Jabulisile Shabalala, 34, works at the Gauteng legislature as a petitions analyst. Part of her job entails administering the petitions process in the province. The process identifies service delivery gaps, policy issues and socio-economic difficulties. Jabulisile advises members of the provincial legislature’s petitions standing committee in executing performance, monitoring and controlling the petitions process. One of Jabulisile’s achievements was her involvement in the development of the Gauteng Petitions Regulations of 2016 to enforce and strengthen the provisions of the Gauteng Petitions Act 5 of 2002. The Act was reviewed to evoke punitive measures for non-compliance and strengthen the provisions of cooperative governance in resolving service delivery issues. Jabulisile was the youngest speaker at the 2018 Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Colloquium hosted by the department of planning, monitoring and evaluation. Although she already has master’s degree, Jabulisile is pursuing one in business administration to complement and diversify her knowledge of building state capacity. She is a board member of Tshiamiso Astronauts, an NGO that seeks to develop children through educational programmes.
Master’s in Management with specialisation in Public and Development Management, University of the Witwatersrand
Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme (current), Regenesys Business School
Honours in Public Management and Governance, University of Johannesburg
Degree in Politics, University of Johannesburg
Certificate in Project Management, University of Cape Town
I am specifically proud of one project that culminated into various milestones. I was part of a cohort that developed the Gauteng Petitions Regulations of 2016 to enforce and strengthen the provisions of the Gauteng Petitions Act 5 of 2002. Through the development of this subordinate legislation, various gaps and limitations were identified in the primary legislation (Gauteng Petitions Act 5 of 2002) demonstrating the need to review and amend the Act. The Gauteng Petitions Act 5 of 2002 was subsequently reviewed to evoke punitive measures for non-compliance and strengthen the provisions of cooperative governance in resolving service delivery issues. This process also highlighted the need to enhance the Standard Operating Procedures and Processes of the Petitions System in Gauteng for greater oversight and more resolve. I was therefore part of a cohort in 2023 that developed the Gauteng Legislature’s e-petitions portal which was successfully launched in March 2024. All these mechanisms led to an enhanced petitions system in the province and launched me as a subject expert of socio-economic issues. I was the youngest Summit Speaker at the 2018 Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIAS) Colloquium hosted by the National Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
I am inspired and influenced by Precious Masuku-Gondwe, a young Botswana-based lawyer and businesswoman who has taken up space in the legal fraternity of Botswana and England. Precious is 36 years old but has already established herself as a renowned legal mind in the world despite her background. She comes from a disadvantaged background but never allowed it to define her journey and instead used it to catapult her to world stages. She was recently the cover star of Forbes (England) detailing her rags to riches story. She is also a philanthropist as she believes in giving back and serving the world so it can be a better place. Her story resonates with me and all that I would like to achieve as a woman.