Pierce Beaulieu brings a youth voice to Cape Town’s corridors of power and he has big plans.
He has lived in several Cape Town suburbs, attended international schools, and spent weekends volunteering at soup kitchens and working with conservation groups.

Now Pierce, a learner at the American International School of Cape Town, has taken on one of the most prominent youth leadership roles. He is now the city junior executive mayor of Cape Town’s Junior City Council (JCC).

To commemorate Youth Day, People’s Post sat down with the Hout Bay teen to find out what drives him, what he hopes to achieve, and what he wants to say to young people across Cape Town.

A city that shaped him

Pierce’s family moved to Cape Town nearly 11 years ago, and he has lived in several suburbs across the city since then, spending much of his time in Hout Bay.

Moving between communities gave him an early and honest view of Cape Town’s contrasts.

“Moving between areas exposed me to very different communities, perspectives, and realities, which made me more aware of both the diversity and the inequalities that exist across Cape Town,” he says.

Hout Bay, he says, brings those contrasts into sharp focus.

“You see very different lived experiences side by side, which reinforces the importance of empathy, connection, and creating more equal access to opportunities.”

Outside school and the council chamber, Pierce volunteers regularly at homeless shelters and soup kitchens and is involved with conservation groups working on environmental challenges. These causes, he says, reflect the values he has built his leadership around.

Why the JCC?

For Pierce, the decision to join the Junior City Council came down to one thing: real impact.

“When I first looked into it, I saw the tangible impact previous members had made, and that made it feel real,” he says. “I’ve always believed that leadership should be about service, and the JCC felt like a space where I could actively contribute to my community while also learning from others who care just as much.” As Junior Executive Mayor, he is clear that the role carries weight beyond a title.

“It’s about making sure that when I speak, I’m not speaking for myself, but for a broader group of voices that often aren’t heard,” he says.

Big plans for the council

Pierce arrives with a full agenda. His first priority is getting to know every councillor individually. He wants to understand what they care about and help them bring their ideas to life.

From there, he wants to build the council’s public presence. This includes a central JCC website, a weekly newsletter, and an expanded social media presence. He is planning a TikTok platform specifically aimed at reaching young people.

He also has his eye on hands-on community work, planning a JCC volunteer day and a charity event to ensure the council’s impact is felt beyond meeting rooms.

“My goal is to create a council that is more connected, more accessible, and more action-driven, where every councillor feels supported and every idea has the potential to become something real,” he says

Juggling school and the council

Managing a mayoral role alongside his studies is no small task for any teenager. Pierce says the key is being intentional with time and knowing he does not have to do it all alone.

“Leadership isn’t something you do alone. Having that support system makes it possible to manage both effectively,” he says.

The lessons Pierce has gathered in leadership so far are grounded and practical.

“Leadership is less about having the right answers and more about asking the right questions and listening. It’s about consistency showing up, following through, and being someone people can rely on,” he says. His personal philosophy is just as straightforward.

“Leadership is service. If the work you’re doing isn’t benefiting others or creating some form of positive change, then it loses its purpose.”

A message for Youth Month

Pierce’s message to young Capetonians this June is simple: do not wait.

“Your voice matters now. You don’t need to wait to be older, more experienced, or to have a title to make a difference,” he says.

“Real change doesn’t start with authority, it starts with people who care enough to step up and follow through.”

If he could change one thing for young people in Hout Bay right now, he says it would be access to educational resources, extracurricular programmes, and mentorship.

“There is so much potential in Hout Bay, but not everyone has the same access to develop it. Creating more equal access would have a long-term impact not just on individuals, but on the community as a whole,” he says.

For Pierce, that is what Youth Month should really be about, not just celebrating young people, but making sure every one of them has the chance to rise.

The Junior City Council is a City of Cape Town initiative that gives young people a formal platform to engage with local government and champion issues that matter to their communities.

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