Dr Mphumzi Makeleni is a Lecturer in Economics at Nelson Mandela University (South Africa), where he serves as the BCom General (Economics stream) Extended Programme Coordinator, MCom Economics Coursework Coordinator, and a School Research Management Committee Member.
He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of the Western Cape. His research is situated in applied econometrics and macroeconomics, with emphasis on economic growth, financial development and financial inclusion, and the insurance–finance–growth nexus in South Africa, using time-series and panel methods (Stata, R, EViews).
He has presented research at the Development Finance Conference and the African Finance Association Conference, invited as a panellist at Science Forum South Africa 2025, and chaired parallel conference sessions in development finance and in capital markets, money and banking.
He previously worked as a Lecturer and Research Assistant at the University of the Western Cape and currently holds a National Policy Director appointment with responsibilities for policy design and governance oversight, including chairing a national policy committee and convening the formal policy approval and review process.