Kagisho Nkadimeng is an NRF Research Associate as ASRI. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Sociology and International Relations majors from the University of the Witwatersrand. Kagisho is also enrolled for an Honours degree in Organisational and Institutional Studies (OIS) at the University of the Witwatersrand. Kagisho’s research interests include how municipal by-laws affect the informal economy, local economic development, international development, entrepreneurship, education as a tool for socioeconomic development and foreign policy. Kagisho ran the Wits Students’ Business Society whilst still at Wits. While at Wits, he was a member of the Fees Must Fall and Outsourcing Must Fall movements during 2015 and 2016. Kagisho is also a part of the ASRI’s Future Leaders Programme (FLP) of 2020/2021.
Reflection on my ASRI FLP 2020/2021 experience
I gained a deep understanding of how different components of society work, from government (at all levels), civil society and business. This was great because it allowed me to see how some problems need collective action to be resolved. For example, government is concerned about the high unemployment rate. So in attempting to eradicate unemployment, companies should be incentivised to hire more people through various schemes such as favourable employment, taxation regulations and so forth.
The programme facilitated by personal growth in the sense that I see society as a complex interplay of different groups and individuals seeking what they think is right. However, compromises ought to be made from everyone for the collective good.
The programme was great in the sense that it allowed us to interact with people who we would ordinarily not have access to and in so doing, we were able to network with them and possibly get to collaborate with them in the future.
I think the programme will forever be a part of me because I will use the analytical skills gained there. Additionally, as part of this cohort, I think the people I was in the program with will forever be professional peers.