Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)
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Item Evaluation of the civilian intelligence service oversight model: A South African perspective(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Radebe, Osiel Bongani; Van Nieuwkerk, AntoniIntelligence serves as a cornerstone of state security, fulfilling a vital role in the protection of national interests and guarding against threats. Despite its secretive nature, intelligence operations and mandates are entrusted with significant statutory powers across nations to uphold state security. To ensure the rule of law and the protection of citizens' civil rights, robust governance frameworks are imperative. This research seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of South Africa's civilian intelligence oversight system post-1994. Central to this evaluation are the regulatory and institutional arrangements governing intelligence services and officials. Drawing upon governance principles encompassing oversight, transparency, accountability, and democratic control; the study also explores institutional norms and standards. Furthermore, it explores the potential impact of aligning societal and constitutional values with regulatory and oversight mechanisms. Research results indicate weaknesses in the existing civilian intelligence oversight model. This highlights inadequacies in holding intelligence services and officials accountable. Consequently, the research advocates for reforming the civilian intelligence oversight system. Emphasis must be placed on reviewing legal frameworks, oversight institutions and mechanisms, and procedural measures to enhance transparency and accountability. Rather than a complete overhaul, the research recommends targeted improvements to existing mechanisms. Moreover, the study underscores the need for better integration of societal and constitutional values into intelligence oversight arrangements. Aligning these values with regulatory frameworks is essential to ensuring coherence and efficacy in governance practices.Item Social Media Dialogues on Immigration Policy: The Case of Operation Dudula(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mmotong, ThabisoIn the democratic context of South Africa, where public engagement mechanisms are limited, there exists a risk of citizen disenfranchisement and internal conflicts. This study advocates for participatory governance and harnesses the power of social media to actively involve citizens and stakeholders in shaping immigration policies. Recognizing the transformative potential of online platforms, the goal is twofold: to critique existing inadequacies and contribute to more inclusive and responsive governance models. By bridging the gap between policymakers and the public, this endeavour aims to foster informed and harmonious discourse on immigration policy. The paper specifically examines Operation Dudula, a grassroots movement that has garnered attention for its immigration-focused stance. Through qualitative research methods, the study sheds light on societal perspectives regarding immigration policy in South Africa. The analysis focuses on publicly shared Twitter posts, including those associated with the hashtag #OperationDudula and content from the official Operation Dudula account. This study provides a window into the intricate landscape of South African immigration policy, revealing a dynamic discourse that unfolds across social media platforms. It spotlights the pivotal role of citizen engagement in shaping immigration policy. Participants demonstrate a collective commitment to grappling with the complexities inherent in immigration. The research advocates for proactive measures, emphasizing the need for transparent and inclusive communication practices. By actively engaging with diverse perspectives on social media, we can foster an environment conducive to informed dialogue. Furthermore, the study champions initiatives focused on citizen education and empowerment, aiming to facilitate meaningful participation in the formulation of immigration policies.Item Policy challenges affecting the electric vehicle manufacturing sector in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mateko, Freeman MunisiThe evolution of technology has brought many changes to the automotive sector on a global scale. Different economies in the Global South and Global North are making strides to adopt modern technology, such as electric vehicles, which are more efficient than internal combustion engine vehicles. Electric vehicles have zero emission levels and this is crucial for supporting climate change action. Economies that have adopted electric vehicles succeeded due to robust policies and financial incentives for car manufacturers, among other factors. The aim of this research was to explore the extent to which the policy environment facilitates for increased adoption and manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa. This research is in line with various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It supports SDG 7 by encouraging the use of electric vehicles for cleaner energy, as well as SDG 9 by advocating for automotive sector innovation and infrastructural development. Furthermore, the emphasis on lowering emissions coincides with SDGs 11 and 13 by promoting sustainable urban environments and climate action. In terms of the research methodology, the study was based on qualitative research techniques. Interviews and literature review were used for data collection. Six policy documents were analyzed in this study. The target population for the study were the stakeholders in the South African car manufacturing sector. Purposive sampling was used to select a total of ten participants for the study. Data was analyzed through content and thematic analysis techniques. The results of primary study demonstrated how ambiguous South Africa's current electric vehicle policy environment is. Additionally, it was determined that