Itumeleng William "Benny" Kotsoane was a South African politician and civil servant who represented the African National Congress in the Free State Provincial Legislature from 1994 to 2006.
12 Facts About Benny Kotsoane
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Benny Kotsoane was a former Deputy Provincial Chairperson of the ANC's Free State branch, an office he held from 1997 to 1998.
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In May 2006, Kotsoane left frontline politics to enter public service as Director-General at the national Department of Housing, where he worked under Minister Lindiwe Sisulu from May 2006 until 2009.
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Benny Kotsoane was born on 17 August 1966 in Bloemfontein in the former Orange Free State.
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In South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, Benny Kotsoane was elected to represent the African National Congress in the Free State Provincial Legislature.
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Pursuant to the 1999 general election, Benny Kotsoane was re-elected to his legislative seat, and newly elected Premier Winkie Direko moved him to a new post as MEC for Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
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Benny Kotsoane remained in that position until June 2001, when Direko announced a reshuffle in which Kotsoane took over the Safety and Security portfolio, previously led by Casca Mokitlane.
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Benny Kotsoane was therefore demoted to serve as an ordinary Member of the Provincial Legislature.
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Benny Kotsoane left the provincial legislature in May 2006 when President Thabo Mbeki appointed him as Director-General at the national Department of Housing, then under the political leadership of Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.
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In early November 2009, Benny Kotsoane announced that he had agreed to leave the department; he said that he would likely be transferred to the Department of Public Works.
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The Sunday World reported in 2021 that Benny Kotsoane was expected to return to work for another former boss because Sisulu reportedly intended to hire him to advise her in her new role as Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation.
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Benny Kotsoane died on 30 March 2025, at the age of 58.