Vuyiswa Ramokgopa (born Vuyiswa Mutshekwane)[1] is a South African politician, entrepreneur and businessperson who is the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Agriculture and Rural Development and a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature for RISE Mzansi, of which she is the national chairperson. She has worked in the retail, marketing and design, events management and property investment industries.[2] She is also the chairperson of the National Property Practitioners Council.[3]
Vuyiswa Ramokgopa | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Gauteng Executive Council for Agriculture and Rural Development | |
| Assumed office 3 July 2024 | |
| Premier | Panyaza Lesufi |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature | |
| Assumed office 14 June 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | RISE Mzansi |
| Alma mater | University of Cape Town (BCom) |
Early life
editVuyiswa Ramokgopa was born in Johannesburg, Gauteng. She is one of three children and was raised by her parents, Leslie Mongezi Mutshekwane, a retired actor who starred in the films Goodbye Bafana (2007), Damned River (1989), and Mercenary Fighters (1988), and Gloria Mosia, an entrepreneur who is the Managing Director of Sonocreatives Pty Ltd.[4]
She attended primary school at Micklefield School in Rondebosch, Cape Town, and St. Cyprian's School in Vredehoek, Cape Town, and went on to attend secondary school at the International School of Dakar in Senegal. She then came back to South Africa to complete high school at St. Mary's DSG in Pretoria and Crawford College in Sandton.[4]
Education
editVuyiswa Ramokgopa studied a Bachelor of Commerce in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Cape Town and completed Executive Programs at GIBS and Oxford University.[1]
Business career
editRamokgopa was the Sales and Marketing Manager at KISUA, a unique African fashion company, and the director and co-founder of The Other Girls, an events and lifestyle company, from 2012 to 2016 [citation needed]. She is the former Chief Executive Officer of the South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners (SAIBPP)[5] and founded AWiP Investments, a majority African women-owned and managed broad-based property investment fund based in South Africa.[6]
RISE Mzansi
editIn April 2023, Ramokgopa co-founded the social democratic political party Rise Mzansi, becoming its first national chaiperson. The party contested the 2024 South African general election. Ramokgopa was initially the party's National Coordinator before becoming their candidate for Premier of Gauteng.[7][8]
Gauteng government
editRise Mzansi won one seat in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, and Ramokgopa was selected to represent the party in the legislature.[9] The ANC had lost its majority in the province and ANC premier Panyaza Lesufi then sought to form a "Provincial Government of Unity" with other parties.
On 3 July 2024, Lesufi announced his Executive Council which saw Ramokgopa appointed as the MEC for Rural Development and Agriculture.[10]
In her new role, Ramokgopa said that she will prioritize ending hunger in the province, reducing food waste, and ensuring sustainable, localised production of food. She plans to focus on growing the base of small-scale farmers and supporting the urban farming economy in Gauteng. Ramokgopa emphasised the need for cross-departmental collaboration and cooperation at the provincial, national, and local levels to achieve these goals.[11]
Despite her management experience, stakeholders in agriculture in the province have noted that the fact that she did not have background in the sector may be a challenge, while expressing readiness to work with her to "solve the problems facing agriculture in Gauteng".[11]
Personal life
editVuyiswa Ramokgopa is married to Matome Mathabatha Ramokgopa. She has three children.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b "RISE Mzansi Team - Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, GP Premier Candidate". www.risemzansi.org. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ "The Team". www.risemzansi.org. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ Manana, Siphesihle (2023-04-05). "Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, Rise Mzansi – Trialogue". trialogue.co.za. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ a b Fireside Chats with RISE Mzansi - Get to know Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ "Vuyiswa Ramokgopa resigns as SAIBPP CEO after a successful tenure". IOL. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ "AWiP Investment Holdings". awipinvest.co.za. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ Njilo, Nonkululeko (2023-04-23). "Meet the leaders of Rise Mzansi: eyes set on reviving spirit of 1994". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ Ndawonde, Zamokuhle. "Rise Mzansi's Gauteng premier candidate vows to revolutionise public transport". City Press. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ "RISE Mzansi's new leaders are ready to serve to the people of South Africa". www.risemzansi.org. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
- ^ Maromo, Jonisayi (4 July 2024). "RISE Mzansi commends Panyaza Lesufi after Vuyiswa Ramokgopa is appointed MEC". IOL. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ a b "I want to end hunger, reduce food waste – Ramokgopa". Sowetan Live. 8 July 2024. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ Fireside Chats with RISE Mzansi - Get to know Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, retrieved 2024-01-15