University of Johannesburg’s Prof Mandla J. Radebe Joins GCRO Board

The Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) has welcomed a new board member, Professor Mandla J. Radebe, from the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Prof Radebe brings a wealth of experience and a dynamic blend of academic and strategic communication expertise to the GCRO’s governance team.

Prof Radebe is a Professor in the Department of Strategic Communication at UJ and the founding Director of the Centre for Data and Digital Communications. With over 25 years of professional experience spanning sectors such as financial services, ICT, higher education, and the public sector, his appointment is expected to strengthen GCRO’s commitment to policy-relevant research and citizen engagement.

He holds a PhD in Media Studies, an MA and BA Honours in Journalism & Media Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand, and a BSc in Computer & Information Technology from Vista University. His research interests include the critical political economy of communication, digital capitalism, and strategic communication.

Prof Radebe is also a seasoned governance leader, having served as Chairperson of Council at the Vaal University of Technology, Deputy Chairperson of the Board at the National Home Builders Registration Council, and as a board member of several institutions, including the Chris Hani Institute and the Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Think Tank.

An award-winning author, his recent publications include Apartheid Did Not Die: South Africa’s Unfinished Revolution (2025), The Lost Prince of the ANC (2022), and Constructing Hegemony (2020), reflecting his deep engagement with South Africa’s socio-political landscape.

His appointment to the GCRO Board reinforces the Observatory’s mission to provide strategic intelligence and foster inclusive, sustainable development across the Gauteng City-Region.