Patrick Bond

Patrick is a political economist. He has pursued longstanding research interests and NGO work in urban communities and with global justice movements in several countries. He is currently professor at University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Development Studies and Director of the Centre for Civil Society.

In service to the new South African government, Patrick authored/edited more than a dozen policy papers from 1994-2002, including the Reconstruction and Development Programme and the RDP White Paper. He held other positions at Johannesburg NGOs (National Institute for Economic Policy, 1996-97 and Planact, 1990-94); at the University of Zimbabwe’s Department of Political and Administrative Studies (1989-90); and in Washington, DC at the Institute for Policy Studies, Pacifica Radio, MarketPlace Radio, and several international trade unions (late 1980s).

Patrick’s recent books are:

• Elite Transition: From Apartheid to Neoliberalism in South Africa;
• Fanon’s Warning: A Civil Society Reader on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development;
• Talk Left, Walk Right: South Africa’s Frustrated Global Reforms;
• Against Global Apartheid: South Africa meets the World Bank,IMF and International Finance;
• Zimbabwe’s Plunge: Exhausted Nationalism, Neoliberalism and the Search for Social Justice;
• Unsustainable South Africa: Environment, Development and Social Protest;
• Cities of Gold, Townships of Coal: South Africa’s New Urban Crisis;
• An RDP Policy Audit;
• Uneven Zimbabwe: A Study of Finance, Development and Underdevelopment.
  
  Patrick has kindly agreed to assist the Institute with it’s political understanding.

Contact details:
Phone: 27 31 2602454/2601439
Fax: 27 31 2602502/2602359
E-mail: [email protected]

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Mary Galvin - (Director)

Since moving to South Africa in 1992, Mary has focused her energies on social justice and development issues, particularly related to bridging the gap between local and national processes.

From 1992-1998, she developed and directed a membership-based NGO called the Regional Consultative Forum on Rural Development, which worked to improve communication with rural communities on programmes and available resources and to organise rural CBOs to make direct input into policies central to rural livelihoods. 

Mary then conducted research in four rural areas of KwaZulu Natal for her PhD in political science at the University of California Berkeley (2005), looking at how different types of NGOs affect local socio-political dynamics. Since 2006 Mary has been coordinating The Water Dialogues-South Africa, a multi-stakeholder project examining the impact of institutional approaches, from public to private, on the delivery of water and sanitation. She recently formed Umphilo waManzi, an NGO that aims to improve the livelihoods of and services to poor communities through research, advocacy, liaison, and accessible communication. 

Her research interests include decentralization and local government; the role and impact of Traditional Authorities, NGOs and CBOs on development; donor funding; the politics of water, sanitation, land reform, and environment and other issues related to service delivery.

Mary has agreed to provide financial and strategic support. 

Contact details:
Cell : 072-463-8854
Email : [email protected]

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Ruth Massey

Ruth Massey is a Principal Environmental Officer with Spatial Planning at the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP). Before beginning her work at the Province Ruth worked for the City of Cape Town’s Environmental Resource Management Department and at the Western Cape Branch of the Wildlife and Environment Society (WESSA). Ruth has also done contract work with the IUCN and Resource Africa. She is currently the organiser and convenor of the Networking for the Environment (NfE) group and, until 2007, was founder and manager of Thokozile Illustrations.

Ruth is also currently completing her Masters degree at the University of the Witwatersrand investigating the impact of climate change on the livelihoods of commercial farmers in KwaZulu-Natal. This work has been published and presented to forums both nationally and internationally. Ruth has a particular interest in climate change, renewable energy, governance and social justice. Ruth is also Vice Chairperson of the Western Cape Branch of the International Association of Impact Assessors (IAIA) in South Africa.

You can contact Ruth at:
Email : [email protected]
Phone: 021 483 5582

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Simphiwe Innocent Nojiyeza - Director

Simphiwe has a Masters in Business Administration (Dissertation Topic “The impact of Management of Business Environmental Ethics in the Oil Refineries in the Durban South Region and Mpumalanga Province of South Africa”) and has studies International Business; Corporate Business Policy; Business and Professional Ethics; Managing Strategic Change and Management Science.

Simphiwe is currently Head of Department responsible for Human and Social sciences at School Level. He has been, and is, very active in community structures - these include: Green Wood Park Community Police Forum; Avoca Hills Rate Payers Association; Environmental Justice Networking Forum (Deputy Provincial Chairperson for KZN); Earthlife Africa eThekwini (Chairperson); Inanda Dam Reparations Multi Stakeholder Forum(Chairperson); Member of KZN Provincial HIV / AIDS Council; National Steering Committee member of the SA Water Caucus; SA Youth Council KZN (Chair : Education and Training Committee , Chairperson : KZN Province)

Simphiwe will assist in the business of administration.

Contact details: +27-(0)83-559-6959

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Sibusiso Mimi

Much of Sibu’s work is community-based, focusing primarily on youth and children through environmental justice and sustainable development programmes. This has to a large extent included environmental programmes, research and educational material development and facilitating links between community-based and non-governmental organisations.

He is committed to community development and sustainable development principles, and understands the South African political and environmental issues, in particular, those that have environmental and social justice effects.

Sibusiso has the ability to translate complex developmental issues through educational material development and research. He is also versed in linking global issues concerning the well-being of humanity and the environment to that of local issues.

Sibusiso has kindly agreed to assist the Institute with particular regard to civil society and community relevance.

Contact details:
Cell : 0786766558
Email : [email protected]

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Thuli Thabethe

Thuli Thabethe has been working with communities for some years now, most recently for the Diakonia church organisation. She has been currently self-employed, and is involved in community development work. She is currently with the University of Kwa Zulu Natal.

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Nompumelelo Thabethe

Nompumelelo Thabethe began her professional career as a high school educator in 1993. She later joined the NGO sector where she has been actively involved in development work for over 10 years. She completed postgraduate studies in psychology and education and currently holds a Master’s degree in Education (Adult Education and Community Development). Nompumelelo is a lecturer in the Department of Community Development, School of Social Work and Community Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal. 

Nompumelelo's research interests are in poverty alleviation strategies and women participation for sustainable livelihoods. She has worked in funded projects focusing on the impact of HIV and AIDS on farm dwellers, micro-finance for SMME development, transformation of traditional authorities, participation of HIV positive women in research, and rural development through agriculture. Using environmentally friendly technologies, she continues to support women in rural and urban agriculture. Nompumelelo has presented academic papers at both national and international conferences. 

Nompumelelo has agreed to provide support on community education and training. 

Contact details:
Phone : +27 31 260 7854
Cell : +27 82 622 9755
[email protected]

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