Board

Khululekile Mase is currently the DDG responsible for Urban Planning at Gauteng CoGTA. He is mainly responsible for Integrated Development Planning, Spatial Planning, Municipal Infrastructure Support & Planning and Intergovernmental Relations. He spent 8 years in the Office of the Premier, where he led on Spatial & Infrastructure Planning, Long Term Planning and Research.

He has many years of experience in local and provincial government, focusing on policy, research, planning, monitoring and evaluation. He also worked for the then Gauteng Department of Local Government and Housing, the City of Cape Town and SALGA. He is a graduate of the Universities of Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Birmingham (UK).

Prof Lynn Morris is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has a PhD from the University of Oxford and is the Research Professor and founding Director of the Antibody Immunity Research Unit based at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.

Over the last 30 years, she has been involved in HIV vaccine research, making significant contributions to understanding the antibody response to HIV. Lynn is an NRF A-rated scientist, has published over 294 papers holding an H-Index of 74, and has featured in the Web of Science list of the world’s most highly cited researchers.

She is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), the Royal Society of South Africa (FRSSA), and the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). Lynn has supervised and mentored over 50 post-graduate students and post-docs, many of whom have gone on to develop their own successful scientific careers.

Prof Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya is the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Johannesburg. She is also a Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health (PhD, PGD in Epidemiology, MSc in Epidemiology) trained at the University of Limpopo and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK. She is the founding director of the Pan African Centre for Epidemics Research (PACER), the first and only South African Medical Research Council Extramural Unit at the University of Johannesburg. Prior to this, Prof. Phaswana-Mafuya was the first Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at North-West University, from October 2017 to October 2020. She also worked at the Human Sciences Research Council as an Acting Executive Director, SAHARA Director, Research Director, and Chief Research Manager from January 2005 to September 2017.

Prof Phaswana Mafuya is a fellow of the African Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Science of South Africa, the Organization for Women in Science in developing countries, and an NRF-rated scientist. She received the 2024 HERS-SA Lifetime Achiever and Trailblazer Awards for her outstanding contributions in higher education. Further, Prof Phaswana-Mafuya received the prestigious National Science and Technology Forum TW Nkambule Award (2017) in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Science, Engineering, and Technology, 15 years after obtaining her PhD.

She was coronated as Queen Mother for Research and Development by the Abeadze Kingdom, Central Ghana, August 2022. Prof Phaswana-Mafuya is a member of the NRF Board (2nd term), ASSAF Council (2nd term), Higher Health Board (2nd term), Dira Sengwe AIDS Conferences, and African Health Research Institute Scientific Advisory Committee, among others. She serve/d at various international panels, including the International Expert Panel on Infectiology, UK’s Medical Research Foundation, African German Research Networks for Health Innovations in SSA, and University of Münster's Tropical Programs.

Mandla J. Radebe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Strategic Communication and the founding Director of the Centre for Data and Digital Communications at the University of Johannesburg. He has over 25 years of professional experience across various sectors such as accounting, auditing, financial services, ICT, higher education, retail, and the public sector. Academically, he holds a PhD in Media Studies, an MA and BA Honours in Journalism & Media Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand, and a BSc in Computer & Information Technology from Vista University, Soweto campus.

His most recent governance and advisory roles includes serving as Chairperson of Council at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), Deputy Chairperson of the Board at the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), Advisory Board Member of Tricontinental Pan Africa, Editorial Advisory Board Member of Inkani Books, Board Member of the Chris Hani Institute (CHI), and Member of the Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Think Tank.

He is an award-winning author whose publications include Apartheid Did Not Die: South Africa’s Unfinished Revolution (Inkani Books, 2025), The Lost Prince of the ANC: The Life and Times of Jabulani Nobleman ‘Mzala’ Nxumalo, 1955–1991 (Jacana Media, 2022) and Constructing Hegemony: The South African Commercial Media and the (Mis)Representation of Nationalisation (UKZN Press, 2020). His research interests include critical political economy of communication, digital capitalism, network society, and strategic communication focusing on citizen engagement.

Dr Mfaniseni Fana Sihlongonyane is a Professor of Development Planning and Urban Studies and Head of School in the School of Architecture and Planning at Wits University. He studied Geography and Theology at the University of Swaziland, where he got a 2:1 in 1992. In 1993, he trained as a teacher to obtain a Post-graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with distinction. From 1994 to 1995, he did a master’s in development planning at Wits University, and from 2004 to 2008, he obtained a doctorate (DPhil) at Oxford University. He has been the undergraduate coordinator for the Planning Programme in the School of Architecture and Planning between 2008 and 2011. He was director of the Planning Programme from 2011 to 2014, as well as from 2020 to June 2025. He served as the School Postgraduate convenor from 2016 to 2019. He also served as a member as well as the Alternate chair of the South African Council of Planners from 2008 to 2012 and 2013 to 2017, respectively.

