Internal supervisors in the Department of Psychology
Biographical information, research interests, students currently supervised and capacity to supervise additional students
|
Name |
Biographical information |
Research interests |
Students currently supervised (M and D) |
Capacity for additional students |
|
Kyle Bester |
Kyle Bester is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Unisa. Previously he was a Student Success Practitioner at Unisa's Student Retention Unit |
ODL, ODeL, teaching and learning, student success |
M = 3 (co-supervisor for 1 student) |
2 |
|
Zethu Cakata |
Zethu Cakata is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Unisa. Before joining the university in November 2017, she was a Deputy Director at Statistics South Africa, working in the area of Gender and Vulnerable groups statistics |
1. Decolonization using indigenous languages 2. Knowledge Production in IsiXhosa 3. Coloniality in names and naming practices 4. Research methodology 5. Uses of creative work in humanities 6. Research methodology 7. Gazing gender through a decolonial lens |
6 |
0 |
|
Monika Dos Santos
|
Monika dos Santos is Professor in the Department of Psychology at Unisa |
Interplay between psychodynamics and ecology - particularly that related to climate and environmental change, cognitive and evolutionary science, health psychology, sustainability, and the psychopathology spectrum. Collective and artificial intelligence. All issues associated with sense of self. |
9 |
0 |
|
Kitty Dumont |
Prof Kitty Dumont is a Professor in the Department of Psychology. She previously worked in the College of Graduate Studies at Unisa |
Social Psychology: Basic research in intergroup relations and conflicts, and intergroup emotions from the social identity approach; identity leadership in increasing efficacy in organization and mobilizing groups. |
D = 3 M = 6 |
Three available MA research projects: See below |
|
Dene Du Rand |
Dene du Rand is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology. |
Indigenous collective trauma, historical trauma, indigenous knowledge and healing systems, decolonial theories, community health and well-being |
M = 1 |
0 |
|
Helena Erasmus |
Helena Erasmus is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology and an ambulance emergency assistant |
Violence and injury prevention with a specific focus on youth violence, pre-hospital emergency care and emergency management services. |
M = 4 (1 = co-supervision) D = 2 (1 = co-supervion) |
0 |
|
Ilse Ferns |
Ilse Ferns is a Professor in the Department of Psychology |
Developmental psychology, especially aspects relating to cognitive, social and emotional development during infancy, early and middle childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Moral development during early and middle childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Loneliness as a psychological phenomenon. Sport psychology. |
8 (M = 5) (D =3) |
M = 2 D = 2 |
|
Eduard Fourie |
Eduard Fourie is a Professor in the Department of Psychology |
Corrections, correctional studies, prison studies, well-being in the workplace, institutional identity and culture, community psychology, community practices, LGBTIQ+, psychobiographies, work integrated learning. |
10 M = 3 students D = 7 students (of which 7 students are co-supervised) |
No capacity for new students in 2024 |
|
Errolyn Gordon degree |
Errolyn Gordon is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Unisa. |
Gender-based violence against women; women’s experiences in the workplace; gender and coloured identities |
M = 5 D = 0 |
1 D |
|
Masefako Gumani |
Masefako Gumani is a senior lecturer in the department of psychology, Unisa |
Qualitative research methodologies Specific focus is on phenomenological approaches, grounded theory, case studies and ethics Positive psychology and victim empowerment Resilience and coping with experiences of stress and trauma, support and wellbeing Police and offender corrections research Organisational psychology, specifically work-related experiences of police members, including organisational and operational experiences Experiences and perceptions of offenders and ex-offenders regarding the following:
Christian spirituality and mental health The link between psychology and Christianity and how Christians maintain mental health |
D = 4 (with 2 under co-supervision) M = 2 |
1 |
|
Sean Hagen |
Sean Hagen is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
Individual and social psychology, environmental psychology and climate change, research methodology (quantitative and qualitative research), ODL and technology, teaching and learning in higher education, positive psychology and wellbeing. |
M = 1 |
1 |
|
Matshidiso Molotsi |
Matshidiso Molotsi is a Clinical Psychologist and a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology. |
Couple therapy, psychopathology from an ecosystem perspective, and individual and group psychotherapy. |
M = 1 co-supervisor |
M=1 |
|
Nonhlanhla Khumalo |
Nonhlanhla Khumalo is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology. She completed the MARC programme and previously worked as a postgraduate assistant at the College of Graduate Studies |
Social Psychology identity leadership, social identity theory, social norms, collective action, intergroup relations, transgressions, unethical behaviour, corruption, superordinate identities, minimal/maximal goals |
M = 1 (Co-supervisor) |
1 |
|
Johan Kruger |
Johan Kruger is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
Fields of academic interests: Open methods research, journey research methods, and narrative enquiry. Psychometric Assessment and statistical research analysis. Systems, structural change and coherence.
