Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation,
South Africa
The Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ms. Maropene Lydia Ramokgopa, is a seasoned politician with extensive experience in diplomacy, governance and administration. She was first appointed in March 2023 by President Cyril Ramaphosa to serve as the Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation under the 6th administration, and was reappointed in the 7th administration under the Government of National Unity (GNU). Born on 31 December 1979 in Polokwane, in the Limpopo province, she grew up in Lebowakgomo Township, just outside Polokwane. She is a mother of three and the second born in a family of four daughters. Ms Ramokgopa holds several qualifications in commercial administration, business management, and municipal finance, and is currently completing a Master in Public Administration. As an experienced South African policymaker and diplomat, she honed her skills in economic diplomacy and multilateral diplomacy, and served in various diplomatic advisory roles. She served as Stakeholder Manager in the Office of the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation from 2014 to 2016. She was the Consul General in Mumbai between 2016 to 2019 and served as the Treasurer Consular Corps in Mumbai for two consecutive terms. She became the Chief Advisor to the African Union Chairperson (RSA President) in 2020-2021 and the Special Advisor on International Relations to His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ms Ramokgopa has extensive experience in public governance and policy development in local government having served as a Ward Councilor in the Kgatelopele Municipality from 2005 to 2006 and the Executive Mayor of the Siyanda District Municipality from 2006 to 2009. Between 2009 and 2013, she managed the Northern Cape Premier’s Office of the Status of Women. She has served on several boards including, Kalahari Kuirvees in Upington in the Northern Cape, the Northern Cape Tourism Board, and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) where she contributed immensely to the development of youth, focusing on young women. She also served as the Regional Convenor of the Progressive Women Movement in South Africa. For over 20 years, she has served in various structures within the African National Congress (ANC) and its Leagues. In the ANC Youth League (ANCYL), these include but are not limited to Deputy Regional Secretary, Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) and Provincial Working Committee (PWC) member in Limpopo. At national level she has served as a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC) as well as a National Task Team member to rebuild ANCYL structures in 2013. She has also served in various positions in the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) including the National Office Manager of the ANCWL in Luthuli House, the founding member and first National Convenor of ANCWL Young Women Desk (YWD), a member of the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANCWL and National Coordinator ANCWL National Task Team (NTT). The notable milestone of her political career is her election as the first Second Deputy Secretary General of the ANC at the party’s 55th Elective Conference in December 2022. Minister Maropene Ramokgopa brings to the Presidency, and government more broadly, eclectic experience, an outcomes-based approach to leadership, and the zeal to inspire active citizenry to move towards a developmental state. She is a woman with a plan.
