Cape Town Junior City Council elects Junior Mayor, executive
20 May 2026
After a month-long internal campaign, the Junior City Council this past Saturday continued its longstanding tradition by electing a Junior Mayor, a Junior Deputy Mayor, a Junior Speaker, and a Junior Chief Whip.
The elected Executive Members are:
1. Junior Mayor: Pierce Beaulieu
2. Junior Deputy Mayor: Samantha September
3. Junior Speaker: Lunam Gusha
4. Junior Chief Whip: Lilah Barenes
In an exciting first for the JCC, five assistant Junior Whips were also elected for each JCC Sub-group, marking a new chapter of youth leadership, teamwork, and representation within the programme.
Newly-elected Junior Mayor, Pierce Beaulieu said, ‘I am incredibly honoured to serve as Junior Mayor of Cape Town, not because of the title itself, but because of what it represents; the opportunity to listen, to lead, and to amplify the voices of young people across the city.’
He continued to state that ‘leadership is rooted in service and that real impact begins when people feel heard, supported and empowered to act’.
Beaulieu is a Grade 11 learner at the American International School of Cape Town and resides in Hout Bay. Junior Deputy Mayor September is a Grade 11 learner at Parow High School and is from Elsies River. Junior Speaker Gusha attends Sea Point High as a Grade 11 learner and is from Khayelitsha while Junior Chief Whip Barenes, also in Grade 11, attends Fairmont High School and is from Durbanville.
The JCC executive elections were also attended by the 2025 Junior Mayor, Michael-Daniel Bam who inspired the 2026 cohort to lead with purpose, look beyond titles and continue building hope within communities.
Mayoral Committee Member for Water & Sanitation, Cllr Zahid Badroodien gave a keynote address reminding the JCC cohort that every voice matters and that youth participation remains vital in strengthening our democracy.
‘We are incredibly proud of each junior councillor who participated in the executive elections. It is quite remarkable to witness the dynamic, confident visionaries that we have within the JCC. Each learner brings a different perspective and seeing the various campaigns this past month has elevated that. We look forward to the year ahead, growing and leading alongside the newly elected executive and JCC Cohort as a whole,’ said co-custodians Cllr Nicola Jowell and Cllr Nicole Sukers.
The programme is designed to empower Grade 10 and 11 students. The JCC provides an unparalleled platform for young leaders to refine their skills, elevate their self-confidence, and embrace their potential as agents of change.
Caption 1: The newly elected Junior City Council Mayor, Pierce Beulieu officially steps into leadership, representing a new generation of young changemakers committed to civic engagement and advocacy.
Caption 2: The 2026 Junior City Council cohort together with the newly elected Executive Leadership following the official election proceedings. This cohort represents a diverse collective of young leaders from across Cape Town, united by a shared commitment to leadership, active citizenship, and creating meaningful change within their communities.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
