NRF-rated researchers

Celebrating Excellence: NRF-Rated Researchers at the College of Human Sciences (CHS), UNISA

The National Research Foundation (NRF) rating system is a cornerstone of research excellence in South Africa, recognizing scholars for their significant contributions across various fields. The College of Human Sciences (CHS) takes pride in having a substantial number of NRF-rated researchers, spanning from promising early-career scholars (Y-rated) to internationally renowned experts (A-rated). This accomplishment underscores our commitment to fostering academic and research excellence.

Meet Our NRF-Rated Researchers

Below is a comprehensive list of NRF-rated researchers at CHS, categorized by their NRF rating. Click on each researcher’s name to learn more about their work.

Name	NRF Rating	Department	Subject Specialization	Link to Profile
Prof OB Onyancha	C2	Information Science	Informetrics, Scientimetrics, Bibliometrics	Google Scholar
Prof U Akpojiv	C2	Communication Science
Prof JO Alexander	C3	English Studies	Syntax of English as a Second Language, Sociolinguistics, Onomastics, Owé language revitalization, preservation and documentation, Otherness in Language and Literature	Google Scholar
Dr A. Antonites	Y2	Anthropology and Archaeology
Prof ME Baloyi	C2	Philosophy Practical and Systematic Theology	Practical Theology	Google Scholar
Prof E Baron	Y2	Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology
Prof W Bentley	C2	Research Institute for Theology and Religion	Science and Religion, Systematic Theoloy, Ethics	ORCID
Prof JW Beukes	C2	Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology
Prof E Bornman	C2	Communication Science
Prof SE Bosch	C1	African Languages	African languages – Linguistics, Language technology, e-Lexicography	Google Scholar
Prof TR Carney	Y2	Afrikaans and Theory of Literature	Language and Law; Forensic Linguistics	Research Gate
DR FChaterera-Zambuko	Y2	Information Science
Prof PF Craffert	B2	Biblical & Ancient Studies	Consciousness research Altered states of consciousness Religious experiences	Google Scholar
Prof GE Dames	C2	Philosophy Practical and Systematic Theology
Prof E Dreyer	C2	Art and Music	Curatorial Practice and Visual Arts	Google Scholar
Prof JS Dreyer	B3	Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology
Prof C Du Plessis	C2	Communication Science	Brand communication with a focus on content marketing and marketing communications	Google Scholar
Prof M Duby	C2	Art and Music
Prof M Fine	A2	Psychology	critical participatory action research critical justice studies	Google Scholar
Prof BO Igboin	C2	Institute for Gender Studies
Dr S Katuu	C2	Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair
Prof CJ Kaunda	C2	Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology	Pentecostal Systematic Theology, African Metaphysics, and African Philosophy, with particular attention to Bemba Indigenous Religion and its intersections with contemporary theological and philosophical discourses.	Google Scholar
Prof EC Kloppers	C2	Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology
Prof F Kobo	Y2	Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology
Dr K Kodua-Ntim	Y2	Information Science	Institutional Repositories, Open Science, Knowledge Management	Google Scholar
Prof AD Kreuiter	C2	English Studies
Dr JA Krüger	Y2	English Studies	Drama and Theatre Studies	ORCID
Prof M Le -Roux	C2	Biblical and Ancient Studies	Pre-mornarchic Israel and Africa, Biblical Archaeology
Prof FS Madonsela	C2	African Languages	General Linguistics Forensic Linguistics	Google Scholar
Prof F Makananise	Y2	Communication Science	News media, Indigenous language media, Digital media, Health and political Communication, Decoloniality in media studies	Google Scholar
Dr N Malherbe	Y1`	Institute for Social and Health Sciences	Violence, Community Psychology, Praxis	Google Scholar
Prof JR Maluleka	Y2	Information Science	Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Informetrics, Bibliometrics, Archives and Records Management	Google Scholar
Prof KJ Maphunye	C2	Political Science
Prof JE Maritz	C2	Health Studies
Prof NS Marutha	C2	Information Science	Information systems, Archives and records management	Google Scholarscot
