Lebogang Motlhaping

Lebogang James Motlhaping (born 23 November 1971) is a South African politician from the Northern Cape who has been the Member of the Executive Council for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs since August 2026, having previously been the Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform from January 2026 to August 2026. He has been a member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature since June 2024. He previously served in the executive council and the provincial legislature from 2014 until 2019. Motlhaping is a member of the African National Congress.

Early life and education Lebogang James Motlhaping was born on 23 November 1971 in Kuruman in the previous Cape Province. He attended high school in Loopeng in the Bophuthatswana bantustan. He then studied at the North-West University, where he obtained a community development certificate. He received a leadership certificate at the African Political Parties School. On 30 May, premier Sylvia Lucas appointed him Member of the Executive Council for Sports, Arts and Culture, succeeding Pauline Williams. Motlhaping served in the post until 2 March 2016, when Lucas moved him to the Health portfolio of the Executive Council. He succeeded Mac Jack, while Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba succeeded him. On 15 February 2018, Motlhaping became the MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison. He held this post until the 2019 general election, when he left the provincial legislature. Newly elected premier Zamani Saul appointed him the chief of staff in his office in December 2019.

Motlhaping was re-elected to the provincial legislature in the 2024 provincial election. In January 2026, he returned to the executive council as the MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform. In August 2026, Saul moved him to the Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs portfolio.