Cape Town - Marian Nieuwoudt was honoured in the City of Cape Town council meeting on Thursday morning as it was announced that she will be retiring.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis started his council address by welcoming the new councillors, who joined after changes to parties after the recent elections, and bidding farewell to departing councillors.
In his address he took the opportunity to pay his respects to Nieuwoudt, who will be retiring from council after almost 30 years.
Nieuwoudt, a veteran DA councillor, was born in Johannesburg in 1957, and has been a councillor since 1996.
“This morning we say goodbye to one of Cape Town’s longest-serving councillors, and a true servant of the residents of Cape Town, Alderman Marian Niewoudt, who will be taking a very well-earned retirement,” Hill-Lewis said.
Switching to Afrikaans, the mayor said it was a huge honour for him to thank her for all the work she has done in nearly 30 years of service.
“Alderman Niewoudt has since 1996 until today been elected to this council, and today is her last council meeting. During this time, she has performed every possible task that you can do as a councillor.
“She has served her district with distinction and dedication to which all the residents from Brackenfell, Brandwag, Springbok Park, Hazendal and Protea Heights can attest,” Hill-Lewis said.
He said she retired as chairperson of Sub-Council 2.
He also shares some farewell greetings from former mayors of Cape Town.
Noma India Mfeketo said: “This is a well-deserved retirement for Alderman Nieuwoudt. She has a deep understanding of all her portfolios. I can only say, well done, your commitment and skills did not go unnoticed. After 28 years of service, you deserve a good break. Enjoy your retirement, and may the Lord be with you.”
Helen Zille said: “As Marian takes a well-deserved break from politics, it is a privilege for me to thank her for her many years of dedicated service and to wish her health and happiness in this new stage of her life.
“Marian and I worked shoulder to shoulder to try to build the DA from very divided beginnings, to the mighty organisation it is today, being a party of government at local, provincial and national level.
“Cape Town was Ground Zero for the DA in 2006,” Zille said. “It took a lot of dedicated work from a lot of people to achieve lift-off. To all of those, including Marian, who played their part: You have left a legacy. May God bless you on the road ahead.”
Patricia de Lille said: “I would like to commend Alderman Nieuwoudt for her long-standing commitment as a councillor and servant to the people of Cape Town.
“Her long years of service are an outstanding achievement and a testament to her exemplary contribution to Cape Town and its residents. Having worked with her for several years, I came to know her as a woman with a heart for the people of the city.
“She has made many valuable contributions to progress in the city and I want to thank her for her service and wish her well for the future.”
Alderman Xolani Sotashe, from the ANC, also took a minute to pay tribute to her.
“I want to say to Alderman Nieuwoudt, you left your mark. You demonstrated astute leadership in the City of Cape Town. You are one of the savant leaders that the DA has ever produced.
“We might differ on ideology, and everything else, but what I have learned from you is humility. We differed with respect, (and) now you are calling it a day,” Sotashe said.
“One of the legacies you are leaving behind that I will never forget is when I was the councillor of Lwandle, Nomzamo is when I came to your office. I said, ‘the people of Morkel’s Cottage are struggling, they need shelter,’ and you didn’t hesitate to say let’s go out there.
“It was the first time that people from Morkel had seen a white Afrikaner woman walking in those terrible conditions. When we came back, you took a decision and you said this must change.
“And today they’ve got roofs (over their heads)...”
Sotashe then sought permission from the council speaker Alderman Felicity Purchase to cross the floor and give Nieuwoudt a farewell hug.
Reflecting on her career, Nieuwoudt told the Cape Argus that she has had a wonderful career in council and had grown so much as a person and leader.
“It gave me the opportunity to serve communities and be part of positive change in Cape town.
“I will forever remember and cherish my relationships with fellow councillors across political party lines. My personal first memory that changed my world was the election of speaker Dirk Smit and mayor Helen Zille.
“With their election I practically learn that life in politics is an ever-changing pendulum. Their input to my ability to motivate and make difficult decisions will be a skill forever,” Nieuwoudt said.
“I am humble to have been part of a council that ensures service delivery to our people and facilitates prosperity in order for all to have hope.
“Thank you to all the members of Sub-council 2 who fostered me and in the hard and good days.
“Thank you, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, for the big surprise, in making my last meeting exceptional. It will be a fond memory.”