Tertiary training
2005 BSc. (Biological Sciences), University of South Africa

2012 MSc. (Disaster Management), University of the Free State

2009 Ph.D. (Conservation Ecology), University of the Witwatersrand

                Work experience

April 2013 – December 2014: Ekurhuleni Municipality (Deputy Manager), Bedfordview

March 2019 –September 2019: National Disaster Management (Assistant Director), Pretoria

September 2018 – May 2020: Southern Business School (Part-time lecturer), Johannesburg

June 2020 – present: UFS-DiMTEC (Lecturer; Short Learning Programme coordinator

1. Journal Publications
   1. Raphela, T. D., & Pillay, N. (2021). Influence of Wildlife Crop Raiding on Subsistence Farmers’ Food Security Adjacent to Hluhluwe Game Reserve, South Africa. Conservation and Society, 19, 2, 111: doi: 10.4103/cs.cs_20_102
   2. Raphela, T. D., & Pillay, N. (2021). Explaining the effect of crop-raiding on food Security of subsistence farmers of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, 232: doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.687177.
   3. Raphela, T.D. and Pillay, N. (2021). Quantifying the nutritional and income loss caused by crop raiding in a rural African subsistence farming community in South Africa. Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 13(1). doi: 10.4102/Jamba. v13i1.1040
   4. Raphela, T.D., and Kevin, D., 2022. The impact of Lantana camara on invertebrates and plant species of the Groenkloof Nature Reserve, South Africa. Zoological Studies, 61(33). https://doi.org/10.6620/ZS.2022.6 1-33
   5. Raphela, T.D., and Kevin, D., 2023. Effects of the Density of Invasive Lantana camara Plants on the Biodiversity of Large and Small Mammals in the Groenkloof Nature Reserve (GNR) in South Africa. Biology 2023, 12, 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12020296
   6. Raphela, T.; Ndaba, N. Assessment of Fire Safety Management for Special Needs Schools in South Africa. Safety 2024, 10(2), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety10020043.
   7. Raphela T, Manqele N and Erasmus M (2024). The impact of improper waste disposal on human health and the environment: a case of uMgungundlovu District in KwaZulu Natal, Province, South Africa. Front. Sustain. 5:1386047.https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2024.1386047
   8. Raphela, T.D. & Ndaba, N., 2024, ‘The fire hazard preparedness of special needs schools in the North-west Province, South Africa,’ Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 16(1), a1669. https://doi.org/ 10.4102/
   9. Letebele, K., De Araujo, M., Belle, J., Shigwedha, F., Bakajika, L., Ochieng, G., Johann, G., Raphela, T., Yoedsel, J., Gaudry, K., Samuel, G. Lessons learned from the Risk-Informed Urban Development (RIUD) initiatives in the SADC Region. 2024. Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 6(2), https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v16i2.1793.
   10. Raphela, T.D., 2024. Resilience and preparedness of hospitals for pandemics: Lessons learned from COVID-19’, Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 16(1), a1804. https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v16i2.1804.
   11. Raphela, T.D., 2024. Was it about COVID-19 vaccine acceptance or employee livelihoods: A case of the Numbi Gate of the Kruger National Park, South Africa, Journal of Ecohumanism 3(8) https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i8.5012
   12. Raphela, T.D. and Matsididi, M., 2025. The causes and impacts of flood risks in South Africa. Frontiers in Water, 6, p.1524533. https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2024.1524533
   13. Baloyi A P; Ncube A. and Raphela Tlou. D. 2024. Assessing the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers in South Africa: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Public Health Reviews.
   14. . Raphela, T.D. and Tjantjies, S., 2025. Socioeconomic conditions exacerbated by the coronavirus in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, p.1526309.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1526309
   15. Raphela, T.D., and Ekeke, N. 2025. Resilience and the dissemination of flood disaster early warning messages in a township in South Africa. Frontiers in Communication, Disaster communications, 10, p.1503016. doi: 10.3389/fcomm.2025.1503016
   16. Raphela Tlou D.* and Magagula H.T. 2025. Investigating the psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers of Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Frontiers in Psychology-Health Psychology
   17. Veldkornet D, September-Van Huffel. A. L.; Raphela T. D. 2025. Exploring the Legal Implications of Conservation Practices and Private Property on Local and Indigenous Communities` Land Tenure Rights. Journal of Law, Society and Development.

