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Brief Profile of Rabelani Dagada

Early life

Rabelani Dagada was born in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg, South Africa on 23 July 1971, but spent most of his childhood and youth in Limpopo, formerly Venda. According to his website (www.rabelanidagada.com), Dagada regards himself as product of hardship and humiliation. He did most of his primary and secondary schooling under various trees due to a shortage of classrooms and he walked 12 kilometres to and from the school without an umbrella or/and raincoat. He further claims that he suffered huge humiliations in various workplaces. Dagada’s simple schooling did not affect his love for learning and at present he holds a Masters of Education in Computer-based Education and a Masters of Commerce in Information Systems from the Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit and the University of Witwatersrand respectively. Dagada complete a short course at the University of London: Institute of Education and he is currently completing a PhD in Information Systems at the University of South Africa.

Professional life

Dagada is a South African Development Economist, Information Technologist and Knowledge Management Specialist based at the Business School of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. His presence is academia is a departure from a successful career in government, non-governmental organisations, and the corporate world. Dagada’s intellectual endeavors are not his sole focus and he is still quite comfortable in suites and ties. He holds part-time senior positions in corporate South Africa. Amongst others, he is the Head of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) at Sebata Institute of Consulting and Development, President of the Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA) and Chairperson of its Board of Directors, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of Information Technology Professionals Foundation, a member of the Board of the Africa ICT Alliance (AfTA) and Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Rabelani Dagada Education Trust. Dagada is a member of the South African Bureau of Standards’ (SABS) Committee which is responsible for formulating eLearning standards. He represents SABS internationally in terms of eLearning. When I asked how he does all these things; Dagada retorted: “I’m really driven; once I decide on doing something, I get it done. If I spend a night or weekend without working, I feel cheated. There are times where I spend the whole night in my office, go home in the morning to shave, bath, put on a suite and go back to the office”.

Amongst others, Dagada worked at the Adelaide Tambo School of the Disabled (in Soweto) as a Teacher and later on as a Head of Department (Commerce), at Old Mutual as an Independent Contractor, at Central Johannesburg College as a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department: Information Technology, at Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit as a Tutor, at University of South Africa as an

Instructional Designer & Coordinator: ICT in Education, and at Royal Bafokeng Administration (Manager: ICT & Knowledge Management). Dagada has also consulted for various organisations; these include the Development Bank of Southern Africa and Legal Aid South Africa.

Awards and honour

In December 1998 Dagada obtained a Further Diploma in Education (Computer Based Education) with distinction (CUM LAUDE) from the Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit. Few years later, he was given a special permission to study two masters degrees simultaneously in two universities (Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit &University of the Witwatersrand), and he successfully completed them. Dagada has successfully implemented various Information & Communications Technology (ICT) projects. These include Enterprise Resources Planning Systems, Records Management Systems, Contract Management Systems, Microsoft Exchange, Wireless Broadband Network, and eLearning systems. Dagada is the inaugural Winner of 2008 ICT Visionary Award. He received the Award “in recognition of foresight and achievement in transforming business by adopting and implementing leading-edge technology”. Be that as it may, his implementation of Chisimba eLearning Management System at the University of Witwatersrand failed dismally and millions of rands were squandered.

Dagada’s co-authored paper was short-listed for the CIE Joyce Cain Award: KINUTHIA, W. & DAGADA, R. 2008. E-learning incorporation: an exploratory study of three South African higher education institutions. International Journal on E-Learning, 7(4), 623-639. In 2009, he presented a paper entitled: “Legal and policy aspects to consider when providing information security in the corporate environment”, at School of Computing 2009 Post-Graduate Symposium. University of South Africa, 14 September 2009. This paper was rated as the best doctoral study presentation. A search in Google Scholar reveal Dagada’s work has cited extensively by other scholars.

Thought leadership

Dagada has published opinion pieces in various South African newspapers and popular publications such as The Star, Sowetan, Sunday Independent, City Press, Business Day, ITWeb, Financial Mail, and Focus (journal of the Helen Suzman Foundation). His views have featured in leading ICT magazines such iWeek and Brainstorm. Dagada has featured in programmes of leading talk radios in South Africa, Radio 702 and SAFM. He is also a public speaker and has participated in more than 30 local and international conferences.

Personal life

Dagada lives with his four children (three daughters and son) in Suninghill, Johannesburg.

Published books and chapters

Dagada has published his work in several peer reviewed academic journals and international conference proceedings. His books and chapters include the following:

DAGADA, R. 2009. Time, Space and Pace: Computer-integrated Learning in South Africa. Pretoria: Unisa.

DAGADA, R. MUKWEVHO, S. & SCHOFIELD, A. 2011. Telecommunication revolution in a developmental state: South Africa becomes an ICT phenomenon. New York: Raider Publishing International.

DAGADA, R AND CARMICHAEL, T. (2011). The impact of the South African Information and Communications Technology policy to entrepreneurship. This book chapter appears in the book edited by Boris Urban, and is entitled: Technopreneurship. Pearson: Cape Town.

DAGADA, R. & CHIGONA, A. (2012). Lecturers’ ICT capabilities in a new educational paradigm in South African HEI: A Capability Approach. This book chapter appears in the book edited by Kanubhai K. Patel & Sanjaykumar Vij, and is entitled: Enterprise Resource Planning Models for the Education Sector: Applications and Methodologies. Hershey PA: Published by IGI Global.