New junior town council announced
A moving ceremony was held on Saturday 21 October, as recognition was given to the outgoing Junior Town Council (JTC) of Mossel Bay, and the newly-elected JTC (2023/24) was welcomed.
During the event, teachers from the schools from which the junior councillors come and parents were welcomed and thanked for their part in supporting the young councillors.
The JTC operates under facilitation of the Youth and Sports Development Office in the Directorate of Community Services of the Mossel Bay Municipality.
Annually, 26 JTC members are elected, representing the local high schools.
Grade 11 and 12 learners serve on the JTC. It is a superb platform to develop the youth and expose them to local government as well as public leadership, the municipality noted in a statement.
Apart from their participation in various projects, some being of their own initiative and others presented by the municipality, the junior councillors this year also attended several open monthly municipal council meetings.
The JTC meets once a month. As part of their leadership training, the members of the JTC’s executive committee were hosted by members of the Mayoral Committee for job shadowing sessions, where valuable mentorship took place, the municipality noted.
At the event, outgoing junior mayor Ayabonga Hlumkeza said the young councillors had expanded their reach by their involvement in many projects during the year.
The new JTC executive consists of: Dintle Sima (junior mayor), Reece Meyer (junior deputy mayor), Shaun-Lee Remas (municipal manager), Kim Petersen (executive member: Community Services), Geordan Wesso (executive member: Sport), Keano Fortuin (executive member: Youth) and Natasha Zungu (speaker).
"We have a bright future ahead of us. In the coming months and year, I am confident that we will continue to build on our past successes and create an even brighter future for those who come after us,” Sima said.