Vusi Gumede holds a PhD in Economics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He worked for the South African government for about 12 years, including eight years in the Presidency during the Thabo Mbeki administration. Since joining the university sector in 2010, he has published two single-author books, edited eight books and contributed numerous book chapters and journal papers. He currently holds a professorship at the University of South Africa, where he is also Director at the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute. Previously, he was associate professor at the University of Johannesburg and he also lectured at the University of Witwatersrand's School of Governance.