New George Junior City Council announced

GEORGE NEWS - The 2021 George Junior City Council (JCC) held its last official event on Wednesday 27 October, when the new executive committee of the JCC for 2022 was also announced.

The function was held at the George Methodist Church hall and was attended by the parents of the junior city councillors, as well as George Mayor Leon van Wyk and Cllr Liza Stroebel.

In his address, Van Wyk said he has been enormously impressed with the leadership qualities the junior council members have shown during their tenure in council the last year.

"I inherited a substantial challenge to lead the turnaround of our municipality and to restore a high standard of service delivery to our ratepayers. I want to thank my colleague, Cllr Stroebel, for the role she has undertaken on behalf of our George Council in mentoring you," he said.

He said we live in a country that faces enormous challenges - we live in crisis - in an environment where government has seemingly lost its way through lack of leadership.

He said the members of the JCC are some of the young leaders that will have to craft philosophies and skills that will enable them to tackle the changes, challenges and adversity and the opportunities that will result.

He thanked the JCC for outstanding leadership roles displayed and becoming involved and making a difference in civic duties. He also thanked the parents and teachers of the youngsters for their encouragement.

Ludolph Pedro (JCC Mayor 2021) drapes the ceremonial mayoral chain around the neck of Ruan Coetzee (JCC Mayor 2022).

Liza Stroebel, affectionately known by the JCC members as "tannie Liza", the mayoral representative who oversees the JCC on behalf of the mayor of George, has served her last term in council and said this was a bittersweet moment.

She said the leadership qualities that JCC members displayed over the past few years, gives her tremendous hope for our youth. She honoured God for His grace in allowing her this opportunity.

She said she will never forget all the greatness that was achieved through and by the JCC and asked the audience to take these words with them: "Learn as much as you can … to show yourself approved. Love as much as you can…to gain love in return, and serve as much as you can… to reap your harvest."

Junior Mayor Ludolph Pedro and Junior Speaker McKaya Kroon both made magnificent speeches about their tenure in the JCC, saying that they grew as human beings, that being involved in helping with civic issues groomed them for the future and that the JCC members have became a family and friends for life.

The old and the new executive committee of the George Junior City Council with Mayor of George Leon van Wyk and Cllr Liza Stroebel. In front from left are: Carla Kruger JCC (Deputy Mayor 2022), Van Wyk, Stroebel and Ruan Coetzee (Mayor 2022).Back: Aine Ferreira (Deputy Mayor 2021), Inga Jijingubo (Municipal Manager 2022), Clara Campbell (Deputy Speaker 2022), Lindy Prinsloo (Deputy Speaker 2021), McKaya Kroon (Speaker 2021), Jordan Meyer (Speaker 2022) and Ludolph Pedro (Mayor 2021).