some factors must be considered to guarantee a seamless switch to electromobility. Developing and executing electric vehicle policies, maintaining a steady supply of energy, lowering import taxes on EV parts, skill development, providing purchase subsidies, and providing production and technological incentives are a few of these elements. In terms of policy recommendations, it was suggested that there is need for timeous implementation of electric vehicles policy, producing battery electric vehicles, promoting research and development on electric vehicles and there is need for increased government support towards car manufacturers in South Africa.Item Regulating the moto-taxi informal transport industry in Nacala-Porto Municipality, Mozambique(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Caximo, Caximo Paulino Nuno; Abrahams, CarynIn developing countries, the recent growth of urban population has brought along several challenges to the already limited provision of essential public services. Along with heavier traffic, pollution, and limited access to essential public services, youth unemployment continued to grow and access to urban transport deteriorated. At the same time, the inability by governments to respond to these challenges, has created an opportunity for the emergence of innovative solutions, such as the moto-taxi, which provided affordable transport and created employment opportunities for youth, yet flourishing as an informal industry. Nacala-Porto is among the cities that faced this movement. This research aimed to critically analyse the process that the government of Nacala-Porto, a municipality in northern Mozambique, has followed to regularise the emergence of informal moto-taxi industry, given its accompanying two-folded reality: of a solution to a concrete public provision gap, that brings along, important concerns. The study was designed as qualitative research, with a focus on exploring the beliefs and perceptions of key actors in this informal industry, and enriching the body of knowledge on the subject, which is currently not well documented for that municipality. Building on the rich literature on the subject borrowed from other developing countries, the study has shown that this informality has been seen as contributing to filling the gap in provision of public transport services in the municipality, and thus, important steps have been taken to regularise the sector. Actual steps taken by the municipality, included (i) adjusting the existing policies and regulations (in the form of the municipal stance), to accommodate the novel form of transportation; (ii) capacity building of the moto-taxi drivers, to understand the requirements built into the revised stance; (iii) supporting the creation of a formal structure for the sector, in the form of moto-taxi driver association, despites not having taken-off; and (iv) establishing law enforcement mechanisms through the municipal police, although recognized as being weak. Despites the important steps taken, policy gaps prevail, especially on establishing comprehensive standards for the operators in the sector, but more importantly, on law enforcement, which leads the sector to continue to operate far from the goal of ensuring access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all.Item Adult acceptance factors to corporate mobile learning: A case from the retail sector in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Reddy, LovinthrieItem Exploring the role of social media influencers and brand ambassadors in influencing purchase intention(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Da Fonseca, Helen; Saini , YvonneThis study investigates the comparative influence of social media influencers and celebrity brand ambassadors on purchase intention within the South African cosmetics industry, specifically targeting millennial and Generation Z consumers. Grounded in the Source Credibility Model, the research examines how credibility, trustworthiness, and expertise shape consumer decision-making. Social Media Influencer-Driven Purchase Intention (SIPI) and Brand Ambassador-Driven Purchase Intention (BAPI) were introduced as higher-order constructs to evaluate and compare which type of endorser has a stronger influence on overall purchase intention. A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) methodology was used to analyse survey data collected from 130 respondents. The findings indicate that both Social Media Influencer-Driven Purchase Intention (SIPI) and Brand Ambassador-Driven Purchase Intention (BAPI) influence consumer purchase intention, with celebrity brand ambassadors exerting a more substantial effect due to their higher perceived credibility and expertise. Celebrity brand ambassadors were shown to play a pivotal role in enhancing consumer trust and confidence, making them more effective in driving purchase behaviour compared to social media influencers. These insights offer strategic guidance for marketers and brands looking to refine their influencer marketing strategies to better resonate with the evolving preferences of millennial and Generation Z consumers in the South African market.Item Predictors of Willingness to Participate in E-waste Recycling in Johannesburg: A Case of Electronic and Electric Repair Firms(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Chinomona, Rudo Cynthia ChristineThis study examines the predictor variables of willingness to participate in e-waste recycling in Johannesburg. Nine hypotheses are posited and in order to empirically test them, a sample data set of 307 was collected from Gauteng Province of South Africa. The results indicate that The results of the study reveals that awareness of e-waste hazard, awareness of benefits of e- waste practices and awareness of e-waste policies each have a significant, direct and positive influence on knowledge of e-waste practices and attitude towards e-waste practices. Furthermore, the results revealed that knowledge on e-waste recycling practices