Stephen Phohlela

Stephen Pule Phohlela (born 20 October 1944) is a South African politician. Formerly a politician in Qwaqwa and the founder of Thebe-e-Ntsho, he represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly for two terms from 1994 to 2004.

Thebe-e-Ntsho During apartheid, Phohlela was an influential politician in Qwaqwa, the bantustan designated for Sesotho speakers. He was a member of the governing Dikwankwetla Party until 1987, when Chief Minister Kenneth Mopeli fired him from the government. The following year, Phohlela launched an opposition party, Thebe-e-Ntsho, which stood primarily on a platform of opposing the tribalism of Mopeli's government. This extended to opposing Mopeli's plan to incorporate the squatter camp of Botshabelo into Qwaqwa, which it argued would lead to the domination of other residents by the Bakwena clan (Dikwankwetla's primary base). This culminated in unprecedented strikes and protests in Qwaqwa after February 1990. and gained re-election in 1999. He served the Free State constituency