Professor Vhonani Olive Netshandama has over 15 years of experience as Director of Community Engagement at the University of Venda.   She is a Participatory action researcher and action learner, immersed into lifelong learning principles. A DST Distinguished Woman (Social) Scientist, Certified ELI Entrepreneurial Mindset facilitator, MIT Innovation Leadership Boot Camp Alumnus and a creator of collaborative learning spaces, I facilitate Transversal, Personal Mastery, Design thinking, Growth Mindset Programmes, that include Mental health. I have interest in Social Entrepreneurial learning of school learners and youth, Social Impact Investing, Monitoring and Reviews as well as Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Inclusive Open Innovation and benefit sharing principles across disciplinary boundary. An experienced postgraduate supervisor and multiple stakeholder facilitator of co-learning and reflective processes with an interest in higher education’s contribution to societal impact. She has mentored over 100 undergraduate students on community-engaged project-based work and has a decolonial stance in her approach to Mental Health, Wellbeing, and Education.

She started coordinating Work-based Work integrated project designed learning since 2000. She holds a PhD in Nursing Education from the University of Johannesburg. For over 2 decades, Professor Netshandama has been a lead partner in creating sustainable co-learning environments, public health and equity projects of an international stature.

Mr. Rendani Nematswerani is the executive secretary of the directorate of community engagement, entrepreneurship, inclusive innovation, and commercialization under the directorship of Prof Vhonani Netshandama. He has been appointed to this position with effect from 01 July 2023.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies from the University of Venda as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies from the University of South Africa. He is currently a master’s in African studies candidate at the University of Venda. He also possesses certificates such as a Certificate in Customer Service Management and a Skills Certificate in Journalism from the University of South Africa and Oxbridge Academy.

Prior to his appointment as the Executive Secretary, he served in positions such as the Research Assistant, Student Assistant, and Services-Seta Intern under the same Directorate.  His interest in community engagement made him serve as a Volunteer Secretary for Matangari Home of Relief Centre and the University of Venda students-led organization Aphrodite Global, as well as the Executive Director for the nature and biodiversity advocating organization Dzomo La Mupo. His five years of customer relations experience attained from working at First National Bank instilled the spirit of Ubuntu that he portrays while interacting with internal and external stakeholders.

Mr Mamphweli joined the Directorate of Community Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Innovation, and Commercialisation (DCEEIIC) as a Community Engagement Officer from 01 June 2024. Mr Mamphweli has a Bachelor of Social Work and BA Hons (Sociology) from the University of Venda. He also has a master’s in international development studies from Palacky University in the Czech Republic, which was made possible by the prestigious Erasmus Mundus scholarship. He is currently a PhD candidate in Sociology at the University of Kwazulu Natal. In August-September 2023, Mr Mamphweli represented the University of Venda in the Henan Training Programme for Young Prominent Leaders of South Africa, which was hosted by the People’s Government of Henan Province in China.

Mamphweli has served as a Czech Aid-sponsored intern, offering an opportunity for him to travel to Bosnia/Herzegovina in South-Eastern Europe, where he learned about monitoring and evaluating rural village-based projects funded by Czech Development Cooperation. Before joining the DCEEIIC, he was a Lecturer in Sociology. He has been an engaged scholar with experience in community engagement, international/rural development, stakeholder mobilization, communication and marketing, and project coordination. He also worked as a Senior Project Assistant for (International Organization for Migration), DSI/NRF/UNIVEN Innovation Champion Intern, and Office Intern (German Development Cooperation).

Dr Ganto is a commercialisation specialist in the Office of Technology Transfer in the Directorate of Community Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Innovation, and Commercialisation. He is a portfolio professional, having gained solid experience in the regulatory, research and development, intellectual property law and manufacturing sectors. He has an established network of key stakeholders in chemical, waste management, research, government, academia and the legal fraternity. He has been the head of regulatory affairs at the Chemical & Allied Industries Association (CAIA), working with chemical and waste management stakeholders.
During his time at CAIA, he was also an Advisor to the DSI-CSIR Nanomaterials Industry Development Facility. Responsibilities included evaluating and reviewing selected small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), established private companies and higher education institutions wishing to use the Facility’s capabilities in materials/technology development and scale-up. He also represented CAIA in various forums, including Business Unity South Africa, Industry Waste Management Forum, and Multistakeholder Committee for Chemicals Management (both with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment).
He was also a Chemical Patents Specialist at Adams & Adams Attorneys. He drafted patent specifications in the chemistry, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical fields. Before then, he was a Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), responsible for the synthesis of antimalarial compounds. While at the CSIR he was a Fellow at the International Centre for Science and High Technology, in Trieste, Italy.
He holds a PhD Degree in Chemistry from Rhodes University, an MSc Degree in Chemistry from the University of Cape Town, and an Honours Degree in Chemistry from the University of the Western Cape.
Publications include:
• Mlungiseleli M. Ganto; Yi-Chen Lee and Perry T. Kaye; Applications of Thermal and Microwave-Assisted Cyclization of Baylis-Hillman-Derived Heteropolycyclic Systems; Synthetic Communications, 2011, 41 (11), May 2011, 1688-1702.
• Molefe, Duduzile M.; Ganto, Mlungiseleli M.; Lobb, Kevin A.; Kaye, Perry T.; Chromone Studies. Part 17. Tricyclic scaffolds from reactions of chromone-3-carbaldehydes and methyl vinyl ketone under Baylis-Hillman conditions; Journal of Chemical Research, 2009 (7), July 2009, 452-456.
• Mlungiseleli Ganto; An organic chemist’s view of the ‘lead compound’ argument; Polity.org.za, 6 September 2012.