The Land Reform and Democracy in SA: State and Civil Society Dynamics Research Chair puts the spotlight on the land question and seeks to deepen debate around democracy, equity and agency. The Research Chair is located within the Centre for Africa Studies at the University of Cape Town and is funded by the South African Research Chairs Initiative and National Research Foundation (NRF).In South Africa, issues of land and governance, although currently marginalised, are at the heart of the political and development debate, and need urgent attention. The Land Reform and Democracy in SA: State and Civil Society Dynamics Research Chair puts the spotlight on the land question and seeks to deepen debate around democracy, equity and agency. The Chair supports a vibrant research programme with opportunities for students at Masters, PhD and post-doc level. Students are recruited primarily (but not exclusively) from historically disadvantaged and marginalised black communities and funding is available.
The Research Chair is located within the Centre for Africa Studies at the University of Cape Town and is funded by the South African Research Chairs Initiative – a Department of Science and Technology (DST) and National Research Foundation (NRF) project designed to make South Africa competitive in the international knowledge economy by expanding the scientific research base in the country and building on its existing and potential strengths. Officially inaugurated on 1 January 2008, the Chair is held by Professor Lungisile Ntsebeza, who is full professor in the Department of Sociology.
The Land Reform and Democracy in South Africa Chair is classified as a Tier 1 level chair. Tier 1 chairs are given to outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their fields.