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Tsakani Goodness Shiviti (born 12 May 1991) is a South African politician who has represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly since June 2024. She is also the deputy secretary-general of the ANC Youth League. In the National Assembly, she is the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation.

Early life and education

Born on 12 May 1991, Shiviti was born and raised in Mapapila, a village in Malamulele in present-day Limpopo. She and her six siblings were raised by her grandmother while their parents worked in Gauteng. Her family is Tsonga.

After high school, she left home without her parents' support to attend the University of Limpopo, enrolling with the assistance of the South African Students Congress (SASCO) and the money that she had saved as an amateur hairdresser. She graduated with Bachelor of Arts in communications. In the interim, she was elected as SASCO deputy president in 2016, at the height of the #FeesMustFall student protests.

Political career

After her graduation, Shiviti served on the boards of the Small Enterprise Finance Agency and Small Enterprise Development Agency. On 1 July 2023, she was elected as deputy secretary-general of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League, deputising secretary-general Mntuwoxolo Ngudle; at the same elective conference, Olga Seate was elected to the newly created position of second deputy secretary-general.

In the May 2024 general election, Shiviti was elected to represent the ANC in the National Assembly of South Africa. She sits in the Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, which, during its first meeting on 10 July 2024, unanimously elected her as its chairperson. In that capacity, in November 2024, she expressed concern about the pace of South Africa's transition to electric vehicles, arguing that the market-wide transition should be preceded by a smaller pilot programme in government in order to avoid "real market disruption". Later the same month the SABC quoted her encouraging attendees at a political rally in Mbombela to reclaim foreign-owned spaza shops.

Personal life

Shiviti is Christian.

References

1. "Final Candidate Lists for 2024 National and Provincial Elections: National Candidates" (PDF). Electoral Commission of South Africa. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
2. ^ Mzangwe, Lunga (4 November 2023). "ANC Youth League's Tsakani Shiviti: From humble beginnings to political leadership". The Citizen. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
3. "Tsakani Goodness Shiviti". People's Assembly. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
4. "Elections 2024: The Under-45's Club". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
5. Mahlati, Zintle (2 July 2023). "Unopposed: ANC MP Collen Malatji takes the helm of ANCYL in conference clean-sweep". News24. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
6. Masuabi, Queenin (2 July 2023). "ANC Youth League members cry foul after leadership elected unopposed". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
7. "Election of Chairperson". PMG. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
8. Mzekandaba, Simnikiwe (21 November 2024). "State must lead trial of EVs in SA, say MPs". ITWeb. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
9. "ANCYL 1st DSG calls on the youth to reclaim local spaza shop sector". SABC News. 23 November 2024. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.

External links

• Tsakani Goodness Shiviti at People's Assembly
• Tsakani Goodness Shiviti at Parliament of South Africa

• Living people
• 1991 births
• African National Congress politicians
• Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2024–2029
• Women members of the National Assembly of South Africa
• University of Limpopo alumni
• Politicians from Limpopo
• People from Collins Chabane Local Municipality
• Tsonga people