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KZN Premier’s Office Slammed Over Stalled Youth Funding Promises
For many young entrepreneurs in KwaZulu-Natal, June was meant to be the beginning of something new. The Premier’s Office hosted a high-profile event celebrating bright young business minds and announcing recipients of a sizeable youth empowerment fund. The mood was festive. Cheques were held up. Cameras flashed. Families beamed with pride.
Yet months later, the same young people are still waiting for a single cent. The province is now facing a wave of anger after it emerged that the office made a public commitment of R100 million when it did not actually have the funding available.
How the Promise Fell Apart
The Finance Portfolio Committee confronted officials after discovering that most of the promised money was locked away pending rollover approval. Out of the R100 million announced, about R75 million was still sitting with the Provincial Treasury during the June event.
In essence, the Premier’s Office had promised young entrepreneurs funding it did not yet have permission to use. That revelation sparked fury among committee members who felt misled and embarrassed on behalf of the youth and the communities who supported them.
The Provincial Treasury has since confirmed that the rollover has been approved by the cabinet, but it still needs to be formally tabled before the legislature. This will only happen in early December, months after the public ceremony where beneficiaries were paraded as if funding was ready for immediate disbursement.
Committee Members: We Celebrated a Lie
Members of the Finance Portfolio Committee described the situation as unconscionable. One member, Celiwe Madlopha, said the celebrations now look hollow because young people were publicly honoured as if they had already secured their funding.
She warned that the fallout risks damaging the government’s credibility in communities that already feel sidelined. Many young people are now questioning whether the province ever intended to follow through or whether they were used as props for a feel-good event.
Another member asked why the department proceeded with the ceremony knowing that the rollover process was delayed. She highlighted that the entire country watched the event, believing these entrepreneurs had been given a real chance to grow their businesses. Instead, they returned home with large symbolic cheques and no financial support.
Officials Struggle to Explain
The acting CFO of the Premier’s Office, Sthembiso Ntombela, told the committee that without the rollover, they simply did not have the money to honour the disbursement. He added that the office lacks sufficient savings to cover such a large amount and would have had to stagger payments across multiple years.
His admission raised even more questions about why the event went ahead in the first place. Officials were unable to provide immediate answers and have been instructed to submit explanations in writing.
An additional complication has slowed the process even further. Concerns were raised about irregularities in how beneficiaries were selected. This prompted an internal probe, which is now sitting before the Premier for review.
The Premier Responds
Dr Sabelo Gwala, Deputy Director General in the Premier’s Office, confirmed that the Premier is studying the investigation’s findings and proposed remedial actions. He said that strict governance controls are now in place and added that payments will be made only after all due diligence is completed and the Premier signs off.
He assured the public that the province remains committed to ensuring that deserving young entrepreneurs eventually receive their funding in a lawful and transparent manner.
A Bigger Issue Than One Ceremony
For young people in KwaZulu-Natal, this saga feels symbolic of a wider frustration. South Africa’s youth often speak about being promised support, visibility, and opportunity. They are frequently celebrated in speeches and on stages, yet fewer see those promises materialise in their day-to-day lives.
The backlash shows how deeply this incident has struck a nerve. It is not just about one event or one pot of money. It is about trust.
If the province hopes to rebuild that trust, the first step is clear. Honour the commitments, pay the funding, and ensure that future programmes begin with real money, not hopeful announcements.
Also read: A Scandal Too Big to Ignore: Ekurhuleni’s Sweeping Clean-Up of Its Police Force
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: News24
