Parliament, Wednesday, 29 April 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on Tuesday raised serious concerns about the continued reliance by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on consultants to perform core functions of its mandate.
The committee concluded the first day of its oversight visit in Gauteng following engagements with the department and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Liezl van der Merwe, said it is concerning that the department continues to rely on consultants, particularly in areas such as policy formulation and the monitoring and evaluation of legislated targets across government and the private sector. “The allocation of approximately R38 million for consultants, while citing limited internal human resource capacity and resource constraints, is both contradictory and counterintuitive,” she said.
The committee noted that the department uses consultants to leverage specialised skills for knowledge-based policy development. However, the committee urged the department to build internal capacity for policy formulation and monitoring.
Another concern raised was about the department’s projected expenditure of approximately R8 million on events and functions. The committee highlighted the department’s funding challenges and urged it to use limited resources for programmes with the greatest impact in communities.
The Chairperson said it is difficult to ascertain the value derived from the planned expenditure on events. “We must ensure that, as we advocate for additional funding, existing resources are used for structured initiatives that deliver measurable improvements in communities, such as job creation, poverty alleviation and increased economic activity.”
Members also raised concerns about expenditure on international travel. The committee urged the department to be more measured and cost-conscious in its spending. The committee noted the need for the department to fulfil its international obligations but proposed that it reduce the size of its delegation for such travels.
The committee was disappointed that several recommendations made during the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report process have not been implemented. It emphasised that these recommendations are intended to strengthen the department’s ability to fulfil its mandate and urged the department to implement outstanding recommendations urgently.
The department was also urged to develop and implement effective mitigation strategies to address risks that may hinder its ability to meet the objectives outlined in its Annual Performance Plan (APP). The committee emphasised that mitigation planning is critical to ensure the APP is functional and measurable.
Members were also concerned that approximately 20% of targets identified by the Audit Risk Committee as risk areas remain unresolved. The committee urged the department to address these weaknesses with urgency to strengthen accountability and performance.
During deliberations on the National Youth Development Agency, the committee questioned the projected R45 million in lease and rental expenses for the upcoming financial year. Members were particularly concerned about the accessibility of the agency’s head office located in Sandton. “There must be value for money in every rand spent,” the Chairperson said. “It is difficult to justify maintaining offices in high-cost areas that are not easily accessible to the majority of young people who rely on the agency’s services.” The committee also encouraged the agency to explore innovative service delivery methods, including Information Technology solutions and mobile service units to improve access for young people.
Despite its concerns, the committee welcomed the revision of the NYDA’s APP to better align with community needs, as well as assurances of improved collaboration within its board. It noted that effective governance and cooperation are critical to delivering impactful services to young people facing high levels of unemployment and poverty.
The committee will continue its oversight today with visits to the offices of the Commission for Gender Equality and the National Youth Development Agency.
Details of the visit
Date: Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Time: 12:30
Venue: CGE Offices, Braamfontein
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE WOMEN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITES, MS LIEZL VAN DER MERWE
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