Full Name: Andrek “Panyaza” Lesufi 
Date of Birth: 4 September 1968 
Place of Birth: Edenvale, South Africa 
Profession: Politician 
Political Affiliation: African National Congress (ANC), South African Communist Party (SACP) 
Current Position: Premier of Gauteng Province (since October 2022) 
Education: Bachelor’s degree from the University of Natal; MBA 
Notable Roles: Former MEC for Education in Gauteng, ANC Gauteng Chairperson

Early Life and Education
Born in Edenvale, Lesufi’s family was forcibly relocated to Tembisa under apartheid’s Group Areas Act. His nickname “Panyaza” was inspired by his passion for football. He became active in student politics during his schooling at Boitumelong Senior Secondary School and later at the University of Natal, where he served as SRC President. His activism extended to various student and community organizations aligned with the anti-apartheid movement.

Political Career

Early Roles
Post-1994, Lesufi held several positions in public administration, including roles in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and the Department of Basic Education as well as being a spokesperson for the national department of education.

Gauteng MEC for Education
Appointed in 2014, Lesufi was instrumental in implementing educational reforms in the province.

Premier of Gauteng
In October 2022, he succeeded David Makhura as Premier, focusing on issues like crime reduction and economic development.

Connection to Football

Nickname Origin
Lesufi’s moniker “Panyaza” reflects his early and enduring love for football. He is nicknamed after Andreas “Panyaza” Maseko who played for Moroka Swallows and for the San Jose Earthquakes in the USA.

Moroka Swallows Involvement
In 2018, together with David Mogashoa who became chairman of the club, Panyaza Lesufi invested personal funds to bring Moroka Swallows back to professional status. They bought the status of then NFD club, Maccabi FC. However, Panyaza and Mogashoa found the financial cost of running a PSL club difficult to sustain. Consequently, players were not being paid on time. Panyaza and Mogashoa eventually had to sell the status of the club. They sold Moroka Swallows to Marumo Gallants in 2024.

In an interview with MagG of Podcast and Chill, Panyaza revealed that is it very costly to run a PSL football club. He says that it costs R300 000 just to organize a home match.

With Mogashoa:

Advocacy for Hosting Matches
As Gauteng Premier, Lesufi has advocated for the province to host significant football matches, including World Cup and Olympic qualifiers, aiming to boost local enthusiasm and economic activity through sports.

In 2023, as premier of Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi helped to mediate between Banyana Banyana and SAFA when the ladies were refusing to play a match against Botswana owing to allegedly unpaid bonuses.

Photo Cred: TimesLive

Legacy and Impact
Panyaza Lesufi is recognized for his contributions to education and his unwavering support for football in South Africa. His efforts in both sectors demonstrate a commitment to community development.

Summary Profile
Name: Andrek “Panyaza” Lesufi 
Born: 4 September 1968, Edenvale, South Africa 
Current Role: Premier of Gauteng Province 
Political Affiliation: ANC, SACP 
Education: University of Natal
Notable Contributions: Educational reforms, revival of Moroka Swallows, promotion of football in Gauteng