People

Dr Sarah Charlton is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture & Planning. Her PhD thesis examined state interventions in low-income public housing in Johannesburg, and peoples’ responses to these.

Research interests: Geographies of home and work; ways in which poor people make use of the city

Nqobile Malaza is a lecturer in the School of Architecture & Planning and part-time PhD candidate. 

Research topic: Black Economic Empowerment and the city, examining the Jozi@Work and Inner City Property Scheme initiatives in Johannesburg

Dr Margot Rubin is a Senior Researcher at the South African Research Chair in Spatial Analysis and City Planning, based in the School of Architecture & Planning. Her PhD thesis examined the role of apex courts and court cases in urban governance, focusing on Johannesburg and Delhi.

Research interests: Role of the courts in urban governance; state and private sector interface in shaping the city

Jeanne Bouyat is a full-time PhD candidate based at the Centre de Recherches Internationales (CERI), Sciences Po University, Paris and at CUBES.

Research topic: Local public action of education and the (re)shaping of otherness: exploring teaching and administrative practices in secondary school in Gauteng and the Western Cape

Rodolphe Demeestère is a PhD student from the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. He is hosted by the Erasmus Mundus programme at the University of Fort Hare.

Research topic: Street-level regulation norms in the informal economy in Delft and Khayelitsha, Cape Town, with a focus on the spaza shop sector

Mamokete Matjomane is a junior researcher at the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) and a part-time PhD candidate.

Research topic: The politics of street vendor policy making: The case of Ahmedabad, India

Boitumelo Matlala is a part-time PhD student.

Research topic: Participatory development and urban governance: the use of civil society organisations in brokering access and facilitating participation of urban residents in developmental programmes

Kate Tissington is a full-time PhD candidate based at CUBES, and provides administrative support to the PSUG programme.

Research topic: Public interest litigation and the local state: exploring practice and policy in response to evictions litigation in Johannesburg

Darlington Mushongera is a researcher at the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) and a part-time PhD candidate.

Research topic: The role of data and knowledge in urban governance: Planning for water services in the City of Johannesburg

Nomathemba Dladla was a Masters in Urban Studies student in 2017. 

Research topic: Transformation in governance: Understanding the integration of in informal workers within municipal systems

Mbula Khwashaba was a full-time Masters in Urban Studies students in 2016/2017.

Research topic: What are the stakes in invited platforms of participation in street trading? Lessons from Johannesburg’s Informal Trading Forum and City of Tshwane’s Tshwane Barekisi Forum

Matthieu Maralack was an MA in Cultural Policy and Management student in 2017.

Research topic: The complexities of localised South African cultural policy development in post-apartheid urban governance" The case of Ethekwini Municipality's failed 2012 cultural policy development process

Zonke Bella Mkhomazi was a full-time MSc in Development Planning student in 2016/2017.

Publications

Zonke Mkhomazi (2017) Sustainable development of parks: Investigating the trade-offs in the conflicting development process of parks: The case of the Mshenguville Park, Soweto. Masters research report, School of Architecture and Planning, Wits University: Johannesburg.

Nthabiseng Mohale was a full-time Masters in Urban Studies student in 2016/2017 and is also a PARI Masters Fellow.

Research topic: How people understand urban space, issues of land security that intersect claims of legitimacy, and analysing the role and impact of state policies and practices in informal settlements  

Tlholohelo Mokgere was a Masters in Urban Studies student in 2017, and provided support to the PSUG programme.

She was an Honours student in the PSUG programme in 2016. Her Honours research was on the construction of joint visions for Johannesburg nature reserves.

Current research topic: Formalising partnerships between park users and City Parks in Johannesburg – across the north-south divide

Publications

Mokgere T (2016) Constructing a joint vision for Johannesburg nature reserves: City Parks and users’ committee engagements in Melville Koppies, Klipriviersberg and Kloofendal nature reserves. Honours research report, School of Architecture and Planning. Wits University: Johannesburg. 

