Prof Mzwandile Sobantu

Associate Professor
Name: Mzwandile Sobantu
Location: C-Ring 618 Auckland Park Kingsway Campus
Department of Social Work Staff, Rated Researchers  Staff Members

Contact Details:
Tel: +27 (0) 11 559 4119

Email: msobantu@uj.ac.za

About Prof Mzwandile Sobantu

Prof Mzi is a C3 rated researcher with the National Research Foundation and an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work and Community Development at the University of Johannesburg. Previously, he was employed at the Gauteng Department of Social Development. He also worked at Joburg Child Welfare as a foster care social worker. He holds a PhD from the University of Johannesburg, a Masters in Housing and Human Settlements and a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from the University of the Witwatersrand. In addition, he completed a Certificate in Postgraduate Supervision from Rhodes University and an Advanced Certificate in Local Governance and Management from the University of Johannesburg.

He teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate modules. He also coordinates a second-year internship module and coursework Masters in Community Development. He is also actively involved in postgraduate supervision. His two main niches of specialisation are housing and social development. He has published several journal articles and book chapters as well as presenting his work in different for a in Africa and internationally. Mzi serves in the Advisory Editorial Committee of the Social Work/Maatskaplike journal and reviews articles for several journals. With his colleagues from Kyambogo in Uganda, he is currently undertaking a comparative study looking at the intersection of housing and social protection for older persons in Uganda and South Africa.

Publications:

Mwedzi, T., & Sobantu, M. (2024). Childcare arrangements amongst Zimbabwean immigrant families living in Soweto, South Africa. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 60(2), 239-260.

Noyoo, N., Matela, M., Sobantu, M., Chagunda, C. (2024). Online higher education in South Africa during COVID-19 and beyond: Opportunities, challenges, and its future. In: Puiu, S., Idowu, S.O. (eds) Online education during COVID-19 and beyond. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance (pp. 275-289). Springer: Cham.

Maphosa, N., & Sobantu, M. (2024). Advancing social work education using online learning in South Africa: Challenges and Prospects. In: Routledge Handbook of African Social Work Education (pp. 130-140). Taylor and Francis

Sobantu, M., Noyoo, N. (2022). Housing, human rights and social development in South Africa, African Journal of Development Studies (AJDS), 12(3), 233-253.

Sobantu, M. (2022). Social rental housing and empowerment: Voices of beneficiaries from Gauteng, South Africa. Southern African Journal of Social Work & Social Development, 34(2), 1-15.

Sobantu, M., & Noyoo, N. (2022). Impact of housing location on older persons’ perceptions of safety, privacy and psychosocial wellbeing in Alexander, North of Johannesburg. Journal of Human Ecology, 78(1-3), 37-47.

Noyoo, N., & Sobantu, M. (2022). Interrogating migrations and social transformations in Africa: Social work perspectives. In R. Munck, T. Kleibl, M Carmo, & P. Dankova. (Eds.), Migration and Social transformation: Engaged perspectives (pp. 208 – 228). Dublin: Machdonil Ltd.

Noyoo, N., Seepamore, B., Ncube, M., & Sobantu, M. (2021). Evolution of social welfare and social work in South Africa. In N. Noyoo (Ed.), Social welfare and social work in Southern Africa (pp. 195-219). Stellenbosch: African Sun Media.

Nkala, N., & Sobantu, M. (2021). Writing centres and social justice in higher education: Students’ voices in a higher education institution in Johannesburg, South Africa. African Journal of Social Work, 12(67-75).

Sobantu, M. (2021). Housing and women’s rights in Gauteng, South Africa: The role of social work in sharpening the focus. African Journal of Social Work, 11(1), 23-36.

Sobantu, M. (2021). Promoting healthy human relationships for older persons: A social development perspective. In N. Noyoo (Ed.), Promoting healthy human relationships in post-apartheid South Africa (pp. 99-110). Zurich: Springer International Publishing.

Sobantu, M. (2020). Housing and social development: Linking social and economic aspects of development through housing delivery. Social Development Issues, 42(2), 54-66.

Sobantu, M. (2020). Revisiting gender and housing: Housing as seen through the eyes of women in social rental housing in Gauteng, South Africa. Matskaaplike Werk/Social Work, 56(1), 63-77.

Noyoo, N., & Sobantu, M. (2019). Deconstructing and decolonising spatiality: Voluntary and affordable housing for a transforming Johannesburg. In M.  T.  Myambo (Ed.), Reversing urban spatiality (pp. 35-42). London: Routledge.

Sobantu, M., Zulu, N., & Maphosa, N. (2019). Housing as a basic human right: A reflection on South Africa. Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development, 31(1), 1-18.

Sobantu, M., & Nel, H. (2019). Voluntary housing delivery: The contribution of partnerships to the success of a community-based organisation (WASSUP) in Diepsloot low- income community, Johannesburg, South Africa. Matskaaplike Werk/Social Work, 55(3), 284-300.

Sobantu, M., & Warria, A. R. (2013). Lifting the veil of silence: Exploring academic experiences of male refugee learners at a high school in Johannesburg, South Africa. Matskaaplike Werk/Social Work, 49(4), 570-584.