On Thursday 22 October 2015, Overstrand’s recently elected Junior Town Council for 2015/2016 was inaugurated during a rather poignant event held in the Hermanus Auditorium.
Following on Speaker Anton Coetsee’s words of welcome, former junior town councillor Hope Botes, a pupil attending Northcliff House, enthralled the attendees with her beautiful rendition of Hallelujah, accompanying herself on the guitar.
Thereafter, outgoing junior mayor Johan van der Merwe took to the podium to thank Overstrand Municipality for the opportunities afforded him and his fellow junior council members, promising that "the skills instilled in us as learners during our term of office will be shared with other children at the respective schools” and declaring unequivocally that the outgoing council takes pride in being “associated with a municipality that is truly a centre of excellence”.
Before moving on to welcoming the incoming junior council, Executive Mayor Nicolette Botha-Guthrie took the time to thank outgoing junior council members and to hand each a certificate of recognition. Reiterating the fact that she is a passionate supporter of youth development, Botha-Guthrie added that she believes that the junior town council programme will serve the outgoing members well since they have been afforded the opportunity to explore their leadership potential and now have a better understanding of how public affairs ought to be handled. "As tomorrow's visionary leaders, I believe you are now equipped to work relentlessly towards ensuring the best interest of our society at large,” she added.
The Mayor then introduced each new incoming member in turn, whilst handing out specially designed scarves bearing the municipal logo. Her message for the new incumbents, too, cut to the chase: “We particularly look towards the junior town council to provide insight into and to advise us on issues ranging from teenage substance abuse and sexual activities to a lack of discipline and unruly behaviour, all of which could compromise the future of our youth. With the guidance of your mentors, you are going to play an integral role in promoting community service and good governance whilst raising awareness around important social issues, and we trust you will fulfil this calling as best you can,” she said.
It was then time for the newly elected junior mayor Kaci van Romburgh, a pupil attending Curro in Hermanus, to address the audience and state her vision for the year ahead “I am pleased to be voted in as junior mayor for 2015/2016, and understand and know the challenge that goes with the title. As executive, we will try our utmost to uphold the Overstrand’s values and we will represent our schools in a manner that will make our peers and schools proud,” Kaci said.
In Overstrand, junior town councillors are elected from amongst the ranks of those pupils who will be in Grade 10 or 11 following on the year of the elections and their nomination to serve on this council must be thoroughly supported and duly seconded in writing by their peers.
Prior to election, each nominee is afforded the opportunity to deliver a short presentation on his or her vision for the local youth and the communities he or she will be representing. Thereafter schools have the option to either appoint members from their Representative Council of Learners to the junior town council or to call for a ballot.
Finally, following on a meet-and-greet session held with the Executive Mayor, two deputy mayors and area representatives from Gansbaai, Stanford, Hermanus, Zwelihle, Mount Pleasant, Hawston and Kleinmond, a final decision is reached as to who will represent the youth on the junior council.
Here, having fittingly closed this poignant occasion by singing the National Anthem with the strident voice of deputy junior mayor Phumeza Doda, a learner at Qhayiya Primary, taking the lead, the group took a moment to pose for the official 2015/2016 group photo.