Phophi Constance Ramathuba (born 15 August 1973) is a South African politician and medical doctor. She has been the Limpopo MEC (Member of the Executive Council) for Health and a Member of the

Limpopo Provincial Legislature The Limpopo Provincial Legislature is the primary legislative body of the South African province of Limpopo. It is unicameral in its composition, and elects the premier and the provincial cabinet, the Limpopo Executive Council, from among the ...

since May 2015. Ramathuba is 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 ...

Early life and career

Ramathuba was born on 15 August 1973 at Elim Hospital, Waterval and grew up in Mashamba, then part of South Africa's

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 ...

. She is one of five children. She matriculated at

Mbilwi Secondary School Mbilwi Secondary School is a school in the town of Sibasa in Limpopo, South Africa. Mbilwi Secondary School has been producing 100% pass rate for its matric students since 1994. The school also produces over 90% of matric exemptions since 1997 ...

and studied at the

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is a university in Pretoria North, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Its current incarnation was formed on 1 January 2015. Previously it was known as ''Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA)' ...

(formerly known as MEDUNSA), where she obtained a bachelor of medicine and a bachelor of surgery degree. From the

University of Pretoria The University of Pretoria ( af, Universiteit van Pretoria, nso, Yunibesithi ya Pretoria) is a multi-campus public university, public research university in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa. The university was ...

, she received a master's degree in medical pharmacology. Ramathuba had also fulfilled courses in health and business leadership. Ramathuba started her career as an intern at the Mokopane Hospital. Prior to being appointed to the Limpopo provincial government, she was the chief executive of the Voortrekker Hospital and the chairperson of the SA Medical Association.

Political career

Ramathuba is a long-standing member of the

. She serves as a member of the party's provincial executive committee. On 27 May 2015, Ramathuba was sworn in as a member of the

, representing the ANC. On the same day, premier

Stanley Mathabatha Chupu Stanley Mathabatha (born 21 January 1957) is a South African politician who is currently the Premier of Limpopo. He was elected to the position in July 2013 after the resignation of Cassel Mathale. He was previously a public servant in L ...

appointed her Member of the Executive Council for Health, succeeding Maaria Ishmael Kgetjepe. The changes came into effect immediately. Ramathuba was re-elected to the provincial legislature in the 2019 Limpopo provincial election held on 8 May. On 22 May 2019, Mathabatha announced that she would remain as Health MEC. In January 2022, Ramathuba came under criticism for telling schoolgirls at the Gwenane Secondary School in Sekgakgapeng to "open your books and close your legs". In August 2022 Ramathuba's remarks to a bed-ridden Zimbabwean patient in Bela-Bela, went viral. On the video she accused foreigners of abusing state resources allocated to South African Nationals stating: ''“''you are killing my health system. When you guys are sick you just cross the Limpopo River, there’s an MEC there who is running a charity department.''”'' Politicians such as EFF MP

Mbuyiseni Ndlozi Mbuyiseni Quintin Ndlozi MP (born 9 May 1985) is a South African politician and political activist. He has been a Member of the National Assembly, representing the Economic Freedom Fighters, since 2014. He also served as the first official spok ...

and Mmusi Maimane criticized Ramathuba for humiliating the patient and called for the revocation of her medical licence.

Personal life

Ramathuba has two daughters. On 1 July 2020, Mathabatha announced that Ramathuba had tested positive for

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

.Limpopo MEC tests positive for Covid-19
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References

External links

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Phophi Ramathuba, DrProfile for Dr. Phophi Ramathuba, Member of the Executive Council (MEC)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramathuba, Phophi Living people 1973 births Politicians from Limpopo 21st-century South African politicians 21st-century South African women politicians African National Congress politicians Members of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature University of Pretoria alumni Women members of provincial legislatures of South Africa