Scores of youth, dressed in their school uniforms converged on to the City of Johannesburg’s New Council Chamber at the weekend not to listen to long debates between political rivals.
They were at the Metro Centre to get inspiration and motivation from the previous alumni, which formed part of the 10th anniversary of Johannesburg Student Council. The event took place on Saturday, 20 October 2018.
The Speaker of Council, Cllr Vasco da Gama, said the celebrations added value and strengthened the programme to sustain democracy in the City. The alumni of the Johannesburg Student Council shared their important milestone, with good, bad and moments of truths with the current Johannesburg Student Councillors.
“I am always captivated by the extraordinary minds of the young learners whom I have had the privilege to encounter on the Student Council with their thirst for knowledge and their curiosity on democracy and how Council works.
“I feel confident that our country is moving in the right direction when it comes to investment in our youth,” said Cllr Da Gama.
Without forgetting the alumni, he alluded that they have made great strides in their personal lives and careers and feels very proud about it. Some of them have qualified as medical doctors and globe-trotting businesspeople.
The alumni had a lot to share to the current JSC, encouraging them not to lose sight of their dreams no matter the difficulties in the journey.
“Failure is not a person, but an event that happens in life, mishaps and failure are part and parcel of everyone in the journey of life”, said Wallied Fraser, an alumni.
There was a panel of discussion by the guest speakers and alumni Dr Fatima Hoosen, who is medical doctor based at Edenvale Hospital, Khaya Hlophe-Kunene, who is a chartered accountant and an award-winning entrepreneur with links on the continent and the US, and Sabelo Myeni, who is an educationist and head of Mindworx Academy on topics such as artificial intelligence and African entrepreneurship, among others.
Former Speaker of Council Nkele Ntingame thanked the Council and Cllr Da Gama for the opportunity and people of Johannesburg she once served.
