Mr Dickson Masemola

Current Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Between 2009 and 2022, he was a Member of the Provincial Legislature in the Limpopo provincial government, representing the African National Congress (ANC), and held various positions in the Limpopo Executive Council.

Masemola began his political career as Executive Mayor of his hometown, Sekhukhune District Municipality, from 2001 to 2009. From 2008 to 2013, he served as Deputy Provincial Chairperson of the ANC in Limpopo. Simultaneously, he served as Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education. Masemola was then MEC for Public Works (2013–2014); MEC for Transport (2019–2020); MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure (2020–2022); and MEC for Social Development (2022).

Masemola was born in Ga-Marishane in the Sekhukhune region of Limpopo. In his youth, he was active in anti-apartheid student politics, including through the South African Students Congress and local organisations affiliated with the South African Youth Congress. He later joined the African National Congress (ANC) and volunteered in the party's election campaign during South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994.

In 2021, Masemola received a doctorate in administration from the University of Limpopo. His thesis was about "the impact of leadership on socio-economic development of municipalities" in South Africa.

Masemola entered local government in 1999 and served as the Executive Mayor of Sekhukhune District Municipality from 2001 to 2009.

While mayor, Masemola rose through the ranks of the local ANC and ultimately became the Regional Chairperson of the party's Sekhukhune regional branch. At a provincial elective conference in July 2008, Masemola was elected Deputy Provincial Chairperson of the ANC in Limpopo.

In March 2009, Masemola resigned as mayor and was sworn into the Limpopo provincial legislature. Masemola subsequently served as acting Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Roads and Transport in the Limpopo provincial government.

In the April 2009 general election, Masemola was reelected to the provincial legislature and appointed MEC for Education. He served in that office until 2013.

While Education MEC, Masemola was reelected ANC Deputy Provincial Chairperson in December 2011.

In the 2014 general election, Masemola was reelected to a second full term in the Limpopo provincial legislature. At the Limpopo ANC's next elective conference in June 2018, Mathabatha was re-elected unopposed as Provincial Chairperson.

In the 2019 general election, Masemola was reelected to the provincial legislature and appointed MEC for Transport. In a subsequent reshuffle in March 2020, he became MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure.