Wits University mourns the passing of Dr Lindiwe Makhunga
- Wits University
Makhunga was an extremely gifted and inspirational teacher, mentor and scholar. She will be deeply missed by her family, colleagues, students, and friends.
Wits University has been devastated by the loss of Dr Lindiwe Makhunga, who unexpectedly passed away last week.
Makhunga was appointed as a lecturer in politics in November 2014, having previously completed a number of degrees here at Wits, including her doctorate. She was also awarded a Masters Degree in Gender and Development from the Institute of Development Studies at University of Sussex, where she was the top student in her class.
Makhunga was an inspiring teacher and mentor, a generous colleague and friend, a dedicated and exceptional researcher, and committed and passionate feminist. As part of her great love of the African continent, she undertook ambitious fieldwork in Rwanda, South Africa and Sierra Leone, conducting research into the relationship between gender and political behaviour. She took it upon herself to learn the many languages of the continent in order to bring authenticity to her work.
Makhunga was an extremely gifted and inspirational teacher, mentor and scholar. She completed her PhD at Wits, under Professor Shireen Hassim, and was awarded the Next Generation Social Sciences Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship.
Her dissertation examined the relationship between the high presence of women in post-transitional Rwandan and South African parliament and parliamentary outcomes that address gender inequality in Rwandan and South African society.
Dr Makhunga represented the absolute best of Wits, and our community will be greatly diminished by her loss.
Wits University, colleagues, students and friends commemorated Makhunga’s life at a memorial service this week. She was laid to rest in a public funeral at the St Marks Anglican Church on Wednesday.
Makhunga will be deeply missed by her family, colleagues, students, and friends. May she rest in peace.