By Thapelo Molefe
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed seven new members to the board of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), who will serve for a period of three years starting from 1 August.
The appointments, made in terms of Section 9(1)(a) of the NYDA Act of 2008, are aimed at strengthening the agency’s role in empowering young South Africans.
The NYDA, which was established by an Act of Parliament, is responsible for addressing youth development challenges across all three spheres of government.
The newly appointed board members are Kelly Sandra Baloyi, Thembisile Precious Mahuwa, Bonga Siphesihle Makhanya, Sibusiso Makhathini, Dr Wiseman Mfaniseni Mbatha, Dr Sunshine Minenhle Myende and Busisiwe Nandipha Nxumalo.
Ramaphosa has designated Myende as the new chairperson of the NYDA Board and Bonga Siphesihle Makhanya as the deputy chairperson.
The president has expressed his gratitude to the incoming board members for their commitment to serve.
“The president appreciates the willingness of the board members to avail themselves for the national task of securing a promising future for the nation through the empowerment of young people,” Presidency’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said in a statement.
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, welcomed the appointments on Wednesday.
She said the new cohort embodied the diversity, insight and urgency required to unlock the potential of more than 20 million young South Africans.
“We look forward to working hand-in-hand with the new board to champion the interests of
our nation’s youth and to turn commitment into concrete opportunity,” Chikunga said in a statement.
The NYDA plays a central role in promoting youth participation in the economy and society, and the new board will be expected to continue advancing this mandate.
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