Degrees Held
- PhD (Social Work), UKZN
- Master of Social Sciences (Social Work), UKZN
- Post Graduate Diploma in Public Admin, UNISA
- Bachelor of Social Work, UKZN
Research Interests
- Social Work and Crime Management,
- Disaster Management and Green Social Work
- Decolonisation, Afrocentrism and Epistemic Justice
- Child Justice Issues,
- Restorative Justice
- Socio-legal issues
- Social Work education
- Therapeutic Jurisprudence
Teaching Interests
- Social Policy and Legislation
- Child, Youth and Family Centred Work
- Social Work Practice
- Social Work Research Methods and Report
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Chapters in Book
Journal Articles
- Gumbi, S. N., Ajodhia, S., Nduli, S. B., Mzinyane, B. M., & Mfishi, Z. (2026). The complexities of becoming: a collaborative autoethnography on navigating doctoral studies and academic roles in social work education, South Africa. Social Work Education, 1-16. (Q1 Journal)
- Gumbi S.N. & Mzinyane B (2026). A Critical Ecological Perspective on Digital Social Work Teaching, Learning, and Formative Assessment as Climate Adaptation and Social Justice in Post-Apartheid South Africa. OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
- Mzinyane, B. (2026). The weight of unwritten light: a challenge to the global archive. Journal of Postcolonial Writing, 62(3), 465. https://doi.org/10.1080/17449855.2026.2624647 (Q1 journal)
- Mzinyane, B., & Munoangira, N. (2025). Afrocentric social work perspectives on traditional community courts in South Africa and Zimbabwe: a collaborative autoethnography. Journal of Social Work Practice, 39(4), 403-417. (Q1 Journal)
- Mzinyane, B., & Makhanya, T. B. (2025). The People’s charter for an eco-social world: a framework for Afrocentric social work in the wake of climate change. Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development, 37(Supplementary), 18-pages.
- Makhanya, T. B., & Mzinyane, B. M. (2025). Mazibuyele emasisweni: the nexus of Ubuntu philosophy, climate change and green social work. Critical and Radical Social Work, 13(3), 370-387. (Q2 Journal)
- Munoangira, N., Mzinyane, B., Charamba, S., & Simango, T. G. (2024). Transcending boundaries on unequal ground: A critical reimagination of global North-South cooperation on social work practice and the Sustainable Development Goals. Journal of Social Development in Africa, 39(2), 17-41.
- Mzinyane, B., Ajodhia, S., Gumbi, S. N., Khumalo, G., Nduli, S. B., Mfishi, Z., … & Funeka, N. (2024). An autoethnography of disaster response work with low-income communities in KZN: Implications for Afrocentric social work. Journal of Social Development in Africa, 39(2), 42-67.
- Motloung, S., & Mzinyane, B. (2023). Adapting the social work curriculum for relevance in a South African university: a collaborative autoethnography of social work academics during the KZN floods. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 59(4), 403-418.
- Mzinyane, B. M. (2023). Unsettling apologies: critical writings on apology in South Africa: by M. Judge and D. Smythe, Great Britain, Bristol, Bristol University Press, 2022, 312 pp., (e-PDF)-$44,99 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-5292-2798-7. Social Work Education, 42(2), 280–284. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2023.2181533 (Q1 Journal) – Book Review Not peer reviewed
Chapters in Book
- Mzinyane B (2026). Postcolonial Periphery: A Social Work Perspective on Informal Settlements, Disaster Vulnerability, and the Limits of “Just” Transition in South Africa. In Mawere M & Nyahunda L (Eds). Disaster Response and the Africa We Want, pp81-95. Langaa Research and Publication Common Initiative Group.
- Charamba, S., Simango, T. G., Mzinyane, B., Munoangira, N., & Pedzisai, E. (2026). The vulnerability of Southern African countries to climate change-related disasters and their state of preparedness: A comparative analysis between Zimbabwe and South Africa. Disaster Response and the Africa We Want, 431.
- Simango, TG., Charamba, S & Munoangira N, Mzinyane B. (2026). Development and Disasters: Insights from Green Social Work on an Oxymoron with a Reciprocal Intimacy from Zimbabwe and South Africa. Disaster Response and the Africa We Want, 281.
