The National Youth Development Agency has defended its reported R1 million delegation trip to New York, describing it as a “strategic investment” that secured training opportunities for 600 000 young South Africans, whilst the Democratic Alliance maintains the expenditure raises serious questions about priorities.
The NYDA said the September 2025 trip to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly was undertaken at the invitation of the Ministry in the Presidency responsible for women, youth and persons with disabilities.
The agency said the engagement was aimed at advancing South Africa’s youth development agenda during the 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth.
“The engagement at UNGA in September 2025 was not a junket. It was a strategic investment,” the NYDA said in a statement.
Partnership secures AI training for 600 000 youth
The agency said it secured a partnership with IAMTHECODE, which will provide 600 000 young South Africans with free training in artificial intelligence, coding and data sciences. Each training licence is valued at approximately R144 000 rands.
The NYDA said it will serve as the implementing partner, working alongside the UN Foundation, Unilever, UBS and others to reduce the number of young people not in employment, education or training.
“This single outcome alone delivers value that far surpasses the cost of the delegation’s travel and sets a clear trajectory for skills development in the country,” the agency said.
Cost-containment measures implemented
The NYDA said the delegation comprised the executive chairperson, executive deputy chairperson and three officials providing technical and policy support. The agency said the chief executive officer was deliberately excluded from the delegation to reduce expenditure.
“In planning this mission, the agency strictly adhered to its travel policy, which references National Treasury regulations and cost-containment directives,” the NYDA said.
The agency said South Africa’s youth policy priorities are now embedded in international frameworks that will shape donor investment for years to come.
“Accountability is not only about what is spent, but about what is achieved with that expenditure,” the NYDA said, calling on media houses to report objectively.
Cost-containment measures implemented
However, the Democratic Alliance says it will submit parliamentary questions to probe the expenditure, arguing that the trip raises concerns about priorities whilst youth unemployment remains at crisis levels.
Angel Khanyile, DA spokesperson for women, youth and people with disabilities, said media reports describing business class flights, luxury accommodation and activities that appear to offer little direct benefit to unemployed young people raise serious questions.
“We are seriously concerned over reports that the NYDA spent this much on a delegation trip to attend events linked to the United Nations General Assembly,” Khanyile said.
She said the spending was particularly concerning given that the agency faces financial pressure.
“Public funds must be used in the public interest, especially when millions of young South Africans remain locked out of meaningful economic opportunity,” Khanyile said.
The DA said questionable spending at institutions meant to empower young people diverts resources away from programmes that could directly support youth and undermines public confidence.
“It also risks widening the gap between decision-makers and the lived realities of young South Africans trying to enter the labour market,” Khanyile said.
The DA said stronger leadership and closer oversight are needed to ensure spending at the NYDA is properly controlled and directed towards programmes that make a tangible difference.
The party said it will continue to pursue the matter through all available oversight mechanisms to ensure full transparency and accountability.
According to the latest available statistics from the third quarter of 2025, South Africa’s youth unemployment rate stood at 58,5%.
