Most recently, Mahlangu chaired the National Assembly's Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services until the 2019 general election, in which he did not seek re-election.
[5] After the 2009 general election, on 12 May 2009, new Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza announced that Mahlangu would remain in the Executive Council, now as MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism.
[6] He remained in that portfolio for less than two years before he was fired from the Executive Council in Mabuza's first reshuffle on 3 November 2010.
[7][8] Thereafter, he served as an ordinary Member of the Provincial Legislature and chaired the Portfolio Committee on Public Works, Roads and Transport, and Safety and Security.
[2] From October 2017, he chaired the Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services, succeeding Mmamoloko Kubayi, who had been appointed to Cabinet.