Refilwe Mtsweni

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. Family and personal life Mtsweni-Tsipane is married to Lawrence Tsipane and has two children. 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. In late-September 2020, Mtsweni-Tsipane announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19. 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. 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".