National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Board Chairperson Andile Lungisa has been appointed to serve on the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Council chaired by President Jacob Zuma.
Lungisa's appointment is in-line with his extensive experience and knowledge of youth development issues. The council made up of 19 members is expected to review progress in achieving black economic empowerment, advice on the draft codes of good practice and the draft transformation charters if required. According to President Zuma the council is also required to facilitate partnerships between organs of state and the private sector that will advance the objectives of the BBEEE Act.
In his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) President Zuma made an undertaking that government would implement B-BBEE and affirmative action policies in recognition of the need to correct the imbalances of the past. The council, which is expected to meet quarterly, will sit for its first meeting next month.
Other members to serve on the Council include Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies, Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana, Minister of Economic Development Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya, Professor of Macro-economic policy, economics and public finance at the Wits University Graduate School of Public and Development Management, Professor Mohammed I Jahed, Businesswoman and founder of Peotona Group Holdings and former CEO of First Rand and Executive Director of Rand Merchant Bank Ms Wendy Lucas-Bull and Chief Executive of Business Unity South Africa Mr Jerry Vilakazi.
"As an organisation we can assist companies score points for preferential procurement and enterprise development by working with youth enterprises on our Business Opportunities Support Service database. I will therefore use my appointment onto the Council to push for more youth enterprises to benefit from B-BBEE," says Lungisa.
For information contact:
Siyabonga Magadla
Cell: 083 686 9016
Refilwe Mphane
Cell: 084 308 5860
Source: National Youth Development Agency
