Faith Makhubedu

Master of Development Policy and Practice in the bag 💼 I started this degree at the beginning of 2024. At the time I was the Chief Whip of the Official Opposition- @Our_DA. I knew it would be difficult to balance the academic demands; my job as a parliamentarian - during an election year. Half way through that year, I was appointed as a cabinet minister. One of the largest undertakings I’ve ever made. I briefly contemplated deferring; but this was an important commitment I’d made to myself. Through sheer stubbornness and the desire to gift myself a 3rd degree, I decided to continue. To say the following 18 months after that decision were hard, would be an understatement. It tested my resolve; my patience and stretched my intellect in ways I’ve never experienced before. 2025 was by far the hardest part of the academic journey. However, the @MandelaUCT School and my supervisor were incredibly supportive. Not only did I manage to complete this degree; I completely aced my dissertation. I’d begun work as the then Chief Whip of introducing legislation that would help South Africa manage coalition governments at a local, provincial and national government. Never did I think that my topic would be my lived reality. I researched the relationship between the political instability in the City of Johannesburg and the service delivery decline over 10 years. What an enlightening journey. A topic that I want to possibly expand on for my PhD one day. I want us to have a real academic and practical understanding of how we make coalition governments work better for the people of South Africa. 🇿🇦 Ndiyambulela uThixo, AmaWushe, my loved ones, my team and my incredible supervisor for pushing and encouraging me when times got tough. NQF 9 girlies are UP! 😊

Super excited to be unpacking You Get Better with Love with the incredible @noeleensaid . A beautiful reflection on vulnerability, growth, and self-love. Here is the link to RSVP. forms.gle/bj9hsWphKi3gf4…