Mr Mahlangabeza’s journey started right here in the Eastern Cape, having been raised in Mount Frere, which is nestled between Kokstad and Umtata. He then moved slightly upcountry to our neighbouring province, Kwa-Zulu Natal, where he attended Ixopo High School. Upon matriculating in 2003, he moved to back to the Eastern Cape and to the city of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth). After a year of studying Electrical Engineering, he changed over to Production and Operations Management at the then Port Elizabeth Technicon. He graduated with his BTech in Production and Operations Management in 2008 from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (now Nelson Mandela University), and from which he also completed his MBA degree in 2014.
Workwise, Mr Mahlangabeza joins us from the Nelson Mandela University Business School, where he has been a Researcher since 2018. His professional career began back in 2004 while working in the Engineering Department at Welfit Oddy, a local tank container manufacturer. Thereafter, in 2009, Mr Mahlangabeza joined the university, where he was a Postgraduate Programmes Coordinator in the Faculty of Engineering, before being appointed as an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Management Practice.
Married with one child, Mr Mahlangabeza and his wife have an interesting accomplishment together, in that they both graduated with their MBA degrees on the same day - quite a rare accomplishment to say the least! Aside from his main line of work, Mr Mahlangabeza is also the Director of Lubuse Group (Pty) Ltd Translation Agency and BnL Properties (Pty) Ltd; which is testament to his keen interest in translation, linguistics, property management and research.
Mr Mahlangabeza is passionate about research and engagement, as well as the supervision of postgraduate students. He firmly believes in “Developing and shaping young minds and opening a new world to them that exists outside of South Africa”. Having successfully supervised 12 Masters students, he continues to publish research and supervise postgraduate students. He is also currently the external examiner for Rhodes Business School.
Being a man of many talents and interests, we are sure that Mr Mahlangabeza will be admired by his students and colleagues alike. We wish him well for his time with us in the Department of Business Management.