Phophi Ramathuba | |
---|---|
5th Premier of Limpopo | |
Assumed office 14 June 2024 | |
Preceded by | Stanley Mathabatha |
Limpopo MEC for Health | |
In office 27 May 2015 –13 June 2024 | |
Premier | Stanley Mathabatha |
Preceded by | Maaria Ishmael Kgetjepe |
Succeeded by | Dieketseng Mashego |
Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature | |
Assumed office 27 May 2015 | |
Personal details | |
Born | [ citation needed ] Elim Hospital,Waterval,Transvaal Province,South Africa | 15 August 1973
Political party | African National Congress |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University University of Pretoria |
Profession | Politician |
Phophi Constance Ramathuba (born 15 August[ citation needed ] 1973) is a South African politician and medical doctor serving as Premier of Limpopo since June 2024. A member of the African National Congress,she was sworn into the provincial legislature in May 2015. Ramathuba served as the Limpopo MEC (Member of the Executive Council) for Health and from May 2015 to June 2024.
Ramathuba was born on 15 August[ citation needed ] 1973 at Elim Hospital,Waterval and grew up in Mashamba,then part of South Africa's Transvaal Province. [1] She is one of five children. She matriculated at Mbilwi Secondary School and studied at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (formerly known as MEDUNSA),where she obtained a bachelor of medicine and a bachelor of surgery degree. From the University of Pretoria,she received a master's degree in medical pharmacology. Ramathuba had also fulfilled courses in health and business leadership. [1]
Ramathuba started her career as an intern at the Mokopane Hospital. [1] 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. [2]
Ramathuba is a long-standing member of the African National Congress. 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 Limpopo Provincial Legislature,representing the ANC. [2] On the same day,premier Stanley Mathabatha appointed her Member of the Executive Council for Health,succeeding Maaria Ishmael Kgetjepe. The changes came into effect immediately. [3] [4]
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. [5]
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". [6] [7]
In August 2022 Ramathuba's remarks to a bed-ridden Zimbabwean patient in Bela-Bela,went viral. [8] 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.” [9] Politicians such as EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Mmusi Maimane criticized Ramathuba for humiliating the patient and called for the revocation of her medical licence. [10]
Following the 2024 national and provincial elections,the ANC named Ramathuba as the party's candidate to succeed Stanley Mathabatha as the Premier of Limpopo. [11] She was elected during the first sitting of the 7th legislature,becoming the first woman to hold the office. [12] [13]
Ramathuba has two daughters. [1] On 1 July 2020,Mathabatha announced that Ramathuba had tested positive for COVID-19. [14]
The Limpopo Provincial Legislature is the primary legislative body of the South African province of Limpopo.
The Premier of Limpopo is the head of government of Limpopo province of South Africa. The current Premier of Limpopo is Phophi Ramathuba,a member of the African National Congress,who was elected on 14 June 2024,following the 2024 national and provincial elections. She is the first woman to hold the office.
Chupu Stanley Mathabatha is a South African politician who served as the 4th Premier of Limpopo and is currently serving as a member of South Africa's 7th Parliament. He was elected to the position of premier in July 2013 after the resignation of Cassel Mathale. He was previously a public servant in Limpopo province and from 2012 to 2013 completed a brief stint as a diplomat,serving as South African Ambassador to Ukraine under President Jacob Zuma. He was succeeded by the former Limpopo MEC of Health Phophi Ramathuba on 14 June 2024.
Mavhungu Maureen Lerule-Ramakhanya is a South African politician. A member of the African National Congress,Lerule-Ramakhanya is a former mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality. She was elected as a Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature in May 2019. She was then elected as the speaker of the legislature. In March 2020,Lerule-Ramakhanya was appointed as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Transport and Community Safety. She was moved to the Education portfolio of the executive council in June 2022.
Matodzi Mirriam Ramadwa is a South African politician. A member of the African National Congress,she was elected to the Limpopo Provincial Legislature in 2009. In 2013,she was appointed as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Sports,Arts and Culture. Ramada was elected as the speaker of the provincial legislature in 2014. In 2015,she resigned as speaker. Ramadwa was elected to the National Assembly of South Africa in 2019.
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Happy Joyce Mashamba was a South African politician and veteran of the African National Congress (ANC). At the time of her death,she was Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Agriculture and Rural Development in the provincial government of Limpopo. She was also a member of the Central Committee of the South African Communist Party and a former member of the ANC National Executive Committee and the ANC Women's League National Executive Committee.
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Namane Dickson Masemola is a South African politician who has been a Delegate to the National Council of Provinces since October 2022. Between 2009 and 2022,he was a Member of the Provincial Legislature in the Limpopo provincial government,representing the African National Congress (ANC),and held a variety of positions in the Limpopo Executive Council.
The Executive Council of Limpopo is the cabinet of the executive branch of the provincial government in the South African province of Limpopo. The Members of the Executive Council (MECs) are appointed from among the members of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature by the Premier of Limpopo,an office held since June 2023 by Phophi Ramathuba.
Azwindini Jeremiah "Jerry" Ndou is a South African politician and diplomat who has served as a Delegate to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) since October 2022. Before that,he represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the Limpopo Provincial Legislature and Limpopo Executive Council.
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Seaparo Charles Sekoati,sometimes misspelled Seaparo Sekwati,is a South African politician who has been a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa since 2024. He was a Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature from 2004 until 2024 and served in the Limpopo provincial government as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Health and Social Development from 2004 to 2009 and,before serving as the MEC for Finance from 2019 until 2024,MEC for Economic Development,Environment and Tourism from 2013 to 2019. From 2013 to 2017,he was also Regional Chairperson of the Mopani branch of his political party,the African National Congress.
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