1. Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane succeeded Mabuza as premier when he left the province to become Deputy President of South Africa in February 2018.
15 Facts About Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane
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Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane has been a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee since December 2022.
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Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane was born on 3 September 1973 in Emalahleni in the former Eastern Transvaal, now part of Mpumalanga Province.
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Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane spent most of her childhood in Lynnville, Emalahleni but attended secondary school in Atteridgeville, Pretoria; she ultimately matriculated in 1990 at the Hlabirwa Commercial School in the Northern Transvaal.
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Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane was briefly involved in the trade union movement; between 1997 and 1999, she was a shop steward for the National Union of Metalworkers.
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Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane later served in the provincial executive committee of the ANC Youth League.
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The leader of the provincial opposition, Anthony Benadie of the Democratic Alliance, criticised the appointment, saying that Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane "lacks the skill or strength of character to manage a complex portfolio".
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When Mabuza became Deputy President of South Africa in February 2018, Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane was selected as acting premier.
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Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane was sworn in to the position twice: her first swearing-in, on 27 February 2018, was constitutionally invalid because it proceeded on Mabuza's instructions alone, without the official sanction of the Executive Council.
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Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane was sworn in for a second time on 1 March 2018 in Pretoria.
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On 14 March 2018, the ANC announced that it would nominate Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane to replace Mabuza permanently as the Premier of Mpumalanga.
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Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane held the premiership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and she tested positive for COVID-19 in late September 2020.
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Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane said that she had not noticed that her mask had broken and fallen off; she apologised publicly, signed an admission of guilt, and paid a R1,500 fine.
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Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane received 1,008 votes across roughly 4,000 ballots, making her the 73rd-most popular member of the 80-member committee.
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Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane is married to Lawrence Tsipane, and she has two children.