He was chairperson of the Scientific Committee for the 52nd Congress of ISOCARP which was held in Durban in 2016. He was chairperson of the committee of Heads of Planning Schools (CHoPS) from 2021 to 2024. He has been a hall coordinator at Esselen Residence between 1997 and 2003 and warden for EOH Residence from 2007 to 2020. In the university, Fana is the Principal Investigator for the WITS-TUB Collaboration project between the university and the Technical University of Berlin, Germany, which offers six PhD and 13 master's scholarships as well as staff and students exchange with a total funding of 450,000 Euros per annum over five years.

He has recently been a member of the following university committees: University Senate; (2011-14; 2022 to date); University Human Resources Committee, University Campus Planning and Development Committee (2012-15); University EXCO-Convocation; University Sexual Harassment Committee; Faculty Board, Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee (2011-2014); University Council (2024 to date) Faculty Performance Policy Appraisal Committee (only in 2012), Faculty of Humanities Staffing and Promotions Committee (2012 to 2022); School chair of the Undergraduate Committee (2007-2012); member of the School EXCO (2012-2013); School Policy Committee; Postgraduate Committee (2011-2012); Space Development Committee (2012-2013); Research Development Working Group (2014 to date) and Occupational Health and Safety Environment Committee (2014 - 2017). CUBES exec 2012 to date.

Cllr Nonkoliso Tundzi-Hawu matriculated in 1991 at Ntabankulu Senior Secondary School in the Eastern Cape. She studied Public Management with UNISA (not completed). She obtained a certificate on councillor development and leadership certificate at the University of Pretoria, certificate on municipal governance at Wits University and attended different seminars and training programmes.

She has been a Councillor at the West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) since 2016 and is a current member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Corporate Services. She held the position of Councillor and Executive Mayor of Westonaria local municipality between 2011 and 2016. Between 2008 and 2011 she held the position of Councillor and Speaker at WRDM.

She was also a Councillor and EXCO member at Westonaria municipality between 2000 and 2006. She was a temporary admin worker at Westonaria Local municipality in 1997 until 2000 and a Community Peace Worker between 1995 and 1997. She served in various council committees ( Finance, LED, Housing, etc.) during her time of service as a Councillor in 2000. She was elected a SALGA PEC member in 2016 to date and SALGA Gauteng Deputy Chairperson in 2022.

Cllr Tundzi-Hawu's professional mission statement is to serve the community with integrity. She believes that Local Government (LG) needs dedicated and skilled personnel and people with passion to serve the community. Resource allocation needs to be improved (Dora, equitable share, MIG etc) and LG must be helped to improve revenue collection (most people fall in the indigent list). She believes that the grading formula needs to be reconsidered, especially where there are districts and locals, provision of more support for LED programmes, continuous capacity building for both officials and councillors and mining sector billing on rates and taxes needs to be scrutinised and improved.

Prior to joining SALGA, she worked extensively on German Development Corporation, and her focus was on facilitating technical and strategic planning sessions for municipalities in Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape; development and support for the establishment of Community of Practice Blue Print for participating municipalities.

She has also occupied various senior roles in the following organisations: Harith General Partners; UN Women; Toti Capital and Vaux Media. Furthermore, she also worked as Interim Chief Executive Officer Soweto Community Television (Stv) where she was responsible for the development of the Channel Strategy and facilitated the Board & Executive Management Strategy Lekgotla.

In addition, she also held the role Chief Executive Officer at Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP); and her focus was on Corporate Finance, Human Resources and Administration; Management Services including: Policy Development of the military veterans support, Strategic Planning, Performance Management System and Support Services; as well as Human Development Services.

Some of her achievements include the following: The Development of the UN Women Flagship Program Strategy for the SA Multi-country office; Development of the Integrated Social, Health & Community Development Services functions; and the Development of the Women, Children, Youth and Gender Mainstreaming Policies & Strategies for the City of Johannesburg. She also played a pivotal role in the development of the Early Childhood Policy and Strategy; Development of the Vulnerable Support and Expanded Social Package Programme; as well as the establishment of the HIV Council Chaired by the then Executive Mayor for the City of Johannesburg.

Furthermore, she also facilitated community participation & networks development & management of Civic Programs & Projects; and was also instrumental in the establishment of the Migrants Policy and Programme for the City of Johannesburg; as well as the Development of Youth, Women & PWD Business Incubation Empowerment Programme.

Pilisiwe is in possession of Masters in Public Management and Development; as well as the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management and Development from Regenesys School of Public Management. She also holds a Senior Diploma in Paralegal Studies from the South African School of Paralegal Studies; Certificate in Labour Development Programme from Wits Business School. Furthermore, she also completed her Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Lesotho.