Mally Mokoena was originally a teacher, where she developed a passion for dispute resolution. She has a strong history in the struggle, and has brought her drive to the new dispensation.

B ORN in Munsieville, Krugersdorp, Mokoena grew up in Kagiso, Joburg's western neighbours. She matriculated from Mokopane Sefakaola High School in Limpopo, and went on to become a teacher, where she developed a strong passion for dispute resolution. This led her to work extensively in labour relations and the struggle for liberation.

She was imprisoned for her political activities during the apartheid years. After her release from prison she worked for Steve Biko’s Thusanang Project, formed to provide assistance to former detainees. She also worked for the Institute for Race Relations.

She joined the former Northern Metropolitan Local Council as a proportional representation (PR) councillor about 15 years ago, when she was elected the chairperson of the tenders committee, which she served for two years. Her dedication and commitment led to her being nominated to represent the Northern Metropolitan Council in the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council.

In 2003, Mokoena was appointed a member of the mayoral committee responsible for development planning, transportation and environment. She has now assumed the reins as the member of the mayoral committee responsible for corporate and shared services. The corporate and shared services directorate is the nuts and bolts of the City’s administration.

Her new portfolio has a vast range of responsibilities, from managing employee affairs, including human resources, training and development, and labour relations, to maintaining public conveniences, among many other tasks.

A parent of two children, Mandela and Naledi, she resides in Orlando East, Soweto. She has a BA degree from the University of South Africa (Unisa), a post-graduate certificate in industrial relations and an honours degree in employment relations from the former Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), which is today part of the University of Johannesburg.

She previously worked for, among others, the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and the now defunct Independent Mediation Services of South Africa (IMSSA). She served as a commissioner at the CCMA for three years.