User:Stevie Mafokwane

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Stevie Mafokwane was born in early 70s in Tzaneen, Lenyenye township being his provenance. He was born and raised there, Like any other boy he participated in different activities. He is the fourth born from Zacharia Mamba Mafokwane and Nelly Khensani (Mkhari) Mafokwane after Andrew (Joshua); Thumbiwe and Gloria and followed by Moshibudi; Eric; Maphipidi (Irene); Martin; Robert; Xholi and Gabaza. His father has worked in JCI mine as a machine operator and mother worked at KFC. Stevie has been ernegetic albeit participated in different activities. He participated in karate, football, athletics, volleyball, drama, gymnastics and Breakdancing. His early friends were Jethro Hlungwani; Zacharia Mawasha; Masilo Modipane; Emmy Maake; Skoropane Mahlatji; Singaan Malatji and later Peter Mmola and Sosa Nkgapele. Stevie completed his matric in 1988 and enrolled with University of the North (Limpopo) in 1990. He completed his BA (degree) in 1994 and HED in 1995.

FAMILY

Stevie Mafokwane is married to Nthoto Khomotso Mawasha also from Tzaneen at Tickyline village. She is born from Mack and Maria Mawasha. They have two children: Shibu and Malusi staying in Polokwane city in Limpopo Province.

WORK

Stevie has started working as a teacher (1996) at Lebitso High school and later went Phusela secondary school. He worked in the ANC as LET co-ordinator and later joined Greater Tzaneen municipality as a Records Manager in 2001. He worked there until December 2003 when he got the post for Information Security Deputy Manager in the department of health (Polokwane). He was promoted to a position of Risk and security manager in 2008 at Pietersburg Hospital. He worked there until 2010 June when he got a transfer to the provincial office. He worked there until 2018 when he also got a transfer to the Capricorn district office and his post translated into Deputy Director: Infrastructure and Maintenance.

POLITICS

He became interested in politics when MK combatans stashed materials and weapons in his wooden shack where he was sleeping in his homestead. Cde Jack 'Puku' Sekgotodi mastermind the whole movement where some of MK combatants were arranged to sleep in the same shack. Cde Teanage was one of those who in terms of arrangements were resting there. Stevie was advised not to touch any of the boxes which were stashed under his bed by MK combatans. Like any other boy's curiosity, he opened those stashed boxes and eventually got interested in reading books or literature and a small radio which mostly played radio freedom broadcasts. He then started reading struggle materials and gained sufficient knowledge regarding the struggle. When breakdance club was established under LCC (Lenyenye cultural club) under the leadership of Mthombo Letsoalo, Cde Jinjan Malema was one of the leaders of the club. Stevie was also a karate boy who belonged to different dojos including the one led by Cde Jack Sekgotodi who used to be visited by Kid Mokaba (Peter). Cde Kid would provide political education during training. That happened in 1984. He gradually gained interest in politics until he became one of those who operated underground. He was always visited by Apartheid police and on number of occasions, he was beated. He brutally beaten by the police in 1987 and taken to Ithusheng Health centre administered by cde Matome Malatjie. He operated with people like Disco Letsoalo, George Maponya, Billy Malatji, Boyce Makwela, Jethro Hlungwani, Mbibi, Zakes Mawasha, Sebini Makwela and others. He participated SAYCO and joined underground units of the ANC which he formed part of the transition from youth congress to Youth League of the ANC. He was elected organising secretary of the ANCYL Lenyenye branch in 1991 (after unburning) under the leadership of Timmy Maake. Stevie has been a member of the branch executive committee until 1993. He had a dual membership of Lenyenye branch and Mankweng branch in 1991, when he was also a member of SASCO at University of North (Limpopo). He has been in the leadership of the ANC youth League branch throughout until he became the secretary of Sub Rec when he completed his studies from University of Limpopo. He was later elected the REC secretary of North-East Region of Limpopo province in 1998 until 2002. He was also elected as secretary of Bonfire Maponya ANC branch in 2002.

Stevie recruited the following pillars of Bonfire Maponya branch cde Peter Mmola; cde Isaiah Seokgo; cde John Maleana Sekgobela; Cde Solly Selepe and Cde Emmy Maake.