Mfaniseni Fana Sihlongonyane

Mfaniseni Fana Sihlongonyane was appointed lecturer in the Planning Programme (department then) in 1996. He is currently a Professor of Development Planning and Urban Studies. He is the director of the Planning Programme, a chairperson of the Committee of Planning schools (CHoPS), a board member of the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) and a member of the South African Council for Planners (SACPLAN). He has been a member of Gauteng Development Tribunal and has worked with various communities in the country. Fana is the first PI on the Wits-TUB-UNILAG Urban Lab. His research interests spread over a wide range of theoretical, applied and policy arenas in the global as well as African realms of development. The research encompasses principally the interface between development Planning and urban studies largely within the context of the poignant dynamics of the political economy in Africa. His main interests include: African city and African Urbanisms, African Political economy, Dynamics of Globalisation and Local Economic development, Urban change and the political and cultural economy, Traditional Leadership, theories and Discourses of Urbanisation. Through her base in CUBES, Marie has engaged in policy debates and networks nationally, regionally and globally.