Dr. RAJENDRAN T GOVENDER Executive Director
PhD (UKZN), MA (Cum Laude) (UDW), BA (Unisa), Dip.Edu (TCE), Dip. Journ. (UNION)
- Executive Director : Mzansi Empowerment Enterprise (MEE).
- Former Director: Arts and Culture, Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Artsand Culture.
- Past Chairperson of the Ford Foundation International Alumni Association
- Appointed as Social Cohesion Advocate by the National Minister of Arts, Culture, Sport & Recreation.
- Secretary-General of the Africa Association for Leadership and Social Justice (ARALS).
- Vice Chairman of the Social Justice Advocacy Campaign (SOJAC)
- Vice Chairman of the In kosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital Board
- International Advisor – Devlok – Worlds First Spiritual Theme Park –Thirupati, India and Africa coordinator – Swarved Uttarardha GyaanMahayajna – World’s largest meditation centre based in Varanasi,India and five other centres in India.
- Presenter on Capitol Radio in a weekly programme called “UbuntuRadio with Dr G” aimed at social cohesion and nation building.
- Has a Doctorate and Master’s Degree which he obtained Cum Laude for research undertaken in traditional Indian and Zulu rituals and practices.
- Received a Ford Foundation International Fellowship for his PhD Research as well as a post-doctoral fellowship at the Columbia University, New York.
- Appointed as Conference Convener for the Tamil Business Conference organized by the Tamil Business Warriors (TBW).
- Appointed by the World Bank based in Washington to prepare a brief on sustainable cultural development in South Africa.
- Presented a number of papers on aspects related to Culture and Diversity, Leadership and Entrepreneurship in various parts of the country and the world including Australia, India, Singapore, Malaysia,Mauritius, Great Britain, France, Canada, Turkey and the USA.
- Facilitator of cultural diversity and project management work shops geared towards empowering students, educators and community members.
- Regularly features on National TV and radio as a cultural commentator and features as a newspaper columnist. Writings and commentary based on social justice issues in South Africa and Africa.
- Founder member of, Prioritizing Education Now (PEN) an organization formed to assist disadvantaged learners to have access to basic and higher education in South Africa..
- Spent two months in USA on the invitation of the American Government to study minority cultures and arts administration.
- Represented South Africa on the Rotary International Group Study Exchange Programme, visiting France for a period of six weeks.
- Visited Turkey in 2010 and 2011 on the invitation of the Turquoise Harmony Institute to establish relations for Nation Building, social cohesion and tolerance.
- Received numerous awards including the Four Outstanding YoungSouth Africans Award; MEC’s Award for the most outstanding official in the Department of Arts and Culture; Award by the KZN Department of Arts and Culture in 2015 and 2016 as the best Senior Manager in the department; the Love to Live Nelson Mandela Peace Award the Premier’s Service Excellence award and the BMW Super tech Business Award for the best Government Department in KZN in 2014 and 2015 and numerous other community awards.