Mbali Hlophe Explained

Mbali Hlophe
Honorific-Suffix:MPL
Office:Gauteng MEC for Social Development
Premier:Panyaza Lesufi
Term Start:7 October 2022
Term End:14 June 2024
Predecessor:Morakane Mosupyoe
Successor:Faith Mazibuko
Office1:Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation
Premier1:David Makhura
Term Start1:30 May 2019
Term End1:6 October 2022
Predecessor1:Faith Mazibuko
Successor1:Morakane Mosupyoe
Office2:Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Term Start2:22 May 2019
Birthname:Mbali Dawn Hlophe
Birth Place:Soweto, Transvaal Province, South Africa
Nationality:South African
Party:African National Congress
Education:Parktown Girls High School
Alma Mater:University of the Witwatersrand
Occupation:Politician

Mbali Dawn Hlophe is a South African politician who served as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation from May 2019 to October 2022 and then as the MEC for Social Development from October 2022 until June 2024. A member of the African National Congress, she has been a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature since May 2019.

Early life and education

Hlophe was born in Soweto in South Africa's former Transvaal Province. Her father worked as a priest at the Old Apostolic Church.[1] She matriculated from Parktown Girls High School and studied at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Political career

Hlophe served as the president of the student representative council at Wits. She was also a member of the provincial executive committee of the African National Congress Youth League for two consecutive terms and its spokesperson.

At the provincial election held on 8 May 2019, she was elected to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature as an ANC representative, and was sworn in as an MPL on 22 May.[2] On 29 May, premier David Makhura announced his executive council. Hlophe was appointed MEC responsible for the provincial Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.[3] [4] She was sworn in the following day.

On 7 October 2022, Hlophe was appointed Social Development MEC in the executive council led by the newly-elected premier Panyaza Lesufi.[5] Hlophe was not reappointed to the Executive Council following the 2024 provincial election.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: Dlamini . Penwell . Sport MEC Mbali Hlophe is still fighting for downtrodden, voiceless . 25 October 2020 . SowetanLIVE . 10 June 2019.
  2. News: Goba . Nep . Former mayors Parks Tau, Kgosientso Ramokgopa head to the legislature . 25 October 2020 . SowetanLIVE . 22 May 2019.
  3. News: Lindeque . Mia . Gauteng Premier Makhura names his new Cabinet . 25 October 2020 . EWN.
  4. News: Mthethwa . Ayanda . Makhura goes for a younger mix as Gauteng opposition cries foul on some appointments . 25 October 2020 . The Daily Maverick . 29 May 2019.
  5. Web site: Nemakonde . Vhahangwele . 2022-10-07 . Lesufi reshuffles Gauteng's Cabinet: Here are the new members . 2022-10-11 . The Citizen . en.
  6. Web site: 2024-07-04 . Lesufi announces Gauteng Cabinet SAnews . 2024-07-04 . www.sanews.gov.za . en.