Lungi Ndlela obtained her undergraduate degree in Human Resource Management and Business Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She completed her honors degree in Industrial Relations in 2014. She has been employed at the University of KwaZulu-Natal from 2010 working in various departments including working in the office of the CFO, Research Office and Campus Management Services. In June 2018, she joined the WASH R&D Centre as an Administrative Officer-Finance and HR.