Learn about Loyiso Masuku, the first female ANC Johannesburg regional chairperson and first Deputy Mayor of the City of Johannesburg. Discover her age, career, PPE scandal, and latest news.

Loyiso Masuku is a South African politician and a rising star within the African National Congress (ANC), currently serving as the first-ever Deputy Mayor of the City of Johannesburg and the first female regional chairperson of the ANC in Greater Johannesburg. Born in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape, Masuku has steadily climbed the ranks from student activist to one of the most influential political figures in South Africa’s economic capital.

Her political ascent, marked by a historic victory over Dada Morero in December 2025, has positioned her as a key player in Johannesburg’s governance. As the city grapples with severe financial challenges, including a R25.2 billion debt and a controversial R10.3 billion wage agreement, Masuku’s role as both ANC regional chair and Deputy Mayor places her at the center of efforts to restore fiscal discipline and service delivery.

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Quick Facts About Loyiso Masuku

Early Life and Educational Background

Loyiso Masuku was born in Butterworth, a town in the former Transkei region of the Eastern Cape. Raised by a single mother, she spent her early childhood in Butterworth before moving to Matatiele. Growing up in a region with deep historical significance for South Africa’s liberation struggle, Masuku was exposed to issues of social justice from a young age.

Despite modest beginnings, she pursued education with determination. She attended a technically oriented school that was predominantly male and Afrikaans-speaking, an uncommon path for many girls at the time. This early exposure to male-dominated spaces helped shape her resilience and leadership ambition.

Masuku went on to earn a B-Tech degree from the Technikon of Witwatersrand. She later completed a Post-graduate Diploma in African Studies and Public Policy at the University of Johannesburg, followed by a Master’s degree in Politics, also from the University of Johannesburg. Her academic credentials are further strengthened by certificates in Gender Mainstreaming and Municipal Leaders’ Media and Stakeholder Engagement, demonstrating a focus on governance, public accountability, and gender-informed policy.

Political Career: From Student Activism to Regional Leadership

Early Activism and Student Politics

Masuku’s political journey began during her tertiary studies when she served two terms as a campus coordinator in the South African Students Congress (SASCO) at the University of Johannesburg. This experience immersed her in student politics and ignited her involvement in the broader struggle for transformation in higher education and youth representation.

From there, she gravitated toward formal party structures, first joining the ANC Youth League and later becoming active in the ANC Women’s League. Her early work involved mobilising support for the ANC in regions such as Gonubie and East London, demonstrating a commitment to grassroots politics and community engagement.

Municipal and Provincial Roles

As she gained experience, Masuku was deployed to more senior roles, including working in the private office of an executive mayor in the City of Ekurhuleni and serving in the Gauteng provincial government under former Premier Nomvula Mokonyane. These roles gave her exposure to both operational and administrative aspects of governance.

Her transition to Johannesburg’s municipal scene began in 2016, when she became a Proportional Representation councillor for the City of Johannesburg. In this capacity, she served on the Community Development and Municipal Public Accounts Committee, focusing early on fiscal oversight and community-centered governance.

Historic Election as ANC Johannesburg Chairperson (December 2025)

The most significant milestone in Masuku’s career came in December 2025, when she was elected as regional chairperson of the ANC for Greater Johannesburg. She secured 184 votes against the incumbent, Dada Morero, who received 149 votes. Her victory was historic—Masuku became the first woman ever to lead the ANC Johannesburg regional structure.

Her slate swept all top five positions at the regional conference, consolidating her power base within the party. The election represented a significant shift in Johannesburg’s political landscape, coming at a time when the city is grappling with severe financial and service delivery challenges.

Appointment as Deputy Mayor (February 2026)

On 26 February 2026, Masuku was officially elected as Johannesburg’s first-ever Deputy Mayor. She was elected uncontested during a City Council session and was sworn into office the following day. The creation of the deputy mayor position was reportedly part of an informal agreement between ANC factions following Masuku’s regional chair election.

Upon her election, Speaker Margaret Arnolds congratulated her, stating: “I know that she is capable and that she is able and that she is going to assist the mayor with service delivery”. Masuku’s portfolio as Deputy Mayor includes oversight of intergovernmental relations and support for the mayor’s turnaround plans for the municipality.

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The COVID-19 PPE Scandal and Investigations

Masuku’s career has not been without controversy. In 2020, she was linked to a R125 million COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) tender awarded by the Gauteng Health Department. Her husband, Bandile Masuku, was the Gauteng Health MEC at the time. The contract was awarded to a company associated with a close family friend, leading to allegations of corruption and improper conduct.

As a result of the scandal, both Loyiso and Bandile Masuku took voluntary leave pending investigations. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the ANC’s Provincial Executive Committee conducted probes into the matter.

Speaking about the incident in a 2025 interview, Masuku stated: “I stepped aside voluntarily, I was never charged. I did that so that the ANC can be afforded an opportunity to clear myself and I went through the integrity commission of the ANC, which found no wrong doing on my side. I went through the state institutions structures both the Public Protector as well as the SIU investigation, and on my side there was no wrong doing”.

She was formally cleared and returned to her municipal duties in October 2020.

