Degrees Held
- PhD (Theology & Development) University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) 2023
- MA (Theology & Development) University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) 2007
- BA (Social Work Degree) University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) 1993
Research Interests
- Researching and Positioning Relevant Critical Engagement and Analysis of Scholastic Social Work Response Theologically to present-day to-day life challenges.
- How does work in HIV and AIDS interface between African Spirituality and Religion?
- What forms the basis of Resilience in Children, Women, and Men impacted directly or indirectly by HIV and AIDS? Exploring new theologies towards transformation and equipping communities to face challenges brought about by HIV and AIDS in a South African context.
- Master’s Degree in Theology and Development Studies: An Exploration Study of Children’s Spiritual Development working with Abandoned Children on their Perceptions of the Images of God.
Teaching Interests
- Theology & Community Development: To introduce students to align theology and community development contents and principles critically. Exploring deeper theological questions on how community and development can be aligned within theological circles, including the religio-cultural context.
- Gender, Religion & Health: To introduce students to the interrelated nature of Gender, Health, Religion, and the role of development in transforming communities. It enables students to pursue research on a wide variety of issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals. The module aims to nurture gender consciousness in faith-related matters. This includes engaging with topics such as women’s empowerment, queering development, gender in its intersections with the environment and development, and the interplay of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and disability in development work, among other factors.
- The following modules create a conducive learning environment for learning PRTH310, THEO312, THEO314, PRTH330, PRTH220 and PRTH221.
- SOWK 211 Working with Individuals and Families: – Casework Theory & Practice
- SOWK 401 Family Therapy, Psycho-social Support & Mental Health
- SOWK 4AP Field Placement Instruction & Community-Based Learning: Preparing Students for Implementation of Theory and Practice in Social Work Practice.
- Facilitating, convening monthly and coordinating supervision of Field Instruction of Supervisors.
- Creative Teaching and Learning skills in facilitating Active Listening, Participation, and Role Play, which appeal to the younger generation we encounter during lectures
Teaching Expertise
My experience and teaching philosophy have focused on enabling students to relate theory and practice in community development work, with critical theological reflection within an ever-changing African context, thereby fostering an environment conducive to action research and offering support and mentorship as they engage with communities in research. My role has been, and still is, to mentor junior upcoming researchers as they grow in academia, to exercise the ‘action-reflection’ praxis, and to serve as a liaison between the community and academia.
Researched and developed through action research and field-tested a Resource Manual for Churches on Sexual Gender Based Violence using Theological and Biblical Resources. Finished the United Nations (UNFPA) assignment of field-testing within 45 days in two provinces, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. This was very successful, and there is demand for more copies in local languages. To engage religious and Traditional leaders in the prevention of SGBV
Community Involvement
- A Research Associate in Ujamaa Research Centre within the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics
- A board member of the CHART-UMSAMO organisation
- Ma’at Institute Mentor facilitating the implementation of Psycho-social Support to communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Board member of KZN-CORE, the outreach program of the School of Social Work
- Board member of Sakhumzi NPO, the community-based organisation reaching out to vulnerable communities facing SGBV and Substance Abuse.
- Founding member of Siyaphila Support Groups for PLHIV in KZN province
- Founding member of (FLGTP) Faith Leaders Gender Transformation Committee
Research Interests
- Working with the Religious Sector Advocating for the Prevention of SGBV and Femicide.
- (CO-PI) Researcher on: “Breaking the Silence”- We Will Speak Out Mafia.com. A needs assessment of survivors of sexual violence in KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. (2014) -tilz.tearfund.org/…/TLZ/HIV/Breaking the silence pdf file
- (CO-PI) Researcher funded by TEARFUND.UK on: “If I Speak Out, Will It Change?” Listening to Survivors of Sexual Violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Liberia, Rwanda, Central African Republic (CAR), Tanzania, Ethiopia, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Namibia, and Lesotho
- “To Make Our Voices Heard” – tearfund.org/-media/files/HIV/make our voices heard pdf. file https://www.ncibi.nim.nih.gov/n/m catalogue 101574712
- “Waiting to Speak”-Tearfund Learn tilz.tearfund.org/-media/Learn tlz A needs Assessment of Survivors of Sexual Violence in the Western Cape S.A. with Hope Africa.
- “Are We Listening to Survivors? – Tearfund https://learn-tearfund.org/-media/Learn files/tilz/sgbv/2017.
2017
1) A critical reflection on the SACSSP code of ethical values that are challenging Social Work in an ever-changing context of HIV and AIDS in South Africa. (ASASWEI-ASSWA Social Work Conference)
2) Can debt be a barrier to decolonising education? A critical reflection on the Fees Must Fall campaign in UKZN. (ASASWEI-ASSWA Social Work Conference)
3) ‘Support Groups as critical sites of religious engagement with lived realities of human rights struggles: A case study of Siyaphila, in KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa.’
4) AIDS Conference in Durban 2017 presentation workshop on Sugar Daddies and transactional sex among young girls living in poverty and HIV/AIDS.
2018
1) Reframing Disability in Africa: Spaces for Reason, Responsibility for Social Change and Transformation Conference.: The intersections of Disability, Culture and Human Rights: What is happening in Africa?
