Thenjiwe Mtintso

Thenjiwe Mtintso (born 7 November 1950) is a South African anti-apartheid activist, politician and ambassador who has held senior positions within the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP), and is a veteran of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK).

Life Thenjiwe was born and raised in Soweto, Johannesburg. She is daughter to Hanna " MaRadebe" Mtintso and Gana Makabeni, who also served as a trade unionist and member of the African National Congress (ANC). Thenjiwe became a student activist in the South African Student Organisation (SASO) and Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) during her studies at the University of Fort Hare.

One of Thenjiwe's most notable encounters with the Apartheid law, was when she was arrested in October 1976. While still in detention, she was charged with a 5-year ban in December 1976. Following 282 days in jail, she and Joyce Mokhesi were released. Since 2007, she has served as South Africa's ambassador to Cuba (2003–2008), Italy (2009–2012), Romania (2014–2016), and Spain (2019–2022).