South Africa Researcher Team — KZN

Dr. Busisiwe Nkonki-Mandleni, wearing a necklace of pearls which rest on top of a formal black dress, smiling in a portrait in front of a soft brown backdrop

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 wears a blue lanyard over a grey dress suit and dark grey suit jacket

Dr. David Ighordaro

(Collaborator, Research Scientist, Community Engagement and Development Directorate, Mangosutho University of Technology) researches climate smart agriculture and community engagement. 

Dr Caiphus Hlungwani is pictured in a grey and white striped polo smiling in front of a bright palm like bush

Dr. Caiphus Hlongwane

(Collaborator, Research Scientist, Community Engagement and Development Directorate, Mangosutho University of Technology)

South Africa Researcher Team — Limpopo

Dr Kingsley Kwabena Ayisi is pictured in a thin vertical striped blue and white button up, while smiling. He is outdoors in front of trees and a building is disguised behind him

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 wearing a purple headscard and navy tshirt, smiling in front of a field

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 wearing a blue white and grey button up, smiling kindly in front of a green field

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 wearing a blue polo shirt with University of Limpopo crest, smiling in front of school field

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.  

Kabisheng Emmanuel Mabitsela wearing a crisp white button up smiles in front of the University of Limpopo field

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.

Farina Lindeque wears a blue University of Limpopo polo shirt with silver earrings with a big emblem of a tree engraved on it, stands in front of a green field

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 is pictured seated indoors, wearing a dark brown leather jacket. She has red lipstick on, and has her hands gently placed on her book "AUSI TOLD ME" while smiling at the camera

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 wears gold hoops, a seafoam green shirt under a white blouser, inside a classroom space with soft diffused light behind her

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 is wearing a black t-shirt, gold earrings, and gold a gold necklace with a gold pendant, smiling indoors

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 wears a dark blue dress shirt with a soft grey repeating pattern, wearing black glasses in front of a white window shutters

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.