At just 16 years old, Michael-Daniel Bam is no stranger to leadership or Cape Town’s sharp contrasts. “I grew up between two very different worlds,” he explains.
A learner at Cedar House High School in Claremont, Bam’s roots trace back to Grassy Park, where he still spends weekends and holidays with family. “Moving between these communities made me aware, from a young age, of the deep socio-economic divide in our city. That awareness pushed me to act.”
Today, that action has the title Junior Mayor of Cape Town. It’s a role he doesn’t take lightly. “I stepped into this position to represent young people who feel unseen and unheard. My mission is to amplify those voices and bridge the gaps that divide us. “The Junior City Council (JCC) is a leadership platform where high school learners from across Cape Town are nominated to represent their communities.
The council simulates real municipal processes, with junior councillors working together to identify challenges in their wards and initiate youth-led community projects. The goal is to cultivate civic responsibility, leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of local government among the city’s youth. “It’s not just about titles,” says Bam “We learn how the city works, but more importantly, we get to do the work, serving, building, and leading in ways that make a real difference.”
Even before the mayoral chain rested on his shoulders, Bam had already founded a youth-led non-profit at just 15 years old. “The Michael Daniel Bam Foundation was born out of a simple belief: we rise by lifting others,” he says. “It’s more than a foundation, it’s a movement.”
The organisation tackles inequality head-on through compassion-driven outreach, including meal distributions, hygiene support, and dignity-focused projects. One of the initiatives he’s most proud of is Project Eudaimonia, a grassroots effort that began with handing out meals and U-Turn vouchers in his local park.
“I wanted people experiencing homelessness to feel seen,” he says. “It started small, but it grew into something powerful, especially during Christmas and Easter, when we extend support across the city. What makes me proud is the real sense of community we’ve built.”
To date, the foundation has assisted over 475 individuals.
As Junior Mayor, Bam has set a bold, clear vision to spark a new era of youth-led transformation in Cape Town.
“Our term must be about more than representation; it must be about responsibility. True leadership is about showing up for others, staying connected to the people we serve, and leading with empathy.”
His 2025 goal for the JCC is to ensure that all 50 junior councillors launch at least one impactful initiative each, resulting in 50 youth-led projects that respond to the real needs of Cape Town communities.
“I want every councillor to become a leader of action,” he says. “Not just in meetings, but in the streets, schools, parks and where our people live.”
Bam encourages fellow JCC members to step beyond the boardroom and into their communities. “Inclusion begins with presence,” he says. “We must go into our wards and say: ‘We want to hear your voice.’ But listening isn’t enough. We need to carry those voices into decision-making spaces.”
He envisions a civic culture built on trust, follow-through and momentum. “The Junior City Council shouldn’t feel distant or elite. It’s a platform every young person should feel they belong to.”
His latest project is as colourful as his vision for Cape Town’s future. He’s preparing to paint a mural at Douglas Road Primary School, a symbol of creativity, pride and upliftment for the learners. “This mural is about more than art, it’s about giving children something beautiful to look at, something that says ‘You matter. This is your space, and you belong here.”
He is actively fundraising for the mural and welcomes support in any form, donations, supplies, or simply helping to spread the word.
For Bam, leadership isn’t about accolades or attention, it’s about service. “You don’t need a title to lead,” he says. “You just need the courage to care, and the will to act. Even the smallest act of leadership can ripple out in ways you’ll never fully see.”
As Junior Mayor and a young Capetonian rooted in privilege and perseverance, Bam is quietly but shaping a more inclusive city: one conversation, one meal, one mural at a time.
And if there’s one thing he wants young people across the city to know, it’s this: “You carry within you a unique voice. Use it. Your story, your truth, your perspective, it’s powerful. And Cape Town needs it.
. Follow his foundation on Instagram @mdb.foundation or get involved with the mural project by contacting info@mdbfoundation.org.za
