President Cyril Ramaphosa is surrounded by strong female political leaders from his ancestral province of Limpopo and his political colleagues at the ANC provincial headquarters say the Cabinet reshuffle is the right move.
‘Strong’ female leaders
They are Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa and Pinky Kekana, who is Ramokgopa’s deputy.
Ntshavheni was the minister of communications and digital technology from 2021 to 2023. From 2019 to 2021, he was the minister of small business development.
Background info
He was born into a royal family, Tshikundamalema Traditional Authority, and respected in Limpopo province by many people.
The 46-year-old politician holds an MBA from the University of Bradford in England.
He is also a graduate of Rand Afrikaans University, where he studied for an undergraduate degree in political science and completed two postgraduate degrees.
Ntshavheni started his career as a junior lecturer at the University of South Africa. She later became South Africa’s youngest and first female spokesperson for Limpopo prime minister Ngwako Ramatlhodi from the Northern Province and later ANC Limpopo provincial spokesperson.
Ntshavheni also works as the head of information for the local government and housing department in Limpopo.
He was once the youngest municipal manager in South Africa when he was in Ba-Phalaborwa local municipality in Mopani district.
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History
Kekana, who hails from Warmbaths, was the MEC for roads and transport and economic development before he was appointed to national politics under former president Jacob Zuma.
During the administration of President Cyril Ramaphosa, Kekana served as deputy minister in the presidency and deputy minister of communications.
She is currently the deputy minister for planning, monitoring and evaluation, making her the third female politician from Limpopo in the presidency.
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