MEC

Ms. Nakedi Grace Kekana was born in Hlakano Village, Zebediela, Limpopo Province. She is a community leader and developer with extensive experience in education, local government, community development and political leadership.

She started her schooling at Mashigwana Primary School, where she completed her Grade 7. She then moved to Reholegile Secondary School before completing her Grade 12 at Makgoka High School in 1985.

In 1986, Ms. Kekana moved to Mokopane College of Education, where she enrolled for a Senior Teachers Diploma, which she completed in 1988.

Ms. Nakedi Grace Kekana graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree from the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 1996. In 2005, she completed her Honours Degree in Education with the same university.

Ms. Kekana further developed her leadership and management skills through various executive development programmes. In 2009, she completed the Programme in Executive Leadership in Municipal Development with the University of Pretoria. In 2011, she completed a Programme in Management Development with Wits University.

Her political career can be traced back to 1995 when she was elected as the Chairperson of the ANC Hlakano Branch. In 2005, she was elected as the Treasurer of the ANC Lepelle-Nkupi Sub-Region.

In 2006, Ms. Kekana became a Regional Executive Committee (REC) member of the ANC Women’s League in the Peter Mokaba Region. In the same year, she was elected as a South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Provincial Executive Committee member, a position she held for 10 years.

She served as a member of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU), the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) between 1994 and 2021.

Ms. Kekana was elected as a member of the Regional Executive Committee (REC) of the ANC Peter Mokaba Region in 2010 and was subsequently elected as Treasurer of the same structure in 2014.

In May 2022, she was elected as the ANC Limpopo Treasurer, a position she currently occupies.

Ms. Kekana is a community leader and developer who has played an active role in community structures over many years. In 1994, she was appointed as the Chairperson of the then RDP. In 1998, she was appointed as a School Governing Body (SGB) member of Reholegile High School and also served as the Secretary of the Methodist Church.

In 2004, she became the Chairperson of the Water Committee for Mvula Trust, further demonstrating her commitment to community development and improving the lives of communities.

Ms. Kekana began her professional career as a teacher at Reholegile High School in 1989, a position she occupied for 17 years until 2006.

In 2006, she was appointed as the Speaker of Lepelle-Nkupi Local Municipality. She subsequently served as the Mayor of the same local municipality from 2016 to 2018.

Ms. Kekana joined the Limpopo Legislature as a Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) in 2019, serving under the Whippery Programming Committee.

In October 2022, she was appointed as the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture in Limpopo Province.

Following the commencement of the Seventh Administration of the Provincial Government, Ms. Kekana was appointed as the MEC for the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on 18 June 2024.

On 2 September 2026, Ms. Nakedi Grace Kekana was appointed as the new MEC for the Department of Transport and Community Safety in Limpopo Province.

Her appointment forms part of the first reconstitution of the Provincial Executive Council since the inception of the Seventh Administration in July 2024.

Ms. Kekana brings extensive experience in education, local government, community development and political leadership to her new responsibility as MEC for the Department of Transport and Community Safety.

Her career reflects a longstanding commitment to public service, community development and the advancement of the people of Limpopo.