Tebogo Mahlaela is a Limpopo-born media professional with a distinguished career in television presenting and communication. She has become a shining example of dedication, versatility, and maturity in the South African media landscape. As a scriptwriter and co-host of the traditional music programme Roots, which airs on SABC 1 every Saturday at 17:30, Mahlaela has captured the attention of audiences across the country.
 
Her passion for performance and storytelling has shaped her into a multifaceted media practitioner. She is a television presenter, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, voice-over artist, founder and Managing Director of Let's Talk Communication, marketing and communications specialist, and media lecturer. Mahlaela's excellence has been recognised throughout her career. In 2011, she won the award for Best Television Presenter at the South African Volunteers Awards. She has also featured as an actress in the Nigerian film, The Bait and Lmol Production's short film Masheleng. To further refine her craft, she completed acting training at Dramatec.
 
Mahlaela has also gained extensive experience in journalism and media production. She worked as a journalist, video editor, and newspaper designer for Wits University's campus newspaper Vuvuzela, where she was named Television Journalist of the Year for breaking a story on homelessness in the Johannesburg CBD.
Her exceptional academic performance earned her a prestigious scholarship from Thomson Reuters in her final year, leading to her role as an equities journalist after completing her Honours degree.
She is currently pursuing her master’s in communication science at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Her professional journey also includes working as a Communications Officer for the African National Congress (ANC) regional office and serving as a Journalism and Media Studies lecturer at Jeppe College in 2015. In 2018, she joined Damelin College as a lecturer in Business Communication, Public Relations, and Media Studies.
 
As the founder of Let's Talk Communication, Mahlaela provides branding, small-scale events, social media management, media buyer and public relations services. Her company has partnered with organisations such as the Gospel Music Association, Imbizo Shisanyama, and artists including Penny Penny, Jeff Maluleke, Daniel Brothers, Vic Price, Joe Shirimani, and others.
Based in Johannesburg, she serves on the board of the Limpopo Arts Foundation, an NGO dedicated to preserving and promoting Limpopo's heritage, music, and traditions.
She is also the Head of the Creative, Cultural, and Heritage Division at the South African Black Forum (Black Forum South Africa), a lobby group advocating for Black solidarity. Mahlaela currently works as a Marketing and Communication Specialist at UNISA and is the co-owner of Thuto Progress Academy, a training centre based in Johannesburg.