Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

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Business Case: Green-Certified Buildings in South Africa’s Residential Rental Market
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Roodt, Ilona
In this paper, the characteristics of the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) green building certification system is explained, and the energy and water savings in a portfolio of residential units in the EDGE-certified residential building portfolio in South Africa was investigated. This research analysed the efficiency of energy and water usage, following certification, and the contribution to lowering building running costs and increasing property values was investigated. The research revealed that the portfolio design of EDGE-certified buildings results is, on average, a 42% energy saving and a 54% water saving across the portfolio. The research explores the overall reduction in building operating costs and the impact on property return by considering the payback period of the additional investment. The US Green Building Council indicate operating costs drop by 13%, with a drop of 10.5% in the first year and then an average of 16.9% over five years. The research revealed that overall cost savings are significant, the cost of greening is recouped on average over 6 years and this means that property returns increase. The US Green Building Council indicate that property values increase by between 4%-6% for a study relating to LEED-certified buildings. The research signifies the importance of bringing down energy and water costs to preserve and increase return and value, and this may be catalytic in increasing affordable housing investment and tenant standards of living. Where this activity is at scale within the right policy framework, an overall reduction in emissions may occur.
The Prioritization of Technical Debt Types in South African Financial Services
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2019) Maphosa, Amos; Selemi, Sandile
Technical Debt hinders software development projects by reducing the speed of IT teams during development cycles. Although technical debt is assessed on either software artifacts or the entire application, the craftsmanship of IT resources causes the accumulation of technical debt. In this paper, I investigate two research questions related to the prioritization of technical debt among the respondents in the South African financial services. The results of 72 recorded respondents were analyzed using a quantitative data analysis approach. The analysis revealed that the Architecture Technical Debt type has the highest level of contribution to Technical Debt with 23.44% of respondents stating so. The analysis further revealed that the System Quality attribute should not be compromised with 17.42% of the respondents attesting to that. Lastly, IT strategy was deemed by 15.04% of the respondents to be the aspect of the IT risk framework to use in prioritizing the Architecture Technical Debt type.
Technological upgrading and secondary innovation in the South African IT Industry
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-06) Motau, Thabitha; Mzyece, Mjumo
Information technology (IT) plays a critical role in solving complex business tasks and enabling businesses to provide solutions and services to customers. Most businesses and governments are efficient because of technology. Because of technology, people can connect and communicate around the globe faster than they could during the days of letters. IT can enable a country, businesses, and society to adapt to changes around them. For a country that is afflicted by many challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and health care challenges, IT can resolve these challenges using technology in a way that will have a positive impact on the South African economy. Due to globalisation, South Africa now forms part of the global economy and relies on IT to participate and compete in this global market. For several years, South Africa has been ranked as the most technologically advanced and innovative country in Sub-Saharan African region by The Global Competitiveness Report (GCR). The purpose of this report is to explore how South African IT companies have used imported technology to achieved higher levels of technological capabilities enabling the companies to develop endogenous innovation and sustainable economic growth which has resulted in the high ratings by the GCR. Empirical research was conducted focusing on two South African IT companies. The study was conducted using semi-structured interviews consisting of managing directors and chief executive officers of these two companies focusing on market entry strategy, value proposition, business model innovation (BMI) and technological paradigms and future growth plans. An industry expert was also interviewed as the third source of data collection to achieve triangulation. The key findings of the study based on the data collected from the two companies and the industry expert, are that the South African IT companies have achieved technological upgrading that has produced endogenous innovation specific to certain industries with a focus on business model innovation. South African IT companies have strategically employed BMI as a valuable tool, allowing SMEs to navigate the trade-off between innovation costs and benefits. BMI involves the creation, delivery, and capture of new value by designing innovative products or services tailored to meet unmet local customer needs. This may include process innovation for enhanced efficiency, optimising product distribution, integrating new technologies, reconfiguring existing activities, providing managed services for day-to-day support, and exploring new partnerships. The emergence of new technologies has presented opportunities for novel partnerships and the redefinition of existing process and business model architectures. This adaptive approach is crucial for maintaining competitiveness in the market. Furthermore, the integration of emerging technologies serves as an avenue for capturing new customers and fostering the growth of new IT start-ups. This report presents a detailed account of strategies followed by the two case studies to build technological capabilities to produce endogenous innovation.
