Manqoba Katane of Parktown Boys’ High School and Yakov Scheilder of King Edward VII School were elected chairperson of management and chief whip of the council respectively.
Katane said this was an opportunity for him to bring about the change he wanted to see in Johannesburg. The tenacious 16-year-old said one of the council’s priorities was to bring sustainable change into the lives they will touch.
“We want to empower young people to develop self-reliant thinking,” he said.
Katane, who is also a debater, said the council would have a youth dialogue soon to establish what challenges young people faced. “Resolutions from that dialogue will give us direction,” he said.
Scheilder who described himself as outgoing and ambitious was excited and said he felt blessed to have been elected onto the council, “At the same time I understand the great responsibilities that come with the position,” he said. The 16-year-old plays soccer and cricket, but squash is his main sport.
The council is a non-governmental organisation that consists of 76 young leaders in Grade 11, representing 38 schools in Johannesburg. It is a long-established institution in the City of Johannesburg, dating back to 1928 which makes it one of the longest running non-profit organisations in the country.
The council was formally associated with the Johannesburg City Council, but is now completely self-sufficient and run by young pupils. Its mission is to develop youth leadership and potential, and to focus on the betterment of the community.
Mentalist Gilan Gork, who was once a member of the junior council, was present to encourage the newly-elected councillors.
“Most of the lessons and skills I learned at council, I still continue to use in my life now – you have an opportunity that most of your peers don’t have, so use it. This is leadership,” said Gork to the incoming members.
