Jane Sithole
Jane Sithole is the Deputy Minister of Small Business Development in South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU), a position she has held since June 2024. Her political
journey began in 1999. In 2000, she was elected as a Councillor, serving in both the Emalahleni Local Municipality and the Nkangala District Municipality in Mpumalanga until 2014.
During this period, she gained extensive experience in local governance, community development, and municipal oversight. In 2014, she was elected to the Mpumalanga
Provincial Legislature, where she served for a decade until 2024. Throughout her tenure, she contributed to several portfolio committees, including Public Works, Roads and Transport; Community Safety, Security and Liaison; Health and Social Development; and Education, Culture, Sport and Recreation.
Her legislative work focused on accountability, service delivery, and strengthening governance systems. Prior to her full-time political career, Deputy Minister Sithole built an 18-year career in South Africa’s corporate sector. She held various managerial roles in Training and Development, Health and Wellness, and Human Resources, equipping her with strong leadership, organisational, and people-management skills.
She holds a BA in Communications from the University of South Africa (UNISA), a Postgraduate Diploma in Political Leadership and Governance from the Wits School of Governance, a Management Development Programme (MDP) and Senior Management Programme (SMP) from the University of Pretoria’s School of Leadership and Management,
as well as a National Diploma in Office Administration from Tshwane University of Technology, among other qualifications.
