Prof Chris Thornhill, professor emeritus at the School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA), has retired in 2001, but is still actively engaged in teaching and research.

During 2014  he was involved in the publication of three books. He was co-editor and author of a chapter in the book Public Administration and Management in South Africa: a Developmental Perspective,  consisting of 17 chapters with staff from the SPMA contributing five chapters.

The second edition of the book by Prof Thornhill and Prof JJN Cloete, South African municipal government and administration was also the sole work of Prof Thornhill  as Prof Cloete is now 97 years old.

The third book, Succeed in Municipal Administration was commissioned by Oxford University Press.

During 2014 Prof Thornhill furthermore published one article and delivered three papers at international conferences.