Dr Thobeka Zondi (Political Studies)

BSocSc, BSocScHons, MCom, MPA, PhD (UKZN)

Thobeka Zondi is a social science researcher with a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, has a diverse academic background, including a BSocSc in Geography and Environmental Management, an MPA in Public Administration, and an MCom in Leadership Studies. Over the past seven years, she has been actively engaged in academic and policy-focused research and evaluation projects in South Africa. 

Zondi's expertise spans a wide range of areas, including Climate Change, Service Delivery, Research Methodology, Public Opinion Surveys, Institutional Development, Governance & Democracy, Local Government, Public Policy Analysis, Socio-Economic Rights, Gender & Social Inclusion, and Sustainability. Her contributions to various projects at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) have resulted in reports and publications. 

During her Ph.D. research in Noodsburg, Zondi collaborated with local, national, and provincial stakeholders, focusing on climate change and governance. She also had the privilege of working closely with the European Social Survey, spending time at the ESS Headquarters at City University, London. This experience enhanced her understanding of the ESS research infrastructure and involved joint analysis of climate change data gathered through the South African Social Attitudes survey.