KNYSNA NEWS - The Youth Desk at Knysna Municipality has opened the nomination process for prospective members to be elected to the new Youth Council.

Youths aged between 14 and 35 from all wards of the greater Knysna area are invited to take part in this process.

"This is an important opportunity to influence the way this municipality deals with issues that directly affect you," said Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Community Services Elmarie Maxim.

She stressed that it is very important to nominate eligible members from your community that can accurately represent your needs, and be your voice on the new Youth Council. 

"The Youth Council is the vehicle that mobilises the youth of Knysna to act as agents for change through active citizenship, meaningful community participation, entrepreneurship and the improvement of their own lives - and the lives of those around them."

According to a recent municipal press release, all nomination forms must be submitted through the proper channels and received no later than 26 August.

All qualifying candidates will have an opportunity to present an election manifesto at a public meeting before the election takes place. Provision is also made to ensure fair gender representation, as voters will be able to cast two votes, one each for the female and male candidate that they consider will represent their best interests on the Youth Council.

"The Knysna Youth Council aims to be the voice of our youth in terms of civil matters," Maxim said. "It promotes leadership qualities and a healthy interest in municipal, administrative and community matters. It organises projects that are in line with the aims of Council to benefit the community and especially the youth.

"It promotes a better understanding between the different language groups and fosters mutual understanding and appreciation for each other - not despite their differences, but because of them.

"I urge you to take part in this process, to take part in building an inclusive, innovative and inspired Knysna."

Nomination forms are available from all libraries, the main municipal building in Clyde Street, Knysna, and on the municipal website at https://www.knysna.gov.za/live-here/youth-gender/.

How will it work?

• Completed nomination forms must be submitted to the municipality before 26 August.
• Nominees must be aged between 14 and 35 for the duration of the two-year term of the Knysna Youth Council.
• Only persons aged between 14 and 35 may nominate candidates for election.
• Nominees must reside within one of the wards of the Knysna Municipality.
• Nominees must be seconded by at least 20 people (also aged between 14 and 35) who live in the same ward as the nominee.
• Nominees must accept such nomination to be considered for eligibility.
• Nominees must have a clean criminal record of at least five years, with no cases pending against them
• Only persons aged between 14 and 35 may take part in the electoral process and they must provide a form of identification.
• Voters must vote for one female and one male representative from each ward. In areas where only one gender is represented on the ballot, voters may cast two votes for one candidate.
• Any ballot that does not show one vote per gender in the wards where both genders are represented on the ballot, will be deemed as spoiled and will not be counted.
• The male and female candidate with the most votes in each ward will be elected to the Knysna Youth Council.
• The two male and female candidates with the next most votes per ward will become members of the Ward Youth Forum.
• Knysna Municipality will be the electoral authority with officials of the Directorate of Community Services as the presiding officers.

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