Makhulu was born in Peddie on the 18th July 1918, the daughter of Tili and Bethiwe Mahlakahlaka. She was the fourth child of a family of 14 children. Because she was strong and naughty, her father asked her to work as a shepherd until he died in 1938, then she moved to Port Alfred working as a Gardner, reaping pine apples. She then got a job at a school in Grahamstown as a cleaner until she was dismissed for taking part in the protest about pass laws. In 1952 she was detained for 3 to 6 months in Tyiphu Tyiphu Prison in East London (Kwa’Nongqongqo). In 1954 her pregnant sister was also detained and she had to look after her first child, Mbulelo who then gave birth to another child while in prison, Thandiwe. She was released after 3-4 years together with her child.
Thereafter, she worked for Professor Dan Morton and his wife Margaret for more than 30 years. Makhulu Mahlakahlaka used to sell African beer to make a living for her children, sisters, brother and their children which then led her to land up in jail again because she assaulted a policeman who tried to stop her doing her job. She is a member of the ANC from 1952 until now. She had 6 children, two have passed on and she is left with four. She has 24 grand children, 42 great grand children and 4 great-great grandchildren. At the age of 95 she lost her son Boyce and that affected her health very badly, she never regained her health. She is a member of the UPSA (United Presbyterian Church of SA). She used to be a Church Treasurer, a task she did with honesty and faithfulness. She loves to sing, especially the hymn No. 32 “Thixo ova izikhungo”.