Thabo Andrew Mokone is a South African politician and businessman. As a member of the African National Congress, he was elected to the Limpopo Provincial Legislature in 2019. He was appointed Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism shortly after his election. In October 2022, Mokone became MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Thabo Mokone
MPL
Member of the Limpopo Executive Council for Agriculture and Rural Development
In office
6 October 2022 – 14 June 2024
PremierStanley Mathabatha
Preceded byNandi Ndalane
Succeeded byNakedi Sibanda-Kekana
Member of the Limpopo Executive Council for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism
In office
22 May 2019 – 6 October 2022
PremierStanley Mathabatha
Preceded bySeaparo Charles Sekoati[1]
Succeeded byRodgers Monama
Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature
Assumed office
22 May 2019
Personal details
Born
Thabo Andrew Mokone
NationalitySouth African
Political partyAfrican National Congress
ProfessionPolitician

Background

edit

Mokone has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Education and a post-graduate qualification in Project Management. He holds a qualification in construction from the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA).[2] He has also served on the boards of the Road Agency Limpopo, the Huric Non-Governmental Organization and the Limpopo Economic Development Agency.[2]

ANC Provincial Executive Committee Member

edit

Mokone is a member of the African National Congress. He serves on the party's Provincial Executive Committee in Limpopo.[3] Following his re-election as a member of the PEC at the ANC's provincial elective conference in June 2018, the PEC elected him to serve on the Provincial Working Committee (PWC), the party's highest decision-making body in the province. Mokone was then named convenor of the party's sub-committee on Legislature and Governance.[4] In August 2018, Mokone was appointed by the ANC to serve on a team to investigate ways to avoid the liquidation of VBS Bank, including the possibility of incorporating the bank into the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA).[5] The bank was ultimately liquidated.

Provincial government

edit

Mokone was elected to the Limpopo Provincial Legislature in the 2019 general election on the ANC's list. The ANC had retained control of the province and ANC provincial chairman Stanley Mathabatha was re-elected as premier during the first sitting of the legislature on 22 May 2019. Mathabatha announced his new executive council which saw Mokone appointed MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism.[6][7]

In July 2020, Daily Maverick reported that Mokone had allegedly reconstituted the board of Limpopo Economic Development Agency (Leda) to appoint members who supported a contested R3.2-billion provincial mining deal which saw Mathabatha's foster brother emerge as a beneficiary.[8]

At the ANC's 10th provincial elective conference, held at The Ranch Resort outside Polokwane in June 2022, Mokone was re-elected to the provincial elective committee as an additional member after having received the third highest number of votes from delegates.[9][10] In October 2022, Mathabatha announced the second reshuffle of his executive council in less than three months which saw Mokone move to the Agriculture and Rural Development portfolio, taking over from Nandi Ndalane.[11][12]

Following his re-election to the Provincial Legislature in the 2024 general election, Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana was appointed to replace him as the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development.[13]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Seaparo Charles Sekoati". People's Assembly. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  2. ^ a b "Mr Thabo Mokone". www.ldard.gov.za. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  3. ^ "Tussle for top posts in Limpopo". The Mail & Guardian. 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  4. ^ observer (2018-06-28). "ANC Lim executive elects Provincial Working Committee, sub-committees". Review. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  5. ^ "ANC top 6 plan shady deal to rescue embattled VBS bank". News24. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  6. ^ Import, Pongrass (2019-05-30). "Limpopo's new leadership elected, new MEC's sworn in". Review. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  7. ^ "Dickson Masemola makes a comeback in newly announced Limpopo executive". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  8. ^ amaBhungane, Gemma Ritchie and Sam Sole for (2020-07-26). "AMABHUNGANE: Mining deal favours Limpopo first family and big business". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  9. ^ Sadike, Mashudu. "Five Limpopo MECs get dumped from ANC's provincial executive committee". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  10. ^ Import, Pongrass (2022-06-10). "Smooth sailing at ANC Limpopo's 10th elective conference". Review. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  11. ^ Mahlati, Zintle. "Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha reshuffles executive for second time". News24. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  12. ^ gilbertmotseo (2022-10-07). "Mathabatha reshuffles his cabinet again". Lowvelder. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  13. ^ "Ramathuba shakes up Limpopo provincial cabinet". Jacaranda FM. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
edit