Our team

Professor Imraan Valodia, an economist, is Pro Vice-Chancellor for Climate, Sustainability and Inequality, and Director of the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits). His research interests include inequality, competition policy, employment, the informal economy, gender and economic policy, and industrial development. Imraan has played a central role in establishing and leading the SCIS. The SCIS is a multi-disciplinary, cross-country initiative to promote research and policy change to promote greater equality in the Global South. Imraan has led and participated in a number of large national and international studies. He is recognised nationally and internationally for his research expertise in economic development. Imraan is a part-time member of the Competition Tribunal in South Africa. He is also a commissioner of the National Minimum Wage Commission and a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (Assaf) Standing Committee on Science for the Reduction of Poverty and Inequality. In August 2016 Professor Valodia was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to chair the Advisory Panel on the National Minimum Wage. This led to the introduction of a National Minimum Wage in South Africa.  In early 2018, he was appointed to a Panel to advise the Minister of Economic Development on amendments to the Competition Act, which were introduced into law in 2019. He was also appointed by the Minister of Finance to a Panel of Experts to advise on Value-Added Taxes.

Stacey-Leigh Joseph is Deputy Director at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies. She is the former Executive Manager for Programmes at the South African Cities Network, where she led a team of researchers developing content to support improved urban governance and management in South African cities. Her specific research focus areas over the past 15 years have been on issues related to land, human settlements, and urban development. She also has experience working in government and civil society and holds a Master of Social Science degree in International Relations from Rhodes University. 

Joy Jones is a Finance Accountant at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, with over 19 years of experience in grants management, financial oversight, and regulatory compliance. She has extensive experience across the non-profit, healthcare, and development sectors, where she has overseen multi-million-dollar grant portfolios, led robust compliance frameworks, and supported the effective delivery of high-impact programmes through strong financial governance. Joy holds a Management Advancement Programme qualification from Wits Business School and a Financial Management Diploma from Damelin.

Ujen Dookie is the Personal Assistant to Prof. Imraan Valodia. Having lived and worked in the UK, India, China and Uganda with a work experience spanning over 20 years in development and human rights, Ujen's diverse expertise and skill set includes governance, leadership development, climate action, Executive Office Management, programmes, report writing and fundraising. He has an Undergraduate Degree in Sociology and Psychology and an Honours Degree in Social Development, and he is a Certified English teacher through Cambridge University. Ujen is passionate about human rights, international development, and philanthropic work in the Global South. He has worked at Action Aid International, Democracy Works Foundation, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, F20 and, most recently, on the Free the Children Campaign (Ukraine).

Kitso Kgaboesele is a Senior Communications Officer at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies. She holds an MA in African Studies from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and is currently pursuing a Master of Commerce in Inequality Studies at Wits University. Kitso has more than 15 years experience in the advertising, media, and communications industries. She spent 11 years at the SABC where she worked as a news researcher and radio current affairs national copy editor. 

Pauline Dhlamini is a Research Project Officer at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies. She has a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resources Management and an Advanced Diploma in Project Management. Pauline has extensive experience working in Human Resources, Operations, Finance, and Project Management. She previously worked for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), where she provided project management support for five years. She is currently pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management at Cranefield College.

Lindiwe Mdlalose is a Research Project Officer at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies with over a decade of experience in managing public sector and donor-funded programs. She has worked for institutions such as USAID, Statistics South Africa, and the Independent Electoral Commission, where she specialised in monitoring, evaluation, administration, and stakeholder coordination. She holds a postgraduate diploma and a Master of Management in Public and Development Sector Monitoring and Evaluation from Wits University. Her undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Social Science from the University of KwaZulu Natal.

Percygynia Kock is a Projects and Office Coordinator at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies. Fondly known as Percy, she has worked in the NGO sector for more than five years in sectors focused on gender-based violence, access to justice, and public health. Her professional background includes project, financial, and payroll systems. Percy has extensive knowledge of donor budget monitoring and grants management workflow. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Accounting Science, a National Diploma in Accounting and currently pursuing her Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management.

Athenkosi Pono is the Communications Officer of the Southern Centre for Inequalities Studies (SCIS). He earned a National Diploma in Media and Advertising Management from Varsity College. Athenkosi has more than a decade of experience in marketing, communications, graphic design, and digital media. He has 5 years of international project development experience with the German Development Agency (GIZ), where he provided communications assistance for global, regional, and bilateral initiatives in collaboration with the African Union and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).