Interview: National Youth Service Dismisses Claims of Unfair Recruitment, Promises Transparency

The National Youth Service (NYS) has firmly rejected allegations circulating on social media that its recent 16th intake selection process was manipulated to favour certain individuals. Speaking to our newsroom, NYS Public Relations Officer Belinda Hamburee assured the public that the recruitment was conducted fairly and in line with the institution’s inclusive national mandate.

Hamburee explained that the NYS received an unprecedented 11,000 applications for this intake — the highest in the organisation’s history — but budgetary limitations allowed only 1,000 youth to be recruited. Of these, 700 will be trained at Henties Bay Training Centre and 300 at Rietfontein Training Centre.

To ensure regional equity, NYS aims to select at least eight youths from each of Namibia’s 121 constituencies. Hamburee said that where constituencies did not meet the quota — either due to a lack of applications or applicants failing to meet entry requirements — the remaining slots were fairly redistributed within the same region.

She stressed that the recruitment criteria are strict but transparent, giving preference to applicants with strong academic performance while also setting aside slots for youth from marginalised communities and those identified as vulnerable or problematic, who are referred through constituency councillors or the Office of the Vice President.

Hamburee noted that the NYS relies on the information provided by applicants when determining which constituency they come from, making it challenging to verify every detail beyond what is submitted. “In a democratic country like Namibia, constituencies are not defined by culture, ethnicity, or religion, which makes this verification even more complex,” she said.

Regarding the complaints raised by social justice activist Shaun Gariseb and others, Hamburee pointed out that the same concerns had already been discussed directly with the NYS commissioner before resurfacing online. She described the allegations as misleading and a misrepresentation of the Service’s mandate.

To further clear the air, NYS plans to host a media briefing to address any lingering questions and reaffirm its commitment to accountability. Hamburee urged the public and the media to keep an eye on the Service’s official social media pages for the date and details of the upcoming briefing.