South Africa Researcher Team — KZN
Dr. Busisiwe Nkonki-Mandleni
(SA PI, Co-PI, Associate Professor, Director, Community Engagement and Development Directorate, Mangosuthu University of Technology) coordinates community engagement by designing and implementing ethically accountable initiatives to strengthen university- community connections. Her expertise includes climate change adaptation, conservation agriculture, rural development, and food security.
Dr. David Ighordaro
(Collaborator, Research Scientist, Community Engagement and Development Directorate, Mangosutho University of Technology) researches climate smart agriculture and community engagement.
Dr. Caiphus Hlongwane
(Collaborator, Research Scientist, Community Engagement and Development Directorate, Mangosutho University of Technology)
South Africa Researcher Team — Limpopo
Dr. Kingsley Kwabena Ayisi
(Co-PI, Professor, Director, Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre, University of Limpopo) uses his content expertise in crop physiology, soil science, agricultural economics, and conservation agriculture to identify and implement community-engaged climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Dr. Tlou Elizabeth Mogale
(Collaborator, Research Scientist, Risk and Vulnerability Science Center, University of Limpopo) has expertise in crop ecology, agroecosystem services, climate-smart agricultural technologies, food security, and community engagement.
Dr. Norman Mathebula
(Collaborator, Research Scientist, Risk and Vulnerability Science Center, University of Limpopo) has expertise in community-based participatory research and in environmental impact assessment.
Ms. Izelque Botha
(Collaborator, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Limpopo). Izelque Botha is Head of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Limpopo. Izelque has served on various committees at departmental, school, and faculty levels.
Mr. Kabisheng Mabitsela
Kabisheng Emmanuel Mabitsela is an accomplished Technical Scientist with a strong foundation in Soil Science, remote sensing and GIS. He holds an MSc in Agriculture, specializing in Soil Science, and uses his academic and practical expertise to make impactful contributions to agriculture. Kabisheng's has extensive expertise in climate smart agriculture, including a strong understanding of soil properties and their influence on agricultural productivity.
Ms. Farina Lindeque
Farina Lindeque is a lecturer in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Limpopo (UL). She obtained her M.Sc. in Geography and Environmental Management (cum laude) from the North-West University (NWU) in 2018 and her current PhD research involves investigating social learning processes in transdisciplinary environmental actions and Communities of Practice. She also has a keen research interest in human-environment interaction, with a focus on sustainable development and community-centred research.
South Africa Researcher Team — Gauteng
Professor June Bam-Hutchison
(Co-Applicant, Professor, University of Johannesburg) is director of the Centre for Education Rights and Transformation (CERT) in the Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg. June is also former special advisor to the national Minister of Education for the Republic of South Africa, from 2000-2004. She has published a number of books over many years, and is an award winning South African author and scholar. She has worked widely nationally and globally in her field of indigenous heritage, history research and teaching. Her recent book on African feminist indigenous knowledges - Ausi Told Me: Why Cape Herstoriographies Matter (published in 2021 by Jacana) - was joint winner of the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) 2023 Best Non-fiction monograph Award. Her previous collaborative work with the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation won the UNESCO 2008 Peace Award in Education for South Africa.
Amanda Ntaka
Amanda Ntaka (Research Assistant) is from Harding, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa. She is a research assistant for the Center for Educational Rights and Transformation at the University of Johannesburg. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Zululand.
Nokwanda Mngometulu
Nokwanda Mngometulu (Research Assistant) is a research assistant at the University of Johannesburg’s Center for Educational Rights and Transformation. She holds an Associate degree in Public Relations from the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Eswatini.
Dr. Mammoni Ramalepe
Dr. Mammoni Ramalepe teaches at a primary school in Gauteng where he is also Departmental Head for Languages (English First Additional Language and African Languages). He is the recipient of a National Teaching Award for environmental education.
Dr. Mzoli Mncanca
(Co-Applicant, Lecturer, Early Childhood Education, UNISA) focuses on the sociology of early childhood development and young children’s development in economically marginalized settings.