Sisi Ntombela

Sefora Hixsonia "Sisi" Ntombela (born 16 April 1957) is a South African politician who was the 6th Premier of the Free State and a Member of the Free State Provincial Legislature for the African National Congress. She previously served as the Free State MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements and as MEC for Social Development. Ntombela was also the Deputy President of the African National Congress Women's League and the treasurer of the Free State ANC. Early life and career One of six children, Sefora Hixsonia Ntombela was born in the small farming town of Tweeling in the Free State. She was given the nickname of "Sisi" at a young age. She attended the Tweeling Combine School and matriculated from Kganyeng Secondary School. She went on to study at Bonamelo Training College and returned to the Tweeling Combine School as a teacher. Due to Apartheid and the tense political situation at the time, she secretly taught her pupils about Nelson Mandela. One of the pupils was the school principal's child and reported her for the secret lessons. She left the teaching profession due to the matter. Political career Ntombela worked for the Department of Health as a family planner and youth consultant.