Altogether, 135 Grade Nine and 10 learners were inaugurated as the City of Ekurhuleni’s junior councillors in the council chambers in Germiston on August 13.
The junior council is a programme led by the city’s citizen responsibility campaigns office working with the Gauteng Department of Education.
The aim is to educate learners about local government systems. Learners are elected to serve as junior councillors through geographical and gender representation.
The sitting saw six new office bearers being sworn in, in the positions of junior mayor, junior deputy mayor, junior speaker, junior deputy speaker, junior chairperson of chairpersons and junior spokesperson.
The criteria for election included a two-minute presentation by candidates, motivating why they are fit for the positions they aspired to occupy.
In her address, speaker of council alderman Patricia Kumalo emphasised the importance of educating learners about local governance systems through platforms such as the junior city council.
The new office bearers are Katlego Makgata (mayor), Arthur Lukhozi (deputy mayor), Manthepa Setena (speaker), Kabelo Hlongwane (deputy speaker), Phuthi Lamola (chair of chairs) and Katlego Mambana (spokesperson).
