Refilwe Maria Mtsweni-Tsipane (née Mtsweni; born 3 September 1973), also spelled Mtshweni-Tsipane, is a South African politician from Mpumalanga.

[4] The leader of the provincial opposition, Anthony Benadie of the Democratic Alliance, criticised the appointment, saying that Mtsweni-Tsipane "lacks the skill or strength of character to manage a complex portfolio".

She was sworn in to the position twice: her first swearing-in, on 27 February 2018, was constitutionally invalid because it proceeded on Mabuza's instructions alone, without the official sanction of the Executive Council.

[12] In January 2021, she was charged with violating COVID-19 protocols after she was photographed arriving at Jackson Mthembu's funeral without wearing a face mask.

The incident had caused public controversy and the national Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, called for an investigation.

[13][14] Mtsweni-Tsipane said that she had not noticed that her mask had broken and fallen off;[15] she apologised publicly, signed an admission of guilt, and paid a R1,500 fine.

[16][17] By the end of 2019, Mtsweni-Tsipane was understood to be Mabuza's favoured candidate to replace him as provincial chairperson of the Mpumalanga ANC.