General applications of psychology, health, cultural and educational psychology. Reflective and reflexive research and inquiry. Auto-ethnographic inquiry, Narrative inquiry, and Poetic inquiry. Energy psychology, health and wellbeing.
Trauma and rehabilitation: Ecological, historical, cultural, and intergenerational traumas Community psychology: sustainable systems & ecologies, and social compacts. |
M = 1
|
3 |
|
Christine Laidlaw |
Christine Laidlaw is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology |
cinema-education in psychology, paediatric complex neurodisability, psychopathology, personality development, psychoanalytic therapies, psychobiographies, sandplay, development of psychotherapists, social constructionism, the Delphi method |
M = 4 (plus co-supervision 6 M students)
D = 3 |
0 |
|
Sibusiso Maseko |
Sibusiso Maseko is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Unisa. |
I’m interested in explaining how racial inequality, prejudice, discrimination is maintained in post-conflict settler colonies like South Africa. Primarily, I draw from various social psychological theories and related disciplines like political psychology and settler colonial studies. |
M = 1 D= 1 (Co-supervision) |
M =2 D = 1 |
|
Nonhlanhla Masinga Master's degree |
Nonhlanhla Masinga is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology. |
Education – student motivation, career planning; adolescent development. Social and community issues. Social identity theory and Identity-based motivation theory.
|
M = 2 |
0 |
|
Itumeleng Masisi Master's degree
|
Itumeleng Masisi is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology. She completed her MA in Psychology (Research Consultation) |
|
M = 3 |
0 |
|
Khonzi Mbatha |
Khonzi Mbatha is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology. He is a former MA (Research Consultation) student |
Sexuality with a special focus on vulnerable groups, research methodologies, historical injustices, social psychology, race trouble and discursive methods with a twist of historiography. |
M=5 D= 3 Total = 8 |
2 |
|
Melusi Mbatha |
Melusi Mbatha is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology. He is a former MA (Research Consultation) student |
African Psychology, cross-cultural psychology, community psychology, critical psychology, the psychology of music |
M = 2 |
0 |
|
Mbongiseni Mdakane Doctoral degree |
Mbongiseni Mdakane is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology
|
Research in Ethics Education; Psychology of incarceration; ODeL in marginalised communities; Community Psychology
|
M = 4 (2-co-supervision) D=1 (co-spervision) |
D=1 |
|
Refiloe Makama Doctoral degree |
Refiloe works within an African-centred feminist psychology perspective and mainly through Narrative enquiry. Research interests include Critical psychology, Community psychology, The psychology of Gender |
African psychology, Critical gender studies, African feminism, Marriage and Marriage Customs Narrative methods, community engagement particularly working with youth, focusing on issues of identity, gender equality and self-development, participatory action research. |
2 (1 co-supervision) |
1 |
|
Gloria Makhuza Master’s degree |
Gloria is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
Gloria’s interest are in the evaluation of systems, processes and assessments in the corrections environment |
0 |
1M |
|
Khumoetsile Modutla |
Khumoetsile Modutla is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
Individual and group psychotherapy; Child and adolescent developmental psychology and psychotherapy; Issues of identity; Counseling skills; Personology; Post-graduate clinical training and supervision |
M = 5 |
0 |
|
Charmaine Mojapelo |
Charmaine Mojapelo is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
African psychology and Decolonial theories Gender studies and feminist theories Social psychology Culture, Race, Identity |
M = 0 |
2 |
|
Mapula Mojapelo-Batka |
Mapula Mojapelo-Batka is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology |
Themes related to reproductive health within the African context, abortion, infertility, adoption, childbirth, HIV infection and AIDS |
1 |
5 |
|
Banti Mokgatlhe |
Banti Mokgatlhe is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
