The Making of a Leader: The story of Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae

Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae’s political journey began long before she ever stepped into a government office. Her activism was born in the classrooms, where she was inspired by older learners and community leaders who stood up for justice. She sat down with Ignited Woman Magazine editor Kamogelo Seekoei and her team.

Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae’s entry into politics started by a strong determination to dismantle the political dispensation of apartheid.

MOMENTS TO NOTE

1969 Born in 1969 in the small town of

                   Tweespruit, in the Eastern Free State.

1993 Regional Organizer of the African National

                   Congress (ANC), in the Southern Free State

                   region

1999 Free State MPL & Chairperson of the

                   Transport Portfolio Committee and the

                   Whip until 2004.

2023 MEC for Community Safety, Roads, and

                   Transport in the Free State.

2024 Inaugurated as 8^th Premier of the Free State

                   to serve as the provincial leader of the 7th

                   administration.

Letsoha-Mathae is also a member of the Free State ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) and the Treasurer-General of the ANC Women’s League.

She didn't just observe the political landscape, she entered it and from a young age she understood that leadership was not about titles but about action. But first the nation had to be free, this was a mandate Letsoha-Mathae took to heart.

Today she leads a province with just over three million people. The task at hand is steep, but she believes she is the woman for the job.

Like many of her peers Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae’s entry into politics started by a strong determination to dismantle the political dispensation of apartheid.

Her arrest alongside fifteen other activists during a protest in her small town on Tweespruit caused

As the only girl among those arrested she had to find creative ways to communicate with her comrades. She recalls how she smuggled notes hidden in bread and passed through a small hole between the cells.

The Arrest That sparked Her determination

“There was even a police officer, I won’t mention his name but he felt for us and quietly showed us compassion, at night he would assist us and allow us to use the phone in the charge office to call home.”

This experience deepened her commitment to fighting injustice and sharpened her understanding of how broken systems affect ordinary people.

Shortly thereafter the group was released on bail, but she landed herself on the wrong side of the apartheid laws.

This time she had to flee her hometown and ultimately the country. Leaving via Limpopo across the Limpopo River into Zimbabwe, then Zambia where she received uMkhonto weSizwe military training.

A Voice for the Voiceless

Fast forward to today as Premier of the Free State, Letsoha-Mathae now uses her platform to close the development gap ensuring that areas like her hometown, once left behind, receive basic services and infrastructure. She challenges a system that talks of empowerment but fails to deliver it.

Mama Action, as she is called in some circles has built a reputation for being a bold and fearless leader, one who does not hesitate to move people out of their comfort zones. She makes no apology for demanding excellence and expects nothing less than full commitment from everyone, whether they are supply chain officers, mid-level managers, or senior executives. In her world, accountability is not a buzzword it’s a non- negotiable standard.

She believes that public service is a calling, not a privilege and she holds every individual to the highest level of integrity and performance. Her no-nonsense approach has challenged complacency and exposed inefficiencies, forcing systems to evolve and people to rise to the occasion.

“One thing that I have learnt as a leader is to tell people the truth and nothing else but the truth, people will respect you for that. People will walk with you the path once you tell them the truth. Don’t go to people that I will build 50 000 houses when there is no budget.”

She does not believe in creating expectations that will never materialise.

Her leadership style goes beyond strong policies and firm expectations, it is deeply people-centered and grounded in the lived realities of the communities she serves. She does not govern from behind a desk, she declares.

Free State Premier's leadership style goes beyond strong policies and firm expectations, it is deeply people-centered and grounded in the lived realities of the communities she serves.

Instead, she walks among the people, visits their homes, attends their community meetings and listens to their concerns. Her presence on the ground sends a clear message that leadership is about service, not status.

Through this hands-on, unapologetic leadership, Letsoha-Mathae continues to disrupt the status quo not for disruption’s sake, but to rebuild systems that truly work for the people.

Empowering Women

One of her most celebrated initiatives came during her tenure in the Department of Community Safety, where she ensured that women were included in major construction projects. She helped women-owned companies move from Grade 1 to Grade 4 on the CIDB scale, a tangible step toward long term empowerment.

CHALLENGING A SYSTEM THAT TALKS OF EMPOWERMENT BUT FAILS TO DELIVER IT

This same vision continues today, as she brings women back into the spaces where they’ve historically been excluded.

“Soon I'll be convening a meeting of business people here in the province, especially our SMEs, those in construction, different categories. because there is a clear and urgent need. Together, we aim to apply this policy and integrate it meaningfully into our economic landscape.”

She adds that if needs be, Free State businesses should be trained so that they know how-to be compliant.

"People need to be trained on how to complete these documents properly and how to submit them. Often, the same individuals are reappointed, yet they still go elsewhere and that's what’s happening. When it comes to the issue of 40% representation for women, how are we going to address that? It remains a problem but good-business women must be part of the process."

Under her leadership the Free State will host a groundbreaking GBV Summit on December 5th, bringing together 4000 attendees, 3000 women and 1,000 men across all sectors.

Traditional leaders, SAPS, cultural practitioners, and survivors will gather not just to talk about GBV but to act. For her, addressing GBV requires collaboration across the entire societal spectrum and she made it clear that it must remain a central focus at every public platform:

“One important decision we made is that no event or speech should happen without addressing the issue of gender-based violence. It’s painful, it’s ongoing, and we must continue to speak about it until real change happens."

Rebuilding Communities and Systems

She believes that real change comes through education and engagement, not just more police. Whether meeting with school learners or calling out underperforming officials, she remains focused on one goal which is changing the lives of the people of the Free State.

Her fight against crime includes both hard infrastructure and community education. A newly opened police station, long fought for, stands as a symbol of safety. Her vision is one where the streets are safe not because they are heavily policed, but because they are filled with opportunity, unity, and shared purpose.

Letsoha-Mathae's work continues to prove that real change doesn't come overnight and doesn’t come from a single source, it comes from a collective effort, driven by leaders who care deeply and communities that refuse to give up.

Her mission is clear and it’s to build a Free State where everyone, regardless of background, feels seen, heard and safe.

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Leading Without Regret

The vivacious leader has never shied away from making bold and sometimes controversial decisions, including the removal of senior officials when she deemed it necessary for the greater good. Despite

criticism and pushback, she stands firmly by every choice she’s made. “It wasn’t a mistake,” she insists.

“Leadership requires courage, not comfort.”

Her approach to leadership is defined not by defensiveness or excuses, even when challenged as a woman in a position of power. Instead, she lets her work and results speak for themselves. For Her, respect is not given, it is earned through consistent action and meaningful impact. She emphasizes that true leadership is about making tough decisions and standing by them, no matter the opposition.

Uplifting Women-Led Media and Business

In her final word to the women of the Free State and the readers of Ignited Woman Magazine, the Premier reaffirms her support for women-led initiatives and calls on government departments to support female entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals who are shaping their industries and reshaping the province.

As part of her continued commitment to inclusive development in the Free State, the Premier emphasized the importance of fair and equitable access to economic opportunities particularly for women, youth and war veterans. Reflecting on the challenges that have long hindered progress.

A Province on the Move

Today, the Free State is on the move not just in rhetoric but in reality. Under Premier Letsoha-Mathae’s leadership, transformation is not a buzzword. It’s a promise in motion. She is not here to serve interests, but she to serve the people, she concludes.