She also began a decade-long stint as provincial treasurer of the Eastern Transvaal branch of the ANC Women's League.

She also served in the Executive Council of Mpumalanga during that time, initially as Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Health, Welfare and Gender Affairs under Premier Mathews Phosa and then as MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment under Premier Ndaweni Mahlangu.

[6] She was also viewed as a possible "dark-horse" contender to succeed Mahlangu as ANC provincial chairperson in 2002,[7] though that position ultimately went to Fish Mahlalela.

[10] Unlike Mabuza, Mashego-Dlamini was a supporter of Premier Makwetla and of former ANC president Thabo Mbeki.

[11] Mabuza became Premier of Mpumalanga after the 2009 general election, and Mashego-Dlamini, still perceived as a political threat to him,[12] was not initially appointed to his Executive Council.

[13][14] In another reshuffle in July 2013, she became MEC for Health and Social Development,[14] a portfolio which she held until the 2014 general election.

[1] In the aftermath of the election, President Jacob Zuma appointed her as Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform.