By Celani Sikhakhane
- Former small-town clerk Phumzile Mgcina becomes deputy minister of minerals and energy.
- Her success story inspires rural schoolmates who say it shows countryside children can reach top positions.
A former clerk from a small farming town has inspired her old schoolmates after President Cyril Ramaphosa made her deputy minister of minerals and energy.
Phumzile Mgcina, who went to Mlandomusha Secondary (formerly Malahleni Secondary) in Utrecht near Newcastle, was surprisingly given the top job on Wednesday.
Her former classmate Sboniso Mngadi couldn’t believe the news.
“I am very proud of my home girl because she has since shown leadership skills at an early age. I remember when she became a clerk at Utrecht local municipality and we were so proud of Phumzile but this appointment has surprised us and also made us happy to see our friend becoming a deputy minister,” said Mngadi.
He said Mgcina’s success shows rural children can reach high positions in government.
Mgcina worked as a finance clerk at the Madlangeni local municipality, one of South Africa’s least-known councils.
She told Scrolla.Africa she was shocked but happy about her appointment.
“I was the deputy minister of employment and labour, which will help me to bring more experience. Another thing, my town is a rural mining town which suggests I will also play a vital role in government to make sure that those mines are being developed to create job opportunities,” said Mgcina.
She is known as a rural political fighter who became an executive member of the ANC’s Musa Kubheka Region (formerly Amalahleni).
In 2022 she was appointed acting regional chairperson of the same region before she was elected to the national executive of the ANC Youth League, where she serves as the deputy chairperson.
Mgcina was once the Amajuba district municipality speaker but lost her chance to be mayor in 2021 when the ANC lost to the IFP.
Pictured above: The former clerk of eMadlangeni local municipality, Phumzile Mgcina, inspired former classmates by being appointed as deputy minister of minerals and energy.
Source: Amajuba District
