Dr Thobeka Zondi

Lecturer

 Room 5.66, Robert Leslie Social 

What makes you interesting? 

I thrive on the thrill of extreme sports like hiking, mountain climbing, abseiling, rafting, advance driving, bungee jumping and I enjoy traveling.

  • Roles

     

  • Biography

    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.
     

  • External Appointments

    External Research Supervisor MANCOSA 

  • Useful Links

    Links

    www.linkedin.com/in/thobeka-zondi-phd-9032a298/

    https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-3071-2100 

  • Research, Knowledge Exchange and Impact

    Research Interests

    • Citizens’ Environmental Awareness, Beliefs and Behavioural Preferences in South Africa: An Overview of the SASAS  2022 Survey Findings
    • The Role of women in ocean conservation 

     

  • Teaching

    Undergraduate teaching

    TBA

    Postgraduate teaching

    TBA

  • Postgrad Supervision

    I supervise topics related to my research interests in the following fields:
    Environmental Governance
    Climate Change 
    Public Administration
    Public Policy

  • Publications

    Selected Publications

     

    • Zondi, T., Mtyingizane, S., Mchunu, N., Gordon, S., Roberts, B. and Struwig, J., 2022. Discrimination Followed Us into Paradise: A Quantitative Analysis of Self-reported Racial Discrimination. In Paradise Lost (pp. 175-199). Brill. 
    • Zondi, T., Thuli Madonsela: irresistible force of justice. The texture of dissent: defiant public intellectuals in South Africa. (pp. 318-321) 
    • Roberts, B.J., Struwig, J., Gordon, S.L., Zondi, T., Hannan, S. and Gastrow, M., 2022. Generation of change? South African attitudes towards climate change in comparative perspective. Development Southern Africa, pp.1-25. 
    • Gordon, S., Roberts, B., Struwig, J., Mchunu, N., Mtyingizane, S. and Zondi, T., 2020. Size Does Matter. Southern African Journal of Demography, 20(1), pp.32-66.
    • Roberts, B., Struwig, J., Gordon, S., Mtyingizane, S., Zondi, T. & Mchunu, N.  (2020) The spirit level: religious beliefs in South Africa. HSRC Review. 18(1):20-22
    • Gordon, S., Struwig, J., Roberts, B., Mchunu, N., Mtyingizane, S., & Radebe, T. (2018). What Drives Citizen Participation in Political Gatherings in Modern South Africa? A Quantitative Analysis of Self-Reported Behaviour. Social Indicators Research, 1-18. 
    • Roberts, B., Bohler-Muller, N., Struwig, J., Radebe, T., and Mtyingizane, S. (2018). No man's land: a gendered analysis of support for land reform in South Africa.
    • Roberts, B. & Radebe, T. (2018) “Survey shows a majority of South Africans support land reform.” 8th October 2018. Available: https://theconversation.com/survey-shows-a-majority-of-south-africans-support-land-reform-103608
    • Kanyane, M., Pophiwa, N., Wentzel, M., Mdlongwa, T., Zikhali, T., Raseala, P., Radebe, T. & Ngungu, M. (2017) A review of the implementation and impact of learning interventions in the local government sector: focus on learner-ships, internships, skills programmes, work-integrated learning, apprenticeships, bursaries, adult education, and training
    • Bohler-Muller, N., Roberts, B. J., Struwig, J., Gordon, S. L., Radebe, T., & Alexander, P. (2017). Minding the Protest: Attitudes towards different forms of protest action in contemporary South Africa. South African Crime Quarterly, 62, 81-92 

    Conference Papers

    • The Science Forum South Africa (SFSA) CSIR International Convention Centre Pretoria, South Africa 4- 6th December 2023, Presented the paper entitled: “Climate Change Attitudes, Evidence from ward 6, Noodsburg iLembe District Municipality.” Co-authors Zondi, T & Madzivhandila, T
    • The Human Sciences Research Council Social Sciences Research Conference (HSRC) Cape Town, South Africa 18th -20th September 2023, Presented the paper entitled: “Climate Change Attitudes, Evidence from ward 6, Noodsburg iLembe District Municipality.” Co-authors Zondi, T & Madzivhandila, T
    • The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), School of Built Environment and Development Studies, in partnership with the Department of Public Services and Administration (DPSA), hosted the National Development Plan and State Capacity - Conference on 7-9 November 2022, UNITE Building, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Co presented the paper entitled: In-effective parliamentary accountability mechanisms within dominant party systems: an analysis of STACOV in KZN. Co-authors Zondi,T & Mchunu, N
    • 5th Business Management Conference hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal, held in Durban, South Africa, 24th to 25th August 2018, Presented the paper entitled: “Financial Stability, self-reported saving behavior amongst South Africans.” Co-authors Radebe, T., Roberts, B. Struwig, J & Gordon, S. 
    • Human Sciences Research Council Social Sciences Research Conference, Pretoria, South Africa 12th -14th September 2018, Presented the paper entitled: “Financial Stability, self-reported saving behavior amongst South Africans.” Co-authors Radebe, T., Roberts, B. Struwig, J & Gordon, S. 
    • Climate Change & Public Attitudes hosted by the European Social Attitudes Survey Brussels, Belgium 19th September 2018, South African Attitudes to Climate Change and Energy: Topline Results from Round 15 of the South African Social Attitudes Survey. Co-authors Radebe, T., Roberts, B. Struwig, J & Gordon, S. 
    • Presented on “Public attitudes towards climate change and energy in South Africa” at 4th National Global Change Conference Side Event L: “From weather changes to climate shifts” Co-authors Radebe, T., Roberts, B. Struwig, J & Gordon, S.Bolivia Lodge, Polokwane, 6 December 2018