Mandlakazi boasts a wealth of journalistic knowledge with over ten years experience in broadcasting, news and publishing. She began her career as a producer for a television production company. Spending four years at this company, Mandlakazi equipped herself with the necessary knowledge and best practices in production and television. In need of change, she then left the company to join You magazine as a copy co-ordinator. After spending a year at You magazine, she left the world of print to join to the terrestrially licensed commercial television channel e.tv. Mandlakazi spent two years as a field reporter before she became a news anchor for the channel’s breakfast show.

Mandlakazi’s journalistic career continued to flourish when she joined the SABC as a Producer/News Anchor for the 1 o’clock news. She was then promoted to the prime time News @ 7. Whilst at the SABC, she was also a producer and news anchor at SAfm. In recognition of her journalistic talent, Mandlakazi was voted Best News Anchor at the SABC in 2006.