Luyolo Mphithi is a South African politician. He has played the role of Shadow Minister of Human Settlements in 2023 and held the position of Member of Parliament since 2019. Previously, between 2019 and 2023, he fulfilled the role of Shadow Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities in the Presidency.
He has also served as the Federal Leader of the party’s youth organization from 2018 until his resignation in 2022. In 2022, he was elected as the Vice President of the African Liberal Youth for Democracy in Dakar, Senegal, and also serves as a Regional Bureau member of the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY).
To get more information about Luyolo Mphithi’s age, biography, career, early life, education, professional life, personal life, net worth, facts, and more. Do read the following article.
| Full Name | Luyolo Mphithi |
| Date of Birth | 1 September 1992 |
| Age | 31 Years Old (As of 2023) |
| Place of Birth | South Africa |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Nationality | South African |
| Education | University of Witwatersrand |
| Profession | Member of Parliament, Politician |
| Political Party | Democratic Alliance |
Early Life and Education
Luyolo Mphithi was born on September 1, 1992. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, international relations, and law, along with dual nobility’s degree in international relations and political science from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is presently engaged in pursuing his master’s degree in Public Administration at the same university.
Furthermore, Luyolo Mphithi possesses a certificate in political formations and structures from the International Academy of Leadership (IAF) located in Gummersbach, Germany. He also holds certificates in research methodology from Bowdoin College and public management from Syracuse University in the United States.
Career
Luyolo Mphithi began his career as a research and communication officer at the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature. In that job, he studied different things like how groups work together, old customs, where people live, and building things like roads, safety, and talking with others to make plans.
He also helped and gave advice to different groups like a company that does research, a foundation, a university, and a government department. Luyolo Mphithi also held the position of Director of Political Administration at the City of Johannesburg.
Political Journey
Luyolo Mphithi’s political journey has been marked by various roles within the Democratic Alliance (DA) and in public service. He began as a DA councilor representing Meadowlands in Soweto within the City of Johannesburg. During his tenure, he contributed as a member of committees focusing on public safety, environment, infrastructure, and services. Additionally, Mphithi served as the director and head of the political administration department for the municipality.
His involvement with the DA started during his university years at the University of Witwatersrand, where he was the head of the university’s Democratic Alliance Student Organization branch. Furthermore, he held positions like Gauteng DA Youth deputy chair in 2012. He actively participated in the DA’s Young Leaders Programme, culminating in his election as the federal leader of the DA Youth at the party’s conference in April 2018, succeeding Yusuf Cassim.
In the 2019 national elections, Mphithi contested as a DA parliamentary candidate on the national list and secured a seat in the National Assembly. He was confirmed in on 22 May 2019 and later appointed as the Shadow Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities in the Presidency by then-DA leader, Mmusi Maimane.
During changes in leadership within the DA, Mphithi supported KwaZulu-Natal MPL Mbali Ntuli’s bid for DA leader, disagreeing with the party’s decision to hold a Federal Congress in October-November 2020. John Steenhuisen became the party leader, holding Mphithi in his shadow cabinet as the Shadow Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities in the Presidency.
Controversies
In January 2019, Mphithi faced controversy over a Twitter post concerning the Schweizer-Reneke primary school incident, which led to allegations of sowing racial division. Subsequently, an investigation by the DA cleared Mphithi, attributing the loss of votes and the controversy to poor communication and campaign strategy, not solely to his tweet.
In April 2022, Mphithi resigned as the Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance Youth to concentrate on serving the DA’s Soweto constituency. His political trajectory continued as he was appointed as the Shadow Minister of Human Settlements in April 2023, while Nazley Sharif succeeded him as the Shadow Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities in the Presidency.
Luyolo Mphithi’s Net Worth
Luyolo Mphithi’s net worth has notably increased throughout his career, accumulating wealth from various sources such as his political endeavors, business involvements, and diverse investments. As of 2023, the estimated net worth of Luyolo Mphithi ranges between $1 million and $3 million.
Luyolo Mphithi, as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the national assembly and NCOP, receives an annual salary between R1.2 million and R1.5 million. This aligns with the minimum pay for an MP, which is about R1.2 million per year, approximately equal to $63,000.
Awards and Honors
Mphithi was awarded the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Scholarship, the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, Mellon-Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, as well as the Mandela Washington Fellowship of the Young African Leaders Initiative.
In 2017, he was cited by the Mail & Guardian as one of the “Top 200 Young South Africans” for his work in politics. In the same year, Avance Media ranked him as one of the 100 most influential young South Africans in politics.
Luyolo Mphithi is a prominent figure in South African politics. He has grown throughout his career with the ranks in the Democratic Alliance and Parliament. Despite controversies, his contributions have earned him honors, including recognition as the Shadow Minister of Human Settlements.