- Ngcobo, N., Mzinyane, B., & Zibane, S. (2023). Responding to Concurrent Disasters: Lessons Learnt by Social Work Academics Engaging with Flood Survivors during a COVID-19 Pandemic, in South African Townships. South African townships, 166.
- Mzinyane, B. M., & Motloung, S. (2022). Reflecting on Digital Summative Assessments during COVID-19 Lockdown in a South African University: the accounts of Social Work Academics. Assessment through Digital Platforms within Higher Education Studies, 241-262.
University Administration
- (From Jan 2025 to date) Teaching and Learning Coordinator (Programme Coordinator): Bachelor of Social Work
- (From Jan 2025 to date) Undergraduate Examinations Coordinator
- (2024- 2024) Community Engagement Departmental Representative
- (2020- to date), Field Practice Committee member, this Committee interacts with Social Work organizations across the country in order to coordinate the placements and interventions of student social workers
Professional Memberships
- Registered Social Worker (SACSSP) https://www.sacssp.co.za/directory/find-professional
- Member: Africa Network For Environmental Social Work And Disaster Management (ANESW)
- ASASWEI SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP- Environmental Social Work
Teaching Expertise
- Social Work
- Social Policy and Social Work
- Social Work related legislation
- Social Work Practice
Community Engagements
- Opinion Editorial SABC News (Criminal Social Work Analysis of Julius Malema’s sentencing): https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/opionion-social-workers-role-in-malemas-survival-at-pre-sentence-proceedings/
- Opinion Editorial SABC News (Green Social Work and Criminal Justice Social Work intersection): https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/opinion-spring-day-water-splash-climate-change-and-crime/
- Opinion Ed (The Witness)- Limpopo Floods: https://witness.co.za/opinion/2026/01/21/opinion-why-sas-crisis-is-daily-not-declarable/
- Course Developer and Trainer: National SASSETA Project on Crowd Psychology for Public Order Police (2024), under the MA’AT
- (2022 to 2025), Board Member, UKZNCORE
- (2021-2022). Board Chairperson. UKZNCORE is an NPO in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, that renders serves families, youth and children. The organization offers a wide range of social work services including community outreach, therapy, research, amongst other services.
- (2020-2021), Board Member, UKZNCORE is an NPO in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, that renders serves families, youth and children. The organization offers a wide range of social work services including community outreach, therapy, research, amongst other services.
- (2013-2015), Secretary, Ladysmith Substance Abuse Forum. The Mayor chaired the forum. It dealt with inter-sectoral collaboration in the war against drug abuse.
Academic Citizenship
- Peer Reviewer: African Journal for Social Work
- Peer Reviewer: Sustainable Development (Wiley and Sons)
- Peer Reviewer: Alternations
- External and Internal Examiner (Higher Degrees- Master’s and PhD)
- Editorial Board Member (since 2023). Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk
- Member of Special Interest Group (ASASWEI): Environmental Social Work
- Member: Africa Network for Environmental Social Work and Disaster Management (ANESW)
Student Supervision
Masters
Masters
Completed
- Mchunu Sibonelo- MASTERS- SOCIAL WORK (Completed 2026) Navigating stigma, recovery and self- identity among those labelled as “amaphara” accessing a harm reduction centre in Durban: a qualitative exploratory study
- Pitswane Bonolo – MASTERS- SOCIAL WORK (Graduated 2026) Bullying in a multicultural secondary school in Chatsworth: a case study of learners’ perceptions and experiences
- Thundzi, Mandisa – MASTERS- SOCIAL WORK (2025, graduated). “An exploration of experiences of elderly African women caring for non-biological children with out a statutory mandate: Mnquma Local municipality, Eastern Cape”
- Nzuza, Sihawukelo Khanyisile – MASTERS- SOCIAL WORK (2025, graduated). “Social Workers’ Relevance, Roles, and Preparedness for climate change disasters: an exploratory-descriptive study in Ulundi municipal area”
- Manyawu, Vimbai – MASTERS- SOCIAL WORK (2023, graduated). “Challenges and coping mechanisms of parents of teenage mothers in a Pregnancy Crisis Centre, Mpumalanga province, South Africa: an exploratory-descriptive study”.
- Mngomezulu S (Submitted for examination mid July 2026)– Exploring the experiences and perceptions of implementers and end users of community corrections programmes in a selected centre, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa: Implications for social work practice