1. Raphela, T. D., & Pillay, N. 2021. Explaining the effect of crop-raiding on food Security of subsistence farmers of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, 232: https://doi:10.3389/fsufs.2021.687177

2. Raphela, T. D., & Pillay, N. 2021. Influence of Wildlife Crop Raiding on Subsistence Farmers` Food Security Adjacent to Hluhluwe Game Reserve, South Africa. Conservation and Society, 19(2), 111. https://doi:10.4103/cs.cs_20_102

3. Raphela, T.D. and Pillay, N., 2021. Quantifying the nutritional and income loss caused by crop raiding in a rural African subsistence farming community in South Africa. Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1102/jamba.v13i1.1040\

4. Raphela, T.D., and Kevin, D., 2022. The impact of Lantana camara on invertebrates and plant species of the Groenkloof Nature Reserve, South Africa. Zoological Studies, 61(33). https://doi.org/10.6620/ZS.2022.61-33  

5. Raphela, T. D., and Kevin J. Duffy. Effects of the Density of Invasive Lantana camara Plants on the Biodiversity of Large and Small Mammals in the Groenkloof Nature Reserve (GNR) in South Africa." Biology 12, no. 2 (2023): 296.  https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12020296

Conference/Symposium Papers presented.  

1. Raphela T. D. 2024. Resilience and Preparedness of hospitals for pandemics. African Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. Windhoek, Namibia, 21-24 October 2024

2.Raphela T. D. 2024. Resilience and Preparedness of hospitals for pandemics. The 1^st World Policy Conference. Cape Town, South Africa, 24-27 November 2024

3.Raphela T. D. 2024. The causes and impacts of floods in South Africa. The 8^th International Symposium of Flash Floods of the Wadi System., Al Ain, UAE, 3-7 November 2024.

4.Raphela T. D. 2024. Gauging and understanding environmental knowledge in ecosystem services conservation. The 14^th International Conference of the International Society for the Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRiM, Virtual), “Disaster Resilient Communities for Life” Cartagena de Indias, Columbia, USA, 28-30 August 2024.

5.Raphela T. D . 2024. Environment, Ecosystems, and Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction. Biannual Adaptation Network Colloquium on Climate Change: University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. 14-18 July 2024.

6.Veldkornet D, September-Van Huffel. A. L.; Raphela T. D. 2024. Unraveling the Nexus: Exploring legal ramifications conservation practices on local community access to natural resources in South Africa. 1^st International Security of Land Tenure Conferences: University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. 06-08 May 2024.

7.Raphela T.D. 2024. Empowering African communities: sustainable rural livelihoods and holistic environmental resource management. Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs biennial international conference themed: in search of lasting solutions for prosperous and democratic governance in Africa. University of South Africa: Venue: UNISA, South Africa. 24-26 April 2024

8. Raphela T. D. 2023. Exploring the effectiveness of Community-Based-Conservation Initiatives in promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecosystem management in Africa. The 5th Euro-Mediterranean Conference for Environmental Integration (EMCEI-23). Italy, Rende, University of Calabria. (Face to Face). 02- 05/10/2023.

9. Raphela T. D. 2023. The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Mental Impacts on Motor Industry Workers in South Africa. The 7^th International Symposium on Natural Hazard-Triggered Technological Accidents. (Pre-recorded International Scientific Conference Natech 2023 (Virtual). IDRM, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. 20-30^th June 2023

10. Raphela T. D. 2023. Fire safety management in the artificial intelligence era in developing countries. The 3^rd Fire Engineering and Disaster Management. (Pre-recorded International Scientific Conference, virtual). University of PublicServices,InstituteofDisasterManagement,Hungary.26April2023.https://vedelem.hu/letoltes/document/585-isbn-978-615-01-8104-2.pdf

11. Raphela T. D. and Kevin D. 2023. The impact of Lantana camara on invertebrates and plant species of the Groenkloof Nature Reserve, South Africa. 5th Global Change Conference: University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. 31 January-02 February 2023.

