Ngqapheli Mchunu
Senior Researcher
Essenwood
Summary
With nearly a decade of research experience and expertise in social sciences research, I am a highly motivated and goal-oriented social sciences researcher. The field of empirical social sciences research, particularly in the areas of corruption, maladministration, public governance, service delivery, citizen participation, public ethics, and public opinion, is where my passion lies. I am fluent in both IsiZulu and English. Even though I cannot speak IsiXhosa, SeTswana, and SeSotho, I can understand them. Over the years of studying, volunteering, and working, I have acquired a diverse set of skills and abilities. These include conducting research using qualitative and quantitative methodologies, administration, leadership, and teaching. I am proficient in communicating with individuals from diverse backgrounds, as proven by my successful interviews conducted in both urban and township contexts. Moreover, I possess expertise in multitasking, collaborating with others, taking charge, and thriving in high-pressure situations. My ability to plan and organize was crucial in meeting deadlines and successfully completing independent tasks without constant supervision. I have mastered Microsoft office, internet, Stata, Nvivo research software, and Archival machine. Additionally, my involvement in various research projects has allowed me to further develop my experience in undertaking projects of different scales. Throughout my professional journey, I have engaged in numerous large-scale research projects for different organisations, including the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and the Office of the Presidency.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Language
Work History
Senior Researcher
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
10.2021 - Current
- Proposal drafting
- Report Writing
- Formal presentation to clients, stakeholders, and policy makers
- Media duties including result dissemination, interviews, and discussions- TV, Radio and contemporary media
- Fieldwork planning and coordination
- Project management
- Proposal writing
- Drafting of research questions
- Data analysis using software tools
- Assigning and allocation of research roles and responsibilities
- Facilitating fieldwork entry into communities.
PhD Research Trainee
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
01.2020 - 09.2021
- Conducting Research for External Clients and HSRC
- Data collection, fieldwork interviewing
- Fieldwork supervision
- Evaluation of ongoing research projects
- Project Management
- Formulation of research questions and funding proposals
- Submission of research proposals for ethical review
- Assisting in data collection, analysis of data and interpretation of research findings
- Assisting in administrative matters in the research environment
- Validation (cleaning) of research data according to the client’s specifications
- Write programmes to produce customised tables, statistics, and graphs
- Data processing and analysing on large datasets
- Data mining
- Conversion of data from and into different standard statistics database formats
- Reviewing research reports and journal articles and other literature
- Writing up and preparing reports for publication and disseminating research findings through seminars, workshops, conferences, and the media.
Masters research trainee (DGSD research programme)
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
04.2017 - 12.2019
- Conducting fieldwork research
- Training of fieldworkers
- Facilitating
- Supervising fieldworkers during fieldwork research
- Formulating of research modules
- Conduct qualitative and quantitative data analysis
- Transcribe qualitative interviews
- Data capturing
- Qualitative and Quantitative
- Data analysis
- Academic writing
- Contribute towards the writing of articles and book chapters, and facilitate discussion on social sciences seminars, contributing towards writing and compiling of report
- Conference attending and presentations.
Public Administration, research, and ethics intern
Public Service Commission (KwaZulu-Natal provincial office)
03.2015 - 02.2016
- General office administration: Telephone answering, drafting of e-mails and maintaining office communication
- Liaise with internal and external stakeholders
- Drafting of letters & memos
- Keep Record of incoming and outgoing
- Create pie charts, Power point presentation and creating databases
- Payroll Administration
- Administration of conditions of services
- Professional Ethics: Collect and create database on asset disclosure of senior management members from all provincial departments
- Analyse data received and compile reports for the deputy director
- Keep records of office furniture (Auxiliary Services)
- Labour Relations Improvement: Collecting and compiling of grievance statistics from government departments
- Liaising with Government Departments about grievances; and assisting with grievance cases
- Learn the protocol used when dealing with grievances
- Partake in labour relations improvement workshops
- Public Administration & Investigations: Creating of a case database
- Administration of case files
- Basic case administration
- Collecting of information from various departments
- Partaking in public administration workshops.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science -
Stellenbosch University
Master of Social Sciences (Political Sciences-full research) - undefined
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Bachelor of Social Sciences Honours (Government, Business and Ethics) - undefined
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Bachelor of Arts Degree–Philosophy, Politics & Law - undefined
University of KwaZulu-Natal
National Senior certificate (Matric) - undefined
Skills
Proposal and Report Writingundefined
Personal Information
- Criminal Record: None
- Date of Birth: 06/07/93
- Gender: Male
- Driving License: Code 10
- Marital Status: Single
Awards
- Deans Merit 2023- Stellenbosch University. Awarded to the top 10% best performers in the qualification.
