Research Staff

Susan Cook is a linguistic anthropologist whose research interests focus on language policies and language ideologies in Africa, traditional leadership and democracy, and the anthropology of the corporation. Cook has held academic appointments at Yale University, Brown University’s Watson Institute for International Studies, and most recently as Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Pretoria. In addition to her published work on South Africa, and particularly on the Royal Bafokeng Nation (See “The Business of Being Bafokeng: Corporatization in a South African Tribal Authority”, forthcoming in Current Anthropology), Cook has also published widely on comparative genocide, including her edited volume Genocide in Cambodia and Rwanda: New Perspectives (Transaction, 2005). Cook’s current position in the Royal Bafokeng Nation provides research support and operational oversight to guide the Nation’s strategic vision for socioeconomic development. Cook holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from Yale University, and a BA in Literature and Society from Brown University.

Martin Bekker is a social researcher interested in conflict resolution, public policy and developmental indices. Bekker managed external communications for the Bafokeng Nation during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and has held appointments at Stellenbosh University and Tianjin University for Finance and Economics, China. In the recent past, Bekker’s responsibilities straddled research and communications, especially as speechwriter and guest editor for Bafokeng publications. Bekker is an accomplished debater and public speaker, having won the several university and national awards. In 2007, he was selected one of South Africa’s 100 Brightest Young Minds, is a member of the Golden Key honour society, and conducted a University residence choir. Bekker read for a MA in Conflict Resolution from Bradford University (UK) working on Complexity Theory, Peace Talks-analysis and hostage negotiation, in 2008. He was also conferred a BA (Applied Values and Policies Studies) and BA Hons (Philosophy, Cum Laude). Bekker holds a patent in telephony.

Khumo Molobye is an information worker who obtained her Bachelor's degree in Information Science at the University of Pretoria. She is interested in data management and applications of communication technologies to facilitate life-long learning. Molobye is currently studying towards an honours degree in Information and Knowledge Management from UNISA. Molobye worked at the National Research Foundation as a Junior Database Support Officer in 2005. She joined the RBA in 2006 and is currently occupying the position of Archivist, responsible for the History and Heritage archive of the Royal Bafokeng Nation.

Ogodiseng Letlape is a research officer in the Research and Knowledge Management Department, interested in statistics, economic development and interventions based on policies towards social progress. Letlape is a bachelor of commerce in economics and econometrics, having majored in investments at the University of Johannesburg. He is instrumental in the analysis of the Bafokeng Census and Household Survey (“PULA”)of 2011. Letlape plans to attain an honours degree in development economics as well as to read for his masters degree in the near future.