National Youth Development Agency Act, 2008 (Act No. 54 of 2008)5. Functions of the Agency |
| (1) | The Agency must, in order to achieve its objects,— |
| (a) | establish competencies and capabilities in its operations including the following functional areas— |
| (i) | National Youth Service and Social Cohesion; |
| (ii) | Economic Participation; |
| (iii) | Policy, Research and Development; |
| (iv) | Governance, Training and Development; |
| (v) | Youth Advisory and Information Services; and |
| (vi) | National Youth Fund; |
| (b) | establish offices of the Agency at provincial and local levels and appoint the necessary personnel to those offices. |
| (2) | The Agency may, in order to achieve its objects,— |
| (a) | carry out or cause to be carried out any investigation that it deems necessary; |
| (b) | consider such recommendations, suggestions and requests concerning youth affairs as it may receive from any source; or |
| (c) | conduct or cause to be conducted such research as it may deem necessary. |
| (3) | The Agency must manage and administer Umsobomvu Fund. |
| (4) | The Agency must, for purposes of subsection (3) and within its available resources, amongst others— |
| (a) | provide career guidance services; |
| (b) | provide access to information regarding products and services of the National Youth Fund; |
| (c) | create and administer databases of employment opportunities; |
| (d) | provide financial assistance to youths to enable them to further their careers; |
| (e) | provide financial assistance to small, micro and medium enterprises, and cooperatives owned by youth; |
| (f) | provide mentoring services aimed at empowering youths in the economy; |
| (g) | provide bridging programmes for youths to facilitate the transition from school or training to the work environment; |
| (h) | provide training regarding the concepts and principles of entrepreneurship and business to youths; |
| (i) | provide training relating to the personal development of youths; |
| (j) | provide training and guidance relating to the establishing and managing of businesses for youths; |
| (k) | provide training for unemployed youths to enhance their life and professional skills which would enable them to be integrated into the economy; |
| (l) | provide opportunities for training, that will promote service to communities and the nation at large; and |
| (m) | provide such other services as may be necessary to achieve the aim contemplated in subsection (3). |