19 Facts About Gwen Ramokgopa

Gwen Malegwale Ramokgopa is a South African politician who was elected the Treasurer-General of the governing African National Congress in December 2022.

Gwen Ramokgopa was formerly the Deputy Minister of Health under President Jacob Zuma from October 2010 to May 2014.

Gwen Ramokgopa was the Member of the Executive Council for Health in Gauteng from 1999 to 2006 and again from 2017 to 2019.

Gwen Ramokgopa was the first female Mayor of Tshwane from 2006 until 2010, when she was elevated to national office.

Gwen Ramokgopa was elected to the party's National Executive Committee for the first time in 2017.

Gwen Ramokgopa was born and raised in Atteridgeville, a township outside Pretoria in what is Gauteng province.

In 2003, she caused mild controversy by insisting that the Ga-Rankuwa Hospital should be renamed after a local doctor and activist named George Mukhari; the opposition Democratic Alliance claimed that Gwen Ramokgopa had not consulted the community about the decision and that she was motivated by her personal friendship with the Mukhari family.

In March 2006, pursuant to the 2006 local elections, Gwen Ramokgopa was elected the first female Mayor of Tshwane, leading the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.

Gwen Ramokgopa left the job in November 2010 and was replaced by her nephew, Kgosientso "Sputla" Ramokgopa.

In February 2017, Gwen Ramokgopa was returned to her earlier position as Gauteng MEC for Health, this time by Premier David Makhura.

Gwen Ramokgopa succeeded Qedani Mahlangu, who had resigned shortly after the Life Esidimeni scandal broke.

In May 2010, while still Tshwane Mayor, Gwen Ramokgopa was elected Deputy Provincial Chairperson of the ANC in Gauteng, deputising Paul Mashatile.

Gwen Ramokgopa beat Bafana Sibisi to be elected to the position, receiving 513 votes against Sibisi's 364, and was viewed as having run on an informal slate aligned to Mashatile.

At the ANC's 54th National Conference in December 2017, Gwen Ramokgopa was elected to the party's National Executive Committee.

Gwen Ramokgopa was later co-opted onto the NEC's National Working Committee.

Gwen Ramokgopa was generally described as a political ally of incumbent national President and ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ahead of the ANC's 55th National Conference, Gwen Ramokgopa was viewed as a likely candidate for the position of ANC Secretary-General.

Gwen Ramokgopa declined a nomination to stand as Deputy Secretary-General, but accepted a nomination to stand as Treasurer-General.

Gwen Ramokgopa is married to Allen Lephoko, with whom she has three children.