UThenjiwe Mtintso, wazalwa ngomhlaka 7 Lwezi eSoweto Johannesburg lapho akhulela khona. Unina uHanna Mtintso ubesebenza ezindlini kanti ubaba wakhe uGana Makabeniwas ubengumbhali kwezentengiselwano futhi eyilungu le-African National Congress (ANC). UMtintso wabhekana nezinkinga zezezimali ezazibeka phansi imfundo yakhe. Ngenxa yalokho, waphoqeleka ukuba ashiye isikole futhi asebenze ngokugcwele emafektri ahlukahlukene ukuze axhase izifundo zakhe zesikhashana esikoleni samabanga aphakeme nase-University of Fort-Hare.