Department of Economics

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS STAFF

The University of Venda’s Department of Economics is gaining prominence in social and welfare economics, with its research in this area leading to a collaboration with the UNDP to create one of the largest databases on Social Assistance (https://social-assistance.univen.ac.za/) ever hosted by an African academic institution. The Department’s commitment to fostering community engagement alongside academic excellence is a defining feature, as evidenced by the frequent media invitations extended to its staff.

Gift Dafuleya, a professor of Economics, heads the Department and leads the project on hosting and managing the Social Assistance in Africa database. He has nearly two decades of experience in social protection, having begun his research in this field with a 2006 survey of savings and risk-sharing groups among the urban poor in Zimbabwe. He has provided comprehensive services to international and regional organizations, several governments, and non-governmental organizations involved in social protection, migration, informal economy and tourism economics. His work has been published in blogs, policy briefs, refereed journals, and book chapters.

The Department of Economics also includes the following individuals as part of its staff.

Name: Prof Gift Dafuleya
Designation: Head of Department
Qualification: MSC (FOREIGN PSE INSTITUTIONS), DPHIL (UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG)
Telephone: 0159628547
Email: gift.dafuleya@univen.ac.za
Office: SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES Building, First Floor

Name: Dr Azwifaneli Innocentia Nemushungwa
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualification: UED (University of Venda PRODI41), BCOM (University of Venda PRODI41), BCOHON (University of Venda PRODI41), MCOM (UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA), PHD (NELSON MANDELA UNIVERSITY)
Telephone: 0159628000
Email: azwifaneli.nemushungwa@univen.ac.za
Office: NURSING SCIENCES Building

Name: Dr Mbulaheni Albert Dagume
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualification: MECON (RAND AFRIKAANS UNIVERSITY), BAHON (University of Venda), DPHIL (University of Venda)
Telephone: 0159628000
Email: mbulaheni.dagume@univen.ac.za
Office: NATURAL SCIENCE BUILDING Building

Name: Mr Fhatuwani Robert Sikhitha
Designation: Junior Lecturer
Qualification: BAHON (University of Venda)
Telephone: 0159628000
Email: fhatuwani.sikhitha@univen.ac.za
Office: KUWAIT OFFICE BLOCK Building

Name: Mr Ronewa Victor Mudzanani
Designation: Lecturer
Qualification: BCOM (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA), MAD (University of Venda), BCOHON (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA)
Telephone: 0159628000
Email: ronewa.mudzanani@univen.ac.za
Office: KUWAIT OFFICE BLOCK Building

Name: Dr Tshilidzi Whitney Munzhelele
Designation: Lecturer
Qualification: UED (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA), DIPMAN (SOUTHERN BUSINESS SCHOOL), BA (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA), BAHON (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA), MAA (University of Venda PRODI41), PHD (UNIVERSITY OF PORT ELIZABETH)
Telephone: 0159628000
Email: tshilidzi.munzhelele@univen.ac.za
Office: KUWAIT OFFICE BLOCK Building

Name: Ms Matamela Juliet Netshikulwe
Designation: Lecturer
Qualification: BSC (UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN), BCOM (null), BECHON (null), MCOM (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA)
Telephone: 0159628000
Email: Matamela.Netshikulwe@univen.ac.za
Office: KUWAIT OFFICE BLOCK Building

Name: Mr Nthambeleni Leonard Ramavhona
Designation: Lecturer
Qualification: BAED (University of Venda PRODI41), MBL (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA), BAHON (UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN)
Telephone: 0159628259
Email: Nthambe.ramavhona@univen.ac.za
Office: SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES BLOCK A Building

Name: Mr Azwifarwi Richard Khangale
Designation: Lecturer
Qualification: BSC (University of Venda), BCOHON (University of Venda)
Telephone: 0159628386
Email: Richard.Khangale@univen.ac.za
Office: STUDENT ADMINISTRATION Building