Essays on Agricultural Finance, Financial Development, and Economic Growth in Nigeria
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Ayodele, Ademola Emmanuel; Tweneboah, George
This study examines essays on agricultural finance, financial development and growth in Nigeria. It focuses on investigating the individual and joint effects of agriculture finance and financial development indicators on growth. Also, the research computed the threshold of agricultural finance at which financial development indicators optimizes inclusive growth in Nigeria. To achieve these research objectives, we adopted both the Endogenous growth and Solow-Swan theoretical foundation; and employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (QARDL) techniques. The study utilized time series data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin and World Bank World Development Indicators (WDI) covering 1980 to 2022. The results reveals that agriculture finance exerted significant negative impact on economic growth in the short-run; however, the long-run impact of agriculture finance on economic growth is positive. Also, it was observed from that financial development indicators (bank deposit, credit to private sector and market capitalization) have positive impact on economic growth. Although, bank deposits exerted negative impact on agricultural output growth, credit to private sector and market capitalization impacted positively on agricultural output growth. Furthermore, it was observed from the QARDL results that positive links exist between agriculture finance, financial development indicators and inclusive growth in the short-run. Also, the interactive effects of agriculture finance and financial development indicators on inclusive growth were positive in the short and long-run periods. Lastly, the threshold effects of agricultural finance suggest an optimal level that maximizes inclusive growth, indicating policymakers should consider an 11% to 14% allocation of GDP per employed person to the agricultural sector. Therefore, the study recommends as key access to agricultural credit, as well as ensuring proper monitoring to boost growth in Nigeria. Importantly, credit to the agricultural sector should be kept within the established threshold level, since agricultural finance might exert some adverse effects on inclusive growth when it exceeds the established threshold levels.
Analysis of Mining Taxation in South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2011-05) Shikwambana, Callous
Mining is one of the principal industries in the South African economy, and thus fulfils an important role from the perspective of the fiscus. Mining is a high-level risk investment which involves massive capital expenditure as well as prolonged periods of non-production of mining income. It is because of this that mining taxation receives special treatment. The term ‘mineral’ is central to determining whether or not a taxpayer can be regarded as being carrying on mining operations in South Africa. A mining process usually involves different stages before minerals are obtained, being prospecting and pre-production stages, followed by the production and post-production stages. Income is earned and expenditure is incurred in all the different stages in the life of a mine. The research report will critically evaluate what is meant by ‘mining and mining operations’ as defined in the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 (‘the Act’). The research report concludes with an analysis and evaluation of how income earned and expenditure incurred in the different stages in the life of a mine are treated in determining the taxable income in respect of a mining taxpayer.
Institutional factors enhancing and affecting service delivery in Lekwa Local Municipality
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Tsotetsi, Biotumelo
The discourse surrounding South African local governments often highlights deficiencies in the efficient and effective delivery of basic social services. This study was motivated by the absence of viable solutions to the persistent challenges facing service delivery in local municipalities, and the Lekwa Local Municipality was no exception. Situated in the Mpumalanga Province, the Lekwa Local Municipality serves as a compelling case study to explore the institutional challenges that both enhance and hinder service delivery. The municipality has grappled with significant administrative instability and a lack of political oversight. Consequently, its capacity to deliver services has been severely compromised. These institutional challenges have manifested in various forms, including bureaucratic inefficiencies, inadequate resource allocation, and a lack of strategic planning and implementation. As a result, the municipality has struggled to meet the needs of its residents and address pressing socio-economic issues within its jurisdiction. By examining the institutional factors contributing to these challenges, this study seeks to provide valuable insights into the complexities of service delivery in local government settings. By understanding the root causes of these issues, policymakers, stakeholders, and community members can work towards implementing targeted interventions to improve governance processes, enhance accountability mechanisms, and ultimately, strengthen the capacity of local municipalities to deliver essential services to their constituents. The Lekwa Local Municipality has witnessed unrest and protest, due to poor service delivery. The research employed a qualitative approach, utilizing a non-probability purposive sampling technique to select fourteen participants. This method was chosen deliberately to ensure that participants possessed relevant insights and experiences related to the research topic. Data collection was conducted through face-to-face semi-structured interviews, allowing for in- depth exploration of participants' perspectives, experiences, and opinions. The study's findings shed light on persistent challenges within the Lekwa Local Municipality despite the introduction of new leadership initiatives aimed at enhancing service delivery. A critical issue identified is the dire lack of leadership at both the political and administrative levels, resulting in a vacuum of oversight and accountability. This lack of effective leadership v has allowed self-interest and expediency to prevail, undermining the municipality's ability to fulfil its mandate. The study concludes by stating findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reforms within the Lekwa Local Municipality to address the root causes of poor service delivery. This includes strengthening leadership and accountability mechanisms, implementing transparent and accountable governance practices, and mobilizing resources effectively to ensure the delivery of quality services to residents. Only through concerted efforts to address these challenges can the municipality begin to regain the trust and confidence of its constituents and achieve meaningful improvements in service delivery outcomes.
Exploring the digital divide in underserved communities in rural Mpumalanga, South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Shandukani, Linda; Magida, Ayanda
This research report explored the digital divide in underserved communities in rural Mpumalanga, South Africa, focusing on how owning a smartphone can help bridge the gap. Despite the widespread use of digital technology, financial constraints and limited digital literacy continue to create disparities, especially among marginalised populations. The study employed a qualitative research design, primarily through eight in- depth interviews, to explore how smartphones can impact digital inclusion and overall quality of life in these communities. The findings reveal a digital divide, particularly among young Black individuals, due to barriers in smartphone and internet accessibility. While ease of access to technology can enhance social and economic capital, challenges such as pricing and infrastructure limitations exacerbate disparities, perpetuating cycles of poverty and marginalisation.
