Mandisa Makesini is a South African politician who has been a Permanent Delegate to the National Council of Provinces from the Free State since 2024. She previously served in the Free State Provincial Legislature and in the National Assembly of South Africa. Makesini is a former provincial chairperson of the Economic Freedom Fighters.

Mandisa Makesini
MP
Permanent Delegate to the National Council of Provinces from the Free State
Assumed office
15 June 2024
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
In office
8 February 2023 – 28 May 2024
Member of the Free State Provincial Legislature
In office
21 May 2014 – January 2023
Provincial Chairperson of the Economic Freedom Fighters
In office
September 2018 – November 2022
Preceded byKgotso Morapela
Succeeded byMapheule Liphoko
Personal details
Political partyEconomic Freedom Fighters
ProfessionPolitician

Political career

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Makesini was elected to the Free State Provincial Legislature in the 2014 general election alongside Jacob Tshabalala as one of two members of the Economic Freedom Fighters .[1] At the EFF's provincial conference in September 2018, Makesini was elected provincial chairperson of the EFF, defeating incumbent Kgotso Morapela by three votes. On her election, Makesini said that it was a sign that patriarchy was being defeated.[2]

Makesini was re-elected to a second term in the provincial legislature in 2019.[3] She unsuccessfully sought re-election as EFF provincial chairperson at the party's conference in November 2022, losing to Mapheule Liphoko in a vote that went 343 for Liphoko and 278 votes for Makesini. EFF President Julius Malema lamented her loss, criticising the delegates for not electing a woman as provincial chairperson.[4]

Makesini resigned from the provincial legislature in January 2023 and was replaced by Liphoko.[5] She was subsequently sworn in as a member of the National Assembly of South Africa on 8 February 2023.[6]

Following the 2024 general election, Makesini was appointed to take up a seat in the National Council of Provinces where she represents the Free State as the sole EFF member of the provincial delegation.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Grobler, Andre. "Free State MPLs sworn in". Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  2. ^ "Newly elected F State chairperson Makhesini vows to unite EFF". SABC News. 2018-09-09. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  3. ^ "Mandisa Makesini". People's Assembly. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  4. ^ Khumalo, Juniour. "It's failure, 'disrespect from all of you': Malema slams EFF branches for not electing women leaders". News24. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  5. ^ fscentralnews (2023-02-04). "EFF Chairpeson Liphoko sworn in as Member of Free State Legislature – Free State Central News". Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  6. ^ @EFFSouthAfrica (8 February 2023). "♦️In Pictures♦️ Commissar Mandisa Makesini and Commissar Vusi Khoza were today sworn in as Members of Parliament in Cape Town #EFFTurns10" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Post". X. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.