Navigate complexity and uncertainty
with confidence.
A Boutique Political Risk Advisory Firm and Political Intelligence Practice
A Boutique Political Risk Advisory Firm and Political Intelligence Practice
Critical ThinkAR® provides the analytical infrastructure to do that — for investors, foundations, diplomatic missions, government departments, and civil society organisations operating in South Africa and across the African continent. We go beneath the surface of events to understand what is actually operating there, and we build the tools to navigate constraint, make sound decisions, and act with confidence.
Our MissionPreparedness, not prediction.
That is the objective.
Nompumelelo Sibalukhulu Runji is a political sociologist, scholar-practitioner, transformation coach, published author, thought leader, moderator and speaker, with two decades of experience working at the intersection of political intelligence, institutional strategy, personal transformation, and analytical writing. Her work has spanned nineteen countries on four continents — Africa, Asia, Europe and North America — through research, programme management, stakeholder engagement, and advisory services with governments, civil society organisations, development foundations, and diplomatic missions.
She has written over three hundred published analytical OpEds and columns across South African and international media and is the author of several books and chapters. She holds an MPhil in Multidisciplinary Human Rights, a BA (Honours) in Politics, and a BSocSci in Industrial Sociology and Labour Studies, from the University of Pretoria.
Full Profile →Strengthening engagement between civil society and provincial legislatures across Limpopo, North West, and Northern Cape.
Comparative study on international approaches to social compacts as part of DSAC's social cohesion programme.
EU-funded multi-country democracy promotion initiative across Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Comprehensive research analysing women's representation across South Africa's 2021 local government elections.
Research consulting on climate governance and civil society advocacy opportunities across four municipalities.
Policy brief on the role of a state-civil society compact in advancing socioeconomic inclusion in South Africa.
"Our working experience with Critical ThinkAR® has been refreshing as the organisation is led by young black women who provide alternative perspectives to our research. The professionalism demonstrated by the team was impressive."
Xolelwa Kashe-Katiya — Director: Project Management, Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection"Critical ThinkAR® has been an essential partner in the Civil Society Participation in Provincial Legislatures Project. On point political analysis, sharp communication outputs and strategic considerations were delivered with reliability."
Mira Dutschke — South Africa Programme Manager, Democracy Works Foundation
Column
The Critical Take is a political analysis column written by Critical ThinkAR® founder and principal, Nompumelelo Sibalukhulu Runji. It applies the analytical method to live developments — not commentary, not reaction, but structured reading of what is actually happening and why. The column originally ran in the Sowetan for six years and has been revived on Substack and LinkedIn Newsletter.
There is a crisis in our political moment. It is not a crisis of information. It is a crisis of analysis. This book makes the case that most of what circulates as political analysis is commentary. The gap between analysis and commentary has consequences. This book names that gap and closes it.
One firm. Five service lines.
One conviction: go beneath the surface
before you build above it.