Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane

Refilwe Maria Tsipane (born 3 September 1973), known as Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane (alternatively spelt Mtshweni), is a South African politician and a party member of the African National Congress (ANC), who has been serving as the 5th Premier of Mpumalanga since 20 March 2018. She succeeded former Premier David Mabuza after he was appointed Deputy President of South Africa. Mtsweni-Tsipane is also a Member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature and previously served as the MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.[1]

The Honourable
Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane
MPL
Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane (Left) at the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, 6 March 2020
5th Premier of Mpumalanga
Assumed office
20 March 2018[lower-alpha 1]
Preceded byDavid Mabuza
Mpumalanga MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs
In office
30 May 2014 – 27 February 2018
PremierDavid Mabuza
Preceded byPiet Simon Skhosana
Succeeded bySpeedy Mashilo
Member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature
Assumed office
21 May 2014
Personal details
Born
Refilwe Maria Mtsweni

(1973-09-03) 3 September 1973
Lynnville, Transvaal Province, South Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress
SpouseLawrence Tsipane
Children2
Alma materTshwane University of Technology
University of the Witwatersrand

Family and personal life

Mtsweni-Tsipane is married to Lawrence Tsipane and has two children.[2] She spent most of her childhood in Lynnville, Emalahleni, where she went to primary school. She completed her secondary education in Atteridgeville in Pretoria. She obtained a Human Resources Diploma from the Tshwane University of Technology and a Certificate of Leadership and Governance from the University of the Witwatersrand.[3]

In late-September 2020, Mtsweni-Tsipane announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19.[4]

Political career

Mtsweni-Tsipane was elected to the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature in 2014 and was sworn in as a Member on 21 May 2014. Premier David Mabuza announced his new Executive Council in late-May and Mtsweni-Tsipane was selected to be the MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.[5] The Democratic Alliance Provincial Leader, Anthony Benadie, said in a statement that Mtsweni-Tsipane "lacks the skill or strength of character to manage a complex portfolio".[6]

In July 2017, when Mtsweni-Tsipane served as acting premier, she declared a special provincial funeral for Ray Phiri.[7]

On 27 February 2018, she was sworn in as acting premier by Judge President Malesela Legodi, replacing Mabuza, who was appointed Deputy President of South Africa. The Provincial Democratic Alliance Leader Jane Sithole said that the swearing-in of Mtsweni-Tsipane was "unconstitutional" because former Mabuza was not in the position to appoint an acting premier to a position that he no longer holds.[8]

She was sworn in for a second time as acting premier on 1 March 2018 in Pretoria.[9] On 14 March 2018, the ANC NEC officially nominated Mtsweni-Tsipane to become the Premier of Mpumalanga. She served as Premier-elect until the legislature confirmed her to the position on 20 March.[10] She was formally inaugurated on that same day by Legodi. She is the first woman to hold the role.[11]

Following the May 2019 elections, the African National Congress announced that it had retained Mtsweni-Tsipane as Premier of Mpumalanga. She took office for her first full term on 27 May 2019.[12][13]

In January 2021, Mtsweni-Tsipane attracted criticism after she arrived at Jackson Mthembu's funeral without wearing a mask, despite COVID-19 regulations stipulating that a mask must be worn in public. The premier's office stated that her mask was broken and that she was oblivious that it had fallen off. Mtsweni-Tsipane also apologised for the incident, however, the national minister of police, Bheki Cele, called for an investigation into her actions.[14][15][16] She later signed admission of guilt and apologised for not wearing a mask.[17] The incident also resulted in a R1,500 fine for Mtsweni-Tsipane, and Cele confirmed that she now has a criminal record.[18]

On 16 February 2021, she withdrew her candidacy for ANC provincial chairperson.[19]

Notes
  1. Acting: 27 February 2018 – 20 March 2018

References
  1. Refilwe Mtsweni, Ms, South African Government. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
  2. Refilwe Mtshweni now goes as Refilwe Tsipane, 013 News, 28 May 2019. Retrieved on 13 September 2019.
  3. Yende, Sizwe Sama. Meet Refilwe Mtshweni, the Mpumalanga premier-elect who quietly does her job, City Press, 18 March 2018. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
  4. "Refilwe Tsipane is Covid-19 positive". 013News. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  5. Mabuza announces new cabinet. Retrieved on 29 March 2019.
  6. Mabuza appoints unknown and inexperienced cabinet’ – DA, Highveld, Ridge Times, 2 June 2014. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
  7. Acting Premier Refilwe Mtsweni declares official funeral for Ray Phiri, 013News, 12 July 2017. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
  8. de Villiers, Mireille. Mpumalanga admits swearing in of acting premier was unconstitutional, TheCitizen, 1 March 2018. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
  9. Speaker’s blunder mars appointment of first female premier, Ziwaphi, 6 March 2018. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
  10. Mahlase, Mahlatse. ANC elects female premiers for Mpumalanga and Free State, Mail & Guardian, 14 March 2018. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
  11. BREAKING NEWS: New premier realigns cabinet, Mpumalanga News, 20 March 2018. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
  12. Madia, Tshidi, Tandwa, Lizeka. These are the ANC's premier candidates, but no name yet for troubled North West, Elections '19, 13 May 2019. Retrieved on 13 May 2019.
  13. Hlatshwayo, Yoliswa, Khumalo, Jabulane. Premier Refilwe Tsipane commits to protect constitution, Mpumalanga News, 27 May 2019. Retrieved on 13 September 2019.
  14. "Police to probe maskless Mpumalanga premier". eNCA. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  15. Mthethwa, Cebelihle (24 January 2021). "Cele wants probe into Mpumalanga premier for not wearing mask at Jackson Mthembu funeral". News24. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  16. "Bheki Cele orders probe into Mpumalanga premier's failure to wear face mask at Jackson Mthembu's funeral". IOL. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  17. "Mpumalanga Premier signs admission of guilt for not wearing mask at Mthembu's funeral". SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  18. Lindeque, Mia (27 January 2021). "Cele confirms Mtsweni-Tsipane now has criminal record over mask incident". EWN: Eye Witness News. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  19. Sama Yende, Sizwe (16 February 2021). "Mpumalanga premier falls off race for ANC provincial chair". City Press. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
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