From Ga-Mongatane to Tshwane: The Many Faces of EFF’s Tshegofatso Mashabela

When Tshegofatso Mashabela walks into a room in her signature red, she carries more than a political identityshe carries the weight of a journey that began in the small village of Ga-Mongatane, Limpopo, and has since stretched into the halls of Tshwane’s municipal power. At 32, she is a politician by day, a student by night, andmost importantlya full-time mother to her five-year-old son.

Growing Up Rural, Dreaming Bigger

Mashabela’s childhood village, named after Bapedi King Sekhukhune, is where she learned the meaning of community. “In the village, the saying that it takes a village to raise a child is true,” she reflects. “But in the city, you look out for yourself.”

Her academic talent stood out earlyshe matriculated with distinctions in English, Sepedi, and accounting. Yet it wasn’t until university that she first touched a laptop and began to discover her passion for politics.

Finding Her Voice in Student Politics

At Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Mashabela’s love for activism grew. She was drawn into student leadership just as the EFF Student Command was gaining momentum. First as deputy president, later as acting president, she sharpened her voice in institutional politics. “That’s where I realised I could lead,” she says.

This foundation shaped her rise within the EFF. Today, she serves as the Tshwane regional secretary and as the City of Tshwane’s MMC for healtha position that has tested her resilience in public office.

Juggling Motherhood, Politics and Books

Mashabela’s life is a constant balancing act. Mornings are for oversight visits, afternoons for council work, and nights for academic study. She has already completed qualifications in HR management, labour relations, and an MBA, with a doctorate at the University of Johannesburg now on the horizon. “After hours, I’m a bookworm,” she laughs, “unless my son needs me.”

Despite the pressure, she insists the EFF remains her “first love.” Her faith also grounds hershe’s a committed member of the Zionist Christian Church.

Speaking Boldly in Public Life

Recently, Mashabela drew headlines when she defended clinics as spaces of care, not “border control points,” amid criticism over foreign nationals’ access to healthcare. “This is not just policyit’s a moral imperative,” she argued, noting her stance comes from principle, not popularity.

It was the kind of statement that cements her reputation: unapologetic, sometimes controversial, but rooted in conviction. Her political inspiration is Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, whom she admires for resilience and strategic sacrifice in the face of hardship.

Red as Identity and Resistance

For Mashabela, red is more than a colour. “It encourages wisdom. In South Africa, wearing red means you’re ready to challenge the status quo,” she says. To her, red symbolises resistance, courage, and the fight against a history that tried to limit black ambition.

The City That Shaped Her

Though Tshwane is now her stage, Mashabela hasn’t forgotten the formative influence of Sunnyside and Soshanguve. “Sunnyside can swallow dreams,” she reflects. “If you survive Sunnyside, you can even survive Johannesburg.”

The Many Tshegos

Mashabela often jokes that there are many versions of herself: Tshego the mom, Tshego the politician (nicknamed Stabus at university), Tshego the leader, and Tshego the dream-chaser. But at her core, she’s still the young girl from Ga-Mongatane who refused to let her rural background define her limits.

“I am this resilient person who does not give up in life,” she says. “I will always chase what I wantand I’ll get it.”

{Source: The Citizen}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com