Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane was sworn in on 20 March 2018 as Premier of Mpumalanga. She previously served as MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Mrs Refilwe Maria Mtshweni-Tsipane was born in Emalahleni in the Mpumalanga Province on the 3rd of September 1973. Honourable Mtshweni matriculated at the Hlabirwa Commercial School in Limpopo in 1990. Following matriculation, Honourable R.M. Mtshweni enrolled for a National Diploma in Human Resources Management at the Tshwane University of Technology, graduating in 1993.
Mtshweni completed a Management Development Programme from the University of Pretoria as well as a Post Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Governance from the University of the Witwatersrand School of Business.
Previous and current political deployments:
- Mpumalanga Premier: 14 March 2018 - to date;
- Acting Mpumalanga Premier: July 2017, February 2018 - 14 March 2018;
- Member of the Executive Council: Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs 2014 - 2018;
- Deputy Chief Whip of the majority party;
- Deputy Chairperson of Committees;
- Member of Select Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA);
- Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Co-Operative Governance and Human Settlements;
- Chairperson of Select Committee on Women, Children and People with Disabilities;
- Member of the Provincial Legislature (2014 - to date);
Other political deployments:
- Regional Treasurer of the African National Congress Women’s League (Nkangala Region), 2012 - 2017;
- Branch Secretary, 2012 - 2016;
- Local Election Team (LET) Co-ordinator, 2014;
- Regional Executive Committee Member (Nkangala Region), 2012 - 2013;
- Member of Regional Task Team (Nkangala Region) , 2013 - 2014;
- Member of the African National Youth League Provincial Executive Committee, 2017 - 2010;
- Branch Chairperson, 2006 - 2008;
- Ward Committee Representative, 2005 - 2007;
- Treasurer of the South African Youth Council in the Nkangala Region, 2003 - 2005;
- Shop steward, National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa, 1997 - 1999;
- Branch Chairperson of the African National Congress Women’s League, 1993 - 1996.
Source: Mpumalanga Office of the Premier
