POLOKWANE – In a landmark event for Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, a seasoned medical professional and former Health MEC, has been sworn in as the province’s first female premier.

Sworn in alongside other members of the provincial legislature during the inaugural session of the seventh administration, Ramathuba succeeds Chupu Stanley Mathabatha, who served as premier during the fifth and sixth terms.

Ramathuba (50) hails from Ha-Mashamba village in the Vhembe district.

Her political journey began in 2015 when she ascended from the ranks of the ANC’s tripartite alliances to her previous position.

Her recent appointment continues a trend of female leadership in the province, with Makoma Makhurupetje elected unopposed as the new Speaker of the Limpopo Legislature and Tebogo Mamorobela as the Deputy Speaker.

Ramathuba has outlined an ambitious agenda for the province, focusing on rapid industrialisation to spur economic growth and youth development.

“This will help create proper jobs,” she stated. “When people can take care of their health, they have a voice, more so than when they are faced with poverty and become susceptible to abuse and the likes.”

Highlighting the necessity of reducing the exportation of the province’s mineral resources, Ramathuba emphasised the potential for economic prosperity.

“With so many natural resources, we need to gather them and understand why our province is not growing compared to others. We contribute more than 7.2% to the gross domestic product (GDP), but the province still faces a pressing unemployment rate because it does not process its minerals. If it did, our job rate would be much higher,” she explained.

Ramathuba is committed to inclusivity and access to quality basic services, pledging to ensure the new administration prioritises these values. “I am recommitting the new administration to inclusivity and access to quality basic services. I dare not fail,” she affirmed.

A distinguished academic, Ramathuba graduated from Medunsa in 2000 and obtained a Master of medical pharmacology from the University of Pretoria in 2007, along with an international advanced management programme qualification from the Manchester Business School in the same year.

She encourages the youth to prioritise education despite current employment challenges.

“When our parents encouraged us to go to school, they knew we would easily get jobs and look after them. But today, our children go to school and still need our support. However, education remains crucial, as the 1976 generation fought for this opportunity. Government funding is available, particularly through the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS),” she said.
Ramathuba has been outspoken over the years, urging young people to refrain from sexual activities and focus on their education. The girl child must close-up, and the boy child must zip-up, stay away from drugs and alcohol, and focus on their education,” she remarked at one point in her tenure as health MEC.

As the new premier, Ramathuba brings a blend of medical expertise, political acumen, and a strong commitment to social progress, setting a promising course for the province’s future.