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TAKING over from the old Junior City Council, the new Joburg Student Council is responsible for growing youngsters' interest in local government affairs.
Mayor Amos Masondo helps junior mayor, Thandeka Shongwe, with her garb of office
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ORE than 100 learners have been appointed to serve on the City's newly launched Joburg Student Council. The council, comprising of 112 learners from around the city, was launched on Wednesday, 20 June, at the Apartheid Museum. It replaces the old Johannesburg Junior Council.
Thandeka Shongwe, from Lanceavale Secondary School in Eldorado Park, was elected junior mayor, while Palesa Nombula, from Trinity Secondary School in Lenasia, is the new junior speaker.
Among those present were Executive Mayor Amos Masondo; Mavela Dlamini, the City manager; Nkele Ntingane, the Speaker of the council; members of the Gauteng department of education; and members of the mayoral committee.
The student council would liaise with the City council and was charged with stimulating the interest of the youth in local government affairs, Masondo said. It would also create a platform for the youth to influence the council on issues directly affecting them and younger children.
Masondo called on youngsters to use the opportunities created by democracy to uplift themselves. "We have plans that continue to guide the work that we do on youth development."
Setting up youth units and forums and using the council's facilities to create jobs were some of the steps the City was taking to help the youth, he noted, adding that Joburg would use the World Cup to empower young people.
"I know the students will be good role models for younger learners and fellow youth in grade 11 in the coming academic year," he said, congratulating all those who were appointed to the council.
Work towards setting up the student council started in March, after the City sent out invitations to 160 schools around the city. After months of consultation, the council also had its first formal meeting on the launch day, at which the portfolio committee was elected in the presence of officials from the Independent Electoral Committee.
The committee has portfolios such as health, finance and transport. "We hope it will create a sense of civic awareness and pride, engender interest in local government affairs, create a future pool of local government activists and give youth an opportunity to influence policies affecting it," Ntingane said.
The council would give the learners experience in debating, chairing meetings and speech writing, and it would be a place where they could meet other youngsters from varied backgrounds. It would meet once a month at various council offices around the city, she said, noting that it would be mentored by members of the City's executive committee.
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