15 Facts About Ntombi Mekgwe

Lentheng Helen Mekgwe is a South African politician who was Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature from 2014 until 2024.

Ntombi Mekgwe is a member of the African National Congress.

Ntombi Mekgwe left the mayoral office in November 2010 when, shortly after her election as ANC Provincial Treasurer in Gauteng, she was appointed to the Executive Council of Premier Nomvula Mokonyane.

Ntombi Mekgwe served as MEC for Social Development and Health from 2010 to 2012 and MEC for Local Government and Housing from 2012 to 2014.

Ntombi Mekgwe was elected Speaker in the Gauteng legislature after the 2014 general election and was re-elected in 2019.

Lentheng Helen "Ntombi" Mekgwe was born in Chatterston near Nigel on the East Rand of what is Gauteng province.

Ntombi Mekgwe has a Bachelor of Administration degree, an Honours degree, and several tertiary certificates and diplomas; as of 2020, she was pursuing a Master's degree in public administration.

The Independent said that Ntombi Mekgwe was a frontrunner in the race to replace him, although other possible contenders included Panyaza Lesufi, Vulindlela Mapekula, and Chief Whip Moses Maseko.

Ntombi Mekgwe was elected Mayor of Ekurhuleni on 15 July 2008, receiving 109 votes against eight to the opposition candidate Izak Berg.

At a party elective conference in May 2010, Ntombi Mekgwe was elected Provincial Treasurer of the ANC's Gauteng branch, serving under ANC Provincial Chairperson Paul Mashatile.

Ntombi Mekgwe's candidacy was viewed as part of an informal slate of candidates aligned to Mashatile.

News24 said that Ntombi Mekgwe played "a critical role" at the conference in helping Mashatile to defeat a challenge to his incumbency by Nomvula Mokonyane, then the Premier of Gauteng.

In October 2014, Ntombi Mekgwe was re-elected to another four-year term in the powerful ANC treasury office, and she served until July 2018, when she was succeeded by Parks Tau and became an ordinary member of the Gauteng ANC's Provincial Executive Committee.

Ntombi Mekgwe succeeded Qedani Mahlangu as Member of the Executive Council for Social Development and Health.

However, Makhura, not Ntombi Mekgwe, was ultimately appointed Premier, and Ntombi Mekgwe was not appointed to his new Executive Council.