Programme

The programme for Thursday 19 and Friday 20 November 2026: keynote addresses, five high-level panels and eight parallel sessions.

Africa Unity for Renaissance 2026 · Democratic Renewal in Africa? Constitutional Development, Political Pluralism and Electoral Integrity

19 – 20 November 2026 · International Convention Centre (ICC), KuGompo City, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Times are South African Standard Time (SAST).

Thursday 19 November 2026 Day 1 · Venue: ICC, KuGompo City

Programme directors
Prof Nicasius Achu Check and Dr Palesa Sekhejane
Session coordinator
Dr Mokhantšo Makoae, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
Arrival and registration All participants

Opening remarks

Prof Charles HongoroDE, DCES with ABGS, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

Welcome Address

Prof Thandi MgwebiVice-Chancellor and Principal, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu

Prof Sarah MosoetsaChief Executive Officer, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

The Importance of Constitutionalism in Africa

Hon. Ibrahim BarrieMember of Parliament, Sierra Leone

Objectives and Reflections on the conference

Prof Sarah MosoetsaChief Executive Officer, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

Prof Thandi MgwebiVice-Chancellor and Principal, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu

Keynote Address

Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, SCActing Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, Chair of iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu Council

Tea and networking All participants
High-level Panel I Wither Democratic renewal in Africa Moderator: Prof Sanjay Balkaran, Executive Dean (Acting), Faculty of Management and Public Administration, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu 10:40 – 11:50

  • Prof Thabisani NdlovuExecutive Dean, Faculty of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu

  • Prof Bhaso NdzendzeSenior Director: Division for Global Engagement and Professor of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg

  • Prof Ibrahim MouicheProfessor of Political Sciences and International Relations, University of Yaoundé

  • Prof Steve OkothProfessor of Law, Tangaza University, Kenya

  • Prof Kedibone PhagoExecutive Dean, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, University of Mpumalanga

High-level Panel II Constitutional Development in Africa Moderator: Dr Pauline Ngimwa, Senior Programme Manager, PASGR, Kenya 11:50 – 13:00

  • Dr Jongi Joseph KlaasExecutive Director & Founder: Thandazwe Heritage and Namangile Enterprise

  • Dr Naledi ModiseSenior Lecturer, Politics and International Relations, North-West University, South Africa

  • Prof Frank LekabaAssociate Professor of Political Sciences and International Relations, Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs, Unisa

  • Prof Khabele MatlosaProfessor of Politics, National University of Lesotho

  • Mr Kgame MolopeChairperson of the South African chapter of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Academic Group (SA-IORAG), Lecturer of African Politics and International Relations, North-West University

Lunch All participants

Parallel sessions

Parallel Session I Thirty years of South Africa’s Constitution: lessons for Constitutional Democracy Moderator: Dr Ntombizodumo Mkwanazi · Venue: TBC 14:00 – 15:30

  1. Constructing Unemployment as a Human Rights Violation in a Constitutional Democracy: A Critical Discourse Analysis of South Africa

    Awam MavimbelaUniversity of Mpumalanga

  2. South Africa’s 30 Years of Constitutional Democracy: Lessons for Africa

    Sibulele MosanaAfrican Minds for Applied Research Institute: Department of Politics and Governance

  3. Student-Worker Alliances and Democratic Renewal in South Africa: Contesting Institutional Power through #FeesMustFall

    Siphamandla MaputumaUniversity of the Western Cape

Parallel Session II Constitutional development and consolidation of democratic traditions in Africa Moderator: Prof Sone Enongene, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu · Venue: TBC 14:00 – 15:30

  1. Constitutional Resilience without Social Consolidation? Thirty Years of South Africa’s Constitution and Lessons for African Democracy

    Dr Sakhile HadebeLecturer in Political Science and International Relations, University of KwaZulu-Natal

  2. Constitutional Meta-Governance and Political Maldevelopment: Theorizing the Spectrum of Constitutionalism and Constitutionality in African Postcoloniality