- 2023 Golden Key Invitee (Recognition for being amongst the best performing students in the Doctoral programme). Stellenbosch University.
- Full scholarship–The National Research Foundation (NRF) − NRF Post -graduate scholarships for the Ph.D. program in Political Science to undertake doctoral research on the Challenges facing anti-corruption mechanisms in a dominant party democratic state: A case study of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, 2004-2019, at Stellenbosch University. Scholarship awarded for a three-year period of 2021, 2022 and 2023.
- 2019 Golden Key Invitee (Recognition for being amongst the best performing students in the Masters programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
- Merit Award University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2016: Certificate of Merit for the module titled ‘Pols 712, Corruption, Sleaze and Politics’.
Publications
- Academic Journal Article, Ineffective Anti-Corruption Mechanisms in Dominant Party Systems, An Appraisal of Civil Society Organisations in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, Journal of Administratio Publica, Currently under review
- Academic Journal Article, Wavering Ethical Leadership and Local Governance: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Journal of Public administration, 55, 1, 62-81, 2020
- Academic Journal Article, Size Does Matter: The Relationship between Perceived Immigrant Group Size and Attitudes towards Foreign Nationals, South African Journal of Demography, 20, 1, 28-56, 2020
- Academic Journal Article, Corruption perceptions and their effects on young graduate’s attitudes towards public sector recruitment processes and trust in public institutions. A quantitative exploration of students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the KwaZulu-Natal department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, African Journal of Public Affairs, 11, 3, 59-78, 2019
- Academic Journal Article, Protest blues: public opinion on the policing of protest in South Africa, SA Crime Quarterly, 62, 63-80, 2017
- Academic Journal Article, What drives citizen participation in political gatherings in modern South Africa? a quantitative analysis of self-reported behaviour, Social Indicators Research, 141, 2, 791-808, 2018
- Book Chapter, By popular demand – corruption, public opinion, and policy representation in South Africa, The State of Corruption, Ethics and Governance: Issues, Cases, and Interventions, Kanyane, M., Routledge, Chapter Accepted, currently finalising official publication
- Book Chapter, Foregoing human rights during COVID-19 in South Africa: Demographic, class, and political cleavages, To be determined, Chapter submitted to volume editors, currently awaiting feedback
- Book Chapter, Compromised Accountability Mechanisms in Dominant Party Systems: An Appraisal of The Public Service Commission In KwaZulu-Natal, To be determined, Reviewed and Accepted for Publication
- Book Chapter, Rallying The Nation: Institutional Trust And South Africa’s Pandemic Experience, State–Society Relations Around The World Through The Lens of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Duca, F., Meny-Gibert, S., Routledge, 2023
- Book Chapter, Blade Nzimande: Safeguarding Communism, The texture of dissent, Bohler-Muller, N., Reddy, V., Houston, G., Schoeman, M., Thunynsma, H., HSRC Press, 2022
- Book Chapter, Wiliam Gumede: a towering intellect, The texture of dissent, Bohler-Muller, N., Reddy, V., Houston, G., Schoeman, M., Thunynsma, H., HSRC Press, 2022
- Book Chapter, Discrimination Followed Us into Paradise: A Quantitative Analysis of Self-Reported Racial Discrimination, Paradise lost race and racism in post-apartheid South Africa, Houston, G., Kanyane, M., Davids, Y.D., BRILL, 2022
- Book Chapter, Diminishing the power of the X? the electoral effect of corruption perceptions, Ethics Politics and Inequality: State of the Nation, 133-153, 2021
