Former Cape Town Mayor, Theresa Solomon, has died. Born in 1945 in District Six, Solomon served as mayor from 1996 to 1998 after the first local government elections in a democratic South Africa. She went on to represent the country on the international stage as High Commissioner to Tanzania and later to Canada. Solomon played a critical role in mobilising civic organisations in the 1970s to campaign for basic services such as schools, hospitals, and police stations in communities affected by forced removals. She is being remembered for her lifelong dedication to justice, activism, and community development, particularly on the Cape Flats.
Her grassroots efforts brought meaningful change to marginalised areas during one of the most turbulent periods in South Africa’s history.
“As a mother, activist, and leader, her legacy will continue to inspire future generations,” said Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis in a statement.
