Luyolo Mphithi

Luyolo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, International Relations and Law, as well as a joint honour’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from the University of Witwatersrand. He is currently reading for his Master’s Degree in Public Administration at the University of Witwatersrand.

The DA Youth Leader also holds a certificate in Political Formations and Structures from the International Academy of Leadership (IAF) in Germany, Gummersbach; a certificate in Research Methodology from Bowdoin College in Michigan, USA; and a certificate in Public Management from Syracuse University in New York, USA.

Luyolo was awarded the Ernst Oppenheimer Memorial Scholarship, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, and the Mandela Washington Fellowship (Barack Obama’s flagship leadership programme). These awards have solidified a strong need in Luyolo to give back, not only to his community but to society as a whole.

The DA Youth Leader was named as one of The Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans in Politics in 2017. He was further named by Avance Media as one the 100 most influential Young South Africans of 2017 in Politics.

Luyolo is a graduate of the DA’s Young Leaders Programme and has served in numerous roles in the DA such as DASO leader at the University of Witwatersrand in 2012 and provincial Gauteng deputy chair for DA Youth in 2012.

He is a member of the DA Federal Council, representing the Johannesburg Region. And he also serves on the African Liberal Youth (ALY) as the treasurer – his role revolves around supporting youth organisations and political youth structures across Africa.

In 2017, he represented the ALY at the African Liberal Network conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Where he and the committee championed the need for woman leaders in Africa.

Previously, Luyolo Mphithi served as a City councillor for the City of Johannesburg, representing the constituency of Meadowlands, Soweto, in the City Council. He also served on the Public Safety Committee and Environment, Infrastructure and Services Committee.

Luyolo has also worked as a research and communication officer for the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature where he did research on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Human Settlements, Public Works, Roads and Transport and Public Safety, Security and Liaison. Luyolo has previously worked as a consultant for multiple institutions including Executive Research Associates, Hanns Seidel Foundation, Wits University, and the Department of International Relations and Co-Operation (DIRCO).

Currently, Luyolo serves as director of Political Administration for the City of Johannesburg where he serves as the head of department for Political Administration in the City.