[3] She also resumed her education part-time, and in 2017 she graduated from the University of South Africa with a Bachelor of Arts in governance, administration and development.
[3] Thereafter, in the first half of 2018, she worked for the State Security Agency as an analyst for the South African Early Warning Centre.
[3] Meanwhile, Maimela had become politically active at the age of 17, shortly after the end of apartheid, and had gone on to participate in the South African Students Congress, the Progressive Youth Alliance, and the Young Communist League.
[8] With Mhlauli and Zuko Godlimpi, she was one of three people under the age of 35 to gain election, and the Daily Maverick said that she was in pole position for elevation to government office.
In March 2023, the ANC National Working Committee announced that Maimela and Mhlauli's NYTT would be disbanded and replaced by a new task team.
[11] Ahead of the May 2024 general election, Mhlauli stood as an ANC candidate, ranked 33rd on the party's national list.