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KZN Premier Ntuli Cracks Down After Youth Fund Scandal Shakes the Province

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1 hour ago

December 2, 2025

Chiraag

KZN youth fund scandal, corruption investigation, Premier Ntuli response, government accountability, South African youth funding, Joburg ETC

A province on edge as a one hundred million rand youth fund faces serious corruption claims

KwaZulu-Natal’s promise of uplifting young entrepreneurs has been rattled by fresh allegations of corruption in a fund created to support the very people it was meant to empower. Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has stepped forward with a firm message that wrongdoing will not be brushed aside after an internal report revealed misconduct in the province’s Youth Empowerment Fund.

The fund is administered through the Premier’s Office and was designed to build up youth-owned businesses in KZN. Instead of inspiring confidence among young people hungry for opportunity, the most recent audit has left many questioning how a programme worth one hundred million rand became so vulnerable to manipulation.

How the fund lost its way

Premier Ntuli confirmed that tenders were awarded to two companies based in Gauteng. This was in direct conflict with the intention of the fund, which was created to benefit KZN youth exclusively. Officials responsible for verifying applicant details failed to pick up that these two companies were not from the province. For Ntuli, this was not a small mistake. It was a breach of trust that affected the credibility of the entire programme.

He stated that consequence management is coming and that the officials involved will need to answer for their role. According to the report released on Monday, fifty-seven applications were flagged. Nineteen were later cleared. The remaining thirty-eight were found to be incomplete, including the two from Gauteng. All affected applicants will be briefed on the outcomes.

For young people in KZN, the revelation is a painful reminder of how often public money meant for development is derailed by poor oversight or political interference. On social media, many expressed frustration, calling for transparency and for the fund to be rebuilt in a way that young people can trust.

The Public Protector is already involved

The controversy did not begin this week. A formal complaint was lodged earlier this year by ActionSA provincial leader Zwakele Mncwango, prompting the Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka to investigate. The allegations surfaced in June, and the fund’s disbursement was halted while the selection process was reassessed.

This investigation is still underway and is expected to scrutinise both administrative failures and claims of political interference. Locals have described the fund as a cash cow for those with political ties, a perception that has further damaged public confidence.

A scandal with deeper consequences

The fallout has reached former Director General Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize, who resigned at the height of the allegations. She now argues that she left under duress after allegedly being pressured by the then head of the fund, Melusi Ndima. Mkhize claims she refused to endorse questionable applications and was threatened as a result. She has since taken legal action, seeking either reinstatement or recognition of constructive dismissal.

Ndima also resigned earlier, following mounting pressure from gender-based violence activists. The legal and administrative battles around this fund show no sign of quieting down. Instead, they hint at a system that requires urgent reform.

What comes next for the youth of KZN

Premier Ntuli’s promise of accountability is a step that many welcomed. Yet young entrepreneurs will be watching closely to see whether action follows words. The fund was created as a lifeline for emerging businesses in one of the country’s most economically strained provinces. For future beneficiaries, restoring credibility is as important as distributing the money itself.

This moment could serve as a turning point if the province commits to stronger oversight and clearer processes. The young people of KwaZulu-Natal deserve a fund that works for them, not against them.