Metji Makgoba’s political interest was sparked when reading Malcolm X’s autobiography. Today he is a writer, political analyst, lecturer, and black economic empowerment researcher. He spoke to SMF News’ Aubrey Phungo about his childhood and educational journey.
Dr Metji Reginald Makgoba, a senior lecturer of communication studies at the University of Limpopo(UL) and a political analyst. PHOTO: Supplied/Metji Makgoba
“My mother spent all of 1994 trying to keep me in school,” remembers Dr Metji Reginald Makgoba. “I had to repeat grade 1. Not because I could not cope, but because I did not complete a single task.”
As a youngster, Makgoba became an expert at escaping the classroom; each time the teacher stepped out, he would sneak out and head home.
“Once my mother noticed the pattern, I adjusted my strategy,” he says. “I started leaving school and hiding out by a nearby river, biding my time until it was late enough to pretend I would be in class all day.”
Makgoba’s mother had named him after Regional Oliver Thambo, a symbol of hope and freedom. When the young Makgoba realised that he was falling short of her dreams, he dusted himself off and started focusing on his academic career.
In 2007, he enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies at the University of Limpopo (UL).
Dr Meiji Reginald Makgoba, during his stay in the United Kingdom. PHOTO: Supplied/Metji Makgoba
University as a path to self-discovery
“I was just above average in my undergraduate studies, but I never wrote a supplementary exam,” says Makgoba. “In my third year, I won an award for the best student in communication studies.”
After his success on the undergraduate level, various other opportunities came his way.
In 2010, during the Soccer World Cup, Mokgaba was invited to undertake an internship with Host Broadcast Services (HBS), under the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
“I was one of the commentary assistants during the World Cup in Peter Mokaba Stadium.”
During that time, he became a staunch Christian. “I went to church every day,” says Makgoba.
He also proceeded with an honours degree in Media Studies, and finished with five distinctions. His academic excellence caught the attention of the University of Limpopo’s marketing department. They offered him an internship with them.
“They [UL] just offered me the internship because they already saw that I was a writer at the age of 21,” says Makgoba.
While interning at UL, he received an email that he had been awarded a scholarship to study abroad.
“In September 2010, I left my job as a communication assistant at the University of Limpopo and went to do a master’s in the United Kingdom (UK).”
The master’s degree he earned in the UK contributed to his career.
“The master’s in media and PR, I did at Newcastle University, was a good program,” he says. “[It] had a critical perspective, and it was disciplinary.’’
To him, his master’s almost felt like his first year of university. “It is when I was able to know how to write critically, build an argument, and defend it,” says Makgoba.
Going abroad for the first time was a culture shock for Makgoba.
“I was in Newcastle; they speak with a different accent. I could not hear anything,” says Makgoba.
He remembers his Newcastle University experience as remarkable for its lack of hierarchy between lecturers and students. Being able to address professors with their first names created a sense of belonging and contributed towards his academic excellence, he says.
“I was doing well academically and graduated with a distinction,” says Makgoba. “I enjoyed my time at Newcastle and did well in my studies. And came back to South Africa, and I became a lecturer at UL.”
“I was here [at UL] for only three years, and I went back to Newcastle again to start my Doctor of Philosophy (PhD),’’ he says.
Dr Metji Makgoba giving a lecture on writing and developing a literature review to his honours class of 2025 at the University of Limpopo. PHOTO: Aubrey Phungo
Into academics as a philosopher
Makgoba’s research focus is on discourse, power, ideology, and empowerment in South Africa.
“I have published around ten articles on the subject, which deals with how black economic empowerment (BEE) has been used to suppress black people in South Africa, and under the guise of empowerment,” says Makgoba.
“BEE is a conservative project that was created by white people who destroyed the African National Congress (ANC)’s radical dimensions and approaches to policy making,” says Makgoba.
“My second area of research is on crisis communication, the politics of crisis communication, where we look at how organizations deal with crisis,” Makgoba says.
Makgoba is also a trained sangoma, and practices over weekends. The calling to train as a sangoma has troubled him – also whilst abroad. He, therefore, decided to act on, and completed his sangoma training in 2022.
Dr Metji Makgoba with two of his honours students, Evidence Mongwe (left) and Ditheto Lekalakala (right). PHOTO: Aubrey Phungo
‘A critical thinker’
Makgoba has become a leading scholar, whose analysis brings about a fresh perspective and challenges popular narratives, says Dr Rasodi Manyaka, an academic friend and a co-writer of Makgoba.
“He is always willing to guide and engage other scholars with the view of helping them to crystallize their arguments by giving constructive feedback,” says Manyaka. “He is a critical thinker who is deeply rooted.”
Mahlatse Baloyi regards Makgoba as a brother and a colleague. Makgoba’s commitment to excellence and ability to take initiative makes him a valuable asset in the communication division at UL, says Baloyi.
“He has invited me many times to co-author articles with him,” says Baloyi. “It is clear that he is a leader who does not want to climb the ladder alone but extends his hand to others as well.”
Dr Metji Makgoba at the Durban University of Technology during his graduation for a postgraduate degree in higher education. PHOTO: Supplied/Metji Makgoba