Lwandiso Mpepho

I’m an independent, objective and self-motivated person who has the ability to work on my own and as part of a team.  I’m a fast learner and with my extensive experience as a practitioner in the public service, I’m in a very unique position to add value to your institution and achievement of its strategic objectives. All I’m asking for is an opportunity to demonstrate my abilities, competencies and expertise with your students and university community. 
 

My experience of working at South African Diplomatic Missions in Mexico (2008-2011) and Madagascar (2014-2018) provided me with more professional development opportunities, including but not limited to, broad exposure and immense experience to directly contribute, influence, implement and evaluate government strategies and special projects cutting across government departments. The responsibilities included negotiating cooperation agreements, planning and organising with various stakeholders, high-level engagements such as State Visits, Working Visits, international conferences, workshops and seminars, participation in trade fairs, to mention but a few. I also have experience in part-time lecturing a course in Office Administration at College Campus in Pretoria.

My several academic qualifications in public administration, political sciences, political economy and international relations, as well as professional training in management and policy studies, enable me to make an effective and positive contribution to organisational processes, among others, formulation and managing business plans, strategy and policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder relations management, intergovernmental relations management and coordination, project management, human and financial resources utilisation and management, planning and organising. 
 

I have a Bachelor of Administration degree with majors in Public Administration and Political Science from Vista University and a BA Honours in Political Science degree from the University of South Africa.

In 2013, I graduated my second Masters Degree in Political Studies by full dissertation entitled “MERCOSUR-SACU Relations: an examination of the revised initiative for South-South Cooperation”, at the Nelson Mandela University. I also have a Masters degree in International Relations from Alliant International University in Mexico (MAIR). The latter qualification included advanced studies in terrorism, terrorists strategies and tactics, as well as the role of international organisations to counter terrorism. In June 2021, I completed my PhD in International Relations at the University of Pretoria with the thesis entitled “The management of migration at South Africa’s ports of entry: an analysis of the post-1994 trade-immigration policy nexus”.