Mr Sekgobelo Elias Magashule is the Premier of Free State from 6 May 2009 and has beenn a Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) in the Free State since 1994.

Mr Magashule holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Fort Hare University.

Mr Magashule has served as a member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Sport, Arts and Culture in the Free State Provincial government; MEC for Agriculture; MEC for Economic Affairs; MEC for Transport and MEC for Sport and Recreation in the Free State Provincial government.

He was also a member of Parliament; a member of the Portfolio Committee on Communication and Provincial and Local government and he was a longest serving Provincial Chairperson in the country and has led the ANC in the Free State for over 12 years. He went into exile in 1989 and returned to the country in 1991.