Kouga welcomes first Youth Ward Committee

HANKEY – Kouga Municipality welcomed its first ever Junior Ward Committee for Ward 9 in Hankey earlier this month – a first for the Eastern Cape.

The brainchild of Ward 9 Councillor, Cynthia August, the aim of the dynamic committee – consisting of ten grade 11-learners from Hankey Secondary School – is to help coordinate, promote and advocate for youth; in particular youth appropriate strategies and practices within the Kouga region.

They will work closely with the ten elected Ward 9 committee members in their different portfolios:

• Agriculture
• Businesses
• Environmental
• Education and Religion
• Ratepayers
• Safety and Security
• Sport
• Tourism
• Youth, Elderly, Women, and those living with Disabilities.

With youth members holding positions on the ward committee, communication and dialogue between the municipality, residents, and youth will be improved 

Kouga Speaker, Brenton Williams, said, “This Council serves as a platform to bring young residents together and to create opportunities for their voices to be heard, as well as a structured opportunity to have a positive impact through support for issues, causes, and organisations they are passionate about.

“It is their purpose not to serve themselves, but to serve the residents of the region and in doing so, be change makers – transforming the community they live in.”