{{Short description|South African politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | office = Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature | honorific_suffix = MPL | term_start = 22 May 2019 | party = African National Congress | citizenship = South Africa }}
'''Selelo Donald Selamolela''' is a South African politician who is currently serving as a Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature. In December 2022, he was elected to a five-year term on the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC), and he was formerly the spokesperson of the ANC's Limpopo branch from 2018 to 2022.
== Career == Selamolela has a postgraduate degree from the University of Limpopo.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Prominent Alumni |url=https://www.ul.ac.za/60/index.php?Entity=Prominent%20Alumni |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=University of Limpopo}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2016-12-14 |title=Selamolela humbled by national award |url=https://reviewonline.co.za/477322/selamolela-humbled-by-national-award/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=Polokwane Observer |language=en-US}}</ref> He formerly headed the Youth Development Directorate in the Office of the Limpopo Premier<ref name=":0" /> and was a prominent member of the Limpopo branch of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-22 |title=Ancyl in two branches honours life of Nelson Mandela |url=https://reviewonline.co.za/482538/ancyl-in-two-branches-honours-life-of-nelson-mandela/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=Polokwane Observer |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moloto |first=Moloko |date=28 July 2015 |title=Limpopo ANCYL leaders reinstated |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/limpopo-ancyl-leaders-reinstated-1891717 |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=IOL |language=en}}</ref> In June 2018, he was elected to the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of the ANC in Limpopo and became its official spokesperson.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Sadike |first=Mashudu |date=6 June 2022 |title=Five Limpopo MECs get dumped from ANC's provincial executive committee |url=https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/five-limpopo-mecs-get-dumped-from-ancs-provincial-executive-committee-49812005-74e0-472f-8851-0222b93def4f |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=IOL |language=en}}</ref> In July of that year, the ''Sowetan'' reported that Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha had intended to appoint Selamolela to the Limpopo Executive Council but had been overruled on the grounds that it was necessary to ensure gender diversity in the council.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 July 2018 |title=Mathabatha replaces 'MEC Wodumo' with Thandi Moraka in a cabinet reshuffle |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sundayworld/news/2018-07-25-mathabatha-replaces-mec-wodumo-with-thandi-moraka-in-a-cabinet-reshuffle/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
In the 2019 general election, Selamolela was ranked 12th on the ANC's party list and was elected for the first time to a seat in the Limpopo Provincial Legislature.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Selelo Donald Selamolela |url=http://www.pa.org.za/person/selelo-donald-selamolela/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=People's Assembly |language=en}}</ref> He was also elected chair of the legislature's committee on Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism.<ref name=":3" />
Towards the end of his term as PEC member and spokesperson, Selamolela emerged as a candidate for election as Provincial Treasurer of the ANC's Limpopo branch. His campaign was reportedly proposed by a lobby which sought to ensure representation of young people in the party leadership,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-02 |title=1 200 ANC delegates converge to elect new Limpopo leadership |url=https://reviewonline.co.za/542245/1-200-anc-delegates-converge-to-elect-new-limpopo-leadership/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=Polokwane Observer |language=en-US}}</ref> and it was supported by the ANC's Norman Mashabane region – the largest in the province – and by some branches in the Peter Mokaba region.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dube |first=Mpho |date=2022-02-21 |title=Snubbed Selamolela 'challenges' former allies for treasurer post |url=https://sundayworld.co.za/politics/snubbed-selamolela-challenges-former-allies-for-treasurer-post/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=Sunday World |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sadike |first=Mashudu |date=17 February 2022 |title=Mokaba Region's proposed PEC list leaves out provincial secretary, Soviet Lekganyane |url=https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/mokaba-regions-proposed-pec-list-leaves-out-provincial-secretary-soviet-lekganyane-41e47469-bbff-407a-94b7-47dfd45d1642 |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=IOL |language=en}}</ref> However, when the party's provincial elective conference opened in June 2022, Selamolela declined nomination to the party treasury, saying that he had faith in both of the other candidates, Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana and Faith Chauke.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Masungwini |first=Norman |date=4 June 2022 |title=Limpopo ANC conference off to smooth start |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/limpopo-anc-conference-off-to-smooth-start-20220604 |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=City Press |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Sadike |first=Mashudu |date=4 June 2022 |title=10 contenders nominated for top five positions at Limpopo ANC conference |url=https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/10-contenders-nominated-for-top-five-positions-at-limpopo-anc-conference-a5a46b15-964e-43e3-9238-9c45f0c6099a |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=IOL |language=en}}</ref> At the same conference, he failed to gain re-election to the ANC PEC.<ref name=":1" />
In December 2022, at the ANC's 55th National Conference, Selamolela was elected to a five-year term on the party's National Executive Committee. His candidacy was endorsed by the national leadership of the ANC Youth League<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 November 2022 |title='Zweli Mkhize for ANC President' – ANC Youth League |url=https://southcoastherald.co.za/483024/zweli-mkhize-for-anc-president-anc-youth-league/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=South Coast Herald |language=en-US}}</ref> and by number of votes received he was ranked 58th of the 80 candidates elected, receiving 1,143 votes across the 4,029 ballots cast.<ref name=":3" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{People's Assembly (South Africa)|selelo-donald-selamolela/|Mr Selelo Donald Selamolela}} {{Members of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature}}{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Selamolela, Donald}} Category:Living people Category:African National Congress politicians Category:Members of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature Category:University of Limpopo alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2024–2029