Jovial Rantao is a journalist. He has a BA Journalism (Honours) from the University of the Witwatersrand, and has spent much of his journalistic career at The Star, where he has held the posts of deputy editor, content and executive editor, news editor, political editor and political correspondent. He has also held the post of editor of the Sunday Tribune, the editor of The Sunday Independent and founder-editor of the African Independent. He has also co-authored a book called Life and Times of Thabo Mbeki with Adrian Hadland, the former political editor of the Cape Argus. His other appointments have included chairman of the South African National Editors’ Forum and president of The African Editors’ Forum.