THE NEWLY APPOINTED MEC OF DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY MS SUSANI VIOLET MATHYE
Profile of MEC Violet Mathye
Until her appointment as the Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) for the Department of Transport and Community Safety, Ms. Susani Violet Mathye was the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Education, in the Limpopo Legislature.
She defines this position, and many others that she has occupied in the Provincial Legislature and Local Government, as ideal preparatory platforms towards becoming a Member of the Executive Council.
Political background
A community activist through and through, Hon Mathye rose to prominence and became a part of numerous community structures, which have evolved with the local government institution.
From being a Coordinator of Community Projects, she was catapulted to a Member of the Mayoral Committee of the Mopani District Municipality, for a period of 10 years.
She joined the ANC in 1990, and served its structures in various capacities, and she is at the moment a member of the ANC’s Provincial Executive Committee.
Her previous roles in the Legislature include being the Deputy Chief Whip, the Deputy Chairperson of Chairpersons and the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on the Quality of Life, Status of Women, Youth and Disability.
In addition to being a Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Education, she has also served as a member of various committees in the past 10 years.
She beams with delight, as she reflects on the portfolio committee’s laborious toil over the education department, and how the Department has vastly improved under her tutelage, over the years.
Education
Born in Burgersdorp in the Mhlava area in Greater Tzaneen Municipality, MEC Violet Mathye cut her political teeth as a student activist, at the then University of the North.
She enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education, at the height of apartheid, and has since went on to acquire numerous academic qualifications, which include, a Further Diploma in Education, an Honours Degree in Education, Law and Policy Making and is currently pursuing a Masters of Business Administration Degree.
Career
She brings with her into this position many years of experience, as an Educator, a Deputy Manager for Governance in the Nwanedzi Circuit, a Ward Councillor and a Member of the Mayoral Committee in the Mopani District Municipality.
She is a well travelled public office bearer, whose activism has thrusted her in public office, for nearly 30 years.