Retshepile Makhele is a researcher in Population Studies with a focus on internal migration, maternal health, and sexual and reproductive health in Southern Africa. She holds a Master of Social Sciences in Population Studies and Sustainable Development from North-West University (NWU) where her research examined the influence of internal migration on maternal health service utilisation in South Africa.
In 2023, she participated in an exchange programme at Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) in Germany, engaging in academic activities within the Department of Sociology and presenting her research paper at the PhD Colloquium.
She has presented her research at the NWU National Humanities Higher Degree Conference and participated in various capacity-building workshops in research methodology, ethical practices, and advanced data analysis using STATA and SPSS.
Her academic achievements have been recognised through competitive bursaries and scholarships, including support from the North-West University Masters Bursary, Faculty of Humanities Bursary, National Research Foundation (NRF) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Makhele was awarded membership of the Golden Key International Honour Society, Mafikeng Chapter for academic excellence.
Makhele was appointed as Graduate Research Assistant in the Faculty of Humanities, Department of Population Studies and Demography where she worked with Prof ME Palamuleni and Dr Mirriam Ngake at North-West University (NWU) (2021–2024).
Makhele’s work seeks to inform evidence-based health and migration policies in Southern Africa. Her methodological expertise spans quantitative approaches with a strong commitment to producing quality and ethical research and collaboration with other scholars in the field of research.