Wits-TUB Alumni

Nationality: Zimbabwean. Degree: Masters of Urban Studies
Master’s research topic: Towards sustainable livelihoods: trends and survival strategies used in street vending in Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

Bio: Luckymore graduated as a top student in 2015, acquiring a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Social Anthropology from the Great Zimbabwe University.

Current activities: Currently, Luckymore is working as a research intern at the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI). Luckymore is interested in urban dynamics, informal economy, activism, migration, politics, urban governance and climate change adaptation.

Nationality: South African Degree: Master of Science in Development Planning
Master’s research topic: Community displacement: an injustice resulting from urban regeneration initiatives in Johannesburg CBD

Bio: Mudzunga completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Cape Town in 2013, with a Bachelor of Social Science majoring in Environmental Science, Industrial Sociology and Gender Studies.

Current Activities: Currently she is a master’s research intern at the Human Science Research Council (HSRC), Human and Social Development (HSD) department. Mudzunga is interested in the following research and practical avenues: uneven developments and displacement; transportation systems, urban informality; environmental management and climate change; gender and spatial transformation; and socio-spatial justice and inclusion.

Nationality: Ugandan Degree: Master of Architecture in Sustainable and Energy Efficient Cities
Master’s research topic: Policy Response to the escalating environmental impacts of the construction materials sector in Uganda. Case Studies of Burnt Clay Bricks and Cement.

Bio: Solophina has a Bachelor of Architecture (Honours) degree from Makerere University Kampala, Uganda. She has two and half years experience working for a sustainability-oriented architectural practice, Studio FH Architects and a Non-profit organization, Cotton On Foundation Uganda. She has experience in planning and designing affordable, net-zero buildings, using low-impact materials for off-grid communities in South western Uganda.

Current Activities: Solophina is an intern at EcoMetrix Africa, a greenhouse gas, energy management and financing consultancy firm. She is assisting organisations in energy/carbon performance assessments, defining mitigation strategies and developing renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. She is deeply passionate about socio-economic sustainability, resource efficiency and energy efficient transitions of African countries especially in the natural and built environment.

Nationality: South Africa Degree: Master of Science in Development Planning 
Master’s research topic: The effects of the land use management process on small- and micro enterprises: A case study of the Rand West City Local Municipality.

Bio: Lara graduated from the North-West University in 2013 with a Bachelor  of Art et Science Degree in Town and Regional Planning, after which she entered the private sector as a candidate planner working towards her professional registration. In 2016 she was admitted as a professional planner at SACPLAN and in 2017 she enrolled for the above mentioned postgraduate qualification at Wits, which she completed in 2018. 

Current activities: Lara is currently working as a professional town planner at Futurescope Town and Regional Planners, based on the West rand of Gauteng.

Nationality: Nigerian Degree: Master in the Built Environment in the Field of Housing
Master’s research topic: Sustainable Housing through Urban Renewal in Contemporary Lagos

Bio: Taiwo holds a professional master's degree in architecture from the University of Lagos (with distinction), Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Architecture from Obafemi Awolowo University and a National Diploma in Architecture from Yaba College of Technology. He is an associate member of Nigerian Institutes of Architects and a registered Architect with Architects Registration Council of Nigeria. His work experience spans the banking industry, housing as well as property construction and investment with government and the private sector.

Current activities: Taiwo is a doctoral student at Wits within the School of Architecture and Planning. His research interests are gentrification, urban renewal, urban regeneration, sustainable housing, participation, right to the city and inclusive urbanism.

Nationality: Zimbabwean Degree: Master in the Built Environment in the Field of Housing
Master’s research topic: The relationship between politics and sustainable housing delivery, a case of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Bio: Romeo has a Bachelor of Social Science degree in Sociology from Great Zimbabwe University, an honours degree in Industrial Sociology (University of Witwatersrand, 2017). In 2016-2017, he worked as a teaching assistant in the department of Sociology at Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Current activities: Currently, Romeo is studying towards a PhD in Town and Regional Planning at Witwatersrand University. Romeo is interested in party politics, urban studies, informal settlements, activism and urban governance.

Nationality: South African Degree: Master in the Built Environment in the Field of Housing
Master’s research Topic: Geotechnical Conditions, Community-based Practises and Developments in Slovo Park, Johannesburg.

Bio: Given has a Geoscience and Geotechnical background from his undergraduate studies. His research interests focuses on the interaction between the human-earth-infrastructure systems.   

Current activities: Given is currently serving as a trainee geoscientist at the Council for Geoscience. He is also enrolled for an MSc in Geophysics at University of the Witwatersrand under the research topic: Automation of DinSAR for Sinkholes Detection, which aims to address the scientific and technical issues linked to the previous Masters Research Project.

Nationality: Zimbabwean Degree: Master in the Built Environment in the Field of Housing (University of the Witwatersrand)
Master’s research topic: The Interdependency between residents’ livelihoods and informal settlements improvement: A case study of Sejwetla Informal settlement in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg.

Bio: Brighton also has a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning degree and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from the University of Venda, South Africa.

Current activities: Currently, Brighton is working as a Town Planner at Matobo Rural District Council in Zimbabwe. His main interests are in housing and spatial planning.

Nationality: Zimbabwean Degree: Master in the Built Environment in the Field of Housing (University of the Witwatersrand)
Master’s research topic: Housing cooperatives in Zimbabwe: the relationship between governance and outcomes in the case of Masvingo

Bio: Moline also has a Diploma in Education, a Bachelor of Social Science Degree in Sociology and a Masters in Gender and Policy studies from Great Zimbabwe University.

Current activities: At the moment Moline is working on her concept paper and applying for PhD at different universities. Moline is interested in issues that focus on gender which she draws from different disciplines which include sociology, gender and housing.