Prior to his current position, Professor Zondi he was the Executive Director of the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD) from 2009-2016. He received his BA and Higher Diploma in Education from the former University of Durban-Westville before graduating with MPhil and DPhil in African Studies at the University
of Cambridge, UK. He also headed the IGD’s programme on Africa studies and SA Foreign Policy Analysis for five years.
Between 2000 and 2004, he coordinated the Africa Institute of South Africa’s
regional integration and sustainable development programmes. Professor Zondi has published widely in his areas of research interest, namely: regional integration and governance, South Africa’s international relations and foreign policy, and public health policy. Some of his publications have covered the SADC mediation in Zimbabwe; the future direction of SA’s foreign policy; and Africa’s health governance. He is on the National Planning Commission.