and attitude towards e-waste recycling practices each have a direct positive influence on willingness to adopt e-waste recycling practices. Drawing from the study’s findings, managerial implications are discussed and limitations and future research directions are suggested. By and large, this study immensely contributes new knowledge to the existing body of e-waste recycling literature in South Africa - a context that is often most neglected by some researchers in developing countries.Item Effects of Investor Treatment on FDI Inflow: Developed v Developing States(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Carides, TelisIt has been widely accepted that investor treatments afforded by states alone do not have a significant impact on FDI inflow. Rather, FDI inflow has been shown to be dependant on numerous other factors. This has however been traditionally examined against the backdrop of an ever-more globalised world, whereas more recent years have seen an uncharacteristic slowdown in globalisation, and indeed has ushered in a post-pandemic anti-globalisation trend. During this period, FDI in developed and developing states has faired very differently. Specifically, FDI into developing states has proven significantly more resilient compared to their developed counterparts, and indeed has overtaken developed states in net FDI inflow for the first time. Can this resilience be attributed to divergent approaches in investor treatments? This enquiry was undertaken by examining representative proxy states from the pool of developed and developing nations. After carefully electing said proxy states from both ends of the FDI inflow spectrum, I analysed whether, and to what extent they provided the most considered investor treatments; MST/FET, NT, MFN, pre-establishment protection and protection against expropriation. Notably, although the USA generally provides for these protections and is at the top of the FDI spectrum, Angola remained at the bottom of the spectrum whilst providing similar, and indeed broader protection in the case of NT and MFN. Furthermore, the Netherlands is the only state lower than Anglo during the examined period, yet it, save for pre-establishment protection, offered similar treatment. The study in casu was unable to establish that differences in investor treatments had any bearing on FDI inflows, and could not account for the converse performance of developed and developing states during the anti-globalisation period.Item A practical review of the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in the automated review of legal contracts(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Fouché, Jacques GerritThis research report compares the performance of AI-driven automated contract review platforms with that of human contract reviewers, aiming to see improved effectiveness for the elements of time, cost and quality. An empirical study is done by comparing the specific performance of an automated contract review platform provider, Lawgeex, to the human contract reviewers of a business entity, Endress+Hauser. The results of the effectiveness assessment are reported on through dashboard data and questionnaires to the users of the platform. Recommendations are made both in general and specific to the two entities of the empirical study.Item Mobile banking apps curation: Assessing the factors that influence mobile banking’s continuous use amongst Millennials and Generation Z(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mashishi, Neo; Zulu, MelissaThe proliferation of mobile banking platforms and the widespread use of intelligent devices like smartphones and tablets have caused a paradigm change in the banking industry in recent times. Millennials and Generation Z (Gen Z), dubbed the "digital natives," make up most of these service consumers. Millennials and Gen Z are increasingly using mobile banking apps, which has transformed how financial services are delivered. Nevertheless, despite being widely adopted, banks need help to ensure the continuous use of these apps to sustain a devoted and loyal consumer base while competing in the market. This study, therefore, investigates the factors influencing Millennials and Gen Z's continuous use of mobile banking applications. Five theoretical frameworks have been adopted to direct the research inquiry: Computers As A Social Actor (CASA), Expectation Confirmation Theory (ECT-IS), Social Response Theory (SRT), Task Technology Fit (TTF), and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The study adopted these frameworks based on their theoretical and empirical applicability and ability to provide perspectives into the variables impacting Millennials and Gen Z's continuous use of mobile banking apps. The study employed SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) for the analysis of descriptive statistics. To validate the theoretical model and investigate the interactions between variables, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). PLS-SEM, Smart PLS software was used to assess the validity and reliability of the constructs as well as the strength and importance of the proposed paths in the structural model was made possible by the PLS-SEM methodology. This provided an overview of the dataset and made it possible to do a thorough analysis by outlining important features like means, frequencies, and standard deviations. The research used quota sampling for a sample size of 505 participants. The study's conclusions indicate that there is a substantial correlation among perceived anthropomorphism, expectation confirmation, service quality of mobile applications, mobile banking app satisfaction, technology fit, and consistent usage of mobile banking apps. The study’s goal is to advance our understanding of the field of banking and financial services marketing. The banking sector can apply the findings and insights to differentiate its offerings from its competitors and gain a competitive edge while potentially boosting profitability.