Mosia Makhaya was born on 6 December 1943 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Makhaya obtained a BA Honours degree specialising in Russian, French and Portuguese and also completed Diplomatic Training courses in different European countries such as the UK, Norway, Germany and Russia.
In 1976, Makhaya join the African National Congress (ANC) and in 1992 became its Chief Representative in Cuba. He served in this position until he joined the South Africa Foreign Affairs on 1 August 1994, after which he was posted to various African, European and American countries on South African Foreign Service missions. In November 1995, he served as Minister in the South African Embassy in Paris until November 1996, when he was sent to Senegal as ambassador. While serving in that position, Makhaya was also non-resident ambassador to Mali, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Mauritania. Upon completing his term of office in Senegal, the president of Senegal, HE Mr A. Diouf, conferred the Order of the Lion for meritorious service in Senegal on Makhaya.
From Senegal, Makhaya moved to Latin America where he served as Director in the SA embassy. In May 2000, he was appointed as ambassador to Cuba. He passed away on 13 November 2000 after a short illness in Havana, Cuba. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son. His body was flown from Cuba to South Africa on 19 November 2000 accompanied by his brother. The memorial service in Havana was conducted by Makhaya’s fellow freedom fighter and friend of twenty years, Father Michael Lapsley, who had lost his two hands a parcel bomb attack.
The memorial service in South Africa was held at St. Albans Cathedral in Pretoria on Wednesday 22 November 2000 at 12:30. The funeral took place on Saturday 25 November 2000. A full communion service started at 09:00, at St. Catherine's Church, Homestead Road (Off Corlett Drive), Bramley, Johannesburg.