Alicia Mgijima, a resident and political stalwart of the Khayamandi community, died age 80 on Monday 29 September following a brief illness.
Mgijima was previously an ANC councillor in the Stellenbosch Municipality and the first woman in the Transitional Council, on which she served from November 1995 to April 1998.
She was first elected as ward councillor of Khayamandi in the May 1998 municipal election, a position she held until her retirement in May 2011.
LASTING LEGACY
During her tenure, Mgijima held various portfolios, but her most instrumental role was as Mayoral Committee member for Housing, as well as her role within the social development department.
Under her guidance and leadership, the first HOP and RDP houses were built in Khayamandi, Klapmuts, Cloetesville, Franschhoek and Kylemore.
Mgijima was granted aldermanship in 2010, after serving nearly 15 years in local politics and being a loyal member of the ANC.
FOCUS SHIFT
After stepping down from politics, she focused on the wellbeing of the elderly in Costa Land, Khayamandi, and focused on her religious work in the broader community.
According to family members, Mgijima fell ill about six months ago and she was hospitalised at Stellenbosch Hospital and Stellenbosch Hospice before her passing.
She was laid to rest following a funeral service at the People’s Church of Africa in Ida’s Valley on Saturday 11 October.
