Councillor Francine Higham: Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health
With enormous energy and a track record of effective leadership wherever she has served, Francine Higham is appointed as Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.
Vision statement
Councillor Francine Higham
Community Services and Health
Councillor Francine Higham envisions a Community Services and Health Directorate that is responsive, people-centred, and impact-driven—ensuring that every resident of Cape Town has access to safe, well-maintained, and empowering public facilities, programmes, and services.
She recognises that Cape Town’s communities face diverse and complex challenges, from ensuring equitable access to healthcare to maintaining public spaces that enhance well-being and social cohesion. Under her oversight, the Directorate will focus on delivering services that meet residents where they are—ensuring that clinics, libraries, parks, and recreational facilities are not just operational, but actively contributing to healthier, more connected, and greener communities.
This means addressing basic service needs with excellence, such as keeping parks accessible, improving the efficiency of health services, and making libraries hubs for lifelong learning—while also driving innovation to enhance the quality of life for all residents. The goal is not only to respond to challenges but to proactively create opportunities for growth, connection, and community development.
At the core of her leadership is a commitment to collaboration, transparency, and impact. By strengthening partnerships, investing in infrastructure, and improving public engagement, she aims to reshape perceptions of City services and ensure that every initiative finds real meaning in the lives of residents.
Councillor Higham brings to this role a strategic, solutions-driven mindset, honed through years of experience in media, digital technology, and government. She believes in strong communication, active listening, and decisive action—ensuring that the Community Services and Health Directorate remains a pillar of hope, care, progress, and well-being for all who call Cape Town home.
Biography
Councillor Francine Higham was born in Cape Town and raised in the Eastern Cape, where she earned her Bachelor of Journalism at Rhodes University. After graduation, she returned to Cape Town and began her career with Media24 as an online journalist. Her career then took her abroad to London, where she gained extensive experience in the communications and digital industries.
Driven by a desire to contribute to South Africa’s future, she returned home after ten years, bringing her skills and experience to a new role as Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities in the Western Cape Government.
In 2021, she was elected as the Councillor for Ward 77, which includes vibrant areas such as District Six, Gardens, Vredehoek, Oranjezicht, Higgovale, Tamboerskloof, and the Bo-Kaap. She also served on the Portfolio Committee for Community Services and Health before being appointed as the Mayoral Committee Member.
Passionate about improving service delivery, Councillor Higham focuses on innovative solutions in areas such as homelessness, social upliftment, youth development, environmental protection, and the maintenance of public spaces.
She is committed to building a better Cape Town—one where transparent communication, strong partnerships, and responsive services empower every community member to thrive.
Projects and departments
Recreation and Parks: Revitalising public spaces for community well-being
Focused on transforming public areas into safe, accessible, and inspiring spaces, this department is undertaking major upgrades across cemeteries, recreational hubs, sports facilities, and community parks. These projects aim to enhance amenities, upgrade equipment, and refurbish facilities to ensure every space contributes to a healthier, more connected Cape Town.
Community Arts and Culture Development: Fostering safe and creative spaces
This department is dedicated to developing safe environments and enhancing cultural facilities that serve as community hubs. Projects aim to create secure venues, upgrade community centres, and improve the technological resources available to promote local arts, culture, and social inclusion.
Library and Information Services: Empowering communities through knowledge
Key initiatives focus on upgrading community libraries into vibrant resource centres that support individual growth and lifelong learning. Projects include modernising IT infrastructure, expanding digital and physical collections, and renovating library facilities to ensure they remain accessible and engaging for all residents.
City Health: Enhancing health services and environmental standards
City Health projects are designed to transform healthcare delivery by upgrading clinics and health facilities, implementing national core standards, and modernising equipment. These improvements are part of a broader strategy to build resilient, cohesive communities where health is recognised as personal wealth and a shared responsibility.
These projects together represent a comprehensive approach to enhancing community services, driven by a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and responsive service delivery across the City of Cape Town.
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