Abraham R Matamanda is an NRF Y2-rated Urban Planner lecturing at the University of Free State (UFS) in the Department of Geography. He is currently Editor of the Town Planning Journal published by UFS and serves on the editorial board of Plos Water Journal. He is a fellow of the South African DHET Future Professorate Programme Phase 1, third Cohort. His research focuses on urban governance and planning, climate change adaptation, informal Global South urbanism, urban food systems, and housing studies. James Chakwizira is a professor of spatial and transport planning and lecturers in the department of Urban & Regional Planning, University of Venda and an extra-ordinary professor, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North - West University. He has practiced in the public and private sector while leading multidisciplinary teams/units. His research focus on transportation studies, spatial planning and development, urban designing of precincts and neighbourhoods and climate change and adaptation.Kudzai Chatiza is a local governance, and spatial planning researcher. He is currently a research fellow in the Department of Geography, UFS and Director at Development Governance Institute. With over 30 years’ experience in decentralization, development and strategic planning, citizen participation, housing policy and practice, he teaches and supervises research students at UZ and Midlands State University. Kudzai also advises state and non-state development organizations on spatial planning and governance issues. Verna Nel qualified as a town and regional planner at Wits University and obtained her MSc and PhD through UNISA. After three decades of working primarily in municipalities, she was appointed as a Professor in the Urban and Regional Planning Department of the UFS and assumed the title of Emeritus Professor with her retirement from 2024. She has diverse research interests that include spatial and urban resilience, local economic development and spatial governance. Her most recent publication is a book on land use management in South Africa.
