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.

Mbali Hlophe
Hlophe at her swearing-in on 30 May 2019
Gauteng MEC for Social Development
In office
7 October 2022 – 14 June 2024
PremierPanyaza Lesufi
Preceded byMorakane Mosupyoe
Succeeded byFaith Mazibuko
Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation
In office
30 May 2019 – 6 October 2022
PremierDavid Makhura
Preceded byFaith Mazibuko
Succeeded byMorakane Mosupyoe
Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Assumed office
22 May 2019
Personal details
Born
Mbali Dawn Hlophe

Soweto, Transvaal Province, South Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress
EducationParktown Girls High School
Alma materUniversity of the Witwatersrand
OccupationPolitician

Early life and education

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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.[1]

Political career

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Hlophe served as the president of the student representative council at Wits.[1] She was also a member of the provincial executive committee of the African National Congress Youth League for two consecutive terms and its spokesperson.[1]

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]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Dlamini, Penwell (10 June 2019). "Sport MEC Mbali Hlophe is still fighting for downtrodden, voiceless". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  2. ^ Goba, Nep (22 May 2019). "Former mayors Parks Tau, Kgosientso Ramokgopa head to the legislature". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  3. ^ Lindeque, Mia. "Gauteng Premier Makhura names his new Cabinet". EWN. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. ^ Mthethwa, Ayanda (29 May 2019). "Makhura goes for a younger mix as Gauteng opposition cries foul on some appointments". The Daily Maverick. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  5. ^ Nemakonde, Vhahangwele (7 October 2022). "Lesufi reshuffles Gauteng's Cabinet: Here are the new members". The Citizen. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Lesufi announces Gauteng Cabinet | SAnews". www.sanews.gov.za. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
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