Prof MJ Masenya	B3	Biblical and Ancient Studies	Old Testament/Hebrew Bible (Proverbs), OT / HB and gender, African Biblical Hermeneutics	Google Scholar
Prof TD Mashau	C2	Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology
Prof MJ Mathibe-Neke	C2	Health Studies	Health Science Education Women’s Health Midwifery Ethics and Health Law	Google Scholar
Prof DS Matjila	C3	African Languages	African Literature -Linguistic and Anthropological Science Setswana Astronomy and Ornithology	Google Scholar
Prof AH Mavhandu-Mudzusi	C2	Health Studies
Dr R Meissner	C2	Political Sciences	International Relations Transboundary Water Politics The Politics of Water Management	Google Scholar
Dr GF Miller	C2	Art and Music
Dr D Mkhize	C2	English Studies
Dr TL Mosweu	Y2	Information Science
Prof ID Mothoagae	C2	Biblical and Ancient Studies
Prof S Mphofu	C2	Communication Science	AI, Journalism, Media, Gender, Digital Sociologies, Environmental\ Climate change communication, Humour, Protest Cultures	Google scholar
Prof P Mungwini	C2	Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology	African Philosophy, Global South Philosophies.	Google Scholar
Prof J Murray	C2	English Studies
Dr LW Naicker	C3	Research Institute for Theology and Religion	Gender and Religion	Google Scholar
Dr S Naidoo	Y2	Development Studies
Prof M Naidoo	C1	Philosophy Practical and Systematic Theology	Practical Theology, Theological Education, Religious Education, Gender and Theology	Google Scholar
Prof JA Nel	B3	Psychology	Psychology of the sexually and gender-diverse; Community Psychology and Victimology: Hate Studies; Social Psychology: Managing diversity and social transformation	Google Scholar
Prof MS Ngoepe	C2	Information Science
Prof E Oliver	C2	Christian Spirituality Church History and Missiology
Dr B Parry	Y2	Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair
Prof MS Phakathi	Y2	Political Science
Prof TM Pooley	C2	Art and Music
Prof H Ramantswana	Art and Music	Biblical & Ancient Studies
Prof AGR Reddie	A1	Philosophy Practical and Systematic Theology
Prof J Reid	C3	Communication Science	Media freedom and independence Media diversity and transformation Media policy and regulation Communications rights Media ethics	Google Scholar
Prof NP Saurombe	C2	Information Science
Prof CD Scott	C2	Philosophy Practical and Systematic Theology	Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Science, Catholic Intellectual Tradition	ORCID
Prof PJ Segalo	C2	Psychology	Decolonial feminism, Africa-centred Psychology, Historical Trauma, Visual methodologies, Gender-Studies	Google Scholar
Prof K Sevnarayan	C3	English Studies	- Technology-enabled teaching and learning · - English language teaching and learning · - Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in higher education · - Open distance e-learning (ODeL)	Google Scholar
Prof GF Snyman	C2	Biblical & Ancient Studies
Prof JM Strijdom	C2	Religious Studies
Prof A Tella	C2	Information Science	ICT4Dev, Information System Evaluation, Information and Data Management	Google Scholar
Prof RS Tshaka	C2	Philosophy Practical and Systematic Theology
Prof SM Tyali	C1	Information Science	Media Studies Broadcasting History of the media	ORCID
Dr L Ubisi	Y2	Psychology	Psychology of Sexual Minorities Disability & Sexuality Evil & Sexuality Marginalisation Identity Politics	Google Scholar
Prof DG Van der Merwe	Y2	Christian Spirituality, Church History, and Missiology	New Testament Discipleship Hermeneutics Christian Spirituality	ORCID
Prof R Van Eeden	C2	Psychology	Psychological assessment Psychometrics Leadership Organisational dynamics Positive psychology	Google Scholar
Prof GJ Van Wyngaard	Y2	Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology	Liberation Theology, Political Theology, Public Theology, Whiteness Studies	Google Scholar

For additional information about the NRF Rating, please visit:

National Research Foundation (NRF) Overview
NRF rating at Unisa (link to DRS)

Category A

An A rating is given to researchers who are unequivocally recognised by their peers as leading international scholars in their field for high quality and impact of their recent research outputs.

