Palesa M. Mofokeng

I am Palesa M. Mofokeng, a PhD candidate at the University of the Witwatersrand dedicated to shaping the future of technology and social impact in South Africa. My doctoral research, which I am on track to complete by 2027, explores the governance mechanisms shaping artificial intelligence adoption within digital literacy skills NPOs. I am driven by the need to understand how structured oversight can empower the third sector to bridge the digital divide effectively while capacitating the youth for an AI-driven labour market..

My academic journey has been defined by a commitment to rigorous scholarship and global engagement. A significant professional highlight was my acceptance into the Wits Doctoral Academy, where I successfully completed my foundational year. I have also had the privilege of contributing to the broader academic discourse by presenting my research proposal at the 16th Cross-Faculty Postgraduate Symposium and, most recently, sharing my research at the 6th African Philanthropy Conference in Egypt.

Through my affiliation with Wits, I aim to bridge the gap between emerging AI technologies and sustainable social investment. My work is centred on ensuring that as we move toward an AI-driven economy, NPO governance frameworks remain inclusive, ethical, and geared toward empowering South African communities.