Dr Nerhene Davies, a lecturer in our department has been elected to the SSAG Council. The SSAG, or the Society of South African Geographers is the society representing all geographers in South Africa and their main objective is to advance the research and educational activities of all South African geographers. The SSAG further aim to represent the interest of South African geographers at the local, regional, and international level, to be a resource for all geographers in South Africa, to support and encourage high quality geography teaching and research, and to provide an avenue of the public at large to access and interact with South African geographers. The Society also published through their journal, the South African Geographical Journal.

Nerhene's primary research focuses on assessing the overall feasibility and merits of South African rural development policy, highlighting the consequences of land reform partnerships (business models) from the perspective of poverty alleviation and agricultural value chain considerations. She also focuses on incorporates issues relating to climate variability and policy interventions against the backdrop of broader poverty alleviation imperatives. Nerhene will serve on the Council for the next term and is the only representative from the University of Pretoria.