North West Premier Thandi Modise’s recent Cabinet reshuffle has seen the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs getting a woman political head, MEC Manketse Tlhape, for the first time in the history of local government after the portfolio was led by men since the new dispensation.
MEC Tlhape is no newcomer to local government, having served as the Mayor of Tswaing local municipality from 2006-2011. Before her appointment to the current position, she served as a Councillor at Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality from 2011 until recently.
MEC Tlhape, a professional health guru, is armed with a number of certificates in local government. She has completed an Executive Leadership Municipal Development Programme from the University of Pretoria, a Certificate in Management Development for Municipal Finance from Wits Business School, a National Certificate in Municipal Governance from the University of Johannesburg. She is currently studying towards a Masters Degree in Public Health.
Meanwhile, the departmental management team met and welcomed MEC Tlhape recently, to discuss programme and planned departmental activities as well as status quo regarding progress.
In her response to the warm welcome MEC Tlhape said “I appreciate the confidence displayed on me by the Provincial Executive authority and guarantee you that I am only here to ensure that our masses out there receive the type of services they deserve.
"I am also very excited to meet with such intellectuals in this department, I definitely cannot work with non-performers, and this team does not portray that, I come before you with an open mind, our motto is that local government is everybody’s business and for us to realize that we have to work together, this is a learning curve for all of us, being honest with each other will see us far and mould us to become the key drivers of service delivery in this province.”
Contact person:
Dineo Lolokwane
Cell: 072 542 8444