- Book Chapter, Albert Luthuli: The prototypical Leader, The Fabric of Dissent Public Intellectuals in South Africa, 33-37, 2021
- Book Chapter, Joel Netshitenzhe: An Economic Policy Colossus, The Fabric of Dissent Public Intellectuals in South Africa, 396-399, 2021
- Review Article, Results from the South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS), Challenging Corruption: Changes in the public recognition of corruption as a societal priority in South Africa, HSRC Review, 15, 2, 2017
- Review Article, The spirit level: religious beliefs in South Africa, HSRC Review, 18, 1, 20-22, 2020
- Op-Ed, A hesitant nation? Survey shows potential acceptance of a Covid-19 vaccine in South Africa, Daily Maverick, 2021, https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-01-24-a-hesitant-nation-survey-shows-potential-acceptance-of-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-south-africa/
- Op-Ed, SA survey sheds some light on what lies behind coronavirus vaccine hesitancy, Daily Maverick, 2021, https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-01-27-sa-survey-sheds-some-light-on-what-lies-behind-coronavirus-vaccine-hesitancy/
- Op-Ed, How the Covid-19 lockdown impacted on SA’s mental health, Daily Maverick, 2020, https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-10-how-the-covid-19-lockdown-impacted-on-sas-mental-health/
- Op-Ed, The Ubuntu Nation? Changing views on social solidarity and the Covid-19 pandemic, Daily Maverick, 2020, https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-11-the-ubuntu-nation-changing-views-on-social-solidarity-and-the-covid-19-pandemic/
- Op-Ed, Survey confirms hunger in South Africa is escalating in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown, Daily Maverick, 2020, https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-10-15-survey-confirms-hunger-in-south-africa-is-escalating-in-the-wake-of-the-covid-19-lockdown/
- Op-Ed, Surveys show one in three adults in South Africa does not wear a mask when leaving home, Daily Maverick, 2020, https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-10-20-surveys-show-one-in-three-adults-in-south-africa-does-not-wear-a-mask-when-leaving-home/
- Op-Ed, Pandemic fatigue and complacency during lower lockdown levels increase likelihood of second wave, Daily Maverick, 2020, https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-10-22-pandemic-fatigue-and-complacency-during-lower-lockdown-levels-increase-likelihood-of-second-wave/
References
- Professor Nicola de Jager, Professor, School of Arts and Social Sciences (Political Science) Stellenbosch University, PhD studies supervisor, 021-808-2107, ndejager@sun.ac.za
- Dr Siyabonga Dlamini, Lecturer: University of KwaZulu-Natal, Master’s studies supervisor at UKZN, 079-581-6720, Mzizi.si@gmail.com
- Dr Shanaaz Dunn, Data Manager & Senior Research Specialist, Current Line Manager, 074-566-1975, SDunn@hsrc.ac.za
Timeline
Senior Researcher
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
10.2021 - Current
PhD Research Trainee
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
01.2020 - 09.2021
Masters research trainee (DGSD research programme)
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
04.2017 - 12.2019
Public Administration, research, and ethics intern
Public Service Commission (KwaZulu-Natal provincial office)
03.2015 - 02.2016
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science -
Stellenbosch University
Master of Social Sciences (Political Sciences-full research) - undefined
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Bachelor of Social Sciences Honours (Government, Business and Ethics) - undefined
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Bachelor of Arts Degree–Philosophy, Politics & Law - undefined
University of KwaZulu-Natal
National Senior certificate (Matric) - undefined
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