HOD Profile

HOD Modjadji Malahlela is an epitome of dedication and hard work.

Dr Modjadji Melidah Malahlela was born at Ga-Mothiba near Polokwane fifty one years ago (51). Acquired a Doctorate in Public Administration obtained from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2010 as her highest qualification, the newly appointed Acting Head of Department (HOD) for the Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance and Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) swiftly climbed the corporate ladder over the years from her humble beginnings as an Educator at Masopha High School from 1992 - 1999.

She was then appointed as Assistant Director: Planning Coordination within the Limpopo Office of the Premier from 1999-2001. In the two (02) years she worked in the Premier’s Office, Malahlela coordinated the alignment of sectoral plans, reports and monitored the implementation of resolutions of the Presidential Coordinating Council and other IGR structures. She also served as a Secretariat of the Provincial Planning Forum in the same organization. In 2002, the then dedicated Planning Coordination Unit Assistant Director was hired as a Deputy Director in the same unit and continued with the same responsibilities at Deputy Director level.

Malahlela’s vastly growing knowledge landed her the Director: Planning and Development position in the Polokwane Municipal Office a year later. From 2003-2008, Malahlela worked at Polokwane Municipality where her duties were to manage Local Economic Development and Integrated Development Planning. Managing Spatial Planning and Land Use Management, together with managing Housing and Building Inspections also formed part of her responsibilities as director. In October 2008, Modjadji Malahlela relocated to Pretoria after accepting an offer for the position of Regional Executive Director at City of Tshwane. Malahlela managed the Municipal Regional Office, coordinated development planning and service delivery in the region, monitored departmental service delivery in the region while coordinating stakeholder management and partnerships until January 2011.

February 2011 marked Malahlela’s appointment as Chief Director: Development Planning at the National Department of Cooperative Governance. She provided support to Provinces in coordinating and monitoring integrated development planning in municipalities. Her Chief Director duties would also include mobilizing national support for municipalities on development planning matters which she performed diligently for a year before heading to a different unit (Urban Development) within the National Department of Cooperative Governance.

From 2012 to 2016, Malahlela would facilitate the development of South Africa’s urban policy framework, facilitate partnerships between South African Cities and other international cities and serve as convener of the (BRICS) Friendship Cities and Urbanization Forums (South African participation). October 2016 saw the return of Malahlela to her home Province (Limpopo), where she was appointed as Deputy Director-General: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs at the Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs.

To date, Malahlela still works closely with Municipalities and her duties as DDG: CoGTA are to provide support and oversight to municipalities and the institution of traditional leadership and support municipalities in development planning matters. She was nominated to represent the Limpopo Province in the Statistics South Africa Council as from 2019 to date. has proven that with dedication and hard work, anything is possible. Malahlela’s job as DDG: CoGTA and extensive experience in the municipal governance sphere has led to Limpopo CoGHSTA MEC.