Councillor Carl Pophaim: Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements
With experience serving on the Human Settlements Portfolio Committee and the Planning Appeals Advisory Committee, Carl Pophaim is appointed as Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements.
Vision Statement
Councillor Carl Pophaim
Human Settlements
In alignment with Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis's vision of creating a City of hope for all, as the Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, I am dedicated to ensuring inclusive and dignified housing solutions for every resident of Cape Town.
My mission encompasses addressing apartheid spatial planning, constructing resilient and sustainable informal settlements, and nurturing collaborative relationships with our communities and stakeholders to shape a brighter future for Cape Town.
Over the next three years, my top priority is to reimagine informality in Cape Town by creating sustainable environments that prioritise the dignity and well-being of every citizen. I am committed to redesigning our public housing system to provide conducive living spaces, enhance safety, and increase occupant satisfaction, with a strong focus on transitioning residents toward integrated housing solutions.
Furthermore, my vision is to build integrated housing solutions that contribute to the future and sustainability of Cape Town, particularly in informal settlements, through the efficient utilisation of proposed land for human settlement development.
I also aim to create an enabling environment for private sector participation in human settlements, focusing on accelerating the delivery of affordable and accessible housing options for all citizens.
Biography
Carl Pophaim is a South African politician who currently serves as a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlements in the City of Cape Town. He was appointed to this role by the Executive Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, in August 2023. At the age of 25, he is the youngest MMC in the history of the City and in South Africa. Pophaim is renowned for his dedication to activism and community engagement.
Carl Pophaim hails from Grassy Park, Cape Town. He completed his National Senior Certificate at Pinelands High School and later pursued higher education at the University of the Western Cape, where he obtained an Advanced Diploma in Public Administration in April 2023.
Pophaim's political career has been marked by significant achievements, including:
Local Government Councillor (City of Cape Town, Nov 2018 – present)
- As a local government legislator and policy maker, he plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the City of Cape Town and its residents
- He leads the Carbon Neutrality Strategy in the Energy and Climate Change Portfolio Committee
- Pophaim is also at the helm of the Urban Youth Participation Programme and the Junior City Council
- He chairs various working groups, including those responsible for policy development, research, land acquisition, forward planning, beneficiary administration, homeownership programmes, and affordable housing
South African Local Government Association (SALGA)
- Elected to the Western Cape Provincial Executive Committee in 2021 and subsequently appointed as the Chairperson of Governance and Intergovernmental Relations
- Pophaim is an active member of the National Working Group for Governance and Intergovernmental Relations
- He chairs the SALGA Western Cape Unfunded Mandates Task Team and Councillors Safety Task Team
Cape Chamber of Commerce Council
- Pophaim served as Vice President
Cape Youth Chamber of Commerce
- He also serves as the Vice President of the Cape Youth Chamber of Commerce
Notable highlights
- As the DA Human Settlements Speaker and Sweeper, he has been instrumental in shaping policies for Cape Town's human settlements
- He represented the City of Cape Town as the Mayoral Representative at the COGTA Local Government Summit in 2021
- Pophaim played a crucial role in drafting legislation responses for the SALGA Governance Working Group
- He was instrumental in the development of the City of Cape Town Human Settlements Strategy and Allocations Policy
Projects and departments
As Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Cllr Pophaim has oversight over the following areas:
- Upgrading of informal settlements
- Human settlements strategies, planning and policies
- Human settlement development and delivery
- Public housing and customer services
- Housing finance and administration
Project highlightsGreenville Housing Project in Fisantekraal near Durbanville which, at an estimated cost of R163 million, is being constructed using innovative new building technology
The Mayoral Priority Programme on Land Release for Affordable Housing, which aims to create an enabling environment for the delivery of affordable housing for residents of Cape Town and to redress apartheid spatial planning
The No Cost Transfer Programme which is focused on transferring more than 7 000 homes with historic ownership at no cost
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