The NWU Policy Lab is a collaboration between North‑West University (Faculty of Humanities) and The Presidency to improve policy design, implementation and learning across the state. Hosted by NWU, the Lab serves as an implementation‑oriented space where researchers, practitioners, communities and social partners co‑create and test policy solutions.
- Safe spaces for policy dialogues, ideation and experimentation.
- Embedded pilots in live programmes with structured feedback loops.
- Capacity building through a Policy Research Fellows programme.
Mission
Improve policy making in South Africa through design, innovation, co creation, evidence driven and ubuntu centred approaches—delivering solutions, building capacity, and inspiring new thinking.
Deliver evidence‑based solutions
Translate and disseminate research that informs timely policy decisions.
Build professional capacity
Train and mentor Policy Research Fellows—especially young Black South Africans and women.
Inspire new thinking
Create safe spaces for collaboration, experimentation and policy dialogues.
Values
- Evidence & learning — rigorous, transparent, iterative.
- Ubuntu — people‑centred, inclusive and respectful of context.
- Co‑creation — multi‑stakeholder collaboration and shared ownership.
- Integrity & accountability — implementation compacts and public tracking.
- Innovation — design & systems thinking, strategic foresight, safe prototyping.
Priority focus areas
Water & basic services • Local government capability • Education & skills • Health & social services • Economic development & employment
Meet the Team
Costa Hofisi
Advisor / Co‑Lead
Costa Hofisi is a public policy specialist and governance practitioner with extensive experience supporting organisations to strengthen decision‑making, accountability, and service‑delivery systems. His work spans policy design, applied research, programme evaluation, and institutional capability enhancement across government and civil‑society sectors. Costa is particularly committed to advancing evidence‑informed policymaking and nurturing collaborative spaces where practitioners, researchers, and communities co‑create solutions. He has worked on complex public‑sector reform initiatives, providing strategic advisory support and leading multidisciplinary teams in the development of innovative approaches to policy implementation. With a strong appreciation for context and people‑centred design, Costa contributes to the Lab’s mission by ensuring rigorous analysis, adaptive learning, and integrity in the pursuit of impactful public‑sector outcomes.
Pulane Kole
Advisor / Co‑Lead
Pulane Kole is an emerging policy leader passionate about transforming public systems through inclusive engagement, thoughtful design, and locally grounded innovation. Her work intersects public administration, stakeholder coordination, and programme delivery, with a focus on improving how government collaborates with communities and social partners. Pulane has supported initiatives in governance strengthening, youth‑centred development, and institutional change management, bringing a practical yet reflective approach to problem‑solving. She is skilled in facilitating dialogue, synthesising insights, and developing strategies that balance technical rigour with real‑world feasibility. At the Policy Lab, Pulane contributes to co‑creation processes, experimentation cycles, and learning loops that help shape policies that are more responsive, implementable, and attuned to the lived experiences of South Africans.
Bongani Matomela
Governance Programme Manager
Bongani President Matomela is a governance and policy‑implementation specialist with deep experience in strengthening state capability and supporting multi‑stakeholder reform processes. As the Governance Programme Manager at the NWU Policy Lab, he oversees the coordination of policy dialogues, pilot projects, and implementation partnerships across government and civil‑society actors. Bongani’s expertise spans public‑sector governance, systems improvement, policy analysis, and delivery troubleshooting. With a strong grounding in stakeholder management and adaptive implementation, he is committed to bridging the gap between policy design and practice. He is particularly passionate about embedding accountability, evidence, and ubuntu‑centred approaches into public‑sector work. Bongani brings a strategic, structured, and people‑focused perspective that advances the Lab’s mission of strengthening South Africa’s developmental state.