Mandisa Mashego

Mandisa Sibongile Mashego (born 26 August 1973) is a South African politician and feminist. A member of the Economic Freedom Fighters, she served as the party's provincial chairperson in Gauteng from 2018 to 2020. She was also a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature from 2014 to 2020.[1]

The Honourable

Mandisa Mashego
Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
In office
21 May 2014 – 31 March 2020
Provincial Chairperson of the Gauteng Economic Freedom Fighters
In office
2 September 2018[lower-alpha 1] – 31 March 2020
Preceded byZorro Boshielo
Succeeded byItani Mukwevho
Personal details
Born (1973-08-26) 26 August 1973
King William's Town, Cape Province, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Political partyEconomic Freedom Fighters
Children1
Alma materDurban University of Technology
OccupationPolitician

Early life

Mashego was born in King William's Town, Cape Province, to a black mother and a white father. She grew up in the Mayfern township of Nelspruit. She obtained a B-Tech in Public Relations from the Durban University of Technology.[2]

Political career

Mashego joined the African National Congress (ANC) while still a student. She left the ANC in 2012 and soon joined the EFF. She was elected a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in 2014 and the following year, she was appointed acting provincial chairperson of the EFF following the resignation of Zorro Boshielo. Mashego was elected provincial chairperson for a full term in 2018. She became the party's second elected female provincial chairperson.[3]

Political views

Mashego describes herself as a feminist and an opponent of patriarchy. She said in an interview with the Mail & Guardian that the replacement of the party's first female provincial chairperson, Betty Diale, "saddened" her.[4]

In April 2020, Mashego announced that she supports the reintroduction of the death penalty in South Africa.[5]

Tensions with Julius Malema

In December 2019 at the EFF's national elective conference, Mashego opposed Marshall Dlamini for the post of Secretary-General. Her opposition to Dlamini caused tensions between her and party leader Julius Malema.[6] Malema later suggested in a tweet, which caused speculation, that Mashego was planning on defecting to former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba's party.[7]

In February 2020, the Sunday World newspaper reported that Mashego had resigned as provincial chairperson and a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. The EFF disputed this claim and Mashego later denied that she had resigned.[8][9][10]

On 31 March 2020, Mashego resigned as EFF provincial chairperson and also from the provincial legislature.[11] Deputy chairperson Itani Mukwevho was named her successor.[12] She will, however, remain an EFF member.[13]

Personal life

Mashego has not been married and has one daughter.[14]

Notes
  1. Acting: 18 March 2015 – 2 September 2018

References
  1. Goba, Neo (4 September 2018). "Mandisa Mashego: Red Berets' first provincial woman leader". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  2. Stockenstroom, Somaya (19 September 2018). "EFF's Mandisa Mashego is fierce, feisty and outspoken". Sunday World. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  3. Goba, Neo (4 September 2018). "Mandisa Mashego: Red Berets' first provincial woman leader". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  4. Bendile, Dineo (7 September 2018). "Patriarchy is no effing joke". mg.co.za. Retrieved 25 February 2020. The EFF’s first woman provincial leader, Betty Diale from the North West, was replaced last weekend by the new chairperson, Matshidiso Botswe, a development Mashego said had “saddened” her.
  5. Feketha, Siviwe (2 April 2020). "Former EFF Gauteng chairperson wants to fight for death penalty". IOL. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  6. Madisa, Kgothatso (18 December 2019). "I stood up for black women's leadership: Mandisa Mashego". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  7. Nyathi, Mandisa; Khumalo, Junior (9 February 2020). "EFF conference fallout: Malema's 'strategy is to frustrate people until they resign'". City Press. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  8. Head, Tom (23 February 2020). "Trouble in the EFF: Gauteng leader 'may resign' after bust-up with Malema". The South African. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  9. Masweneng, Kgaugelo (23 February 2020). "Mandisa Mashego has not resigned — EFF". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  10. Seleka, Ntwaagae (28 February 2020). "Mandisa Mashego mum on whether she's still Gauteng EFF leader". News24. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  11. Madia, Tshidi (1 April 2020). "EFF's Mandisa Mashego resigns as caucus leader in Gauteng legislature". News24. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  12. Madisa, Kgothatso (1 April 2020). "EFF's Itani Mukwevho replaces Gauteng chairperson Mandisa Mashego following her resignation". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  13. Mahlati, Zintle (2 April 2020). "Mandisa Mashego confirms resignation from powerful positions in the EFF, remains party member". IOL. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  14. Abraham, Vicky (9 August 2016). "'At least Mom will always vote for me'". The Citizen. Retrieved 26 February 2020. Other aspects about her character are projected during the interview, such as being a loving and caring mother to her daughter.
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