By Nangamso Mabindla
1 March 2004

Mention the words "council" and "mayor" and the image that comes to mind is the formal meetings of the Buffalo City Council, overseen by the Speaker and Executive Mayor.

But Buffalo City has another council - the Junior Council - made up of representatives from the 19 high schools in the city. Every year each school sends two representatives to sit in council and the 38 councillors then select five executive members, including the Junior Mayor. "The Junior Council represents the younger citizens of Buffalo City," said this year's Junior Mayor, Ryan Hartley from Stirling High School.

Every year the Junior Council raises funds for several projects around the city. "We raise funds for projects that will benefit the city's youth. For instance we have already raised funds for schools that did not have stationery," Hartley said.

A favourite project of the Junior Council was when they took a group of school children from disadvantaged rural schools to East London's Queenspark Zoo. "It warmed my heart every time I noticed the smiles of appreciation. It made us want to do more for the young. They need to feel loved and important," said Hartley.

Junior Deputy Mayor, Sophumla Ngoma from Cambridge High School, echoed his mayor's words. He added that other events being organised this year included the Prefects' Banquet and the Ms and Mr Junior City Council. "The Prefects' Banquet is a gathering of all the schools' prefects so that, as leaders of the city's schools, they can get together. They also have a good time and share ideas, that is very important," said Ngoma, himself a prefect.

The Junior Council intended to become as visible as possible. "Most of the youngsters we represent don't know much about the council. This year though, we're looking at making ourselves known," Ngoma added.

The Junior Council receives a R10 000 budget from the Buffalo City Council. Treasurer Nicole Campbell from Clarendon Girls High School said: "It's not much, but we try and achieve something out that and we also try and get sponsors to assist us with our various projects."

However, the Junior Council's biggest goal was to work hand-in-hand with the Senior Council and become the voice of the city's youth. "The point is to assist in some of the city's projects. We would like to be involved in mobilising the youth to participate," said Hartley.

The Junior Council helped out at the recent ceremony where four of the city's important people were given the Freedom of the City. They organised youngsters to be ushers at the event. The Junior Council will also be assisting with organising volunteers for the upcoming South African games.

Of importance to the youngsters that take part in the Junior Council is the fact that it is an independent body: "We make our own decisions - there are no adults here," said the young mayor.