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BEING elected the Executive Mayor of the Capricorn District Municipality came as natural responsibility for Cllr Mamedupi Teffo. She was elected in September 2021 and again in November 2021 after local government elections to lead a vast district that directly serves communities in Blouberg, Lepelle-Nkumpi, Molemole and Polokwane, with a population of about 1,2 million.
Having risen through the ranks and serving in different leadership positions, Mamedupi’s election confirms that she was adequately prepared for this big responsibility. “I carved my political career spanning from my days as a young community activist and rose through various structures of the ANC. I have gone through the ANC structures from the ANC leagues, PYA and MDM structures till date as an ANC REC/ RWC member”, she explains.
She served in the following structures of the ANC: BEC Coordinator of Bosemahla Branch ward 38 (2013), BEC Member of Bosemahla Branch ward 38 (2009 – 2017), BEC Deputy Chairperson of Bosemahla Branch (2017 – 2018), REC Member of the ANCYL, Peter Mokaba Region (2014-2015), RTT Member of the ANCYL, Peter Mokaba Region (2012-2013), REC Member of the ANCYL, Peter Mokaba Region (2011-2012), SUBREC Member of the ANCYL, Polokwane Subregion (2010-2011), Secretary of the ANCYL, Bosemahla Branch (2009-2011), REC Member of SASCO, Capricorn Region (2009-2011), SRC Treasurer, UNISA, Limpopo and Mpumalanga (2009-2011), Deputy Secretary, Women Caucus, Polokwane Municipality (2011-2014) and currently serving as REC Member of Peter Mokaba Region since 2018.
Born and bred at Moletjie GaSemenya outside Polokwane, Mamedupi is no stranger to public service, having worked at the Polokwane Municipality in various capacities. Before joining CDM, she was the Chief Whip of Council in Polokwane Municipality from 2014-2021. Before that, she was a Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Sport, Art and Culture (2011-2014). “In my term in the municipality deployed by the ANC since 2011, I have played serious various roles in the development of the communities around Polokwane. That is amongst others and very importantly to service the masses of our people as inclined in the ANC manifesto. I have collectively established and promoted good governance and also ensured discipline in both the ANC caucus and multiparty relations in order for the municipality to be able to pursue the ANC mandate. Ensured that the ANC councillors in Polokwane Municipality are accountable to both ANC structures and the communities that elected them”, she elaborated.
She shared the following milestones as the highlights of her career. “As a gender activist, I have supported the programs of external stakeholders to run programs that seek to liberate women in particular and the community in general. I made sure that the ANC-led municipality maintains a good relationship with all external stakeholders including traditional leaders, NGOs, NPOs and other independent forums that exist to help government to deliver services to communities. I also run community charity sports tournament in my ward (ward 38) as part of giving back to the community. This I have started 3 years ago in order to play a role in taking kids from the streets to the sports fields. This assisted in the reduction of drugs and alcohol abuse in the surrounding communities. I assist schools with the development of their academics and improvement of the schools and also run reading programs for other local schools through giving them the deserved support though not enough”, she explained, adding that she had a long a stint as Assistant Student Counsellor at the University of South Africa from 2008 and 2011.
Her long experience is backed by strong academic credentials. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and Social Services and is currently registered for an Honour’s degree in Developmental Studies. She also holds a Certificate in Executive Leadership Municipal Development Programme and recently completed ANC OR Tambo Political School.
Teffo says her vision is to ensure that the living conditions of the poor change for the better and for their satisfaction. In her acceptance speech, she stated that the institutional culture has to change into that which serves the people because “history will judge us harshly if we do not take stern action against the slow pace of delivery, laziness and lack of oversight. Unity of purpose and intent should therefore allow us to embrace our collective wisdom in navigating the district and local municipalities through stormy waters for the benefit of the poor. We must all be crusaders of good governance and champions of delivery”, she emphasised.