Lebogang Molema (BSc Honours in Urban & Regional Planning, 2016) was an MSc in Development Planning student in 2017. Her Honours research was on Exploring City official’s practices of community engagement: The case of Johannesburg Development Agency officials, Johannesburg (download here).

Research topic: Setting up partnerships for the management of the Braamfontein Spruit – practices of the state and conflicting institutional logics 

Lebohang Radebe was a Masters in Urban Studies student in 2017.

Research topic: A shift from local spatial development frameworks (LSDFs) to the implementation of an urban design initiative in Ekurhuleni Municipality: Official's roles, experiences and challenges

David Chiwetu was a BSc Honours in Urban & Regional Planning student in 2017.

Publications

Chiwetu D (2017) Urban Planning and Transport Rationalities in the City of Johannesburg: The case of Louis Botha Development Corridor. Honours research report, School of Architecture and Planning. Wits University: Johannesburg.

Mbali Khumalo was a BA Honours in Anthropology student in 2017. 

Research topic: Governing shebeens: Policies, outcomes and lives in Johannesburg' townships

Nomamfengu Mbele was a BSc Honours in Urban & Regional Planning student in 2017.

Publications

Mbele N (2017) Multiplicity of registration systems / multiplicity of recourse strategies: What is the experience of the street traders regarding the different forms of registration? Honours research report, School of Architecture and Planning. Wits University: Johannesburg.

Sibahle Ndwayana was a BA Honours in Anthropology student in 2017. 

Research topic: The governance of urban informal markets in Johannesburg: Yeoville and Hillbrow

Kenny Nigere was a BA Honours in Anthropology student in 2017. 

Publications

• Nigere K (2017) Privatisation of public places in South Africa: A local NGP (COPESSA) in a Sowetan park.Honours research report, Department of Social Anthropology. Wits University: Johannesburg.

Mathabo Ntshangase was a BSc Honours in Urban & Regional Planning student in 2017. 

Research topic: Managing homelessness in urban parks: case study of James and Ethel Gray Park

Marie Daniel

Marie Daniel was a Masters in Urban Studies student in 2016/2017 and Programme Assistant for the PSUG programme in 2016.

Publications

Daniel M (2017) Trader participation in the governance of markets in Johannesburg: The cases of Bree and Midrand markets. Masters research report, School of Architecture and Planning. Wits University: Johannesburg. Executive Summary. 

Minentle Lembede was a BSc Honours in Urban & Regional Planning student in 2016. 

Publications

Lembede M (2016) Johannesburg city officials’ visions for low income housing typologies along the Corridors of Freedom. Honours research report, School of Architecture and Planning. Wits University: Johannesburg.

Nkosinathi Mcetywa was a BSc Honours in Urban & Regional Planning student in 2016.

Research topic: The role of local councillors in the Corridors of Freedom development process.

Patience Tumelo Bosaka was a BSc Honours in Urban & Regional Planning student in 2015.

Publications

Bosaka P (2016) Changing practices of the state: Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo officials’ views on opportunities and challenges of community engagement. Honours research report, School of Architecture and Planning. Wits University: Johannesburg.

Sizakela Charmain Hadebe was a BSc Honours in Urban & Regional Planning student in 2015. 

Publications

Hadebe C (2016) Learning from communities’ involvement in the management of parks: The case of Zoo Lake and Thokoza Park, Johannesburg. Honours research report, School of Architecture and Planning. Wits University: Johannesburg.

Neil Klug is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning and part-time PhD student. He also runs his own planning consultancy.

Research topic: Policy instruments for spatial justice in South African cities: The case of Johannesburg 

Aviwe Mandyanda was a Masters in Urban Design student in 2017.

Research topic: Politics of invisibility and visibilisation: An investigation of the state's formal and informal regulation of competing land uses in parks 

Mfundo Ndovela is a Masters in Urban Studies student in 2018.

Research topic: Learning From SkeemSaam's Involvement in Mediating for the Homeless in Suburban Parks: The Case of James and Ethel Grey Park & Alberts Farm Park

Mzingaye Luther Jubane is a BSc Honours student in 2018.

Sarah is a Masters in Urban Studies student in 2018.