    Prof Nene Lomotey KuditcharUniversity of Ghana

  3. Guardians or Gatekeepers? The Role of Constitutional Courts and Electoral Bodies in Checking Self-Serving Constitutional Amendments

    Salwa MukodaVictoria University, Kampala, Uganda

Tea and networking All participants

Parallel sessions

Parallel Session III Democratic Regression, Political Opportunism, and Popular nationalism in Africa Moderator: Dr Mokhantšo Makoae, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) · Venue: TBC 15:35 – 17:15

  1. Regular elections and democratization processes: Between electoral integrity and electoral autocracy

    Dr Sakah Bernard NsaidzedzeHeritage University, Cameroon

  2. From Consolidation to Backsliding: Democratic Regression, Political Opportunism and Popular Nationalism in Contemporary Africa: Comparative Analysis of Sub-Saharan Africa

    Arnold MugwagwaRhodes University

  3. Problematics of Presidential Term Limits and Constitutional Mutilations in Africa

    Peter Otieno MitengaLaikipia University, Kenya

Parallel Session IV Democratic Regression, Political Opportunism, and Popular nationalism in Africa Moderator: Prof Yolisa Madolo, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu · Venue: TBC 15:35 – 17:15

  1. Constitutional supremacy and democratic contestation in South Africa: A case study of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s proposal for Parliamentary supremacy

    Boikanyo NkwatleNorth-West University

  2. From Anti-Coupism to Anti-Capture Constitutionalism: Reimagining the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance at the Threshold of Twenty Years

    Prof Dejo OlowuiYunivesithi Walter Sisulu

  3. Unconstitutional Amendments and the Erosion of Democratic Institutions in Africa: A Case Study of Uganda

    Dr Allawi SsemandaUganda Rural University

Dinner All participants

Friday 20 November 2026 Day 2 · Venue: ICC, KuGompo City

Session coordinator
Prof Phumudzo Munyai, Deputy Executive Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Law and Social Sciences, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu
Arrival and registration All participants

Welcome Remarks and Day 1 Reflection

Dr Vuyo MjimbaHuman Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

Constitutional Development in South Africa: Challenges and Prospects

Prof Malefetsane MofoloHead of Department, Public Management and Governance, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu

Consolidating democratic gains in South Africa: Thirty years after

Prof Ricky MukonzaAssociate Professor of Public Management and the Academic Manager for the Faculty of Humanities, Tshwane University of Technology

Keynote Address

Democracy as a Civic Right

Dr Eileen CarterEastern Cape Provincial Manager, South African Human Rights Commission

Tea and networking All participants
High-level Panel III Thirty years of South Africa’s democracy: What next Moderator: Prof Steve Okoth, Professor of Law, Tangaza University, Kenya 10:40 – 11:50

  • Prof Piet CroucampAssociate Professor of Political Studies, North-West University, South Africa

  • Prof Tlou RamorokaProfessor of Development, Planning and Management, University of Limpopo

  • Dr Moraka ShopolaSenior Lecturer, Public Administration, North-West University

  • Dr Sakhile HadebeLecturer in Political Science and International Relations, University of KwaZulu-Natal

High-level Panel IV Democratic Consolidation in Africa Moderator: Mr Kgame Molope, Chairperson of the South African chapter of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Academic Group (SA-IORAG), Lecturer of African Politics and International Relations, North-West University 11:50 – 13:00

  • Prof Richard IroanyaProfessor of Security and Strategic Studies, University of Namibia

  • Dr Ndubuisi NwokoloPolitics and security expert, Nextier, Nigeria

  • Dr Christophe DongmoBarclays Bank Africa

  • Prof Nene Lomotey KuditcharUniversity of Ghana

Lunch All participants
High-level Panel V Beyond the Ballot: Can Africa Renew its Democratic Promise? Moderator: Dr Alfred Thutloa, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) 14:00 – 15:10

  • Prof Nicasius Achu CheckHuman Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

  • Prof Frank LekabaAssociate Professor of Political Sciences and International Relations, Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs, Unisa

  • Prof Ricky MukonzaAssociate Professor of Public Management and the Academic Manager for the Faculty of Humanities, Tshwane University of Technology