Name	Department/Institute/Centre/Unit	Rating
Prof AG Reddie	Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology	A2

Name

Department/Institute/Centre/Unit

Rating

Prof AG Reddie

Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology

Category B

A B rating is given to researchers who enjoy considerable international recognition by their peers for the high quality and impact of their recent research outputs.

Name	Department/Institute/Centre/Unit	Rating
Prof PF Craffert	Biblical and Ancient Studies	B3
Prof JA Nel	Psychology	B3
Prof JS Dreyer	Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology	B3
Prof PR Bosman	Biblical and Ancient Studies	B3

Name

Department/Institute/Centre/Unit

Rating

Prof PF Craffert

Biblical and Ancient Studies

Prof JA Nel

Psychology

Prof JS Dreyer

Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology

Prof PR Bosman

Biblical and Ancient Studies

Category Y

A Y rating is given to young researchers (40 years or younger) who have held the doctorate or equivalent qualification for less than five years at the time of application, and who are recognised as having the potential to establish themselves as researchers within a five-year period after evaluation, based on their performance and productivity of quality research outputs during their doctoral studies and/or early post-doctoral careers.

Name	Department/Institute/Centre/Unit	Rating
Prof Naiema Taliep	Institute for Social and Health Sciences (ISHS)	C
Prof Pieter Fourie	Communication Science	C1
Prof Jeanette Maritz	Institute for Social and Health Sciences (ISHS)	C2
Prof ME Baloyi	Research	C2
Prof PJ Segalo	Psychology	C2
Prof M Naidoo		C2
Prof Elsabé Kloppers		C2
Prof CD Scott		C2
Prof P Mungwini	Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology	C2
Prof R van Eeden	Psychology	C2
Prof H Ramantswana	Biblical and Ancient Studies	C2
Prof ID Mothoagae	Gender and Sexuality Studies	C2
Prof W Bentley	Research Institute for Theology and Religion	C2
Prof E Oliver	Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology	C2
Prof JM Strijdom	Religious Studies and Arabic	C2
Prof IJJ Spangenberg	Biblical and Ancient Studies	C2
Prof TD Mashau	Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology	C2
Prof A Kreuiter	English Studies	C2
Prof FS Madonsela (SiSwati) Chair African Languages	African Languages	C2
Prof E Dreyer		C2
Prof OB Onyancha	Information Science	C2
Prof N Saurombe	Information Science	C2
Prof GC Angelopulo	Communication Science	C2
Prof E Bornman	Communication Science	C2
Prof JW Beukes	Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology	C2 (2023-2028)
Prof K Sevnarayan	English Studies	C3
Professor Maserole Kgari-Masondo	History	C3
Prof TC Du Plessis	Communication Science	C3
Prof Gordon E Dames	Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology	C3
Prof HG Wünch	Biblical and Ancient Studies	C3
Prof EB Farisani	Biblical and Ancient Studies	C3
Prof J van Wyk	Political Sciences	C3
Prof DS Matjila (Setswana) Language Head	African Languages	C3
Prof M Vambe	English Studies	C3

Name	Department/Institute/Centre/Unit	Rating
Prof SM Tyali	Communication Science	Y2
Prof J Maluleka	Information Science	Y2
Prof R Fourie	Afrikaans and Theory of Literature	Y2
Prof LM Ubisi	Psychology	Y2
Prof T Lephakga		Y2
Prof GJ van Wyngaard		Y2
Prof VNN Mtshiselwa	Biblical and Ancient Studies	Y2
Prof MS Kgatle	Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology	Y2
Prof E Donaldson	English Studies	Y2
Prof TR Carney	Afrikaans and Theory of Literature	Y2

Name

Department/Institute/Centre/Unit

Rating

Prof SM Tyali

Communication Science

Prof J Maluleka

Information Science

Prof R Fourie

Afrikaans and Theory of Literature

Prof LM Ubisi

Psychology

Prof T Lephakga