PUG Researchers Presented at the SSAG 2025

PUG researchers Kurisani Mdhuli and Boitumelo Papane were in attendance and presented ongoing work from their PhDs and the associated Governing Just Urban Transition (GoJUT) project. Between the 3rd and 5th of September, the University of Johannesburg hosted the Society of South African Geographers 2025 Student Conference. The conference was multidisciplinary, bringing together early-career researchers from various academic disciplines representing different universities across the country. 

Keynote speaker and Professional Futurist, Mr Isaac Nkama, provided a compelling presentation to the audience. Mr Nkama challenged the researchers to reflect on their role in shaping the future of Africa. In the era of AI, trade wars, and economic inequality, the keynote highlighted a need for innovation.In the breakaway sessions, it would become even more evident that scientific research and contemporary technology are indispensable tools for tackling the complex challenges facing South Africa and the broader continent. From climate-related disasters like floods to entrenched socio-economic issues such as inequality, unemployment and resource scarcity—especially energy, water and food.

In a session on Geography and Spatial Planning, Boitumelo’s presentation on “Participatory Action Research for Infrastructural Development”. Feedback, provided by the audience of geographers with various expertise in urban planning, provided much-needed encouragement. Kurisani presented his work on water (in)security in Khayelitsha’s informal food sector under the Strategic Water Resource Management session. Owing to his background in political science and qualitative research, Kurisani’s research politicises water (in)security, particularly in the context of increasing socio-economic inequality, an approach that fascinated many quantitative researchers in the room who thought and talked about water (in)security as an engineering issue. The presentation provided a gateway for a discussion in the room about the role of low-income and marginalised communities in shaping South Africa’s sustainability agenda. 

Overall, the conference gave the impression that young people are embracing their role as the future of society—not just in theory, but in practice. Through their active participation, bold ideas and innovative research, they are stepping into their agency as changemakers in the face of complex challenges. This signals more than just engagement, but a generational commitment to shaping a more prosperous future.