A Grade Nine learner from Sunward Park High School, Katlego Mambana, was recently chosen as the Ekurhuleni Junior Council spokesperson during the inauguration which took place at the Council Chambers in Germiston on August 16.
Initiated in 2015, the Junior City Council is represented by junior councillors from different schools across the three regions of Ekurhuleni.
Altogether, 135 Grade Nine and Grade 10 learners were inducted on the day.
The Advertiser spoke to Mambana at her school. She expressed her excitement for the new position she’s been entrusted to.
The 14-year-old, who lives in Spruitview (Vosloorus) with her mother and sister, is fascinated by the business world, the merchandising, business ethics and how money grows in business.
“I have learned valuable lessons from my parents which have groomed me to the person I am today.
“I don’t follow trends that young people desire or follow but I do things that excite me at my own pace.”
Katlego said during her spare time she likes playing soccer on her cellphone and watching Brain Games on the National Geographic channel.
“At the beginning of August, myself and three other learners were told by the deputy principal to write a motivational letter on how they would make an impact in the junior council.
“We were then chosen to be the representative from Sunward Park High School. When we got to the Council Chambers in Germiston they told us about the role of junior councillors.
“The criteria for election included a two-minute presentation by candidates, motivating why we are fit for the positions we aspired to occupy.”
The top six positions include the mayor, deputy mayor, speaker, deputy speaker, chair-of-chair and spokesperson.
Katlego said her “employment speech” was for the mayors’ position but it didn’t go well because she was reading and not making eye contact.
“I was very nervous. I think that is why my fellow councillors didn’t vote for me. I then tried for the second time for the spokesperson position and I spoke boldly from my heart without reading.
“In my speech, I spoke about the issues around government and the public not being able to communicate properly based on an article I recently read in the newspaper.
“I said my job as the spokesperson would be that I will bring back hope to people especially young people and I revealed the positive outcomes of government.”
“I highlighted that we sometimes are fed wrong information about the government.”
Katlego said some of the contributions or values that she will add in the junior council is that she will add practical ideas.
“I am ready for the role and I know that I will learn so much and it will help me to get out of my comfort zone,” Katlego said.
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