Vice ChairLady's History
Introduction
Early Life & Education
Doris Eunice Dlakude was born on 16 August 1969. She matriculated (completed secondary school) at Mjokwane Senior Secondary School in Komatipoort (in what was then the Eastern Transvaal, now part of Mpumalanga). She holds an Honours degree in Governance and Leadership from the University of the Witwatersrand. Very little publicly available information was found about her childhood, family background, or non-political early career before entering public office.
Early Political Involvement
Dlakude has long been active within the African National Congress (ANC), especially in her home province of Mpumalanga.
Some of her roles include:
Regional Treasurer of the ANC Youth League in Ehlanzeni (Mpumalanga).
Member of the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC and the ANC Women’s League in Mpumalanga.
Secretary of her local ANC branch for six successive terms.
These roles gave her organisational grounding, built her party profile and network, and set up her transition into national politics.
Political Views and Public Engagements
Through her role as Deputy Chief Whip, Dlakude has taken part in key parliamentary debates and motions. For instance during a no-confidence vote discussion in 2017, she characterised opposition efforts as “insurrectionist” and warned of destabilisation. ([gantnews.com][3]) She has been a visible figure whenever the ANC parliamentary caucus needed coordination or media-facing parliamentary discipline. Her involvement in committees and parliamentary oversight has also indicated her central role in the ANC’s legislative strategy.Personal Life & Other Ventures
Dlakude is married to Vusi Dlakude. It is publicly reported that her husband appeared in the Nkomazi Magistrate’s Court on a perjury charge in January 2018, accused of faking a hijacking. It is also reported that she owns a funeral parlour. Her personal and professional finances and interests are subject to public disclosures as an MP. There is no widely reported controversy about her personal conduct in office beyond standard parliamentary scrutiny.
Significance & Legacy
Doris Dlakude has spent a significant period (over a decade) in national parliamentary leadership, representing both her province and the ANC at high parliamentary levels. Her appointment as Deputy Chief Whip placed her within the core management of parliamentary business for the majority party, giving her real influence over legislative flow, party discipline and internal strategy. Her career illustrates how provincial cadres within the ANC can transition into national leadership roles through internal party structures (Youth League, branch secretary roles, executive committees) and then national legislature roles. While she may not be the most high-profile ANC national figure, in parliamentary terms her role is important: whips manage many of the “behind the scenes” aspects of legislative politics and caucus cohesion. Her longevity suggests she has been a reliable party figure, trusted to hold a leadership role in the ANC’s parliamentary machinery over successive terms.
Current Position & Status
Dlakude continues to serve as an MP and remains Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the National Assembly. Given the dynamic nature of South African politics, especially within the ANC, roles can shift with general elections, party leadership changes, and parliamentary reconfigurations—but she has retained a consistent role since 2013. She continues to represent Mpumalanga in the national legislature and remains a key part of the ANC’s parliamentary leadership.