Tabisa Makaula, Unisa’s Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Service Delivery Management, has been announced by Exito Media Concepts as one of the chosen Top 50 distinguished leaders in South Africa’s information technology (IT) sector, a notable honour that will be featured on Exito’s website and in the Digital Top 50 (DT50) Magazine. The magazine will be presented to her at a special felicitation ceremony, which is scheduled for 11 March 2026, during the annual Digital Transformation Summit at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg.  

The DT50 Magazine is a special publication that serves as an invaluable resource for IT industry leaders, showcasing their achievements in South Africa. The magazine is launched alongside the Digital Transformation Summit, a pre-eminent event that assembles industry professionals, thought leaders and technology enthusiasts for engaging discussions, insightful presentations and unparalleled networking opportunities. The summit aims to gain profound understanding of how organisations adopt digital transformation and the country’s efforts in enhancing human-machine relationship. Therefore, this prestigious achievement spotlights Makaula as one of the trailblazers who have advanced South Africa's technological landscape to new heights.

Career journey reflection

From a small town of Mount Frere (Kwa-Bhaca) in the Eastern Cape and raised in uMzimkhulu in KwaZulu-Natal, to the national stage of ICT leadership, Makaula’s journey reflects resilience, vision and impact. These qualities ultimately led her to build a career spanning over two decades in ICT and more than 11 years in management.  

Makaula’s career began in academia, where she discovered a passion for empowering others with digital competencies. She later advanced to technical and ICT leadership roles at the Road Accident Fund (RAF), where she played a pivotal role in the award-winning RAF on the Road Programme, a community outreach initiative designed to take RAF services directly to rural and underserved areas, reducing the need to travel to regional offices.

Makaula’s role at Unisa entails driving strategic direction, governance, operational leadership, stakeholder engagement and financial management within her space. She remarks: "My work also entails bridging the gap between higher education and digital inclusion, where I ensure that students participate in online learning. This made me eligible for selection for this achievement, comprising of innovation, creativity, industry influence and exceptional vision." She adds: "This achievement has laid the foundation for me to be recognised on a national level, and I believe that my collaboration with associates and colleagues on digital tools and digital adoption would further enhance efficiency in teaching and learning at Unisa."

Highlighting broader impact and perseverance

Reiterating Unisa’s commitment to digital transformation, Makaula says that this achievement serves as a steppingstone for future partnerships and research grants for the institution. For her, the university will be further recognised as a leader in innovation and digital transformation, championed by the 2025 award winner of Public Sector Chief Information Officer (CIO), Mathabo Nakene-Mginqi, Unisa’s CIO and Vice-Principal of Information and Communication Technology. Makaula also maintains that this will instantly boost the institution’s confidence in facilitating high-impact digital education.

Congratulating Makaula, Dr Motlokwe Thobejane, Unisa’s Executive Director of ICT Systems and Infrastructure, states: "Through this achievement, Makaula has transformed the institution’s ICT landscape into a premier benchmark for operational excellence. She serves as a vital bridge between ICT, colleges and regional portfolios." For Thobejane, Makaula’s strategic oversight of student data provisioning at the university has been instrumental in narrowing digital divide, ensuring that thousands of students maintain essential access in a digitally driven environment. "She ensures that Unisa’s commitment to inclusive ICT service delivery is at high performance," she says.

Highlighting on overcoming challenges in a male-dominated sector, Makaula acknowledges that as she moved up the corporate ladder, she had to prove her capabilities multiple times, adding that she had to repeat herself before some tasks got executed. For aspiring ICT women specialists, Makaula advises: "Find a mentor or join women in technology forums. This will help you build your confidence." For her, keeping up with daily and ever-evolving trends in this sector can be immensely impossible. However, she holds that networking and pursuing relevant certifications are highly beneficial for IT career growth.

Makaula also highlights that impactful change in academia should include students from marginalised groups being provided with access to reliable and modern ICT resources that are cost effective. "At government level," she concludes, "there must be investment in ICT infrastructure to address digital divide in rural areas in order to ensure inclusivity."

 * By Nontsikelelo Ndebele, Communications Intern, Department of Institutional Advancement