Research Excellence Award
Zamokuhle Mbandlwa
Durban University of Technology, South Africa.
Zamokuhle Mbandlwa is a researcher at Durban University of Technology, South Africa, working in the social sciences. His research examines local government leadership, public service delivery, and the social conditions of communities in South Africa. He is nominated for the Research Excellence Award at the International Academic Achievements & Awards in recognition of his scholarly output [5].
Abstract
This article presents the research profile of Zamokuhle Mbandlwa in connection with the Research Excellence Award. His scholarship concentrates on leadership and service delivery in South African local government [1][2], community social challenges such as substance abuse [3], and education during the Covid-19 pandemic [4].
Keywords
Local government, ethical leadership, service delivery, ward councillors, substance abuse, remote learning, public administration, artificial intelligence, South Africa.
Introduction
Effective public service delivery remains a central concern in South African governance, and scholarship on municipal leadership and accountability contributes to practical understanding of this challenge. Zamokuhle Mbandlwa’s publications address leadership quality, ethical conduct, and the lived conditions of communities, drawing on cases from the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and informal settlements. His Scopus author record lists 17 documents [5].
Research Profile
Mbandlwa is affiliated with Durban University of Technology, and his subject area is social sciences. His Scopus Author ID is 59304187700. The profile lists 17 documents, 6 citations, and an h-index of 2 [5]. His work falls within three main themes:
- Leadership and ethics in local government
- Community development and social challenges
- Education and technology in public service contexts
Research Contributions
In the area of local government, Mbandlwa and co-authors analyzed leadership challenges within the South African municipal system [1] and discussed the relationship between ethical leadership and service delivery [2]. A further study considered ward councillors’ leadership characteristics and their effect on service delivery in eThekwini in 2018.
His work on social issues includes an examination of substance abuse in informal settlement communities [3], and a study of how the shift from face-to-face to remote learning during the Covid-19 pandemic affected educational quality [4]. His 2026 article with James Ndlovu explores opportunities and challenges in using artificial intelligence for public service delivery in South Africa.
Publications
- Mbandlwa, Z., Dorasamy, N., & Fagbadebo, O. (2020). Leadership challenges in the South African local government system. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(13), 1642–1653. [1]
- Mbandlwa, Z., Dorasamy, N., & Fagbadebo, O. (2020). Ethical leadership and the challenge of service delivery in South Africa: A discourse. Test Engineering & Management, 83, 24986–24998. [2]
- Mbandlwa, Z., & Dorasamy, N. (2020). The impact of substance abuse in South Africa: A case of informal settlement communities. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(19), 1404–1411. [3]
- Mbandlwa, Z. (2021). The impact of the quality of education caused by the changes from face-to-face to remote learning as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Elementary Education Online, 20(4), 1556–1561. [4]
Research Impact
The research addresses issues of direct relevance to municipal governance, public accountability, and community wellbeing. Studies on leadership and service delivery offer evidence for policy discussion in South African local government. The Scopus record shows 6 citations and an h-index of 2 [5], and the more recent publications may attract additional citations over time.
Award Suitability
Mbandlwa is considered suitable for the Research Excellence Award on the following grounds:
- A sustained publication record of 17 indexed documents [5]
- Focused research on governance and public service delivery
- Practical relevance to South African communities and institutions
- Collaborative authorship and engagement with emerging topics such as artificial intelligence
Conclusion
Zamokuhle Mbandlwa’s research provides a consistent line of inquiry into leadership, service delivery, and community conditions in South Africa. His nomination for the Research Excellence Award recognizes the relevance and continuity of this scholarship within the social sciences [1][5].
External Links
References
- Mbandlwa, Z., Dorasamy, N., & Fagbadebo, O. (2020). Leadership challenges in the South African local government system. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(13), 1642–1653.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342991894
- Mbandlwa, Z., Dorasamy, N., & Fagbadebo, O. (2020). Ethical leadership and the challenge of service delivery in South Africa: A discourse. Test Engineering & Management, 83, 24986–24998.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342992609
- Mbandlwa, Z., & Dorasamy, N. (2020). The impact of substance abuse in South Africa: A case of informal settlement communities. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(19), 1404–1411.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343280262
- Mbandlwa, Z. (2021). The impact of the quality of education caused by the changes from face-to-face to remote learning as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Elementary Education Online, 20(4), 1556–1561.
https://ilkogretim-online.org/index.php/pub/article/view/4900
- Elsevier. (n.d.). Google Scholar details: Zamokuhle Mbandlwa, Author ID xMV_NOsAAAAJ. Scholar.
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=xMV_NOsAAAAJ&hl=en