Ntombela was also the Deputy President of the African National Congress Women's League and the treasurer of the Free State ANC.

[1] One of six children, Sefora Hixsonia Ntombela was born in the small farming town of Tweeling in the Free State.

[4] In May 2009, newly elected Free State Premier Ace Magashule announced that Ntombela would take up the post of MEC for Social Development.

[7][8] In March 2018, Ntombela was selected by the African National Congress to succeed Ace Magashule as Premier of the Free State.

[9][10][11] Following the May 2019 elections, the African National Congress announced that it had retained Ntombela in her position as Premier of the Free State.

[16] On 5 February 2023, Daily Maverick had reported that the newly elected ANC PEC had taken the decision to recall Ntombela as premier.