12. Raphela T. D. 2023. The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Mental Impacts on Motor Industry Workers in South Africa. The 7th International Symposium on Natural Hazard-Triggered Technological Accidents. The University of Sichuan, Chengdu, China (Virtual). 29-30 June 2023.

13. Raphela T. D. 2022. Farming on hilly terrains of South Africa. The 1st International Southern African Mountain Conference (oral in-person presentation): The Drakensberg, South Africa. 14-17 March 2022.

14.Raphela T. D and Pillay N. 2022. The levels of crop raiding by rodents and primates in a subsistence farming community in South Africa. Intersol2022: EAI the 5th International Conference on Innovations and Interdisciplinary Solutions for Underserved Areas (Virtual Oral Presentation): Abuja, Nigeria. 22-24 March 2022.

15. Raphela T. D. 2022. Relationship between mental health and COVID-19 amongst the University students in South Africa. The 5th International Conference on Research in Social Sciences (RSSCONF): (Virtual Oral presentation): Paris, France. 08-10 April 2022.

16. Raphela T. D. and Ncube A. 2022. The Health Impact of shack fires on an informal settlement in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The 2nd Fire Engineering and Disaster Management. (Pre-recorded International Scientific Conference). University of Public Services, Institute of Disaster Management, Hungary. 26 April 2022.

17. Raphela T. D. 2022. The well-being of university students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.13th Dealing with Disaster Conference, New Castle, North Umbria University, UK. 09-10 June April 2022.

18. Raphela T. D. and Hlalele BM. 2022. Modeling external risk to agricultural development projects using a Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) and Standardized Precipitation Indices (SPI). The global Interdisciplinary Green Cities Conference 2022, Lucerne University of Applied Science and Arts, Luzern, Switzerland, 21-25 June 2022.

19. Raphela T. D. 2022. Evaluating the resilience of hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 12^th International Conference of the International Society for the Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRiM, Virtual), “Disaster Resilient Communities for Life” Babes Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 21-23 September 2022.

20. Raphela T.D. and Maisiri K.M. 2022. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on e-learning among undergraduate students at the University of the Free State in South Africa, The 5^th Annual Free State Provincial Research Colloquium, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, 26-28 September 2022

21. Raphela T. D. 2022. The Health Care System vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19. The 5^th biennial Southern Africa Society for Disaster Reduction (SASDiR). Malawi, 26-28 October 2022

22. Raphela T.D. 2022. The effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of students in the Free State Province, South Africa. Intercontinental Hotel, Mauritius, 19-21 October 2022

23. Raphela T.D. and Maisiri K.M. 2022. The Changes in Evening Screen exposure and Sleep disturbances during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Intercontinental Hotel, Mauritius, 19-21 October 2022

24. Raphela T. D. and Pillay N. 2021. Energy and income cost of crop raiding to subsistence homesteads abutting the Hluhluwe Game Reserve, South Africa. Nature-based solutions, gender equity and interconnectivity for climate resilience in Africa. EAI 4th International Conference on Innovations and Interdisciplinary Solutions for Underserved Areas (Virtual poster presentation): Nairobi, Kenya. 12-13 April 2021.

25. Raphela T. D. and Pillay N. 2021. Crop Raiding by Wildlife of the neighboring conservation area on subsistence homesteads in Northern KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. 3rd International Symposium on Biodiversity Research (Virtual Oral presentation). Turkey, 20-22 October 2021.

26. Raphela T. D. 2021. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on e-learning among undergraduate students at the University of the Free State in South Africa. Social Sciences International Research Conference (Virtual Oral presentation): North-West University, 13-15 October 2021.

27. Raphela T. D. and Dufy K. 2020. Effects of Lantana camara on small mammals’ biodiversity of the Groenkloof Nature Reserve, South Africa. Biodiversity Research Symposium. 2nd international symposium on biodiversity research (Virtual Oral presentation): Rize, Turkey. 18-20 November 2020.

