Executive Mayor Memory Booysen is the father of three daughters. He was born in 1969 in Hankey in the Eastern Cape and spent his last term as the mayor of Bitou Municipality.
He was not always in politics though. After matric Memory studied for a Higher Diploma in Education at the University of the Western Cape and then a Certificate in Hotel Management at the Witwatersrand Technikon, going on to work for the Southern Sun Group for 12 years.
It was after years of being involved in community development that Memory took up a position as the personal assistant to the mayor in 2002. His political career gained momentum when he was first elected to council in 2006.
Memory is determined to work with other municipalities in the region to continue the Western Cape’s track record of having the best-run municipalities in the country.
His best critic and advisor is his mother. She sacrificed a lot to ensure that her children got the best life and education.
Memory believes that the youth must be given special attention because they are the future of our country. He invites all communities in the district to play an active role in governance in their municipalities. “All municipalities have forums for community participation”, he says.