Staff

Director

Professor Pregala Solosh Pillay

Pregala (Solosh) Pillay has enjoyed a versatile academic career for three decades and holds a Doctor of Administration from the University of Durban-Westville (now known as University of KwaZulu-Natal) in South Africa. She has published widely in the field of Public Administration with particular emphasis on governance, ethics, leadership, women, and corruption. She has co-edited several books on corruption and has a wealth of experience in lecturing at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, supervising diverse postgraduate students, presenting papers at national, regional and international conferences and examining postgraduate research for a plethora of institutions. She is currently Co-Chair of the Working Group on Public Sector Ethics and Culture at the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration. She is a Member of the Unit for Sustainable Urban Governance and Innovation (University of KwaZulu-Natal). She was a visiting Professor at KU Leuven University (Belgium) and is currently a Professor in the School of Public Leadership and Director of the Anti-Corruption Centre for Education and Research at Stellenbosch University. She served as the first Vice Dean: Social Impact and Transformation (2016 – 2021) in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Contact:pregala.pillay@spl.sun.ac.za

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Board Members

Prof Somadoda Fikeni

Somadoda Fikeni is a public figure who has held various leadership roles in the public sector organisations and as a scholar or public intellectual who has influenced public discourse, institution building and public policies. He is currently the chairperson of the Public Service Commission of South Africa as well as the chairperson of the Indlulamithi South Africa Scenarios Board of Trustees.

Educationally, he holds BA & BA Honours (Unitra), MA (Queens University in Canada) and a PhD (Michigan State University) as well as numerous short programmes in specialised areas. His areas of specialisation and interest are political science, public policy analysis and development, history, political economy and heritage. He has lectured in different universities in South Africa and abroad. He has also held management positions at universities and policy institutions as well as think tanks. He is a researcher and an author in the aforementioned fields. His main professional work has been and continues to be in public policy development, higher education and theheritage sector. He has chaired a number of boards and councils. He has also participated in establishingand repositioning organisations. He is a visiting professor at the Nelson Mandela University in South Africa.

Prof Fikeni is one of the leading public commentators on politics, policy, economic, social and heritage issues in South African and international media and forums having been recognised with several awards for this work. He is a public speaker as well as a motivational speaker.

He has received several honours and awards in South Africa and abroad and one of these is the honorary chieftaincy that was bestowed on him in Ghana. He is a community development activist and has initiated a number of community development and charity organisations to mobilise resources for assistance of the poor and the disadvantaged. As a student leader and in hisyouth he was involved in the anti-apartheid struggle and got detained on numerous occasions for his activism.

Justice Richard Goldstone

Richard J. Goldstone was a judge in South Africa for 23 years, the last nine as a Justice of the Constitutional Court. Since retiring from the bench he taught as a visiting professor in a number of United States and European Law Schools. He chaired the Independent Expert Review Group established in December 2019 by the Assembly of States Parties to review the International Criminal Court and Rome Statute system. He is a deputy chair of Integrity Initiatives International and chairs its International Anti-Corruption Court Treaty Drafting Committee. From August 1994 to September 1996 he was the chief prosecutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. He is an honorary life member of the International Bar Association and Honorary President of its Human Rights Institute.

Pulane Kole

Pulane Kole is a Chief Policy Analyst in the Presidency’s Policy and Research Services Branch. She is responsible for coordination of policy development, research as well as leading implementation of the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS) in government. She has been in the public service at a senior level for 18 years. She has experience of working inthree spheres of government namely: Departments of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Water and Sanitation;Office of the Premierand Cooperative Governance - Mpumalanga Province; and City of Mbombela. She has vast experience in development planning, macro policy, research,and monitoring and evaluation. She holds qualifications in Water Care, Leadership & Development, Business Administration, and a Master ofTown and Regional Planning. She iscurrently pursuing aPhD in Town and Regional Planning at the University of Pretoria.

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Mr Koogan Pillay

Koogan Pillay, has a B.Sc. and an MBA (strategy). He is busy with research towards a PhD in governance and sustainability, through a focus on values based leadership.

He served in various capacities in public and private institutions, NGOs, and in academia - both nationally and internationally. These include advisory board member to the former Public Protector (Prof ThuliMadonsela) and former Project Manager for the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, at DPME and the SIU.

He served previously onthe ANC NEC subcommittee on CRA, focusing on moral regeneration and a values charter for leadership. He drafted the original concept for the inaugural Kgalema Motlanthe conference on building an inclusive economy, and also the ‘Illicit Financial Flows’ high level / expert panel discussion with the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, both in collaboration with the European Union.

