DSD details
Ms Thandi Blessing Shongwe (MPL)
Member of Executive Council
2019 - 2021
Born 57 years ago in a tiny township of Barberton which is commonly known as Umjindi, Blessing Thandi Shongwe just like
any other South African started to involve herself in politics at early age, and it was surprisingly when was elected as the
Student Representative Council at Shongwe High School.
MEC Blessing Thandi Shongwe had a spell at Ehlanzeni District Municipality where she was the Member of the Mayoral
Committee responsible for Finance and Community Safety from 2000 – 2006, and an educator school headmaster, head of
department at legubuta and Bongaokuhle primary school.
Her passionate and dedication towards politics raise to the occasion when she was elected as the South African Democratic
Teachers Union Deputy Chairperson at Khulangwane Circuit, and served in various portfolios in the African National Congress
Women’s League and subsequently elected as the regional secretary of the African National Congress Ehlanzeni Regional
Secretary , Additional Member of the African National Congress Women’s league Provincial Executive Committee to date
and currently additional Member of the Provincial Executive Committee.
In 2008 her political home the African National Congress saw it fit to deploy her in National Parliament, and in 2009 deployed
to Mpumalanga Provincial legislature as the Deputy Chief Whip of the majority party from 2010 – May 2014, and in 2014 she
was deployed as the speaker for the Mpumalanga Provincial legislature and was then deployed to department of Culture
sports and recreation as the Member of Executive Council.
Her educational qualification includes Secondary Education Diploma from Vista University, Higher Diploma in Education
Vista University, Further Education Management, College of South Africa, Batchelor Arts Wits University, certificates in
Advance Governance and Public leadership (at level of Honours) and currently studying towards Masters towards Masters
in Advanced Governance and Public leadership.
MEC Blessing Thandi Shongwe hobbies includes singing going to church travelling and passionate about women
empowerment a gender activist a champion for women issues.
Ms. Busisiwe Pauline Shiba
Member of Executive Council
2016 - 2019
Born on 10 May 1965, in Carolina, Ms. Busisiwe Pauline Shiba started her career as an educator in Baadjiesbelt Combined School, a small farm school situated in the outskirts of Carolina. After displaying high levels of commitment and deep love for teaching and transferring knowledge to younger generations she was then promoted to be Head of Department (HOD) in the very same school. Growing up in a society overwhelmed by patriarchy she chose the path of many female revolutionaries of challenging the status quo and she became a gender activist.
As a result she was nominated as the provincial gender convenor of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) in the province of Mpumalanga.
As the provincial gender convenor she led campaigns such as the Peer Treatment counselling Access (PTCA), which was aimed at encouraging educators to do voluntary HIV/ AIDS testing.
This successful campaign which saw certain educators participating fulltime the programme was done in partnership with Solidarity Centre. The success of the campaign attracted media attention. Her intolerance with all forms of injustice including those at the work place required her to be a unionist.
As a unionist of SADTU, she was able to bring under one roof organized labour and the Department of Education for the Educational Labour Relations Council (ELRC). Her commitment to SADTU work saw the teachers unions deploying her to serve in the Mpumalanga Exam Board as its representative.
In 2005 the African National Congress (ANC) saw it fit for her to be deployed as a proportional representative (PR) councillor in the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality. She was again redeployed at the beginning of 2006 term of council as a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for planning and Economic Development.
While at the helm of the planning and Economic Development, the Department produced a Local Economic Development Strategy (LED) and a Housing Chapter for the first time in history of the Municipality. The LED Strategy was aiming at uplifting the Local Economy of Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality through partnership with partnership stakeholders.
As a hard working member of the mayoral committee she had to respond to the growing population in the Municipality and the increase of the black middle class. She advocated for the establishment of formal settlements like Caropark, Pieter de Bryn and Silobela extension e4, which of most are formal settlements today.
In 2011 she was given the task of leading the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality as the Executive Mayor. She serves her organisation the ANC as a member of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) and Provincial Working Committee (PWC) which are the highest structures of the movement in the jurisdiction of Mpumalanga. In the past she held with success different positions which include COSATU REC member, SADTU PEC member, and ANCWL PEC member.
She was honoured to serve the ANC in the Provincial Centenary Task Team and convenor of the ANC centenary task team.
Ms. Shiba holds a Bachelor of Education Honours Degree specializing in management, Law and system from the University of North West. She has a certificate in Local Economic Development Programme which she obtained at Wits University. A certificate in Municipal Leadership Programme obtained at the University of Pretoria. She also did a Human Resource Management Programme with UNISA, Responsible Tourism Planning Programme at the University of Free State, did an Executive Training Course at an Institute for International Urban Development (IIUD). She is currently busy with her Master Degree in Public Management at Regenesys University.
She attributes her success to even in difficult conditions to her motto of life which is “STAY POSITIVE”. Following the reconfiguration of the Mpumalanga Provincial Executive Council on 17 August 2016, Ms Shiba was appointed MEC for Social Development.
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