Junior Council to empower young voices

IN AN INNOVATIVE initiative, the Office on the Rights of the Child at the Northern Cape Premier's Office is establishing a Junior Council in various wards to ensure that young voices are heard.

Wards 3, 5, 9, 13 and 28 in Kimberley, within the Sol Plaatje Municipality, have thus far been identified for the pilot project, which will allow children to stand for election as junior members of the local municipal council.

The manager of the Office on the Rights of the Child, Daphne Mandabane, explained that the wards were selected based on councillor responsiveness.

“We identified these wards based on the interactions we had with the ward councillors serving in those wards,” said Mandabane.

Mandabane outlined that Junior Council members will be responsible for addressing issues affecting children.

“Different forums will be established in the different wards. The forums will then elect ward ambassadors, who will form the Junior Council for Sol Plaatje Municipality. Each ward will have an ambassador to represent and convey local challenges. Elections will mirror municipal processes. The children in these wards will elect the ambassadors who will represent them in council.’

She said the Junior Council aims to empower future leaders and also address municipal legislation and challenges from the children’s perspective.

“The Junior Council will be composed of learners aged between 12 and 17 who are in Grades 8 to 10. Learners in Grades 11 and 12 will not be able to stand for election or be part of the Junior Council due to their academic workload. We do not want to add to the pressure those two school grades are already facing.”

Mandabane clarified that the Junior Council is not a shadowing exercise.

“This will not be a dress rehearsal or a pretend council in children’s form. The Junior Council will actively be working and deliberating on challenges impacting children in their wards. They will have to sit and debate during council meetings, as the council members currently do.

“They will study municipal legislation and other laws and see whether those laws are effectively implemented in their wards, and address challenges that children especially are facing. The Junior Council will deliberate on matters relating to education, health care, the environment, and municipal issues. Solutions proposed will inform government decision-making and how these matters impact the child in the municipal area.”

Mandabane added that community buy-in is essential to make the project a success.

“The Office on the Rights of the Child is engaging councillors, parents and communities to gain the support of the different wards. Interested wards that want to be part of the pilot project can contact the Office of the Rights of the Child at the Premier's Office.

“This innovative project aims to institutionalise children's rights in local government, fostering a child-friendly community. We envision having our first Junior Council sitting in the Sol Plaatje Municipality chambers by March next year,” Mandabane concluded.