Hangana was born on 12 April 1956[1] and grew up in KwaMandlenkosi, a township in Beaufort West in the Central Karoo.
[2] She obtained a paralegal's diploma in 1982 and worked at the Legal Resources Centre in Cape Town and then in the Athlone law offices of Bulelani Ngcuka.
[7] She was re-elected to her legislative seat in 1999,[8] but in late 2001 the ANC transferred her to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, where she served as Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Housing in the Western Cape Executive Council.
[5][1] The Mail & Guardian said that her performance was disappointing and that she "left the Western Cape housing department in shambles".
[3] Pursuant to the 2004 general election, Hangana returned to the National Assembly and President Thabo Mbeki appointed her as Deputy Minister of Provincial and Local Government under Minister Sydney Mufamadi.