MEET RONNIE MASILELA, DSD’S NEW MEDIA LIAISON OFFICER

By Precious Mupenzi

• Ronnie Masilela has joined the Office of the Minister of Social Development as Media Liaison Officer, serving as the link between the Ministry and the media.
• He returns to the social development sector after serving as Head of Communications and Spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development from 2011 to 2018, and brings more than 20 years of communication experience across government and the private sector.
• Outside of his professional roles, he co-founded youth initiatives that have connected more than 150 learners to further education, bursaries, jobs and self-employment.

Ronnie Masilela, the new voice in the Office of the Minister of Social Development, is returning to familiar ground. This time he brings his experience to the national Ministry. Masilela previously led communication for the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development, and he joins the Ministry as Media Liaison Officer with more than two decades of experience and a strong commitment to opening doors for young people.

As Head of Communications and Spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department from 2011 to 2018, Masilela gained first-hand insight into a portfolio whose programmes reach vulnerable individuals, families and communities every day. That understanding will serve him well in his new role. He will be a key link between the Ministry and the media, helping to communicate the Department’s work clearly and accessibly so that South Africans know about the programmes, priorities and support available to them.

Masilela’s career began in 2004. Since then, he has held management and operational roles across government and the private sector, including Manager for Production and Content Management at the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature. Along the way, he has built working relationships with national and provincial departments, municipalities, state agencies, businesses, media houses, non-profit organisations and communities. This breadth has given him a practical feel for how different institutions communicate and collaborate.

His academic qualifications in business leadership and marketing support his practical experience. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership, as well as degrees in commerce and marketing management from UNISA and the University of the Witwatersrand.

Masilela’s commitment to people extends beyond the communications office. He co-founded community initiatives that offer young people career guidance, digital access and skills development. Through these efforts, more than 150 learners have gone on to further education, bursaries, employment or their own businesses. He has also served on a local clinic committee, contributing to community healthcare.

His appointment marks a new chapter in a career dedicated to connecting public institutions with the communities they serve. He now brings that purpose to the national stage, helping to tell the story of social development in South Africa.