said.
As part of efforts to strengthen accountability for youth development, Dr Myende announced that the agency is championing the development of a youth response budgeting and monitoring framework, which she described as a first-of-its-kind mechanism to track government spending and outcomes for young people.
According to Dr Myende, the framework will seek to ensure that resources allocated for youth development are spent effectively and that institutions are held accountable when programmes fail to reach intended beneficiaries.
"National Treasury should be able to hold accountable departments that send money back that was supposed to help develop young people. This accountability must also extend to municipalities, mayors and councillors, because youth development is a responsibility that cuts across all spheres of government," said Dr Myende.
She further proposed that youth development reporting should form part of the key performance responsibilities of provincial premiers, ensuring that progress in improving the lives of young people becomes a measurable governance priority.
Dr Myende used the platform of Youth Parliament to highlight the agency’s achievements in supporting youth entrepreneurship through the NYDA Voucher Programme, which provides grant funding from R1 000 to R250 000 to young entrepreneurs.
She said: “Our voucher programme remains one of the most popular interventions offered by the NYDA. Since our appointment last year, more than 1 300 young people have been assisted through the programme, with approximately R28 million has been disbursed in grant funding.”
She underscored that the agency has deliberately shifted its focus towards underserved communities, particularly rural areas and townships, to ensure that opportunities reach young people where they live.
According to Dr Myende, the funding support has primarily targeted sectors identified as having significant potential for youth participation and economic growth, including agriculture, mining, digital innovation and technology.
The Chairperson also highlighted digital inclusion as a critical component of youth empowerment, announcing that the first 10 000 young people to arrive at the 50th anniversary of the 1976 youth uprising commemoration at the FNB stadium open field, Nasrec, on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, would receive NYDA-supported SIM cards with free data access. The initiative is intended to assist young people in accessing employment opportunities, funding applications, educational resources and career development information.
Dr Myende further briefed delegates on the rollout of 100 000 paid youth opportunities supported through a R1.3 billion allocation endorsed by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The programme seeks to provide young people with practical work experience and improve their employability. "One of the challenges facing young people is that employers often require experience. These opportunities are intended to provide that experience while supporting young people as they prepare for long-term employment," she said.
She also highlighted the recent launch of Phanda Thursday, the NYDA’s flagship national youth outreach programme aimed at bringing government services, economic opportunities and career guidance directly into communities.
Dr Myende’s address highlighted the importance of coordinated action, accountable governance and targeted investment in youth development as essential components of building a more inclusive and sustainable future for South Africa's young people.
Justice Molafo
17 June 2026
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