She is a member of the African National Congress (ANC).
In the 1999 general election, Matlanyane was included on the ANC's party list of candidates for the National Assembly, but she was placed in an unelectable rank.
[2] However, shortly after the election, Koko Mokgalong resigned from her seat; Matlanyane was sworn in to replace her on 20 September 1999.
[3] Matlanyane left the National Assembly at the 2004 general election, after which she was elected to represent the ANC as whip[4] for the Limpopo caucus of the National Council of Provinces.
She was appointed as the ANC's whip in the Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform.