Wits School of Governance (ETDs)

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Browsing Wits School of Governance (ETDs) by SDG "SDG-9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Assessing the dpsa’s, and partners’, perspectives on digitalisation for improving efficiencies in the south african public sector
    (University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Lukhele, Nompumelelo; Chikane, Rekgotsofetse
    The purpose of this research was to explore the perspectives of public sector officials placed in the e-Government Services and Information Management unit of the DPSA, and partners, who are responsible for coordinating and drafting the Digital Government Policy Framework, on the implementation of digitalisation in the context of improving public sector efficiencies. This was justified as important because, the attitudes and perceptions of policy developers about digitalisation will influence the directionality of policies they develop on the implementation of digitalisation or the digital transformation agenda more broadly. The research primarily questioned what the perspectives of these officials are on the implementation of digitalisation in the context of improving public sector efficiencies in South Africa. The study adopted qualitative research methods. Semi-structured interviews and case studies were adopted to respond to the research questions. The main findings were that there is a need for government to strengthen the legitimacy of government digital transformation through releasing decisive political will; there is a need for elevation of the position of the Chief Information Officer in government departments; and lastly there is a need for the establishment of a central agency that will guide transformation of public service administration to perform important functions required to successfully transition to a digital government. The study concludes by emphasising the risks at local, regional, and international levels that the South African government faces if the urgency to act is undermined
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    Does news consumption affect the propensity to participate in a civil action?
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Shabangu, Bruce; Lynge-Mangueira, Halfdan
    News consumption does not always affect the propensity of citizen to engage in civil actions. This finding was a result of regression analysis of the relationship between consumption of media news and its effect on the propensity to engage in social accountability. The purpose of the research was to determine the extent to which citizens are prompted to engage in civil action by news reports containing information on poor governance outcomes such as poor government performance, corruption and the like. The finding was citizens do not participate in civil action but they do so without being influenced by news reports. The impact of this phenomena is that democracy may not be fully enforced when democratic processes are not effectively implemented. The recommendation is that there needs to be civic education for citizens and awareness created on effective participation in civil action
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    Effectiveness of the mobile technology intervention in rural schools: The case of Seshego circuit in Polokwane district
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2020) Nare Joyce, Mahwai; Wotela, Kambidima
    The objective of this qualitative study is to conduct a summative evaluation of a mobile technology intervention in rural schools of Seshego circuit. The aim is to determine the effectiveness of the intervention to determine how mobile technologies are integrated in teaching and learning. Employing a qualitative research strategy with case study research design methods, participants were purposively selected to answer four research questions to determine the outcomes of the information and communication technology intervention in rural schools of Seshego circuit in Polokwane district. Teachers’ views were obtained regarding the integration of mobile technologies in teaching and learning as well as documenting the process for mobile technology integration in teaching and learning. This research applied technology acceptance model (TAM) and Technology acceptance model 2 (TAM2) to make understand the use and integration of mobile technologies in teaching and learning. Preliminary findings reveal that mobile technology integration does end with providing schools with information and communications technology infrastructure, there has to be a deliberate effort from teachers, learners, school management, subject advisors, national and provincial department of education to ensure that mobile technologies are used and integrated in teaching and learning. There are barriers that prevents teachers from fully integrating technologies in teaching and learning like the availability of ICT infrastructure as well as lack of skills and knowledge to integrate mobile technologies in teaching and learning. This research recommends that teachers be placed at the heart of technology implementation in teaching and learning
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    Factors influencing the successful adoption of selected e-government initiatives in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Subramoney, Savithree
    Countries globally, including South Africa are moving towards e-government to improve services to its citizens. Implementing e-government requires infrastructure, skills and resources which are not easily accessible in developing countries like South Africa. The purpose of the study is to find out if the factors presented by Altameem, Zairi and Alshawi (2006) were used in three selected e-government initiatives to determine the factors that differentiate the more successful from the less successful e-government initiatives. One of the main findings was that the eight factors were used extensively in the two highly successful e-government initiatives: namely, the South African Revenue Services (SARS) e-filing system and the Smart Identity (ID) card system. These factors were found in the successful e-government initiatives but not all were found in the less successful e-government initiative, the National Population Register
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    Networks power: political communication in two inner city Johannesburg CBOs
    (2021-11) Pointer, Rebecca
    This research aimed to establish how two community-based organisations (CBOs) in inner city Johannesburg used communication to build political power in their political networks. As such, I explored theories on building, shaping, and transforming networks of power, especially with reference to Latour, and Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of an assemblage. Assemblages are underpinned by the desire to make connections and therefore Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of desire is helpful in revealing the connections between different elements of political communication. The departure point for this research was to examine how CBOs use political communication in networks of power or to generate networks of power. The research examined flows of communication among CBO members, their communities, and other audiences, using an a political communication machine/assemblage. The machine has five components, which were explored in depth in the chapters of this thesis. They are: desire, framing, aesthetics, communication tools and audiences. Desire is not a lack but the creative, productive impetus for the organisations; using this theory to explore the two CBOs communications led to insights into the not only the material outputs and conditions of communication, but also both the rational and affective qualities of that communication. In terms of the study of communication, the conceptual framework allowed for the study of the different components working together to generate a communication flow, instead of simply relying on a static study of frames, or tools, or aesthetics or audiences. As such, the study reveals the dynamism in CBO political communication. Previous studies of South African CBOs have mentioned that before CBOs protest, they undertake extensive efforts to communicate with government; however, the previous studies did not elucidate what these extensive efforts consisted of, so this study has provided rich detail for further exploring the dynamic. The two CBOs were markedly different in their structure and their efforts to communicate. The Inner City Resource Centre (ICRC), which tackles housing issues in the inner city, was well funded, and had offices. Their communication efforts were highly effective at building and retaining its core membership. However, they were not successful in connecting with the City of Johannesburg, because the city had locked them out of participatory spaces. One Voice of All Hawkers Association (One Voice) was highly fractious, some members exhibited micro-fascisms, and the organisation ran in somewhat of a haphazard pattern in its efforts to protect street traders. However, they were highly successful at micro-local politics, using subterfuge to undermine the city’s trader administration system and preventing traders from being evicted. One Voice also sustained a large membership base over a long period of time, and this was mainly based on one-on-one communication. Their success was not based on a powerful political communication machine, but instead on the way they opportunistically managed micro-local circumstances. The study showed that an effective political communication machine was important for growing solidarity networks. However, large parts of government could not be reached, regardless of what communication strategies the organisations deployed, since participatory governance spaces were either closed off or inaccessible.