Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute (SPII) – an independent research think tank that focuses on generating new knowledge, information and analysis in the field of poverty and inequality studies – is pleased to welcome yet another renowned veteran onto its board of trustees, former inspector general for South Africa’s intelligence service Dr Mohamed Fazel Randera.

Randera, who is currently a Non-Executive Director of Exxaro Resources Limited, was the health advisor at the Chamber of Mines and is deputy chairman of Nehawu Investment Holdings and MediTech South Africa. He served as board and council member of the World Medical Association from 1997 to 2000, participated in the World Health Organization international inquiry into the tobacco industry from 1998 to 1999 and chaired the global initiative on HIV/Aids reporting in 2004.

In South Africa, he sat on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission from 1995 to 1998, founded the Ethics Institute and served as chairman from 1997 to 2000, and served on the Human Rights Commission from 1997 to 1999.

Working in hospitals and facilities in the UK and South Africa, he specialised in a range of medical disciplines, including occupational health and HIV/Aids. He chaired the Private Healthcare Forum from 2004 to 2007 and was a member of the South African Centre for Survivors of Torture from 2006 to 2011.

He served as the inspector general for South Africa’s intelligence services from 1999 to 2001 and served on several ministerial advisory bodies. During his interview for the position, Randera told parliament’s joint committee on intelligence his exposure to human rights abuses as a TRC commissioner had convinced him of the need for civilian oversight of intelligence bodies.

“As to my contribution to SPII it will be primarily around the experiences working in a number of areas be in government and the private sector; the human rights work done in the years leading up to our democracy and then in the TRC,” said Randera. “Working in a collegial and collective way with the other trustees but recognising at all time that we have a professional dedicated team and supporting them in their often difficult work.”