Curriculum Vitae
Lindiwe Ndlela
Address
Phone: +27 11 482 9568
Postnet Suite #259, Private Bag X30500, Houghton, 2041
Fax: +27 11 482 9542
South Africa
Cell: +27 82 371 9072
E-mail: lindiwe@pdg.co.za
Personal
Date of birth:
11 February 1970
Languages:
Zulu; Xhosa; Tswana; Sotho; English; Afrikaans
Education

M in Local Governance and Development, University of Witwatersrand, 2001

B.A. (Law, Industrial Sociology) University of Witwatersrand, 1993
Field of Specialisation
Policy research:
I have been part of various policy research projects throughout my career in local
government. These are listed below.
Project management:
In addition to leading projects which involves managing the client needs and
teams, I have been involved in project management projects. These are listed as
part of my experience in PDG in particular.
Gender:
I have contributed in the field of gender in the period between 1995 and 2003
and led the Women in Water project for the WRC between 2007 and 2010.
Democracy and Governance in Local Government:
Since 1995 I have been working mainly in the field of local government focusing
on capacity building, research and policy arena. Some of the highlights are
detailed below.
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Curriculum Vitae: Lindiwe Ndlela
Knowledge-sharing:
I have led a team that was supporting a number of municipalities in Limpopo,
Eastern Cape, North West and the Western Cape. As part of this programme, we
would bring municipalities together to share experiences. After this, I became the
SALGA Director: Knowledge Sharing Programme (KSP). Under the auspices of this
programme I managed the Horizontal Learning Programme (HOLOGRAM) with
funding from USAID. HOLOGRAM facilitated the establishment of learning the
networks required the development of a planning programme in consultation with
the members.
I have designed and facilitated the peer reviews for the District Water Services
Managers’ Forum, a learning network for the mangers responsible for water
services in district municipalities. This included designing and managing 3 peer
reviews and facilitating the learning workshops for the network.
PDG project experience
2012 – Present: Managing Director, Palmer Development Group
2008 – 2012: Chairperson of the Board, Palmer Development Group
2004 – Present: Palmer Development Group

Currently leading a team
framework for CoGTA.
developing
the
intergovernmental
planning

Recently led a team developing the framework and tools for the Gauteng
Premier Service Excellence Awards. Led a team for the same project in 20082009

Led a team assisting SALGA to develop a Local Government Position Paper on
an alternative approach to restructuring the electricity distribution industry.

Led leading a team assisting the SA Local Government Association to establish
and implement its inter-municipal partnerships framework.

Assisted National Treasury’s Technical Assistance Unit (TAU) with the
management of the Infrastructure Delivery Improvement Programme (IDIP). I
was part of a team that conducts quality assurance of improvement processes
in the provincial department responsible for social infrastructure as well as
design and implement project management processes for the technical
assistants participating in the programme.

Led a team that assisted the City of Johannesburg with the review of its
International Relations Strategy.

Led a team that assisted Cities Network with project managing the Indicators
Project in preparation for the next State of the Cities Report.

Led team developing the IGR Handbook for the Eastern Cape Department of
Local Government & Traditional Leadership

Led a team that developed the case studies for the City of Joburg Innovation
& Knowledge Exchange (JIKE) in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011.

Led a team that concluded the NSDP Alignment project for the Presidency

Led a team that developed the municipal performance report for KwaZuluNatal Department of Local Government.

Led a team conducting the Institutional Diagnostic Analysis for the Gauteng
Department of Local Government.
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Curriculum Vitae: Lindiwe Ndlela

Led a team developing criteria for success for Women in Water.

Led a team looking at the lessons learned in the Housing Accreditation process
for the national Department of Housing

Part of a team conducting benchmarking in the water sector.

Led the project management of the Vuna Awards 2006, 2007 and 2008 for
the dplg.

Led a team developing a Social Package Policy for the City of Joburg.

Led a team to conduct research on by-law infringements and service
breakdown in Ellis Park as part of the studies by the Johannesburg
Development Agency in the area.

Part of the team that conducted research for DPW on the EPWP Strategy
Review.
Previous employment

2003 (April – December): Director: Knowledge Sharing Programme at
South African Local Government Association (SALGA).

2000 – 2003:
Manager: Research & Documentation, IDASA

1998 – 2000:
Centre, IDASA
Programme

1996 – 1997: Researcher (gender, local government) Local Government
Information Centre, IDASA.
Manager:
Local
Government
Information
Special Projects
2011 – 2014: Member of the Municipal Accreditation Capacity and
Compliance Assessment Panel (CCAP) for the Department of Human
Settlements
The tasks of the CCAPP are to:
 Assess the existing capacity of priority municipalities to perform housing
functions in terms of the municipal accreditation framework;
 determine priority municipalities’ state of readiness to assume functions for
level two accreditation;
 Identify the housing delivery challenges/gaps and capacity in relation to these
challenges and make recommendations on the support required;
 Apply and maintain the principles of auditing to ensure the credibility of the
audit process; and
 Provide overall recommendations to the MEC’s as to the viability and
readiness of the municipalities to be accredited at the level applied for
(Compliance Certificate).
2003: Gender specialist, EU Mid-Term Review of Strengthening Local
Government, ARS Progetti Consultancy, Italy
 Part of a 4-member team reviewing an EU funded project for efficiency and
effectiveness.
 Reviewing the manner in which the project has taken gender into
consideration and looking at the participation of women specifically in the
project as beneficiaries.
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Curriculum Vitae: Lindiwe Ndlela
2002-2003: Team Leader, Recovery and Destruction of Firearms, Gun
Free South Africa (GFSA)
 Tracking the recovery of illegal firearms in 10 police stations throughout South
Africa over a period of 5 years.
2000-2002: Country Research Team Leader, Democracy and Inclusion in
Schools Howard Samuels State Management and Policy Centre, City
University of N.Y.

Coordinating the South African chapter of research on education reform in
South Africa; Conducting primary research; Commissioning research from
relevant institutions; Managing the process of data collection; and Writing
interim and final reports
Other professional contributions
2001: Professional Internship, U.S. Department of State Partners for
Leadership Program, Indiana University
Worked for F.O.C.U.S Greater Syracuse, a non-governmental organisation
working closely with the city government of Syracuse in community development,
as part of the internship.
1998: Fellow in the John Smith Fellowship Programme, United Kingdom,
Birmingham University
Worked for the Transport & General Workers’ Union in North London as part of
the internship.
Publications

Towards the Criteria Necessary for the Career Success of Women in the Water
Sector, WRC Report No. TT328/08, 2010.

Social development: An imperative for local government in Consolidating
Developmental Local Government – Lessons from the South African
Experiences, ed. Van Donk et al, 2008.

Shared Government Services in Onondaga County,
Syracuse, New York, United States (Unpublished).

Practical Guide to Local Government in South Africa, Idasa 2001.

Local Government for the 21st
Constitutional Development, 2000.

Practical Guide to Local Government in South Africa, Idasa 1997.

Department of Constitutional Development Chapter - Fourth Women's Budget,
Idasa 1999.

Department of Constitutional Development Chapter - Third Women's Budget,
Idasa.

Idasa ‘Rural women and local government’ – Creating Action Space, Idasa,
1998.
Century
–
Series
F.O.C.US.
2,
Greater
Department
of
4