Wandile Tsabedze  

Doctoral degree  

postdoctoral fellow at the University of South Africa (UNISA). 

African Psychology (Indigenous Knowledge Systems),  

Adolescent Emotions/Emotional Intelligence,  

Mental health, and psychosocial well-being of incarcerated populations in correctional  

Supervisor M=7 

Co-Supervisor 4 

Supervisor D= 6 

Co-Supervisor=1  

M= 2 

D= 3 

Kyle Bester 
Doctoral degree 

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 
Doctoral degree 

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 
Doctoral degree 

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 
Doctoral degree 

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 = 7 

No space available for research projects 2025.

Dene Du Rand 
Master's degree 

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 
Doctoral degree 

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 

co-supervision) 

0 

Eduard Fourie 
Doctoral degree 

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)

Capacity for 2 new PhD students in 2025 

Errolyn Gordon 
Doctoral  

degree 

Errolyn Gordon is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Unisa.  

The intersection of gender and coloured identities; gender-based violence against women; 

Psychology and work-integrated learning (WIL). 

Please see below the list of projects for 2025. 

M = 3 

D = 0 

2 M 

4 D 

Masefako Gumani 
Doctoral degree 

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: 

• Victim offender dialogue (VOD) 

• Rehabilitation programmes 

• Recidivism  

• Social reintegration 

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 
Master's degree 

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 = 2 

0 

Matshidiso Molotsi 
Master's degree 

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 
Master's degree 

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 

Sibusiso Maseko 
Doctoral degree 

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 = 3 

D= 1 (Co-supervision) 

M =0 

D = 0 

Nonhlanhla Masinga Doctoral 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 = 4 (2 co-supervision) 

D = 2 (co-supervision) 

0 

Itumeleng Masisi  

Master's degree 

Itumeleng Masisi is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology. She completed her MA in Psychology (Research Consultation)  

Experiences of motherhood. 

Intergenerational trauma 

adverse childhood experiences 

Education 

M = 3 (2 co-supervision, 1 sole supervision) 

0 

Khonzi Mbatha 
Doctoral degree 

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 
Master's degree 

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  
(plus co-supervisor for 1 M) 

0 

Mbongiseni  

Mdakane  

Doctoral degree 

Mbongiseni Mdakane is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology 

Research in Ethics Education; Psychology of incarceration; ODeL research in marginalised communities; Community Psychology; intergroup relations

M = 4 (2-co-supervision) 

D=2 (1 co-supervision) 

D=0 

Gloria Makhuza 

Master’s degree 

Gloria is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology 

Gloria’s interests are in the evaluation of systems, processes and assessments in the corrections environment 

0 

1M 

Khumoetsile Modutla 
Doctoral degree 

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 
Master's degree 

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 
Doctoral degree 

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 
Master's degree 

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 issues, medical psychology, and African epistemology-related topics 

M = 5 

0 

Janice Moodley 
Doctoral degree 

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 Doctoral 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 
Doctoral degree 

Vhuhwavho Nekhavhambe is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology 

Trauma; gender-based violence with the focus on men being victims; children witnessing domestic violence; men’s mental health; masculinity studies; and Victim Empowerment. Please see the list of projects for 2025.

M = 7 

(Co-supervising 2) 

D=2 (co-supervising 1) 

D=3 

Juan Nel 
Doctoral degree 

Juan Nel is a Research Professor in the Department of Psychology 

Sexology: Psychology of sexual and gender diversity (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex+ 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.  

8  
(plus co-supervisor for 3), that is: 

M = 4 

D = 7 

D=2 

(See the table for more details of research projects) 

Romeo Palakatsela 
Master's degree 

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.

Educational psychology 

• Student wellbeing  

• Academic success 

• Retention in Open distance learning 
  

M= 1  
 

M=2 

Maria Papaikonomou 
Doctoral degree 

Maria Papaikonomou is a Professor in the Department of Psychology 

Loss and bereavement, medical psychology and trauma 

D = 4 

M = 1 

0 

Puleng Segalo 
Doctoral degree 

Puleng Segalo is a 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 
Master's degree 

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, transgender intersex) studies. Indigenous epistemologies 

M = 11  
(plus co-supervisor for 4 M) 

0 

Keit Shirinda-Mthombeni 
Doctoral degree 

Keit Shirinda-Mthombeni is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology 

M = 4

(plus, co-supervisor for 1)

D = 1

0

Fortunate Silinda 
Doctoral degree 

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 
Master's degree 

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  
(plus co-supervisor for 1) 

0 

Fana Simelane 
Doctoral degree 

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. I am also interested in violence studies and security studies. 

M = 5 

      D=0 

1 D 

Khuze Skosana 
Doctoral 

degree 

Khuze Skosana is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology 

Youth; Psychosocial development; General Psychology; Violence; Unemployment; Research 

M = 4 

0 

Nikki Themistocleous 
Doctoral degree 

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, scoping reviews, mixed methods.  

6 

(M=4) 

(PhD=3) 

1 

Emmanuel Tlou 
Doctoral degree 

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 
Doctoral  

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 
Doctoral degree 

Rosalind F. Sigamoney 

Doctoral Degree 

Rosalind Sigamoney is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology 

Bongani Mtshweni 

Doctoral degree