Rhodes University Political and International Studies

03/10/2026

MAKOROKOTO!!! HALALA!!
Join us to CONGRATULATE our new Dr Kudakwashe Colletah Chitsike, who graduated yesterday with a Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by thesis titled: R**e Culture, Politically Motivated Sexual Violence, Women's Leadership and Participation in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe.
Supervisor: Professor Siphokazi Magadla.

03/10/2026

Halala - Join us to CONGRATULATE Refiloe Siyamthanda Msibi on her Graduation. Yesterday, Msibi graduated with a Degree of Master of Social Science. Her thesis is titled: Work and Everyday Exeriences of African Migrant Women in Johannesburg’s Central Business Hair Salons. Supervisor: Dr Cecilia Lwiindi Nedziwe.

02/10/2026

This special issue, titled "The Silencing of Racial Inequality in Post-Apartheid South Africa" has just been released in the journal Politikon. It is guest edited by the department's Professor Mandisi Majavu, together with Marzia Milazzo and Victoria Collis-Buthelezi. You can check it out here: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cpsa20/current

28/09/2026

Today, our POL102 lecturers handed out book prizes to students who had actively participated in our in-class writing activities. Congratulations to these high achievers!

28/09/2026

Eduard Jordaan has just published an article titled "A ‘new dawn’? Ramaphosa’s South Africa on the UN Human Rights Council" in the South African Journal of International Affairs. Link in comments below.

28/09/2026

Sally Matthews has just published an article, co-authored by Alba Castellsagué, titled "Radical Alternatives or Ambivalent Engagements? Reflections on Post-development from the Global South" in the European Journal of Development Research. The article builds on their co-edited book, which also had contributions from postgraduate students in the department. You can read the article here:

Hegemonic approaches to development have long been critiqued for their narrow focus on economic growth and for imposing Western modernity on the rest of the world. In response, post-development and decolonial thinkers advocate for radical alternatives rooted in Indigenous concepts such as buen vivir...

28/09/2026

Professor Mandisi Majavu will be part of a Zoom conversation on immigration, local governance and race on 1 October. Please see the details in the poster below. All are welcome! The Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/97393255717

26/09/2026

[Photo Focus] SAAPS-EC 2026 conference
Dr Cecilia Lwiindi Nedziwe together with our postgraduate students, Okuhle Boqwana (PhD candidate), Phindile Mdleleni (MA candidate), Mazvita Mhene (MA candidate), Nhlakanipho Cele (MA candidate) and Tiisetso Nhlapo (MA candidate) presented papers at the 2026 conference of the South African Association of Political Studies (SAAPS) from 23 - 25 September 2026 in KuGompo City, South Africa. Also in photo, Dr Ongama Mtimka, SAAPs President and Prof. Wendy Salkin, Stanford University - one of the keynote speakers.

22/09/2026

[Photo Focus] Last week's Friday Lunchtime seminar at the Department of Political and International Studies, in collaboration with the Department of Fine Art, with South African visual artist Senzeni Marasela titled: "Memorial with Facts: Making of Venice Biennale Installation".

Photo credit: Chuma Songelwa

21/09/2026

Tutors are an extremely important part of our teaching programme. Last Friday, we had the opportunity to thank them for their valuable contribution at our Postgraduate and Tutor Braai.

Photo credit: Chuma Songelwa