UKZN Lecturer Honoured with Pan-African Excellence Award in Human Settlements

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Housing Discipline lecturer, Ms Mbali Ndumo has received the prestigious Award of Excellence in Human Settlements and Smart Futures at the 2026 Pan-African City Symposium and Exhibition (PACSE).

PACSE is a United States-Africa collaboration that promotes collaborative planning, women’s development and improved service delivery across Africa and the United States. Ndumo’s recognition celebrates her outstanding contribution to human settlements, housing policy and sustainable urban development.

A UKZN alumna, Ndumo completed both her Bachelor of Social Science and master’s degree in housing at the University’s School of Built Environment and Development Studies. She brings extensive experience from the National Parliament of South Africa, where she served the National Assembly’s Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, as well as provincial and national government departments.

She is also a published scholar whose research has been presented at leading international platforms, including the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) Congress in Saudi Arabia in 2025 and the World Cities Summit in Singapore earlier this year. An ISOCARP member, Ndumo has also represented the organisation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) SB64.

Reflecting on the award, Ndumo described it as both a personal and professional milestone. “Receiving this prestigious award means a great deal to me. Personally, it reflects my passion for understanding the systems and processes that enable housing to be realised as a basic human right,” she said.

“For me, housing is not simply about providing shelter. It is about enabling inclusive economic growth, ensuring security of tenure and promoting environmental sustainability through co-ordinated and collaborative planning.”

Ndumo credits her passion for housing studies to the influence of UKZN academic Professor Pauline Adebayo and former Minister of Human Settlements Dr Lindiwe Sisulu.

“These remarkable women possess an in-depth understanding of housing and have generously shared their knowledge and expertise with young South Africans. They have greatly influenced my academic and professional journey,” she said.

Professionally, Ndumo believes the award recognises years of dedication to the human settlements sector. “I enjoy sharing both the theoretical and practical dimensions of human settlements planning with my students while continuing to learn from colleagues across the sector. My goal is to equip students with real-world knowledge and experience that prepares them to become future leaders in housing development.”

Her career has spanned the Built Environment Support Group (BESG), the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements, and Parliament, where she contributed to policy development and legislative processes. Among the major initiatives she helped support were the Social Housing Policy, the Social Housing Act, the Housing Development Agency Act, the Finance-Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP), and amendments to the Housing Consumer Protection Measures Act.

“These experiences have shaped my understanding of human settlements as a catalyst for sustainable development, job creation, contractor development and co-ordinated service delivery,” she said.

Ndumo’s research focuses on housing delivery instruments, housing policy and legislative frameworks that support the national and global human settlements agenda. During PACSE 2026, she presented a paper exploring the role of informal housing in promoting local economic development.

Looking ahead, Ndumo hopes to strengthen partnerships between universities and industry by creating forums that encourage peer learning and expose students to innovative approaches to housing development across the world.

She also shared an inspiring message for young women aspiring to enter the profession. “The world is your oyster. Believe in your dreams and learn from those who have travelled the journey before you,” she said.

“Human settlements is a multifaceted field with enormous opportunities for growth. Find your niche, read widely, build learning partnerships with scholars across the world and never stop learning. For those entering the public sector, remember that this remains a male-dominated field, so approach every opportunity with humility, resilience and a willingness to learn.”

Words: Sinoyolo Mahlasela

Photograph: Supplied