Weziwe Tikana

Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe (born 3 November 1967) is a South African politician, educator and trade unionist who has been a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa since 2024, representing the African National Congress. Prior to her election to parliament, she served in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature

Early life and education Tikana-Gxotiwe was born in Cala in the former Cape Province (now the Eastern Cape). She matriculated from Sewushe Commercial College. She completed a teachers' course at Arthur Tsengiwe College of Education. Tikana-Gxotiwe holds a primary teachers' diploma from Belgravia Institute and a diploma in local government Management from the University of Pretoria. Tikana-Gxotiwe earned a diploma in labour law from Global Business Solution. Tikana-Gxotiwe was re-elected to another term in the legislature in 2019. She remained in her position as MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison following Oscar Mabuyane's election as premier, meaning that she was the only member of Masualle's executive to be appointed to Mabuyane's executive.

In June 2020, Tikana-Gxotiwe lost a court case in which she wanted the United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader, Bantu Holomisa to retract a tweet raising concerns over a guest house, which is in her daughter's name, that the provincial government decided to use a COVID-19 isolation facility. Judge Gerald Bloem found it likely that Tikana-Gxotiwe was the owner or held a benefit in the Mioca Lodge in Cala.

In March 2021, acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka found that there was no improper conduct by Tikana-Gxotiwe in relation to the procurement of her daughter's lodge as a COVID-19 quarantine site.

On 16 August 2022, Mabuyane reshuffled his executive council and removed Tikana-Gxotiwe as the MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison due to her support for Babalo Madikizela, his contender for provincial chairperson at the ANC's provincial elective conference in May 2022.

National parliament Tikana-Gxotiwe was ranked number 71 on the ANC's national candidate list for the 2024 general election. At the election, she won a seat in the National Assembly of South Africa. She was sworn in as a Member of Parliament.