Prof Motala is NRF/DHET SARChI Chair: Teaching and Learning (Tier 1) at the University of Johannesburg. Prof Motala was the Head: The post-graduate School (PGS), University of Johannesburg (UJ) until September 2020 . She is a member of the Academy of Science in South Africa (ASSAf) and an NRF-rated researcher. She has held numerous leadership roles related to higher education the first inaugural president of the South African Research Association (SAERA) (2013-2014). She was appointed by the Minster of Higher Education and Training to serve on the Council of Higher Education (CHE) for two terms from 2010-2018. Her research interests and expertise are in the areas of education financing and system reform, access and equity, and education quality in schooling and higher education.