28. Raphela T. D and Pillay N. 2018. Crop raiding behaviour of wildlife on subsistence homesteads in Northern KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Sustainable futures through science and innovation. 4th National Global Change Conference: Bolivia Lodge, Polokwane. 03-06 December 2018.

Social issues interfaced with environmental issues.

Human-wildlife conflict

Disaster Mental and Public Health

Psychosocial impacts of disasters 

Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction

Disaster Mental Health (DIMH 7910)

Disaster Public Health (DIMP5810)

Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (DIMD 7910)

Committee Memberships

1. Chairperson Secondee of the Faculty Engaged Scholarship Committee (FESCO) committee (Faculty level).
2. General Human Ethics Reviewer (Faculty level).
3. Community Liaison Officer for the (Department level)
4. Occupational Health and safety officer (Department level)

Administrative Roles

1. Short Learning Program Coordinator (Department level)

Courses coordinated and facilitated.

• 2022 Introduction to Disaster Management (September: Income to UFS: R50 000)
• 2022 Annual Block Course (February-March: Income to UFS: R100.000)

Outreach and Engagement

1. Invited: Guest Lecturers for a refresher course on “Making Southern African cities greener in a time of climate change: Strategies to reduce water and food production vulnerabilities caused by water extremes” by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Dutch organization for internationalisation in education. under the Global Development program, under the topic: Strategies to Reduce Food Insecurity in Times of Climate Change in South Africa: Focus on Poor and Indigenous Communities. The refresher course was held virtually between 26 October and 5 November 2021
2. Invited to speak at the Fire safety at the launch held at Middle Water Farm on the 26^th of May 2022.  Integrated Fire Management Awareness Program is the highest platform constituted by the Free State Provincial Government for fire mitigation Strategies, to conduct fire awareness campaigns around the Free State Province. 
3. Invited to speak on the Jagersfontein tailing dam Provincial Disaster by the Eastern Cape Provincial Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) during their stakeholder engagement session on dam safety and management -28^th.
4. Invited to speak at the 1) Interdepartmental Informal Settlement Technical Task Team and 2) The Advisory forum of the City of Ekurhuleni about the Development of an Integrated Flood Management Framework for the city on the 21^st and 29^th of 2023 respectively.
5. Invited as a Guest Speaker by RAMS MAT events to address the women`s conference in my capacity as the community liaison officer of the University of the free state Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa

Professional Development

1. 2021-Supervisors of Doctoral Candidates at African Universities with the University of Stellenbosch
2. 2021-Introduction to Research Ethics offered by the University of Hong Kong in 2021.
3. 2023-Participation and Contribution in the Connective Cities & Global Initiative on Disaster Risk Management Learning Process Kick-off Event in Windhoek, Namibia, on Flood Management for Risk-Informed Urban Development
4. 2023-Participation and attended the first stage of peer review excellence: IOP training and certification
5. 2023-Attended two writing retreats organised by the Future Professoriate Program from 6^th -9th June and 26^th -30^th June 2023
6. Invited to participate in a Training workshop on Poverty Alleviation through Agricultural Science and Technology,  10 -12 July in Pretoria, Sheraton Hotel.
7. Invited to Participate in a virtual stakeholder engagement session on dam safety and management on 28 March 2023 from 09:00 to 13:00 by the Eastern Cape Province Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. 
8. Invited to Participate in a virtual International Dialogue Series on Disaster Management Systems to take place on 17 April 2023 from 07:30 to 13:30 by the Government of South Africa Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation in partnership with the United Nations Southern Africa, South Africa. The dialogue focused on international benchmarking meant to strengthen South Africa’s future preparation for and response to disasters.
9. Invited to Participate in the Learning Process on Flood Management for Risk-Informed Urban Development project kick-start event by the Global Initiative on Disaster Risk Management, GIZ, connective cities: The project aims at strengthening risk-informed development with partners in Southern Africa, Asia, and Latin America. from the 17^th to 21^st 2023 at Windhoek, Malawi.