  • Mr Mogale MashiapataProgramme Manager: Political Parties and Elections Support, Democracy Works Foundation

Parallel sessions

Parallel Session V Governance, Leadership, and Institutional Integrity in Africa’s Democratic Renewal Moderator: Ms Auriel Niemack, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) · Venue: TBC 15:10 – 16:30

  1. Beyond Representation: Women's Leadership, Institutional Integrity, and the Constitutional Meaning of Democratic Renewal in Africa’s Constitutional Democracies

    Prince Kudakwa KahariGALZ, Zimbabwe

  2. Reimagining Ethical Leadership Education for Democratic Renewal: An Ubuntu-Centred Framework for Institutional Integrity in South Africa

    Sive Zintle MbangiswanoCentral University of Technology, South Africa

  3. Language, Democratic Renewal, and the Politics of Equality: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Presidential Speeches in Kenya

    Naftal NyakundiBotho University, Botswana

  4. Policing the Police in Kenya: The Role of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority in Police Accountability and Constitutional Governance

    Esther Nyaboke KenyanyaIndependent Policing Oversight Authority, Kenya

Parallel Session VI Governance, Leadership, and Institutional Integrity in Africa’s Democratic Renewal II Moderator: Prof Emeka Obioha, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu · Venue: TBC 15:10 – 16:30

  1. Africa's Development Paradox: Policy Abundance, Governance Deficits, and the Challenge of Implementation

    Prof Malefetsane MofoloHead of Department, Public Management and Governance, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu

  2. Governing climate-induced disasters in South Africa: Institutional accountability, state capacity and democratic governance

    Prof Bernard HlaleleHuman Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

  3. Thinking About African Democracy

    Prof Khabele MatlosaProfessor of Politics, National University of Lesotho

Parallel sessions

Parallel Session VII Civil society organizations and the challenges of monitoring elections in Africa Moderator: Prof Beatrice Ekanjume, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu · Venue: TBC 16:35 – 17:55

  1. Eyes Without Teeth? Appraising the Effectiveness of SADC Electoral Observation Missions (SEOMs) in Safeguarding Zimbabwe’s Electoral Integrity

    Dr Clayton Hazvinei VhumbunuUniversity of the Free State, South Africa

  2. Invisible Infrastructure Under Siege: Civil Society, Relational Trust, and the Hidden Labor of Election Monitoring in Receding Civic Spaces

    Nwabisa KondileForvis Mazars, South Africa

  3. Electoral Fraud, Pre and Post-Election Violence and Constitutional Dilemmas in Kenya

    Patrick Michael OgetoLaikipia University, Kenya

  4. The Impact of Judicialisation on Nigerian Politics: 2015–2023

    Prof Richard IroanyaProfessor of Security and Strategic Studies, University of Namibia

Parallel Session VIII Civil society organizations and the challenges of monitoring elections in Africa II Moderator: Prof Simon Kangethe, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu · Venue: TBC 16:35 – 17:55

  1. Civil Society, Legal Restrictions, and Electoral Integrity in Africa

    Herbert Mncedisi MoyoIntelwatch, South Africa

  2. Beyond Electoral Pacification: From Election Observation to Enforceable Electoral Integrity in Southern Africa

    Vuyokazi YokweNACOSA, Yokwe Attorneys, South Africa

  3. Election Management Bodies, Electoral Integrity and Digital Reform in Africa: South Africa in Comparative Perspective

    Prof Sanjay BalkaranExecutive Dean (Acting), Faculty of Management and Public Administration, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu

  4. Democratization, Electoral Politics, and Electoral Systems in Africa

    Dr William AsanteSimon Diedong Dombo University, Ghana

Closing Plenary Moderator: Prof Charles Hongoro, DE, DCES with ABGS, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) 18:00 – 18:20

  1. Vote of Thanks

    Dr Palesa SekhejaneSenior Director (Acting), Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagements, Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu

  2. Closing Remarks

    Prof Charles HongoroDE, DCES with ABGS, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

Gala Dinner Coordinator: Dr Palesa Sekhejane

Questions about the conference?

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