Examining oversight institutional failures in the North West Department of Health
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Seeletso, Kenaleone; Motsepe, Dikgang
The Legislatures in the local, provincial and national governments are mandated and bestowed with the powers by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996 to ensure accountability by holding the executive accountable and effectively ensuring that there is oversight on the work of government. In order to execute the oversight function, the Legislatures use the Auditor General’s reports, guidance from the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and departmental policies. The study seeks to identify the systemic challenges faced by the oversight institutions in the North West Department of Health (NWDoH) that lead to failures in executing the oversight function. The research methodology used in this study is the qualitative approach. The population of the study is the oversight committee members from the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), NWDoH Office Bearers, former national SCOPA Chairpersons and public finance experts, and data was collected from the participants by using semi-structured interviews and official reports. The data collected from the participants indicated that the oversight committees cannot enforce accountability because their powers are limited to only making recommendations and their decision- making depends on their political allegiance. Political influence and lack of political will is at the centre of the systemic weaknesses within the oversight processes, hence, there is no accountability and consequence management and the non-compliance with the PFMA prevails. The study recommends that the standing rules be strengthened by diluting oversight committees with independent individuals so that committees can operate independently of party-political pressure. The study also recommends that the oversight committee be granted powers to enforce accountability and not just be limited to making recommendations.
How the upgrading of informal settlements is measured by the multisectoral organizations
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Pholo, Keneilwe; Blaser- Mapitsa, Caitlin
This master's research paper investigates the diverse methodologies employed by multisectoral organizations in measuring the success of informal settlement upgrading initiatives. Focusing on South Africa, the study focuses on what informal settlements upgrading is, the measurement and indicators utilized by these organizations to gauge the effectiveness of their interventions. Utilizing a qualitative research design, this study employs qualitative interviews to capture the breadth and depth of informal settlements upgrading and the measurement practices. Qualitative interviews with key stakeholders provided nuanced insights into the rationale behind chosen metrics, challenges faced in measurement, and the perceived outcomes of the upgrading efforts. Findings reveal consistent and coherent measurement practices across different organizations, reflecting the common goal of upgrading informal settlements instead of eradicating them as eradication could be interpreted differently and might cause distress to communities. The study explores commonalities and variations in metrics, shedding light on the factors influencing organizational choices in measurement frameworks. This research contributes to the scholarship on urban development by providing a comprehensive understanding of how multisectoral organizations approach the measurement of informal settlement upgrading. The insights gained from this study have the potential to inform best practices, enhance cross-sectoral collaboration, and guide the development of standardized metrics for evaluating the impact of multisectoral interventions on informal settlements.
The impact of the use of e-Commerce on customer experience for retail in South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Naidoo, Jaroshen; Mudau, Thanyani Norman
e-Commerce systems are rapidly changing how individuals shop, and they have provided many retail stores in South Africa with a new sales channel to service customers. With many organisations heavily investing in e-Commerce systems, the need to have end users adopting e-Commerce is vital for the success of the future of e-Commerce. Two areas that need to be examined include how customers currently use e-commerce systems and how e-Commerce use impacts customer experience. To understand the challenges, factors influencing e-commerce usage and its impact on customer experience were investigated. This study distinguished between basic and advanced utilisation of e-commerce systems. To understand the research objectives identified, an extended version of the Delone and Mclean IS Success model has been adapted to the study, which has been modelled as an e-Commerce IS success model. The factors influencing the advanced use of e-Commerce systems include information, system, and service quality. With e-Commerce being split into basic and advanced use, advanced use was focused on understanding how it affects customer experience. This data was collected through a survey distributed to end users of e-Commerce over LinkedIn. 159 respondents(n=159) provided insights into the factors, which included Information quality, system quality, service quality, basic use, advanced use, user satisfaction, customer experience and data quality. However, data quality was a factor that dropped during the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), which was done through SPSS and AMOS. The research showed strong relationships between information quality and advanced use, system quality and advanced use, and service quality and advanced use. This confirmed the first objective of understanding the factors that impact the advanced use of e-Commerce systems in retail in South Africa. The next major result showed that advanced use had a higher coefficient to the basic viii uses relationship towards customer experience, and this translated to end users wanting to make use of the advanced features of e-Commerce systems to make decision-making and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) easier to achieve. In the findings, numerous contributions have been made, which include the factors that impact the basic and advanced use of e-Commerce systems. The effects of the basic and advanced use on customer experience and user satisfaction, which did not previously exist within the e-Commerce space, are also contributions identified in this study. Overall, this study helps organisations understand what end users and customers would want to use when using e- Commerce platforms in terms of features and how customer experience can be influenced by new technologies and features introduced into the e-Commerce system for retail in South Africa.

Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

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