Department Of Basic Education Deputy Minister

Department Of Basic Education Deputy Minister

Dr Makgabo Reginah Mhaule was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Basic Education on 29 May 2019. She was previously Speaker of Council at the Mbombela Local Municipality in Mpumalanga, a position she occupied until 2003 when she became the Executive Mayor of the same municipality.



In 2006, she was appointed Senior Manager of Transport Administration and Licensing at the Department of Roads and Transport of the Mpumalanga Provincial Government.

From 2009 she served as the Member of the Executive Council for the Mpumalanga Department of Education until February 2018 when she was appointed as the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.

Dr Mhaule initially worked as a teacher for 20 years. She holds a Doctorate in Public Administration from the University of Fort Hare. Her doctoral thesis: “The Implication of Teacher Development in the Improvement of Learner Achievement in the KwaMhlanga sub-district of the Mpumalanga Province”, was informed by a need to improve results in Mpumalanga.

She also holds Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Pretoria, a Bachelor of Education (Honours) degree from the then University of Potchefstroom for Christian Higher Education (now North-West University), a Further Diploma in Education and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Africa, and a Secondary Teacher’s Diploma from Mgwenya College of Education.



Academic qualifications

  • Currently studying towards a PhD to be completed in 2018 at the University of Fort Hare.
  • Master’s in Public Administration in 2012 at the University of Pretoria.
  • Project and Programme Management in 2008 at the University of Johannesburg.
  • Bachelor of Education (Honours) in 2002 at the then University of Potchefstroom (now North-West University).
  • Further Diploma in Education in 1997 and BA degree in 1996 at UNISA.
  • Secondary Teacher’s Diploma in 1990 at Mgwenya College of Education.

Career positions

  • MEC for Education (2009 – 2018).
  • Senior Manager of Transport Administration and Licensing at Mpumalanga Department of Roads and Transport (2006 – 2009).
  • Councillor at Mbombela Local Municipality (2003 – 2006).
  • Executive Mayor at Mbombela Local Municipality (2003 – 2006).
  • Speaker of Council at Mbombela Local Municipality (2000 – 2003).
  • Deputy and Acting Principal at Sibukosetfu Secondary School in Mpumalanga (1998 – 2001).
  • Educator at Nkambeni Primary School (1985 – 1988).
  • Educator at Magashule Primary School in Limpopo (1980 – 1982).

Membership positions

  • Member of the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) (2018 – Present).
  • ANC NEC Subcommittee on Education and Health.
  • NEC deployee in Northern Cape.
  • ANC Women’s League (2010 – Present).
  • Chairperson of Political Subcommittee (2016).
  • Chairperson for Social Cluster:
    • Education
    • Health
    • Human Settlements
    • Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation.
  • Member of the Budget and Finance Committee (2009 – 2014).
  • Member of the Provincial Legislature (2009 – 2018).
  • Member of the African Peer Review Mechanism.