He previously led the Tambo Debates on implementing the National Development Plan in partnership with theUniversity of the Witwatersrand, UNDP, Presidency, and Tambo Foundation. He is currently a coordinating committee member of the International Anti-Corruption Court (IACC), a campaign of the Boston based NGO, Integrity Initiatives International (III), and co-chair of the Africa sub-committee.

Mr Kwezi Sogoni

Kwezi Sogoni is a dedicated professional with a passion for fostering democracy and advancing the rule of law in South Africa. Currently serving as the Programme Manager for South Africa at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), he is responsible for building sustainable partnerships in both the civic and governance space that help strengthen SA’s maturing democracy.

With a strong background in research and public policy, Sogonihas worked in various capacities in both the civic and public sphere. At the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA), his focus was on resource governance with a keen focus on SA’s mining industry.

Sogonihas gained crucial experience in the public service, beginning as a researcher in parliament before moving to local government the City of Johannesburg Council. There, he continued as a researcher, steadily rising to the position of Assistant Director in the Office of the Chief Whip. In 2021, he was appointed as Director of Operations in the office of the Executive Mayor. In this capacity, Sogoni effectively deputised for the Chief of Staff, providing invaluable advisory support while overseeing the smooth functioning of the Mayor's operations.

Sogoni holds both aBachelorand Honours degreefrom the University of Cape Townin Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE), and was selected asa Mandela Washington Fellow in 2021.

He hopes to continue making contributions to the development of a prosperous South Africa. He believes that this growth of SA and Africa at large, depends on the voice(s) of young Africans to finding expression in all decision-making structures across society.

Professional Associates

Dr Munya Saruchera

Munyaradzi Saruchera (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer at the Africa Centre for HIV/Aids Management at Stellenbosch University. With a PhD in Sociology (Stellenbosch University), Master’s in Policy Studies (Universities of Fort Hare and Zimbabwe) and a Bachelor of Science Honour’s degree in Politics and Administration Studies (Universityof Zimbabwe), Saruchera regards himself as a pracademic. He has accumulated more than 25 years of professional work experience in both academic, social change and community development sectors.

Saruchera has previously worked as an independent consultant under Labyrinth Consult and a range of national and international organisations, including the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Regional Office for Southern Africa in Harare,the IUCN Ecosystems Commission in Botswana, the Institute for Poverty and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at the University of the Western Cape, and the Sustainability Institute among others. He has published popular education, policy briefs, scholarly articles, and book chapters on a range of topics and edited a book ‘Securing land and resource rights in Africa: Pan-African perspectives.’ Saruchera has been an Ashoka Fellow for Social Change and Innovation since 2009.

He is an Associate at the Anti-Corruption Centre for Education and Research of Stellenbosch University (ACCERUS). His research interests include the sociology of health and corruption, corruption and health and relational leadership and climate change. Some of his work on corruption includes the following publications: A qualitative study on the realities of anti-corruption and whistleblowing law and processes in Botswana, African Renaissance Journal; The realities of anti-corruption and whistleblowing: The case of Zimbabwe, Africa Review); Poverty and corruption: Selected cases in Zimbabwe (in “The nexus between poverty and corruption: Quo Vadis?”) and Corruption, a global market economy and the human crisis, a news article for the Zimbabwe Economics Society Newsletter.

Extraordinary Professor Evangelos Mantzaris

Evangelos Mantzaris is currently a professor at Stellenbosch University and the lead researcher for the Inclusive Society Institute’s study into the establishment of a National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council. He has worked at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Mangosuthu University of Technology. He has researched and written on corruption, anti-corruption, the Jewish and Greek working class in South Africa, the Indian community, informal settlements, trade unions and, strikes. An author of three performed plays and a number of novels, the latest of which is a free of charge e-book novel 'The Ndundulu Invasion' deals with Chinese intelligence, rural KwaZulu life, maskandi and Orlando Pirates. His motto is 'truth will prevail... but not always'.

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Extraordinary Professor George Kojo Scott

Prof George Kojo Scott is Secretary General of the African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM), and Associate Professor Extraordinary, School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University. As the Secretary General of a continental professional organisation, Scott has been involved with the work of several international organisations including the Guinea Current Marine Ecosystem, African Union, African Peer Review Mechanism, UNDESA and the UNPAN. Prior to his appointment with AAPAM, Scott served for many years in the Public Service of Ghana in different capacities including Chief Director (Permanent Secretary) in the Ministry of Environment, Science & Technology, and the Ministry of Aviation. Scott has authored four books, several book chapters, co-edited five recently published AAPAM books; and contributed widely to internationally accredited journals.

