WIReDSpace

Welcome to WIReDSpace (Wits Institutional Repository on DSpace)

For queries relating to content and technical issues, please contact IR specialists via this email address : openscholarship.library@wits.ac.za,
Tel: 011 717 4652 or 011 717 1954

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Communities in WIReDSpace

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 19

Recent Submissions

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    The adoption of ORCID within WITS University
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2026-10) Mafisa, Mamello
    This case study examines the journey embarked by the University of Witwatersrand (WITS) in the adoption of ORCID to address external reporting, researcher visibility, and institutional benchmarking. The aim of the study was to investigate how ORCID could be effectively implemented and what change management strategies were used to achieve sustainable adoption among WITS researchers. A mixed-methods case study design was employed with real observations during the ORCID implementation targeting academic staff between 2020 and 2026. The implementation process was analyzed and assesed across two phases focusing on ORCID data quality, change management, and adoption rate. The study combined: Quantitative data: •Number of authenticated ORCID iDs linked to academic staff on the Human Resource, system annually. Qualitative data: •Stakeholder feedback from the Research Office, Marketing, Library, Information Systems, and Faculty Human Resource representatives, •Project implementation documents, reports, and internal communication platforms.
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    FIGSHARE CASE STUDY: Wits Libraries’ use of Digital Science solutions to support the university’s impact and innovation strategy
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2026-10) Matizirofa, Lazarus Gallant
    Not Available
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    Decision-Making Processes for Liquor Outlets in Primrose, Ekurhuleni
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Shabangu, Otto Mbongeni
    This study examines the obligation of government departments and officials to implement government policies lawfully and to uphold the rule of law faithfully. The study is motivated by the Gauteng Liquor Board’s decision-making processes that resulted in the issuing of licences in prohibited areas and the proliferation of outlets. The primary objective is to identify the factors that influence the Gauteng Liquor Board’s decision-making process, resulting in the proliferation of outlets in Primrose, Ekurhuleni. A qualitative research strategy was utilised to conduct the study. 20 participants, representing 3 Primrose community-based organisations, 3 senior officers from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Department, and 2 senior officials from the Gauteng Liquor Board were directly engaged to glean into the lived experiences of the residents of Primrose, in Ekurhuleni. Research findings indicate that the Liquor Board lacks the capacity to effectively regulate and enforce compliance within the liquor industry, and that its decision-making processes, in the licensing of Primrose outlets, were inconsistent with the provisions of the Gauteng Liquor Act of 2003. Nonetheless, the trading in liquor within a residential area and the proximity of outlets to public amenities are lawful and permissible in properties that have multiple user or zoning rights, subject to compliance with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Spatial Land Use Management By-Laws (2019) and the City of Ekurhuleni’s Spatial Planning and Land Use Scheme (2021). These results suggest that the lack of accountability, ineffective performance, and consequence management resulted in decisions that are inconsistent with the Gauteng Liquor Act of 2003, contributing to the broader understanding of the government’s Regulatory Authority
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    Exploring the influence of the special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant on Women recipients in Matatiele
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Ramaisa, Felile
    The special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant was introduced in May 2020 amidst the economic reversal in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdown policy measures. It was intended to absorb the economic shock including loss of jobs and income incurred by vulnerable informal workers and the chronically unemployed individuals (Department of Social Development, 2020). The SRD grant received a lot of research attention since its inception, underscoring its importance in shielding vulnerable people from extreme poverty (Baraskan et al, 2020; Barnes et al, 2021; Kohler and Bhorat, 2021; Jain et al, 2020; Gronbach et al, 2022; Mathebula et al, 2022). However, these studies have not clarified the impacts of the grant on women considering the unique challenges that they faced based on privations specifically related to their gender. This research investigates the perceptions and experiences of women recipients of the SRD grant in Matatiele. The study explores the impact of the grant on women’s livelihoods, financial security and overall well- being. Data was collected through face-to-face qualitative interviewing with a sample of 20 women who received the grant. The key findings reveal that the SRD grant provides crucial income support for vulnerable women, mitigating the impact of income poverty and food insecurity. However, despite the importance of the grant, the results also indicate that women have not recovered from the economic consequences of COVID-19 lockdown interventions. The risk of hunger persists even in the presence of the SRD grant. Therefore, the study concludes that the grant alone is insufficient to eradicate the root-causes of hunger and food insecurity and the multiple challenges that women face daily. The underlying issues include chronic unemployment and absence of stable livelihoods, limited skills, poor access to resources and rising cost of living which all generate economic vulnerability. Therefore, a gendered and more comprehensive approach is needed to effectively address these challenges as experienced by women and improve their lives.
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    Factors influencing the intention to utilise neurodiverse employees in the South African tech sector
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Pillay, Krilona; Chalomba, Nakuze
    The underutilisation of neurodiverse individuals in the workplace remains a pressing challenge, particularly in the South African technology sector. Despite evidence that neurodivergent employees possess unique cognitive abilities that contribute to innovation and problem-solving, organisational and societal barriers persist, limiting their integration into the workforce. This study investigates the factors influencing the intention to utilise neurodiverse employees in the South African tech sector. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and the Resource-Based View (RBV), the research explores employer attitudes, workplace barriers, and the effectiveness of inclusion policies in shaping neurodiversity hiring practices. A quantitative research approach was employed, utilising Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to analyse data from 120 respondents across various levels within the technology industry. The findings reveal that positive perceptions of neurodiverse capabilities significantly enhance hiring intentions, while rigid hiring structures and societal stigmas present substantial barriers. Moreover, organisations with structured inclusion policies and employer training programs demonstrate a higher likelihood of hiring neurodiverse individuals. The study highlights the importance of raising awareness, refining workplace policies, and implementing structured diversity initiatives to foster an inclusive work environment. The research contributes to the growing discourse on neurodiversity employment practices and provides practical recommendations for South African technology firms to harness neurodivergent talent as a competitive advantage.