Seaparo Sekoati

Seaparo Charles Sekoati (born 28 June 1967), sometimes misspelled Seaparo Sekwati, is a South African politician who has been a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa since 2024. He was a Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature from 2004 until 2024 and served in the Limpopo provincial government as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Health and Social Development from 2004 to 2009 and, before serving as the MEC for Finance from 2019 until 2024, MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism from 2013 to 2019. From 2013 to 2017, he was also Regional Chairperson of the Mopani branch of his political party, the African National Congress.

Early life and education Sekoati was born on 28 June 1967 in Sekhukhuneland and grew up in Mopani, now part of Limpopo province. He matriculated at Vuxeni High School in 1988. Sekoati thus served the next few years, from 2009 to 2013, as an ordinary Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature. In the 2014 general election, Sekoati was ranked fifth on the ANC's party list and gained re-election to the provincial legislature, and Mathabatha reappointed him to his earlier portfolio. Sekoati ultimately served as MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism until 2019, throughout Mathabatha's first full term as Premier. Sekoati was elected to succeed Joshua Matlou as Regional Chairperson of the ANC's Mopani branch. He beat David Maake, the outgoing Deputy Regional Chairperson, with 99 votes to Maake's 72. With the national ANC's own elective conference upcoming, Sekoati and Shayi were viewed as supporting opposing contenders: while Shayi was viewed as an ally of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Sekoati was viewed as supporting Cyril Ramaphosa. At the provincial elective conference in June 2018, he was beaten by Danny Msiza, who received 848 votes to his 688. However, delegates at the conference elected Sekoati to a four-year term as an ordinary member of the ANC Provincial Executive Committee.

Finance MEC: 2019–2024 In the 2019 general election, Sekoati was re-elected to the provincial legislature, ranked 35th on the ANC's party list.

Member of Parliament Sekoati was elected to the National Assembly of South Africa in the 2024 general election.

Personal life Sekoati is married and has at least one child, an adult daughter.