ALUMNI MOVERS AND SHAKERS UJ makes the NYDA board shine The board of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) boast no less than three UJ alumni, all of whom are dedicated to empower the youth.
through youth entrepreneurship • Decent employment through jobs programme • Social cohesion and pathway for economic emancipation through national youth service • Monitoring and evaluation of the integrated youth development strategy President Ramaphosa said during the announcement of the new board that he views the NYDA as a vital partner in implementing the Presidential Youth Empowerment Intervention and ensuring that young people are prioritised as
In 2015 Asanda became part of the #FeesMustFall movement that swept across institutions of higher learning. She was invited to become a contributing author on a book where she contributed a chapter titled: “The shared lesson of our liberation history: Placing the Youth Congress League in the struggle for #FeesMustFall in South Africa”. Lebogang’s passion for young people stems from her being a young person herself. “Most of the challenges that young people experience I have also experienced, from a lack of career guidance in high school to financial exclusion in university and graduate unemployment. I became involved with young people at church through youth ministry, where I would be one of the leaders organising programmes for young people. Later in life, as a young worker, I became interested in being a voice for young workers who are easily exploited in the workplace as cheap labour, she explains. Avela also has a solid youth-related background. He served as national president of SASCO, the most prominent student organisation in Africa, active on the campuses of South African universities and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges. Vision The experiences in their youth shaped their vision for the youth they serve as NYDA board members. Asanda wants to instil in young people courage and sheer
When Pres Cyril Ramaphosa announced the new board of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) in November last year, he said the seven appointments brought together a group of individuals with diverse expertise and experience in youth development. Three of the board members also happen to be proud alumni of the University of Johannesburg (UJ): Ms Asanda Luwaca, the first woman appointed as Executive Chairperson of the NYDA Board, attained an honours degree in politics in 2021 and a BA in politics in 2013, both at UJ. Ms Lebogang Mulaisi, head of Cosatu’s Policy Unit, a PhD candidate in economics at UJ and an author, attained a UJ master’s degree in economics in 2018. The third UJ alumnus on the board is Mr Avela Mjadjubana, Deputy Director of Community Outreach at the Department of Water and Sanitation. He holds a BA honours degree in public management and governance from UJ (2021) and
part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus. A passion for empowering the youth
Asanda, Lebogang and Avela are passionate about empowering the youth. Asanda says her passion for youth development stems from the rich and profound history of our country and the African continent. “One of the most striking features of African polity in the pre-liberation struggle was the ability of young people and youth formations to reshape the methods of struggle against oppressive regimes radically. Growing up to such stories sparked a keen interest in youth activism,” she says. She became involved in political activism when she and like-minded youth in her community started impact-driven programmes targeting the youth of Dawn Park in Ekurhuleni. A range of youth development programmes was hosted, from career expos to sporting tournaments.
an Advanced Certificate in Municipal Management and Governance (2018).
The NYDA was established by an Act of Parliament (Act 54 of 2008) primarily to address challenges faced by the nation’s youth. As a single, unitary structure, it addresses youth development issues at the national, provincial and local government levels and works within the broad context of South Africa’s development dynamics. The strategy of the NYDA can
be summarised as follows: • Economic development
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