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Extraordinary ProfessorJohn-Mary Kauzya

ProfJohn-Mary Kauzya (PhD), Extraordinary Professor at the School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University, is a Ugandan expert in public governancewho in 2022 retired from the UN after 22 years. He served as Chief of thePublic Service Innovation Branch at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Prior to that, he taught at Makerere University in Uganda and served as the Deputy Director of the Uganda Management Institute which he had served as assistant lecturer, lecturer, consultant and Head of the General Management Division.

He has served as an advisor to governments in many parts of the world but mainly in Africa in various fields of governance, public administration and management. He holds a PhD in Law (Doctorat en Droit) from the University of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne.

In 2014 the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA) awarded him the O.P DWIVEDI AWARD for Outstanding Contribution to Public Administration and Public Policy in the World.

ProfKauzya works closely with Global, Regional, and national Universities, institutions and associations dedicated to the discipline and practice of public governance and public administration. He has widely published in governance, public administration, public policy and human resource management.

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Extraordinary Lecturer Rajen Naidu

Rajen Naidu has twenty-seven (27) years of experience in the public service followed by seven years in the private sector. This combined experience together with his masters degree in public administration, places him in a unique position in relation to his ability to undertake management and governance across a range of organisational types.

He currently serves as an Extraordinary Lecturer at Stellenbosch University, School of Public Leadership under the auspices of the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences. He has given guest presentations to students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He is extensively involved in ACCERUSwhich focuses on empirical research on corruption. He has also represented the Centre at several prestigious workshops and meetings. He is also involved in preliminary discussions on developing new courses in the field of forensic investigations and anti-corruption.

Naidu has also previously lectured at the University of KwaZulu Natal, School of Public Administration and Development Management as a guest presenter on the masters programme.. He also lectured junior and senior public service managers through the joint venture between the South African Management Development Institute andUKZN.

He has honed skills set in relation to the spheres of public administration and management with a specialist focus on law enforcement, and fraud and corruption. Additionally, he is well versed and knowledgeable with various government prescripts and procedures, including the PFMA and MFMA. These skills were honed in a range of government positions including,Deputy Director of the Forensic and Specialist Investigative units and Security Risk Management.

Rajen is an adept negotiator and has excelled in multi-stakeholder engagements across a range of public entities such as Law Enforcement, SAPS specialised units, the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation- Hawks, Special Investigation Unit, Specialised Commercial Crime Unit, State Security Agency, Western Cape Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Clusterand the Joint Operational and Intelligence structure committees.

Dr Cheryl Mohamed Sayeed

Cheryl Mohamed Sayeed is a Senior Lecturer in Public Policy in the School of Social Sciences at the University of KwaZulu Natal. Her experience at institutions of higher learning spans over 25 years with key specialisation in Public Policy, Public Governance and Development Management.

Cheryl has an MA (Rural Development) University of East Anglia (UK), and a PhD (Public Governance) from the University of KwaZulu Natal. Her research interests lie primarily in Public Policy and Public Governance, with particular reference to their role in development management. Cheryl serves on the panels of reviewers for multiple journals, and has served on NRF panels to review applications for Competitive Support for Rated, Unrated and Y Rated Researchers. In addition to her publications in books and journals, she is the editor of Alternation Special Issue: Public Policy in the Time of Pandemics (2020), and co-editor Alternation Special Editorial: South Africa: Re-imagining the Rainbow Nation (2019).

She further serves as an Associate Researcher at the Anti-Corruption Centre for Education and Research (ACCERUS), which is affiliated to the School of Public Leadership, at Stellenbosch University.

Firoz Khan (Associate Prof)

Firoz Khan’s first employer was a university-based non-governmental organisation furnishing research and policy support – by way of White Papers and strategy documents - to South Africa’s first democratically elected government in development planning, local economic development, metropolitan and local government restructuring, housing, and public service training and education.

As Head of the Parliamentary Research Unit, Firoz managed the research output of national and select portfolio committees to improve legislative oversight and enhance executive accountability. Later consulting work included the elaboration of strategies and strategic frameworks for city authorities, national government departments, donor agencies and civil society organizations in pro-poor economic policy, local economic development, municipal-community partnerships, urban regeneration, and low-income housing.

Since joining the School of Public Leadership (University of Stellenbosch, RSA), Firoz has published in the areas of political economy, economic governance, housing, comparative public policy and corruption. Firoz was appointed Visiting Professor at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (Moscow); an Honorary Professor (Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, India); Research Fellow (Observer Research Foundation, India); Senior Researcher (Fundação Getulio Vargas, Brazil); and Researcher (University of Delhi, India). Current research interests include comparative public policy, public sector innovation in developing and emerging economies, technology and democracy, and the political economy of corruption. ​