Psychopathology from an ecosystemic perspective. Racial identity, gender-role attitudes and Psychological well-being. Intergroup relations with respect to integration, social identity and contact. Training and supervision in Psychotherapy, HIV related isssues, medical psychology, African epistemology related topics |
M = 5 |
0 |
|
Janice Moodley |
Janice Moodley is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Unisa. |
Health (Critical Health Psychology, Public Health, Health Promotion)
Critical Psychology and Critical Discourse Analysis
Gender, Race and Health issues at the intersection of structural inequalities in the Global South (e.g., historical collective trauma, decoloniality, marginalisation)
Psychometrics/Psychological Assessment
ODel Research |
M = 6; 1 co-supervisor D = 1; 2 co-supervisor |
2 M and 2 D |
|
Harold Ncongwane Master's degree |
Harold Ncongwane is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
ODL/ODeL Research, Student support, teaching and learning, Higher Education, Education in Corrections, Career Development research and Public Health. |
M= 2 |
2 |
|
Vhuhwavho Nekhavhambe |
Vhuhwavho Nekhavhambe is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
Trauma; gender-based violence with the focus on men being victims; children witness of domestic violence; men’s mental health; masculinity studies; and Victim Empowerment. |
M = 6 (Co-supervising 1) D=1 |
M=1 D=1 |
|
Juan Nel |
Juan Nel is a Research Professor in the Department of Psychology |
Sexology: Psychology of sexual and gender diversity (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons); Heterosexism in Psychology; Psychology of sexuality in Africa. Community Psychology & Victimology: Crime and violence prevention/ trauma intervention - the victim empowerment and support movement, with a specific focus on the sexually and gender-diverse and other victims of hate; Community organising; Hate victimisation. Social Psychology: Management of diversity and social transformation. Group Psychotherapy; group facilitation skills, with a specific focus on those on the margins. |
9
M = 5 D = 7
|
3 (Preferably D, see below the table for more details of research projects) |
|
Romeo Palakatsela |
Romeo Palakatsela is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
Environmental Psychology: Environmental awareness; Environmentally friendly behavior; Climate change; Sustainability.
Developmental and Health psychology: Attitudes, values and perceptions.
|
M= 1 |
1 |
|
Maria Papaikonomou |
Maria Papaikonomou is a Professor in the Department of Psychology |
Loss and bereavement, medical psychology and trauma |
D = 4 M = 1 |
0 |
|
Bianca Parry |
Bianca Parry is a Post-Doctoral fellow in the department of Psychology |
ODL/ODeL Research, Student support, teaching and learning, Higher Education, Education in Corrections. Lived experiences of marginalized communities in South African society. Particular consideration for women, motherhood and gender issues. Feminism and Narrative research methods. |
7 |
0 |
|
Puleng Segalo |
Puleng Segalo is Professor in the Department of Psychology. She obtained her doctoral degree from the City University of New York |
Historical trauma and suffering, gender, Decolonial feminism, African Psychology, visual methodologies, Decoloniality, narrative research approaches, and participatory action research. |
6 |
4 |
|
Boshadi Semenya |
Boshadi Semenya is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
Individual and group psychotherapy; social and racial identity issues; women's reproductive health issues, especially termination of pregnancy; traditional African views of mental health and pathology; ecosystemic and psychodynamic therapeutic approaches. Identity Studies, LGBTI(Lesbian, gay, sexual, trans gender inter sex) studies. Indigenous epistemologies |
M = 11 |
0 |
|
Keit Shirinda-Mthombeni |
Keit Shirinda-Mthombeni is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
Counselling, Social psychology and Community psychology: HIV and Aids (Psychosocial well-being) Women empowerment, children (orphans and vulnerable children), Youth development (career guidance, teenage pregnancy, abortion or termination of pregnancy, attitude and behaviour change) |
M = 3 |
2 |
|
Fortunate Silinda |
Fortunate Silinda is the Chair of the Department of Psychology |
Student wellness or wellbeing, student retention or attrition, academic performance or persistence |
M = 6 D = 4 |
2 |
|
Julia Simango |
