Ald. Memory Booysen was elected as the seventh (7th) Executive Mayor of Eden District Municipality in 2016 and re-elected the eighth (8th) one for Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM). In 2001, GRDM was formerly known as Eden District Municipality. Booysen will serve as Executive Mayor for the district until 2026.
Born in Hankey, Eastern Cape, on 28 June 1969, he is a father of four (4) daughters, one son and a husband to Elethu Booysen. His father, John, passed on in 1980 and his mother, Buyiswa, resides in Kwanokuthula, Plettenberg Bay. Ald. Booysen continues to draw inspiration from his mother who has been a pillar of support to him throughout his life. She also attended his inauguration on 25 November 2021.
He matriculated from Humansdorp Secondary School in 1987 and studied a Diploma in Education at the University of the Western Cape. He then went on to study Hotel Management at Wits Technikon. This led to him securing a job in the hospitality industry where he developed a passion for serving others. In 2002 he moved to the public sector, and during 2006, he was elected to become a Ward Councillor at Bitou Local Municipality. Five (5) years later, he was elected as the Executive Mayor of Bitou. He finished his term at Bitou in 2016 and soon after moved to the GRDM.
During his previous term as Executive Mayor for GRDM, he also formed part of the National Executive Committee for the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), where he held the position of Chairperson of Public Safety and Security. The National Executive Committee (NEC) exercises the authority of SALGA in between the National Conferences and National Members Assemblies. Currently, he holds the position of Deputy Chairperson of the SALGA Provincial Executive Committee.
Ald. Booysen currently resides in Plettenberg Bay. The town is well-known for its distinctive flower-shaped seashells called pansy shells. These are endemic to the area and is symbolic of Plettenberg Bay. Looking for these shells on the beach at low tide is a popular activity amongst visitors and locals alike.