Simon Grindrod

Simon Grindrod is the leader of the Independent Democrats' City of Cape Town caucus, a PR member of the Cape Town City Council, and a subcouncillor for Subcouncil 1 (Blaauwberg). He is also a member of the mayoral committee for Economic and Social Development and Tourism.

Biography

Grindrod is a City of Cape Town Councillor and National Deputy President of the Independent Democrats. He was the Independent Democrats’ Mayoral Candidate in the Cape Town Metro during the Local Government Elections of 2006.

He currently serves as the Mayoral Committee Member for Economic, Social Development and Tourism and has the additional responsibility for Arts & Culture, Property Management and Informal Trading in Cape Town. He sits on the board of the Khayelitsha Community Trust in addition to the committees of several other community initiatives.

He joined the political arena after a 15 year career in the hotel industry.

He was elected as a City Councillor in March 2006. He served on the Finance Portfolio Committee, the Sub-Council Boundary Committee and the Blaauwberg Sub-Council.

Grindrod has tabled Draft Policies on Informal Trading, Events and Film production which will come before full Council for adoption in this year.

His Department has responsibility for City interests in Wesgro, Cape Town Tourism, Cape Film Commission, Convenco and Calling the Cape, which is an initiative driving growth in the call centre industry in Cape Town.

Known for is straight forward and no-nonsense approach, he heads up several key projects, through his department, including the rejuvenation of the informal trading sector, currently contributing over R1billion to the City economy.

Simon is married to Lee-ann Grindrod.