Get to know Mpho Gift Modise

What is your political background?

I have been involved in politics all my life. I have had the opportunity to be a member of all Progressive Youth Alliance structures. I started at Congress of South African Students (COSAS) and the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) whilst still in high school. It was during my tertiary education that I joined both the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCL SA) and South African Students Congress (SASCO). I have had the distinct experience of leading some of these structures at local, regional, and Provincial level.

I am a Provincial Executive Committee member of the ANC in Gauteng since 2018. I have been involved in the PEC of the ANC in Gauteng from 2013 when I was the ANCYL Provincial Task Team Coordinator and subsequently elected as the ANCYL Provincial Secretary in 2014. From 2019 until 2022, I was the ANC Gauteng Head of Communications and Spokesperson.

How did you come to join your political party and become an MP?

Joining the ANC was a natural progression from its aligned youth structures. I joined the ANC in 1998 and have been a member of it since. Growing up two political parties mattered, and one had to belong to either one of them. It was either the African National Congress or the Pan Africanist Congress. The ANC of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Reginald Tambo and Walter Sisulu and the PAC of Robert Sobukwe, Zephania Mothopeng or Clarence Makwetu. I belonged to the ANC from an early age.

Being a Member of Parliament was not on my bucket list. It came as a surprise when I received a call from the ANC Gauteng Secretary Comrade TK Nciza, to see him urgently, only to be informed of the decision the organization has taken. Growing up in the congress movement and being taught from an early age that once the organization has spoken, you don't question its decision but simply do as mandated, and I did exactly that.

What does your job as an MP entail?

As a Member of Parliament, I am expected to lead by example in my conduct in society and carry out tasks given to me. I am a member and Chairperson of Select Committee's that oversee the following: Energy and Electricity; Minerals and Petroleum Resources; Land Reform and Rural Development; Agriculture; Forestry, Fisheries and Environment.

I am also a Member of the Select Committee's on: Trade, Industry and Competition; Small Business Development; Labour and Employment; Tourism; Communications and Digital Technology.

All this demands someone who is willing to give to give 110% in preparations for meeting with the Departments and Ministers. I have the responsibility to hold them accountable and can only do that if I am thoroughly prepared. Preparation requires great sacrifices because at times as much as you need to prepare, you also have school assignments that are due and it's not easy but has to be done.

What impact do you hope to have?

I am no stranger to being a legislator, as I was in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature for 5 years and I was Chairing the Portfolio Committee on Infrastructure, Development and Property Management, whilst being a Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Social Development and the Oversight Committee on the Premier's Office and Legislature. My main obsession with any project I get involved in, is to leave a legacy behind, and if that means ruffling feathers along the way, so be it. The impact that I look forward to, is the one where government officials and Ministers know that when they come to Committee meetings, they are going to find members who have read reports and prepared to engage with them, members who will be looking for answers and holding them to account. I was also the Spokesperson of the ANC Caucus in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

What are your thoughts on the Government of National Unity (GNU) for the Seventh Parliament?

The government of national unity is a direct result and message from the electorate of the country. As a member of the 7th Parliament, I am responsible to make it work for the people of South Africa as espoused by the ANC in the signed statement of intent.

What can be done to get citizens more interested/ involved in Parliament?

For me, there is so much that can be done to get the people interested.

1. Have both local and national radio stations broadcasting live debates in Parliament.

2. Once in a quarter, take the debate to a particular community and invite the locals to listen to parliamentary debates in their backyard.

3. Invite students from provinces to accompany some of the special delegates to Parliament during the debate to see what happens in Parliament.

4. Run an essay competition in high schools about what Parliament is and how they do things differently and then invite scholars when the President or Deputy President is responding to oral questions in Parliament.

Which Constituency Office/area have you been assigned to? Can you give examples of Constituency work you engaged in or plan to do?

I have been assigned deployed to Carletonville PCO in Merafong Municipality in the West Rand Region of Gauteng. My work will be in line with what the ANC is expecting from us as deployed comrades and will also focus more on youth empowerment programs.

What will you and your party be focusing on during your term? (will you introduce legislation, will your oversight focus on any specific area etc…)

The ANC has a clear vision for this term. I will not be deviating from its set principles and expectations, be it in the form of legislation or area of focus on our oversight responsibilities. However, I would personally love to see this 7th administration especially from a Select Committee point of view, that before we take on anything new, we focus on concluding the work that the 6th Select Committee could not. In so doing, instead of adding more, we will deal with the backlog and start on a clean slate, because it's my personal held view that all the outstanding work was meant to serve certain communities and they would appreciate a form of feedback from Parliament.

I am not in any way a stranger to public service as I have been involved in government since 2006. I started in the office of my Ward Councillor, Fetty Mnguni, immediately after the 2006 Local Government Elections as we needed to put systems in place for her work with Council and her community of ward 15. In 2007 I joined the Gauteng Youth Commission until it closed shop in 2009, wherein I joined the Gauteng Premier's Office, and in 2010 I was with the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development. In 2011, I was with Emfuleni Local Municipality in the Office of the then Executive, Major Greta Hlongwane. I left Emfuleni Local Municipality to join the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in 2019 and now I am in Parliament.

Safe to say, I have had the privilege of working as both the Administrator and political deployee in all spheres of government.

What are you passionate about? This applies both in the political/ professional arena and personally.

My passion lies in being able to see through any decision we take, whether it be politically, professionally, or personally. Taking decisions for the sake of taking them is something that needs to be avoided at all material times. On a personal note, I am now busy writing exams and hope that I will be able to register for a PhD after I complete my Master's degree which I am currently doing.

What is your message to South Africa?

We are here for you. You should not be intimidated by the fancy suits and expensive English you hear. Use Parliament to fight for you. We want to use Parliament to do what Parliament is meant to do and that is to SERVE YOU.

To learn more about this Member, visit his profile