Julia Simango is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Unisa. She obtained her MA in Social and Psychological Research from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2016 and is a registered research psychologist |
Research methodology, Indigenous Research Methodology, Social and Psychological research in South Africa, Gender Studies, Feminism, and African Psychology and Substance abuse. |
M = 2 |
0 |
|
Fana Simelane |
Fana is a registered Research Psychologist and a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Unisa |
Subgroups and identity, HIV/AIDS and studies related to youth and children |
M = 3 |
1 |
|
Khuze Skosana degree |
Khuze Skosana is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
Youth; Psychosocial development; General Psychology; Violence; Unemployment; Research |
M = 4 |
0 |
|
Martin Terre Blanche |
Martin Terre Blanche is a Professor in the Department of Psychology |
I retire in 2024 so will not be taking on any additional postgraduate students. |
M = 1 D = 1 |
0 |
|
Stephanie Terre Blanche |
Stephanie is a clinical psychologist and a lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
equine therapy |
M = 5 |
0 |
|
Nikki Themistocleous |
Nikki Themistocleous is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology, and is the coordinator of the MA in Clinical Psychology Programme |
Neuropsychology and neuropsychological assessment, Forensic Psychology, Mental Health and interventions, psychotherapeutic practices (including Equine Assisted and animal assisted psychotherapies), efficacy studies (SCED), Qualitative research, mixed methods. |
9 (M=7) (PhD=2) |
1 |
|
Emmanuel Tlou |
Emmanuel Tlou is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Unisa. Previously he worked as a clinical psychologist in a general hospital and wellness manager at the State Security Agency |
Health psychology (specific interest in HIV/AIDS and workplace health promotion); psychotherapy (clinical case conceptualisation, supervision, therapeutic outcomes, cultural factors, working with families); indigenous knowledge systems; operational psychology in the intelligence and security context. |
M = 6 D = 5 |
0 |
|
Koketjo Tsebe degree |
Koketjo Tsebe is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
mental health in sport, psychological variables and therapeutic interventions in sport performance and neuropsychological rehabilitation |
2 |
1 |
|
René Van Eeden |
René van Eeden is a Professor in the Department of Psychology |
|
D 3 M 2 |
0 |
|
Nico Van Zyl |
Nico van Zyl is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology. He has a PhD (Unisa) and an MA Clinical Psychology (Unisa) degree |
Psychopathology and diagnostic labelling, critical psychology, social constructionist approaches to psychotherapy and research, research in psychotherapeutic techniques, integrative approaches to psychotherapy, evidence based practices in psychotherapy, indigenous/alternative knowledge systems, neuropsychology |
M = 2 D = 5 |
0 |
|
Petro Van der Merwe |
Petro van der Merwe is a Professor in the Department of Psychology. She was appointed as assistant researcher in the Institute for Theological Research at the University of South Africa in 1988. In 2014, she accepted the position of Lecturer in the Department of Psychology. She obtained a Doctor's degree in Psychology in 2012 on the relationship between adolescent violence and new electronic media technology |
Emotional Intelligence, Prevent the millennium learner from misbehaving and to safeguard through the implementation of Emotional Intelligence as a teaching strategy, School violence, Emotional competence, Intervention strategies — social emotional programme, Sociological interpretation of violence, Adolescents' online identities, Electronic violence (cyberbullying), Digital media literacy, Exploring the Immersive Parasocial |
8 |
0 |
|
Rosalind F. Sigamoney Doctoral Degree |
Rosalind Sigamoney is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
|
M (5) |
3 (M) 2 (PhD’s) |
|
Bongani Mtshweni Doctoral degree |
Bongani Mtshweni is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
|
M =3(Co-supervisor of M=1) |
3 (2 M's and 1 PhD) |
|
Daniel Letsoalo Doctoral degree |
Daniel Letsoalo is a Clinical Psychologist and a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology |
|
M=2 D= 01 (and 1 co-supervision) |
4 (2 M’s and 2 PhD’s) |
Last modified: Thu Sep 28 12:52:21 SAST 2023