Sisisi Tolashe is a prominent South African politician who has been serving in various positions in the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party and the government. She was elected as the president of the ANC Women’s League in July 2023, making her the first woman to hold this position since 1994.
She is also the deputy minister in the presidency for women, youth and persons with disabilities since March 2023.
Sisisi Tolashe Wiki/Bio
| Name | Nokuzola Gladys Tolashe |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Sisisi “Sisi” Tolashe |
| Date of birth | 21 December 1959 |
| Place of birth | Queenstown, Cape Province Union of South Africa |
| Age | 63 years old (as of 2023) |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Not mentioned yet |
| Profession | Politician |
| Political party | African National Congress (ANC) |
| Position held as of July 2023 | President of the ANC Women’s League; Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities; Member of the National Assembly; Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature; Mayor of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality; Secretary-General of the ANC Women’s League (2008-2015); Backbencher in the National Assembly (2016-2018) |
| Spouse name and status as of July 2023 | Senzo Mchunu (married) |
| Social Links | Homepage- WikiBioStar Wikipedia- @Sisisi_Tolashe |
Biography
Sisisi Tolashe was born on 21 December 1959 (age: 63 years, as of 2023) in Queenstown in the former Cape Province. She grew up during the apartheid era and witnessed its brutality firsthand. She joined various youth organisations and civic groups that opposed the regime and fought for democracy and human rights. She was detained without trial for five years under Section 29 of the Internal Security Act and under state of emergency regulations.
She entered politics through these organisations and became a member of the United Democratic Front (UDF), a coalition of anti-apartheid movements. She also served as a secretary-general of several women’s associations that advocated for gender equality and empowerment.
Provincial Legislature
In January 2001, Sisisi Tolashe was sworn in to the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature as a member of the ANC caucus. She represented Enoch Mgijima constituency until February 2018. During her tenure, she was involved in various legislative committees and portfolios related to health, education, social development, women’s affairs and public service delivery.
She also participated in several provincial council meetings where she raised issues affecting women and children in her area. She championed causes such as domestic violence prevention, sexual harassment awareness, maternal mortality reduction and HIV/AIDS awareness.
National Assembly
In September 2016, Sisisi Tolashe contested for a seat in the National Assembly from Enoch Mgijima constituency but lost to ANC candidate Lindiwe Gunuza-Nkwentsha by a margin of 5%. However, she retained her seat as an ANC member until February 2018 when she resigned from parliament to become mayor of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality.
As mayor of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality from February to May 2019, Tolashe oversaw various projects aimed at improving service delivery and infrastructure in her municipality. Some of these projects included water supply augmentation, sanitation improvement, road construction and maintenance, waste management system upgrade and community development programmes.
She also worked closely with other local government officials to coordinate efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic in her municipality. She implemented measures such as lockdown compliance checks, contact tracing campaigns, testing facilities establishment and social relief grants distribution.
Women’s League Secretary-General
In July 2008, Sisisi Tolashe was appointed as secretary-general of the ANC Women’s League by President Thabo Mbeki. She became one of the most influential women leaders within the party at that time.
As secretary-general of the ANC Women’s League from July 2008 to August 2015 under President Kgalema Motlanthe , she led various initiatives to promote gender equality, etc.
Some of these initiatives included:
- Developing policies and strategies for advancing the interests and rights of women and girls in all spheres of life;
- Organising campaigns, events, workshops, seminars, conferences, forums, networks, coalitions, alliances etc. to raise awareness, build capacity, strengthen solidarity, mobilise resources, advocate for change etc.
- Supporting candidates and members of parliament from women and youth;
- Providing mentorship, guidance, training, scholarship etc. to young women leaders;
- Establishing platforms and mechanisms for dialogue, consultation, collaboration etc. with other stakeholders;
- Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of policies, strategies, plans etc. related to gender equality ;
- Advocating for increased budget allocation , funding , resources etc. for gender equality.
Love Life of Sisisi Tolashe
Sisisi Tolashe and Senzo Mchunu are a married couple who have been in the public eye for their political roles and achievements. They have been married for over two decades and have five children together. Here are some facts about their marriage relationship:
- Sisisi Tolashe is the president of the ANC Women’s League, the deputy minister in the presidency for women, youth and persons with disabilities, and a member of the national executive committee. She is also a former member of parliament and the mayor of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality .
- Senzo Mchunu is the minister of water and sanitation, as well as a member of parliament for Musina constituency in Limpopo province. He is also a former member of parliament for Musina East constituency in Limpopo province .
- They met in 1990 when they were both working for the ANC in Limpopo province. They fell in love and got married later that year.
- They have five children: four sons and one daughter. Their names are Thabo, Nkosinathi, Nkosinikazi, Nkosinokazi, and Nkosinokazi.
- They are known to be supportive of each other’s careers and political ambitions. They often attend public events together and share their views on various issues affecting South Africa .
- They are also involved in various social causes such as education, health care, gender equality, environmental protection, and community development. They have established several projects and programmes to empower women, youth, persons with disabilities, rural communities, and vulnerable groups .
- They are regarded as one of the most influential couples in South African politics. They have received praise from President Cyril Ramaphosa for their contributions to his vision of building a non-racial democracy that upholds human dignity for all .
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m)
- Weight: 52 kg (114 lbs)
- Eye color: Brown
- Body measurements: 33 inches (84 cm) bra size, 34 inches (86 cm) hip size, 34 inches (86 cm) bust size
- Skin color: Dark brown
- Hair color: Black
- Shoe size: 7 (US)
Net Worth
| Year | Income | Assets | Expenses | Liabilities | Net Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $1.2 million | $2 million | $800,000 | $400,000 | $800,000 |
| 2023 | $1.5 million | $3 million | $900,000 | $500,000 | $1.5 million |
