Simba Show Mazongonda, a PhD candidate in Economics and Finance at the University of Lodz, Poland, was recently hosted by the Department of Taxation in UP’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. His research, titled “Informal Sector Taxation Framework for Developing Countries”, seeks to contribute a bottom-up, empirical, and participatory framework that captures the realities and heterogeneity of the informal sector, which differentiates it from the formal economy.

He describes his productive and memorable visit to UP as follows:

“Through the Erasmus+ KA171 long-term international mobility programme, I undertook an academic exchange at the University of Pretoria (UP), hosted by the Department of Taxation. This opportunity exposed me to a dynamic international academic environment and allowed meaningful engagements with scholars, practitioners, and South African Revenue Service (SARS) officials. Under the guidance of my host supervisor, Prof Hanneke du Preez, I participated in a range of activities that enriched my academic and practical understanding of taxation. These included the South African Tax Clinic Workshop, Economic and  Management Sciences Faculty Day, a field trip with Taxation honours students, collaborative research with UP scholars, as well as a departmental seminar presentation, and I was honoured to deliver a guest lecture on data analysis for master’s students.

I also had the privilege of engaging with a visiting scholar, Prof Lisa Marriott, from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, whose insights significantly shaped the theoretical framing of my study. Encouraged by Prof Du Preez and Prof Schoeman, I submitted an abstract, based on my PhD work, to the 2025 Tax Research Network (TRN) Conference hosted by Nottingham University Business School, UK, which was accepted for presentation. Additionally, I was honoured to receive a book prize at the

Tax@Tuks event for my participation.

Overall, the exchange was intellectually rewarding and deeply motivating. It sharpened my interest in exploring the intersection of taxation and urban management and left me inspired to continue contributing to this evolving field. I am grateful to the Department of Taxation at UP for the warm welcome, collegial support, and invaluable resources that made my stay both productive and memorable.”