Jacob Mamabolo
Jacob Mamabolo is a South African member of the Africa National Congress and the Gauteng MEC for community safety.
MEC Mamabolo’s political consciousness emerged at an early age informed by the harsh political and economic circumstances of the time. Restless and decisive, he took a decision to become a student activist and served as President of the South African Student Congress (SASCO).
Jacob Mamabolo also served as National Co-ordinator of the Young Communist League Steering Committee which later gave birth to the Young Communist League in 2003. After completing high school his professional career took shape when he enrolled and studied teaching.
Jacob’s leadership and activism could not go unnoticed. He was elected as the President of the Student Representative Council (SRC) while studying at Mokopane Teachers College. This paved the way for him to take up leadership roles within the teachers’ union – South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu).
He is also the Provincial Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP), and a Provincial Executive Committee member of the African National Congress. MEC Mamabolo has extensive public service and leadership experience accumulated over many years both in senior 3management positions and political activism.
Previous positions
He worked as a civil servant for over 10 years, starting as an Office Manager for the former Deputy Minister of the Department of Correctional Services. He also worked for the Department of Home Affairs as a Parliamentary Liaison Officer and rose through the ranks to become the Chief of Staff. MEC Mamabolo was also appointed Project Manager of the Home Affairs Turn-Around Strategy which is recognised as one of the best practice models in the public sector. He was also head of the Home Affairs 2010 Soccer World Cup Project. Following his success in the World Cup, he was then appointed Chief Director responsible for Ports of Entry. Before his current appointment, MEC Mamabolo was head of Change Management, supporting the Turn-Around Strategy in the National Department of Public Works.
Education
His qualifications include a Senior Diploma in Teaching, a degree in law (B. Proc), and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. MEC Mamabolo has special professional interest in turn-around strategies, change management and project management.
Key Responsibilities
In this portfolio, one of Mamabolo’s key responsibilities is to ensure that the department accelerates the integrated service delivery, maintenance and management of public infrastructure. HE is also tasked with deploying build environment professionals while encouraging the active participation of an empowered citizenry. His department needs to implement the Gauteng Provincial Government’s (GPG) capital expenditure budget allocation and other infrastructure projects that utilise sole or joint GPG financial investments, and to maximise the social and economic benefits of GPG’s property portfolio. In addition, he has to safeguard the implementation of policies of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment and preferential procurement in line with the approved targets. His department is the implementing agent for all GPG department infrastructure developments.