Cape Winelands District Executive Mayor Helena von Schlicht started her career as a social worker, having obtained a BA Degree in Social Work in 1976. She moved on to lecture at, and ultimately head, the Social Work Department at the Huguenot College, Wellington – a satellite campus for UNISA.
Helena formally joined local government in 2009 as a proportional councillor in the Drakenstein Municipality. From 2011 she has been a full time mayoral committee member in the Cape Winelands District Municipality, occasionally acting as executive mayor.
Underpinning her political career in bringing about change in the Cape Winelands District is Helena’s people-centre and politically involved family background. She is motivated by her free-thinking views as a social worker and her belief in our common humanity. She puts a high premium on equitable and fair distribution of opportunities and resources, and has an over-arching respect for all people.
Helena studied further to obtain her Honours Degree in Social Science, her Masters in Welfare Planning and her Doctorate in teaching and learning within a diverse student population. She prides herself in her value-based, disciplined, positive, respectful and healthy life approach.
Helena strives to keep rendering quality services to the community at large and to be part of a growing, sustainable and successful alternative for SA. Above all, Helena says that she will work continuously with the DA to protect the Constitution of our country, making South Africa a viable option for all who want to live in a free, democratic country.