Update

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The first executive of the Bitou Junior Town Council was elected on Tuesday 21 March at a meeting held in the Bitou Council chambers in Plettenberg Bay, with all three positions going to the ladies.

The new junior executive mayor is Faith Scholtz from Plettenberg Bay Secondary School, the deputy mayor is Sunè Coetzee from Wittedrift High School and the speaker Storm Theodosi, also from Wittedrift High School.

In all, 15 junior councillors were sworn in by Bitou Director of Community Services Melony Paulsen. Bitou Mayor Dave Swart, Deputy Mayor Mavis Busakwe and Speaker Claude Terblanche attended the inaugural meeting.

The schools from which the junior councillors were selected are Plettenberg Bay Secondary School, Murray High School, Wittedrift High School, Inside Out Academia and Greenwood Bay College.

Bitou Mayor Dave Swart positions the mayoral chain on Faith Scholtz of Plettenberg Bay Secondary School, the junior council’s new mayor. Looking on are Deputy Mayor Mavis Busakwe (left) and Speaker Claude Terblanche (right).

The junior council is to tackle four projects this year, one per quarter. A list of 18 projects was presented by junior council members and now it is up to the junior council to decide which projects they will tackle. 

Some of these are: Bitou Career Fair (Sunè Coetzee, Wittedrift); Stofpad Primary School upliftment project (Ralu van Huysteen, Wittedrift); clothing containers and hygiene centre for the homeless (Storm Theodosio, Wittedrift); reading homework programme and sanitary pad drive (Rachel van Royen, Inside Out Academia); education development and warm coat drive (Ameera Gani, Greenwood Bay); environmental conversation and upgrading and introducing new sports facilities (Noah Theron, Wittedrift); job opportunities for the youth and assisting learners with science subjects (Malibongwe Mtila, Murray High); and anti-depression and anxiety groups at school (Solakha Noyi, Wittedrift).

Taking the oath of office: Aphelele Xwelesha of Murray High School being sworn in by Bitou Director of Community Services Melanie Paulsen on Tuesday.

Down to business: Bitou Junior Council Mayor Faith Scholtz votes during the election of various junior council committee members.

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