Dr David Matheakuena Mohale is a South African public servant, author, and community development activist from Theunissen, Lejweleputswa in the Free State.
Education background
Dr David Matheakuena Mohale has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy Management from Wits University and a BA Degree (Cum Laude) from the Central University of Technology, Free State.
He also holds a PhD in the field of Development Studies from the University of South Africa.
Dr Mohale also holds a Doctor of Literature and Philosophy.
He also holds various certificates ranging from leadership to local government planning, processes, systems, and structures.
Career
Immediately after his completion of the BA Degree, he was appointed as a Student Assistant in the Welkom Campus English Department of Central University of Technology.
Other employment responsibilities included working as a substitute English teacher as St. Edmund Rice Private School and freelance journalist for Cape Town based Soccer-Laduma newspaper.
Dr Matheakuena has worked extensively in the local government sphere, where he has served as a Senior Researcher in the office of the Speaker, Communication Officer and later the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Mayor in Masilonyana Local Municipality.
He also worked as a Senior Manager in the Office of the Speaker; Matjhabeng Local Municipality from November 2012 until April 2017.
He also had a short stint as Acting Director for Local Economic Development.
He has served in various leadership responsibilities which include the following, amongst others; Spokesperson of the Regional Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC) for 5 years, Spokesperson of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in Free State, member of the Provincial Executive Committees (PECs) of Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA), Chairperson of the South African Students Congress (SASCO) in Free State, Students’ Representative Council (SRC) President for two terms and CUT Deputy President of Alumni Association.
Since 2017, he has been working as the Director of Special Projects in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the Durban University of Technology where he is responsible for promoting quality service delivery and open communication on transformation and change.
At the Durban University of Technology, he also provides strategic support to the Vice-Chancellor including driving stakeholder engagement.
In March 2019, he was appointed as the youngest member of the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) during which he served as the Chairperson of the Research and Knowledge Management Committee.
In March 2022, he was appointed to the Free State Development Corporation’s (FDC’s) Board of Directors as the Chairperson.
In February 2024, Dr David Matheakuena Mohale was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa as the Deputy Chairperson of the Municipal Demarcation Board for a five-year term, with effect from 1 March 2024, under Chairperson, Thabo Moses Manyoni.
Dr Matheakuena is a published author and has presented papers at one national conference and several international conferences focusing on themes such as the developmental state, the developmental local government, local economic development, corruption, and many others.
He holds several awards and has been invited as a penal member in numerous platforms that discussed national development issues, including the then draft National Development Plan (NDP) in 2012.
He is also a mentor to several young people in the Free State and also doubles up as a community development activist.
