Kundani Makakavhule

Kundani Makakavhule is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Town and Regional Planning at the University of Pretoria. She serves as a Core Partner at the Global Center of Spatial Methods for Urban Sustainability (GCSMUS) and as the Departmental Research Chairperson, focusing on urban public open spaces at neighborhood and precinct scales. Her work examines the interplay of democracy, spatial appropriation, and active citizenship in urban planning processes.

• Current Positions: Core Partner (2025), Departmental Research Chairperson (2024–2025)
• Past Role: Chairperson of the Faculty Transformation Committee (2021–2024)

Her research integrates theories from politics, sociology, and geography to address social and political factors shaping urban planning in the developing world. Key areas include public space, spatial transformation, and capacity building in local governance.

Her recent publications explore decolonizing urban spaces, the role of planners in public open space production, and the governance of public spaces through deliberative democracy and active citizenship. Themes span spatial justice, socio-economic conditions, and participatory approaches in African urban contexts.

She has led institutional transformation initiatives and continues to advocate for equitable urban planning practices via research, teaching, and institutional leadership.