Profile: Ms Phelele Tengeni

She graduated from the University of Zululand in B.A, with Political Science and Public Administration as major subjects. She obtained a B.A Honours Degree in Political Science (cum laude) from the same institution. She holds an M.A. Degree, with specialisation in Social Policy from the University of Durban Westville. She completed a certificate course in Labour Law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

She is presently the Deputy Chairperson of the South African Public Service Commission and resident Commissioner in KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Administration. She was acting Chairperson of the Public Service Commission from February to August 2011.

In the Public Service Commission she has served as a member following Specialist Task Teams:

• Monitoring and Evaluation and Service Delivery Quality Assurance (Member)
• Institution Building and Special Operations (Member)
• Leadership and Management Practices (Member and Convener)
• Integrity and Anti-corruption (current Member)

Prior to her appointment as Commissioner she was a Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the erstwhile Durban-Umlazi Campus (DUC) of the University of Zululand where she had been an academic for thirteen years. She also served as Branch Secretary of NEHAWU at DUC, and volunteered her time in extra-mural activities such as Women-in-Research Coordinator for the HSRC, Provincial Coordinator for the KZN Churches’ Democracy Education Project and Electoral Officer for the IEC. In October 2003 she received a merit award for excellence in service from the University of Zululand.

In 2002/03 academic year she was a Fulbright Resident Scholar at Radford University in the Commonwealth of Virginia, USA, lecturing in Politics of the Developing World, International Relations, and International Studies. She was also involved in curriculum development for the study of women in Africa. Her work at Radford University culminated in formal linkages between the University of Zululand and Radford University.

Her research interests include policy analysis, women and gender, population and development issues. Her research pursuits have taken her to the University of California, Berkeley (1995), where she was mentored while completing her research for the Master’s Degree. She has collaborated with Prof. Gillian Hart of the University of California in research around Newcastle and Ladysmith. She was trained in quantitative research methodology at the University of Michigan (1997, 1998, 1999 Summer Programmes). She has received training in Managing Diversity and in Multicultural Awareness. She has worked in Human Resource Development (HRD) in the private and public sectors.

She participates in the empowerment of women and consolidation of democracy in South Africa through voluntarism. She is a member of a number of professional organisations, including the South African Political Studies Association, the International Political Science Association, the Union of African Population Studies, the Fulbright Association and SAAPAM. In 2006 SAAPAM honoured her with the award of Distinguished Practitioner in the field of Public Administration and Management.

She has presented and participated in local, national and international conference.