Simelane was previously involved in the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL).
[2] While studying at the University of Natal's Pietermaritzburg campus, she was chair of the South African Students Congress from 1997 to 1998.
[3][4] In September 2021, Simelane issued a public apology after she and her guests defied COVID-19 regulations during a surprise birthday party for her in August.
[9] Zikalala resigned as premier on 5 August 2022 and Finance MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube was elected to replace him.
On 11 August 2022, Dube-Ncube appointed her executive council, in which Simelane-Zulu remains as the MEC for Health.
The newly elected premier Thami Ntuli of the Inkatha Freedom Party formed a coalition with the ANC, the Democratic Alliance, and the National Freedom Party which saw Simelane-Zulu reappointed as MEC for Health in the provincial Executive Council.