Member of the Executive Council

Ms. MAKHOSAZANE CHRISTINE MASILELA

MEC for Economic Development and Tourism

Ms. Makhosazane Masilela originates from the humble town of Barberton in the City of Mbombela Local Municipality. At a tender age, she relocated to Mashishing in the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality  when her family relocated, and she attended high school in the area. It was during the apartheid regime in South Africa where Ms. Masilela catapulted into the awareness of community, political and public  issues. These early developments of social consciousness gravitated to her early involvement in community-based organisations, as a volunteer activist at coalface and in daily contact with lived struggles  of ordinary people.

This public involvement propelled Ms. Masilela to join the ranks of the Congress Movement (ANC), ANCYL and ANCWL. She went on to become part of the leadership of these structures, most notably,  leading the now defunct ANC’s Bohlabela Region as Deputy Secretary. She is a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and she is currently serving as the Deputy Chairperson of the Ehlanzeni  Region. Through this role, Ms. Masilela was given the responsibility to become part of the election machinery as the Regional Head of Elections.

Professionally, Ms. Masilela worked at various middle management administrative positions. She began her political career as a councilor, then chief whip and later as a member of the Mayoral Committee  (MMC) in the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality. She later became an MMC at the Ehlanzeni District Municipality, after which she joined the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature where she served as the Chairperson of Portfolio Committees and later as Deputy Chief Whip. She was appointed Speaker of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature in March 2021 until 28 May 2024.

She holds a National Diploma in Business Management and various certificates in Financial Management and Local Government, through the Wits Business School. She is currently pursuing a post graduate Diploma in Public Policy and African Politics with the University of Johannesburg.

Following the 2024 general elections, Ms. Masilela was on 18 June 2024, appointed by the Premier of Mpumalanga, Mr. Mandla Ndlovu when he ushered in the Seventh Administration, as the MEC for Economic Development and Tourism.