Public reps mulling youth council

DA youngster Deon van der Merwe suggested a non-political body of Grade 10 and 11 learners, wherein they can debate matters impacting them.

The VF+ suggested a mirror council with equal representation among party lines, but the idea was immediately shot down by Mr Van der Merwe.
Mr Van der Merwe said that the voter turnout for first-time voters was just over 20 per cent.

The youth council, Mr Van der Merwe said, is aimed at creating a culture of “responsible politics” among the youth.

He says that due to the divisive nature of politics, the topic is seldom raised around dinner tables where parents lead by example.

Voter turnout among parenting voters was also critically low, with a general turnout of less than 50 per cent during the local government poll.

Speaker Thomas Mpye allowed the motion to pass in principle, on condition that further research into the viability of a youth council is conducted.
Parties agreed that on paper, the establishment of a youth council was tempting and reasonably sound.

Mr Van der Merwe was lauded for providing a feasible, well-researched model of how a youth council would look.
According to his model, the council will have no statutory powers and unremunerated.

It is designed to educate secondary learners from Grades 10 and 11 about the inner workings of both municipalities and councils.
The youth council will be administered by the municipality’s existing youth desk.

A special youth council committee comprising of sitting councillors will be established to oversee the council, with the committee chairman acting as speaker to create a tangible link between the statutory council and the youth formation.

The council will be bound by a code of conduct, with a mayor and chief whip being elected.

Mr Van der Merwe welcomed the support, saying, “As a youth myself, I believe we can strengthen tomorrow’s leaders to become responsible political builders of a prosperous tomorrow.”