Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko (born 8 June 1966) is a South African politician and a member of the

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a Social democracy, social-democratic political party in Republic of South Africa, South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when ...

. She has served as the Gauteng MEC (Member of the Executive Council) for Health and Wellness since October 2022. She was the MEC for Finance and e-Government from May 2019 until October 2022. Nkomo-Ralehoko was elected to the

Gauteng Provincial Legislature The Gauteng Provincial Legislature is the legislature of the South African province of Gauteng. It is a unicameral body of 73 members elected every five years. The current legislature, the sixth, was elected on 8 May 2019 and has an African Natio ...

in June 1999. She briefly served as the Education MEC in May 2019. She was the deputy speaker of the Gauteng legislature from March 2018 until May 2019. Nkomo-Ralehoko was also the Gauteng MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development between May and June 2009.

Early life and education

Nkomo-Ralehoko was born in 1966 in Ngcobo in the Cape Province. She matriculated from Nyanga Senior Secondary School. After matric, she moved to the

Transvaal Province The Province of the Transvaal ( af, Provinsie van Transvaal), commonly referred to as the Transvaal (; ), was a province of South Africa from 1910 until 1994, when a new constitution subdivided it following the end of apartheid. The name "Trans ...

where her father lived. She studied office administration at a Vaal college. In 1988, she started working at Cosatu house. Her sister worked for the Construction and Allied Workers Union. She filled in for her sister when she was on maternity leave.

Political career

While working for Cosatu, she took an interest in politics. She was then employed as an administrator at the

South African Railways and Harbours Union The South African Railways and Harbours Union was formed by black workers of the South African Railways and Harbours Administration after they had been expelled from the National Union of Railway and Harbour Servants. Formation Rachel Simons, t ...

. While working there, she went to Russia to study at a trade union school. When she returned to South Africa, she started working as a political education officer at the same trade union. In the 1990s, she was employed in the office of

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula (born 13 November 1956) is a South African politician who currently serves as the Speaker of the National Assembly as of 19 August 2021. She has previously held the office of Minister of Defence and Military ...

. She served as

Baleka Mbete Baleka Mbete (born 24 September 1949) is a South African politician who served as the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa from May 2014 to May 2019. She was previously Speaker of the National Assembly from 2004 to 2008, and Deputy P ...

's personal assistant, when she was still the secretary-general of the

African National Congress Women's League The African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) is an auxiliary women's political organization of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa. This organization has its precedent in the Bantu Women's League, and it oscillated from b ...

. She also served on the executive of the women's league when

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (born Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela; 26 September 1936 – 2 April 2018), also known as Winnie Mandela, was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician, and the second wife of Nelson Mandela. She ser ...

was the league's president. In 1995, she joined the

as an administrator. In the 1999 election, she was elected to the legislature as an ANC representative. Nkomo-Ralehoko was appointed the Gauteng MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development on 8 May 2009 after the 2009 election. She moved into the office on 13 May. Due to a fallout between her and premier Nomvula Mokonyane, she resigned as MEC on 5 June. She was then appointed chairperson of the roads and transport committee in the legislature. Following the 2014 election, Nkomo-Ralehoko became the legislature's chair of chairs. She was elected deputy speaker of the legislature in March 2018. On 21 June 2018, she was elected deputy provincial secretary of the ANC. After the 2019 election held on 8 May, premier

David Makhura Manemolla David Makhura (born 22 February 1968) is a South African politician. He served as the 6th Premier of Gauteng following his election in 2014 until his resignation in October 2022. He was also a member of the Member of the Gauteng Provin ...

selected her to be the new Education MEC, succeeding

Panyaza Lesufi Andrek "Panyaza" Lesufi (born 4 September 1968) is a South African politician who was appointed the seventh Premier of Gauteng in October 2022. He was previously Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education in the Gauteng provincial govern ...

, who was made the MEC for Finance and e-Government. She was sworn in on 30 May. Due to public outcry, Makhura reshuffled his executive a day later and made Nkomo-Ralehoko and Lesufi swap positions. On 27 June 2022, Nkomo-Ralehoko, who had previously served as the deputy provincial secretary of the ANC, was elected as the deputy provincial chairperson. Following the election of

as Gauteng premier in October 2022, she was appointed MEC for Health and Wellness.

Personal life

Nkomo-Ralehoko has two sons. She is a supporter of the Orlando Pirates.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nkomo-Ralehoko, Nomantu Living people 1966 births Politicians from Gauteng Politicians from the Eastern Cape African National Congress politicians 20th-century South African politicians 21st-century South African politicians Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature Women members of provincial legislatures of South Africa