New junior City Council Executive Committee members elected

Following an inaugural meeting held on 6 August 2022, the Junior City Council (JCC) elected their Executive Committee Members this past weekend.

The Junior City Council (JCC) elected their executive committee members on Saturday, August 13, 2022, following the inaugural meeting and orientation day held on 6 August 2022.

Speaker, Ald. Felicity Purchase, as well as the Executive Deputy Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Alderman Eddie Andrews, and the parents of the Junior Councillors attended the meetings which were held in the Banqueting Hall and the Council Chambers of the Cape Town Civic Centre, respectively.

During the inaugural meeting, Alderman Purchase explained how the JCC was established as a forum for high school learners from Grade 10 to 11 to broaden their knowledge of local government, with special reference to municipal matters; in order for them to understand the scope and extent of the functions performed by local authorities.

The composition of the JCC has since been redesigned to more closely align the schools in each of the City's 21 subcouncils with governance and service delivery in Cape Town.

For his part, Alderman Andrews encouraged the Junior Councillors to use the JCC to effect change in their own communities, as this was an opportunity for them to express their voice.

Councillor Donovan Nelson who, along with Councillor Tami Jackson, is a custodian of the JCC, stated that: 'We are ecstatic about the new executive team. These Junior Councillors are devoted, radical, and outspoken. They are cognisant of the needs in their communities, and we are looking forward to collaborating with them to meet those needs.'

The executive committee includes the Junior Mayor, the Junior Deputy Mayor, the Junior Speaker, and the Junior Chief Whip. The JCC is comprised of students from all parts of the city.

Officials from the Independent Electoral Commission and the custodians of the Junior City Council, Councillors Donovan Nelson and Tami Jackson, were present at the meeting to ensure a free and fair election.

The newly elected executive are as follows:

Executive Junior Mayor: Leah Tshotwana

Executive Junior Deputy Mayor: Mika'il Toefy

Junior Speaker: Zinzan Van Wyngaardt

Junior Chief Whip: Inathi Kente

Caption picture one: (From left to right) JCC Custodian Cllr Tami Jackson, Executive Junior Mayor: Leah Tshotwana, JCC Custodian Cllr Donovan Nelson

Source: City Of Cape Town