[citation needed] He matriculated at the nearby Nkomazi High School and later completed an honours degree in governance and leadership at the University of the Witwatersrand.

[3] In 1985, he went into exile with the party, joining Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and receiving military training in Ethiopia, Angola, and the Soviet Union.

[7][8][9] At various times, he was a Member of the Executive Council in six different portfolios: Environmental Affairs and Tourism; Culture, Sports and Recreation; Local Government and Traffic; Roads and Transport; Safety and Security; and Health and Social Development.

[7] Ahead of the ANC's 54th National Conference in December 2017, Mahlalela was a prominent campaigner for Cyril Ramaphosa's winning presidential bid.

[13][14] He was re-elected to his parliamentary seat in the 2019 general election,[15] and, on 29 May 2019, President Ramaphosa appointed Mahlalela as Deputy Minister of Tourism under his second-term cabinet.