On October 8, 2025, the University of Johannesburg (UJ)’s School of Economics marked a significant academic milestone with the graduation of Dr. Keoagile Kobedi, the second recipient of the PhD in Economics with a specialisation in Local Economic Development (LED). This specialised doctoral programme, conceptualised and developed by UJ’s Centre for Local Economic Development (CENLED), was established to meet South Africa’s growing need for advanced expertise to address complex economic, governance, and developmental challenges at the municipal and regional levels.
Dr. Kobedi’s achievement follows that of Dr. Lebo Mathole, who became UJ’s first PhD graduate in this specialisation earlier in 2025. Co-supervised by Prof. Marinda Pretorius and Prof. Bulelwa Maphela, Dr. Kobedi successfully completed her doctoral research in an exceptional two years, a testament to her academic excellence, determination, and passion for transformative research. Her thesis, titled “Welfare implications of microeconomic strategies and local economic development initiatives in South Africa,” explored how micro-level economic policies influence household welfare, employment creation, and community resilience, offering practical policy recommendations aimed at fostering inclusive and sustainable local economies.
Dr. Kobedi, a devoted mother of two, also participates in the New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP), an initiative of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) supporting early-career academics. Her research strengthens the evidence base for Local Economic Development in South Africa, providing municipal officials, academics, and policymakers with crucial tools to evaluate welfare outcomes of local initiatives. Her supervisor, Prof. Marinda Pretorius of the UJ School of Economics, lauded her dedication, stating, “Dr. Kobedi’s achievement embodies resilience, focus, and purpose. She exemplifies the type of scholar we aim to nurture one who bridges academic insight with community impact.”
Dr. Kobedi’s success demonstrates the transformative impact of UJ’s doctoral mentorship and the supportive structure of the nGAP programme, which encourages women in academia to pursue research that addresses real-world development issues. Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Kobedi, who is also a Lecturer at TUT, shared, “This journey has been both humbling and empowering. My research is driven by a genuine desire to see local economies thrive and to ensure that growth translates into improved welfare for ordinary South Africans.”
