Profile of Commission

The current membership of the KZN Planning and Development Commission is:

Chairman:
Bishop M M Makhaye
Bishop Makhaye obtained a BA from the University of Zululand in 1970 and a BA (Hons) in 1984. He obtained his Doctorate in Divinity from the University of Western Ontario in 2001 and has been a theologian for the past forty-two years and an Anglican Bishop for the last thirteen years. He has worked in the field of reconciliation and peace for the last eight years

Deputy Chairman
Dr M P Sithole
Pearl Sithole graduated with a BA (Hons) from the University of Durban-Westville in 1993. She has also worked and obtained her MPhil and PhD in Anthropology from the University of Cambridge. She is a senior Research specialist at the Human Research Council and has a long research experience on rural development, land use and governance structures in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Her research experience ranges from dealing with issues of identity and social change to dealing with issues in kinship studies, policy and public interest, anthropological theory and indigenous knowlege systems. She also analyses higher education and writes on scholarship and politics of knowlege production. Her career involved research and teaching in a wide range of issues and consulting at a local government level.

Prof S Burton

Simon Burton (PhD) is a Sociologist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus. Prior to this appointment he taught at Rhodes University and the University of Cape Town. His published and consulting work is mainly in the field of development communication.

Prof M Kahn
Professor Kahn teaches in the School of Architecture, Planning and Housing at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban. He holds a BSc (Town and Regional Planning), 1972, and a MSc (Town and Regional Planning), 1974, from the University of the Witwatersrand. He has a Phd from the University of Natal, 1984). Prof Kahn has been head of the planning programme for some 25 years. He has been Dean of the Faculty on three occasions. He served on the Durban Planning Appeals Committee for 14 years; was a member of the Natal Provincial Planning Appeals Committee for a three year term; has served on the KwaZulu-Natal Branch of SAPI for over 20 years; and was a founder of BESG (Built Environment Support Group) and was the chairman of its Board for 11 years.

Mr S M Maseko

Mr Maseko holds a B.Social Science degree from the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg (1992) and a MTRP from the University of Natal, Durban (1994). He has been a consulting Town and Regional Planner for eight years. He is a Member of the South African Council for Town and Regional Planners and a Corporate Member of the South African Planning Institute.

Prof P N D Nzimande

Professor Nzimande is a nurse, public administrator, researcher and well-seasoned academic and businesswoman. She graduated at the University of Natal, Durban in 1969 in Nursing Education, and holds a BA degree (UNIZUL) (1975) and D. Lit et Phil (UNISA) (1985). She is the co-owner and manager of Alberts Publishers cc, Alberts Nomandla Consultancy and Mpilo Enhle Pty (Ltd). She is a board member of the International Council of Nurses and the Commonwealth Nurses Federation. She is Professor Emeritus and past Vice-Dean of the University of Zululand and is currently chairperson of the Natal Museum. She is a strong development activist and is known nationally and internationally as a transformational and visionary leader.

Mrs C F Platt

Mrs Platt obtained a BA (Economics) from the University of Natal, Durban in 1976 and her MTRP (UND) in 1979. She is currently a member of the KwaZulu-Natal Development Tribunal and has twenty-four years of experience in the planning field. Mrs Platt is a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, a Member of South African Council for Town and Regional Planners and a Corporate Member of the South African Planning Institute. Mrs Platt is currently President of the South African Planning Institute.

Dr D S Rajah
Dr Rajah obtained a BA (Hons), MA and MTRP from the former University of Natal and a PhD from Cark University in the the United States. Dr Rajah was a a Fulbright scholar and also a recipient of several academic awards. He lectured in development and planning for twenty five years and was also the Vice-Rector at the former ML Sutan Technikon. He served in the National Assembly as a Member of Parliment., as M.E.C for planning and development at provincial government and more recently as a Councillor in the Ethekwini Municipality.

Mrs M E Winter
Mrs Winter was a Durban City Councilor and then Durban Metropolitan Councilor from 1980 to 1994. She was Chair of the Metropolitan Executive Committee from 1994 to 2000. Mrs Winter was Deputy Mayor of Durban between 1988 and 1991 and Mayor of Durban between 1992 and 1993. Mrs Winter has wide experience in planning matters through her involvement on various planning, development and environmental committees within the erstwhile Durban City Council.

Ms R Motala
Ms Motala a practicing Attorney specializing on Conveyancing, Property Law, Planning and Township Development, served as a member of the Private Townships Appeals Board from 1992 until 2007. Ms Motala was appointed on the panel of conveyancers to the eThekwini municipality and attended to the low cost convenyancing work for the former Department of Housing in Phoenix, Chatsworth and Newlands East. She has been appointed on the panel of Conveyances for the Department of Land Affairs in Pietermaritzburg and is the honorary legal adviser of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, who also serves as a Trustee of the Motala Education and Charity Trust. Ms Motala joined the Rotary Club of Durban in 2003 and serves on the Board of NELRU (Natal Early Learning Resource Unit).

Prof R Harber
Professor Harber is a practising Architect, Urban and Regional Planner, having retired fro the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Thereafter he taught at TU Darmstadt in Germany. He represents Architecture on the highest levels at UNESCO and the International Union of Architects, and also serves on the Council of the Africa Union of Architects. His lectures, papers and designs on housing, development issues, the impact of HIV/AIDS, architectural education, appropriate technology and conservation have been widely published and exhibited. He is a Council member of AMAFA KwaZulu-Natal, and also serves on a number of local bodies.