Phelele Tengeni has been appointed Deputy Director-General (DDG) of Corporate Services in the Department of Labour. Tengeni replaces Lerato Molebatsi who left the department last year to pursue other interests.
Tengeni is a graduate from the University of Zululand in B.A with Political Science and Public Administration as major subjects. She also has a B.A Honours Degree in Political Science from the same institution. She also holds an M.A Degree with specialisation in Social Policy from the University of Durban Westville. She completed a certificate course in Labour Law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
In 2002/2003 academic year she was a Fulbright Resident Scholar at Radford University in the Commonwealth of Virginia, USA, lecturing in Politics of the Developing World, International Relations and International Studies.
She was also involved in curriculum development for the study of women in Africa. Her work at Radford University culminated in formal linkages between the University of Zululand and Radford University.
Her research interests include policy analysis, women and gender, population and development issues. Her research pursuits have taken her to the University of California, Berkley (1995), where she was mentored while completing her research for the Master’s Degree. She has collaborated with Prof. Gillian Hart of the University of California in a research at Newcastle and Ladysmith.
She was trained in quantitative research methodology at the University of Michigan (1997, 1998, 1999 Summer Programmes). She has received training in Managing Diversity and in Multicultural Awareness. She has worked in Human Resource Development (HRD) in the private and public sectors.
Before joining the Department of Labour, Tengeni was the Deputy Chairperson of the South African Public Service Commission and resident Commissioner in KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Administration. She was acting Chairperson of the Public Service Commission from February to August 2001.
She was also a senior lecturer in Political Science at the erstwhile Durban-Umlazi Campus (DUC) of the University of Zululand where she had been an academic for 13 years.
She also served as Branch Secretary of Nehawu at DUC, and volunteered her time in extra-mural activities such as Women-in-Research Coordinator for the HSRC, Provincial Coordinator for the KZN Churches’ Democracy Education Project and Electoral Officer for the IEC. In October 2003 she received a merit award for excellence in service from the University of Zululand.
She participates in the empowerment of women and consolidation of democracy in South Africa through voluntarism.
She is a member of a number of professional organisations, including the South African Political Studies Association, the International Political Studies Association, the International Political Association, the Union of African Population Studies, the Fulbright Association and South African Association of Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM). In 2006 SAAPAM honoured her with the award of Distinguished Practitioner in the field of Public Administration and Management.
In 2003 she served on a panel of three members that was appointed to conduct a peer review of the joint inspection unit of the United Nations Systems.
She currently serves as a member of the Magistrates Commission appointed by the President of South Africa.
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Director: Advertising, Marketing and Media Liaison
Cell: 082 808 2168