Defamation Case Victory (December 2025)

On 31 December 2025, Masuku won an urgent defamation case against political analyst and podcast host Phapano Phasha. The Gauteng Division of the High Court ordered Phasha to publish a “clear and unequivocal” retraction and apology within 24 hours for making defamatory remarks about Masuku’s alleged involvement in a “PPE cartel” and vote-buying.

The court did not award the R250,000 in damages at that stage, referring the matter to oral evidence to determine the appropriate compensation. The ANC in Greater Johannesburg welcomed the judgment, stating: “This judgment is a clear victory for truth, dignity and revolutionary discipline”.

Leadership Challenge Dismissed (March 2026)

In March 2026, a legal bid to overturn Masuku’s election as ANC regional chairperson was struck off the roll by the Gauteng High Court. The urgent application, brought by Masabata Itshegetseng, was dismissed on procedural grounds, with the court ruling there was a lack of urgency in the case.

Masuku welcomed the decision, stating: “The African National Congress in Johannesburg welcomes the court judgment. This judgment confirms that disputes of any conference must be first dealt with internally”.

Current Roles and Policy Positions (2026)

MMC for Finance and the R10.3 Billion Wage Dispute

In addition to her role as Deputy Mayor, Masuku serves as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance for the City of Johannesburg. She delivered her maiden budget speech in May 2026, tabling a budget of R79.1 billion for the 2026/2027 financial year.

The budget included sharp tariff increases and supported a controversial R10.3 billion wage agreement with the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU). The agreement, entered into in 2024, aims to align staff salaries with those in other metropolitan municipalities.

National Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has called the agreement “illegal” and threatened to withhold the July 2026 equitable share instalment of R8 billion if the deal is not scrapped. The city owes creditors R25.2 billion while holding just R3.9 billion in cash, prompting the Treasury to declare the budget unfeasible.

In her budget speech, Masuku defended the wage agreement, stating: “Our workforce is our most valuable resource and must be adequately compensated. Equally, we want a professional workforce, reliable, efficient and productive in service of our people. The PFA budget allocation addresses historic and legacy salary disparities”.

Analysts have warned that the city’s support for the wage agreement could hurt the ANC at the upcoming local government elections on 4 November 2026.

Personal Life

Loyiso Masuku is married to Bandile Masuku, a medical doctor and fellow ANC politician who previously served as Gauteng’s Member of the Executive Council for Health. The couple has three sons: Amukelani, Zibuse, and Zwelethu-Che.

Despite the pressures of public life, particularly during the PPE tender scandal, the Masuku family has maintained a united front. A 2025 Instagram post from Loyiso Masuku marked their 10th wedding anniversary, suggesting a strong personal foundation supporting her public journey.

Net Worth and Financial Status

Loyiso Masuku’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. Her primary sources of income are her political and public service roles, which include her positions as Deputy Mayor of Johannesburg and MMC for Finance. As a public official, her remuneration falls within government pay scales, and she is required to declare her financial interests annually.

There are no public records of her personal assets, though her household has been the subject of scrutiny due to the PPE scandal investigations, which ultimately found no evidence of her personal involvement in wrongdoing.

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Final Thoughts

Loyiso Masuku’s rise within the ANC and the City of Johannesburg is a remarkable story of persistence, political acumen, and resilience. From her roots in Butterworth to her current position as the first female ANC chair in Johannesburg and the city’s first deputy mayor, she has broken multiple barriers in a traditionally male-dominated political landscape.

Her path has not been smooth. The COVID-19 PPE scandal tested her public standing, but she emerged cleared by both the SIU and the ANC. Now, as she navigates the treacherous waters of Johannesburg’s finances—defending a controversial wage agreement while facing off with National Treasury—her leadership is being put to its most severe test yet. With local government elections scheduled for November 2026, the stakes could not be higher. Whether Masuku can translate her political momentum into tangible service delivery improvements for Johannesburg’s six million residents remains the defining question of her career.

People Also Ask

How old is Loyiso Masuku?
Loyiso Masuku’s exact date of birth has not been publicly disclosed by any authoritative source. Her age is not listed in her official biographies or in media reports covering her political career.

Who is Loyiso Masuku’s husband?
She is married to Bandile Masuku, a medical doctor and former Gauteng MEC for Health. The couple has three sons and celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in 2025.

What is Loyiso Masuku known for?
Masuku is known for being the first female ANC regional chairperson of Greater Johannesburg and the first Deputy Mayor of the City of Johannesburg. She was also involved in a high-profile COVID-19 PPE scandal in 2020, from which she was cleared by the SIU and the ANC.

Why was Loyiso Masuku investigated in 2020?
She was investigated in connection with a R125 million PPE tender awarded by the Gauteng Health Department, which her husband led at the time. Both she and her husband took voluntary leave pending investigations. The SIU and the ANC’s integrity commission found no wrongdoing on her part.

What is the R10.3 billion wage dispute involving Masuku?
As MMC for Finance, Masuku is defending a R10.3 billion wage agreement with municipal workers that National Treasury has declared illegal. The dispute has placed the City of Johannesburg on a collision course with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, who has threatened to withhold R8 billion in funding.