- Ward 77 councillor Francine Higham has been appointed as the Mayco member for community services and health while retaining her role as ward councillor.
- She succeeds Patricia van der Ross, who will now serve Subcouncil 6 and various portfolio committees.
- Higham expressed her commitment to continuing service delivery and enhancing community facilities, while Van der Ross reflected on her tenure with gratitude.
There have been some changes in the mayor’s office with Ward 77 councillor Francine Higham now assuming the role of Mayco member for community services and health.
Higham will still retain her position as councillor for the ward.
She takes over the baton from Patricia van der Ross who will now be serving the residents of Subcouncil six.
Van der Ross will serve the broader metro as a member of various portfolio committees, explained Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis when he made the announcement last week.
“Councillor Higham has been at the forefront of our efforts to expand Safe Space shelter in the CBD and help more people off the streets sustainably by offering social developmental interventions and dignified transitional shelter, as the ward councillor for parts of the City Bowl and Bo-Kaap.”
Hill-Lewis said Higham also has important insight into the daily challenges the City faces in its mission to ensure quality community facilities and parks for Capetonians.
“She also brings years of communications experience from both the private sector and government to help us consolidate the societal partnerships needed in this critical community service delivery portfolio.”
He expressed his gratitude to Van der Ross for her dedication.
“My thanks to councillor Patricia van der Ross for her work in this portfolio, and I wish her all the best in her continued work serving the residents of Subcouncil six.”
Hill-Lewis said Higham previously worked in the Western Cape Department for Finance and Economic Opportunities and various private sector communications roles prior to this.
Higham has served as the councillor for Ward 77 since 2021 as well as the Portfolio committee for community services and health.
Higham said she will continue to serve all the residents of this community “to the best of my abilities”.
“I think my record speaks for itself. We’ve delivered a number of projects over the last three years that benefit residents across the ward, from CCTV cameras to new play equipment in parks, refurbishing and reopening ablution facilities, upgrades to roads and other infrastructure in the public realm, and more.”
She adds that service delivery will remain her priority.
“We’ve also assisted many residents with particular service delivery challenges, and many residents with their rates rebate applications. I look forward to continuing to work with our residents and community stakeholders to get things done in Ward 77.”
Higham said she is ready to take on the new role.
“I’m incredibly honoured and humbled to be appointed. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with the directorate to ensure our community facilities and public spaces are wonderful and safe for all to enjoy, and that the most vulnerable in our communities are being assisted through our many social care programmes.”
Starting in her new position on Monday 3 February, Van der Ross said: “My new journey is different, but I am always up for a challenge.”
She said it was a privilege to serve in that role. She recalls some of the fun memories.
“I enjoyed every opportunity from being involved in the Netball World Cup to the Bayhill soccer u-19 tournament, from the different club tournaments to women’s soccer. From the arts of our Malay choirs to discovering new stars.
“Then the highlight was getting our grass-cutting tender in place after a few years and also the opening (weather delayed) of our swimming pools and getting a maintenance plan for our respective swimming pools. Then there’s the amazing staff at our respective facilities that have found their passion again for what they were doing.”
She expressed her gratitude to everyone she worked with.
“I want to thank all the respective codes in sport, arts and culture, health and clinics for opening their doors and allowing me to be part of their communities. I laughed, played, cried but overall I enjoyed every moment. Thank you to all the officials that assisted me in my tenure; I appreciate you all. To my office staff, I owe all our success to you, I appreciate you all.”
