Our team

Professor Imraan Valodia, an economist, is Pro Vice-Chancellor for Climate, Sustainability and Inequality, and Director of the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits). His research interests include inequality, competition policy, employment, the informal economy, gender and economic policy, and industrial development. Imraan has played a central role in establishing and leading the SCIS. The SCIS is a multi-disciplinary, cross-country initiative to promote research and policy change to promote greater equality in the Global South. Imraan has led and participated in a number of large national and international studies. He is recognised nationally and internationally for his research expertise in economic development. Imraan is a part-time member of the Competition Tribunal in South Africa. He is also a commissioner of the National Minimum Wage Commission and a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (Assaf) Standing Committee on Science for the Reduction of Poverty and Inequality. In August 2016 Professor Valodia was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to chair the Advisory Panel on the National Minimum Wage. This led to the introduction of a National Minimum Wage in South Africa.  In early 2018, he was appointed to a Panel to advise the Minister of Economic Development on amendments to the Competition Act, which were introduced into law in 2019. He was also appointed by the Minister of Finance to a Panel of Experts to advise on Value-Added Taxes.

David Francis is the Deputy Director at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies. His research interests focus on labour market economics, the informal economy, and inequality. He was the researcher for the Advisory Panel on the minimum wage in South Africa. He has previously worked as a development consultant, and a policy and budget analyst at South Africa’s National Treasury, where he worked in health and social policy. He has a PhD in economics from Wits University, an MA in development studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and a bachelor of social sciences in economics and history from the University of Cape Town.

Stacey-Leigh Joseph is Head of Operations at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies. She is the former Executive Manager for Programmes at the South African Cities Network where she was responsible for leading a team of researchers developing content to support improved urban governance and management in South African cities. Her specific research focus areas over the past 15 years have been on issues related to land, human settlements, and urban development. She also has experience working in government and civil society and holds a Master of Social Science degree in International Relations from Rhodes University. 

Athenkosi Pono is the Communications Officer of the Southern Centre for Inequalities Studies (SCIS). He earned a National Diploma in Media and Advertising Management from Varsity College. Athenkosi has more than a decade of experience in marketing, communications, graphic design, and digital media. He has 5 years of international project development experience with the German Development Agency (GIZ), where he provided communications assistance for global, regional, and bilateral initiatives in collaboration with the African Union and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).

Kitso Kgaboesele is a Senior Communications Officer at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies. She holds an MA in African Studies from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and is currently pursuing a Master of Commerce in Inequality Studies at Wits University. Kitso has more than 15 years experience in the advertising, media, and communications industries. She spent 11 years at the SABC where she worked as a news researcher and radio current affairs national copy editor. 

Pauline Dhlamini is a Research Project Officer at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies. She has a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resources Management and an Advanced Diploma in Project Management. Pauline has extensive experience working in Human Resources, Operations, Finance, and Project Management. She previously worked for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), where she provided project management support for five years. She is currently pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management at Cranefield College.

Lindiwe Mdlalose is a Research Project Officer at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies with over a decade of experience in managing public sector and donor-funded programs. She has worked for institutions such as USAID, Statistics South Africa, and the Independent Electoral Commission, where she specialised in monitoring, evaluation, administration, and stakeholder coordination. She holds a postgraduate diploma and a Master of Management in Public and Development Sector Monitoring and Evaluation from Wits University. Her undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Social Science from the University of KwaZulu Natal.

Sky Konrad is a Finance Accountant at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies. Driven by a passion for people, numbers, and systems, she works strategically with the goal of improving workplace systems and increasing efficiency in operations. Through her work, she provides deep insights that aid good governance and corporate citizenry for improved decision-making in organisations. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting Sciences (Unisa) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (Wits Business School). Sky also has a keen interest in Monitoring & Evaluation.

Percygynia Kock is a Projects and Office Coordinator at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies. Fondly known as Percy, she has worked in the NGO sector for more than five years in sectors focused on gender-based violence, access to justice, and public health. Her professional background includes project, financial, and payroll systems. Percy has extensive knowledge of donor budget monitoring and grants management workflow. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Accounting Science, a National Diploma in Accounting and currently pursuing her Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management.

Ujen Dookie is the Personal Assistant to Prof. Imraan Valodia. Having lived and worked in the UK, India, China and Uganda with a work experience spanning over 20 years in development and human rights, Ujen's diverse expertise and skill set includes governance, leadership development, climate action, Executive Office Management, programmes, report writing and fundraising. He has an Undergraduate Degree in Sociology and Psychology and an Honours Degree in Social Development, and he is a Certified English teacher through Cambridge University. Ujen is passionate about human rights, international development, and philanthropic work in the Global South. He has worked at Action Aid International, Democracy Works Foundation, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, F20 and, most recently, on the Free the Children Campaign (Ukraine).

Justin Visagie is an Associate Professor at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) at the University of the Witwatersrand. His research focuses on urban and regional economies, industrial policy, and spatial inequality, with a strong emphasis on using administrative data to inform inclusive and evidence-based development. Before joining SCIS, he served as Chief Research Specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council and Director of Economic Planning in the Eastern Cape Government. Justin has published widely on cities, migration, and firm productivity, and collaborates with international and local partners including the International Science Council, World Bank, National Treasury and across Local Government.

ResearchGate:  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin-Visagie

Orcid ID:  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2526-231X

Geci Karuri-Sebina is as an Associate Professor at the University of Witwatersrand associated with the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, Tayarisha Digital Governance Research Group, the MIND Institute, and the Civic Tech Innovation Network. She is the ICESCO Chair on Innovation and Futures in Africa. Geci’s research interests lay in the intersections between people, place, time and technological change.  She holds Bachelors degrees in Computer Science and Sociology (Iowa); Masters degrees in Architecture and Urban Design, and in Urban Planning (UCLA); and a PhD in planning and innovation studies (Wits University). She is a Desmond Tutu African Leadership Fellow.

Amy Mutua is a researcher and registered candidate planner (South African Council for Planners), passionate about advancing the sustainable and inclusive development of African cities. Her research interests are focused on alternative urban development practices, urban governance, and sustainability transitions. Amy is currently pursuing a PhD through a joint programme between the University of Edinburgh and the University of the Witwatersrand.