Transforming Faith Communities into Safe Space: Conversations on Gender, Health, Religion, Culture and Disability.
4th Annual Conference in UKZN https://www.ukzn.ac./news/reframing-disability-in-Africa-discussed-at-the-4th Annual Conference.
2) Joint Conference of Academic Societies in the field of Religion and Theology
Bongi Zengele, University of KwaZulu-Natal and Dr Deborah Mindry, University of California, Los Angeles:
4) ‘Support Groups as critical sites of religious engagement with lived realities of human rights struggles: A case study of Siyaphila, in KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa.’
2019
What happened to support groups in the era of HIV test and treat? Lessons learned from the Siyaphila network of PLHIV in KwaZulu-Natal<|join|>Lessons learned from the Siyaphila network of PLHIV in KwaZulu-Natal
2020
Webinar Presentation at UJAMAA Research Centre on the Annual Mzwandile Nunes Memorial Lecture on ‘Juxtaposing the impact of HIV and Covid-19 on the South African economy: Implications for unemployed youth.
2021
Webinar Presentation at University of Zululand, invitation by the Pastoral Care Unit in the office of the Vice Chancellor on ‘Rape and Suicide’
2026
Granted UKZN Research Grant for Emerging Academics on a joint interdisciplinary research project titled “Restorative Justice and Gender-Based Violence: A Theological-Criminological-Social Work Inquiry in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa” with Drs Ntuli and Mzinyane from Criminology and Social Work disciplines.
Selected Publications
- Zengele, Bongi 2014 ‘Church Resource Manual on Sexual Gender Based Violence: Contextual Bible Studies to Transform our Response to Sexual Gender Based Violence. A project of We Will Speak Out South Africa, funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
- West, Gerald and Zengele, Bongi 2006 ‘The medicine of God’s word: what people want (and get) from the Bible’ Journal of Theology for Southern Africa 125:51-63.
- Zengele, Bongi 2008 Conference Presentation for AACC 7-12 December 2008 Maputo, ‘Youth Becoming a Caring and Healing Community: Cultural Practices that lead to positive behaviours.’
- Telling the Ujamaa Centre Story CIHA-Blog https://www.chablog.com/telling-the-ujamaa-centre-story
- West, Gerald O., and Zengele Bongi. “Reading Job ‘Positively’ in the Context of HIV/AIDS in South Africa.” Concilium 4 (2004): 112-24.
- Zengele, Bongi 2009 (submitted to Cartography CHART book project) A response to an academic paper by an Activist: ‘Children, HIV and AIDS in Religion’
- Zengele, Bongi 2009 (submitted to Cartography CHART project) A response to an academic paper by an Activist: ‘Religion and Policy in the Context of HIV and AIDS’ Chart.ukzn.ac.za/index.php/people
- Zengele, Bongi 2017 (a chapter in a book) ‘Let the Children Come to Me’, edited by Ezra Chitando & Nyambura Njoronge
- Zengele, Bongi 2020 (a training manual) A toolkit for Multi-faith leaders: Christians, Baha’i, Buddhism, Islamic and Traditional Healers. Sonke Gender Justice Initiative.
- Zengele, Bongi 2020 Engaging traditional and religious leadership on gender transformation resource manual: MenEngage Africa Alliance link https://menengageafrica.org/publication/engaging-traditional-and-inter-religious-leadership-on-gender-transformation-resource-manual//
Community Involvement
- A Research Associate in Ujamaa Research Centre within the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics
- Ma’at Institute Mentor facilitating the implementation of Psycho-social Support to communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Board member of KZN-CORE, the outreach program of the School of Social Work
- Board -member of Sakhumzi NPO, the community-based organisation reaching out to vulnerable communities facing SGBV and Substance Abuse.
- Founding member of Siyaphila Support Groups for PLHIV in KZN province
- Founding member of (FLGTP) Faith Leaders Gender Transformation Committee
Student Supervision
- Mr Emanuel Mboya (2012) A Critical Analysis of How Children who live in the Streets/ Street Children Pray
- Mr James Miriango (2013) A Critical Analysis of (RGC) Redeemed Gospel Church’s Doctrine of Holiness in working with HIV and AIDS in handling Stigma and Discrimination
- Mr Ishechete Mpofu (2025). Exploring the formation of Transformative Masculinity (-ies) in a Zimbabwean Family.
- Ms Nonjabulo Nhlamayo (2025) The Impact of Gender Inequality & Sustainable Development Goals in Pentecostal Theology, within the Twelve Apostolic Church.
- Mr Joseph Mosoeu (2020) ‘Sihlukumezekile!! The Elderly Talk of their Experiences of Elder Vulnerability in KwaSwayimani.
- Ms Nosipho Chonco (2021). Sexual Reproductive Health Issues: Exploring the Perceptions of Young Women in the Post-Teenage Pregnancy Experiences.
- Mr Cyprian Malindisa (2022). School-Based Violence: Exploring Educators’ Perceptions and Experiences at The Gem Combined School in Mpumalanga.
- Nontsikelelo Pearl Zondi (2025). Exploring the Psychosocial Effects of Climate Change on Mayville Informal Settlement Dwellers in Durban