SHORT BIOGRAPHY
In the course of her professional career which spans almost four decades, Zonke Majodina has been involved in academic, clinical, research and human rights work in South Africa and abroad. She initially obtained a B.Sc (Hons) degree from the University of South Africa, and followed this with an M.Sc degree from the University of London. She spent 18 years in Ghana, lecturing and working as a Clinical Psychologist at the University of Ghana Medical School.
Before returning to South Africa she went on a 2 year Visiting Fellowship at Oxford University. She completed her doctoral degree at the University of Cape Town.
Following a brief spell at the Public Services Commission of South Africa, Zonke Majodina was invited to develop a Master’s level Programme in Forced Migration Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1998. This programme has grown to be one of the best of its kind in Africa. Before the end of her contract with the University, Zonke Majodina got nominated to serve as a part-time Commissioner with the South African Human Rights Commission. In this new position, she decided to expand the scope of human rights protection in South Africa by focusing on refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants.
Zonke Majodina has spent the last 8 years a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, in the course of which she served as Chairperson for two years. She is a member of many professional associations, both national and international, mainly related to human rights, refugees, applied psychology and public sector management. She has published and presented many papers, ranging in subject matter from clinical psychology, to effects of war, violence, exile, public service, forced displacement and human rights.
She is currently a Visiting Adjunct Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand and is also a member of the Magistrates’ Commission of South Africa.
