Cape Town – The NYDA has denied withholding information from the Public Protector in her probe into a 2010 youth festival.

Media reports citing Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s frustration with the lack of co-operation from the NYDA had taken him by surprise, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) chair Yershen Pillay said on Wednesday.

“We’ve never closed doors with the Public Protector. We’ve provided all information as required by the Public Protector on the festival,” he told Parliament’s appropriations committee.

The NYDA had heard through the media that Madonsela had accused it of withholding information, delaying the completion of the probe.

“We have it in black and white that the report is ready to be tabled, so we don’t understand why it comes to the media that information is missing,” Pillay said.

He said the probe was a “cloud hanging over the institution”.

“It’s an event that took place in 2010. Can we close that chapter and move on? The sooner, the better for us,” Pillay said.

Madonsela is probing the World Federation of Democratic Youth festival which cost the taxpayer over R100 million.

The nine-day event was dubbed the “kissing festival” after delegates were seen playing kissing games while waiting for sessions to begin.

It was plagued by disorganisation, and millions of rand were spent on balloons, confetti, musicians, poets, backpacks, caps, golf shirts, bottled water, and even a tombstone for the event.

– SAPA