4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions
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Item Factors influencing Fintech adoption among the unbanked in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Matsimbi, Kagiso Hetisani; Totowa, JacquesFinancial technology (Fintech) has emerged as a transformative force in the global financial landscape, promising increased accessibility and efficiency in financial services. However, its adoption among unbanked populations, particularly in South Africa, remains limited, posing a significant barrier to financial inclusion and economic empowerment. This study explores the factors influencing the adoption of Fintech among unbanked South Africans, with a focus on accessibility, trust, technological literacy, user interfaces and socio-economic barriers. Through an exploratory approach, in the form of semi- structured interviews, data was collected from market research professionals with extensive research experience in the financial services and Fintech industry. The findings reveal that while there is a growing awareness of Fintech services, several key factors hinder widespread adoption, including limited digital literacy, concerns over security and trust, and challenges related to accessibility and affordability. Additionally, socio- economic factors such as income levels, infrastructure and geographic location play a significant role in shaping adoption behaviours. Based on these findings, recommendations are proposed to enhance digital literacy, increase accessibility, build trust in Fintech services, simplify user experience, tailor financial products, and foster community engagement to encourage adoption. Addressing these factors is essential for unlocking the potential of Fintech to drive financial inclusion and empowerment among unbanked South Africans, ultimately contributing to broader socio-economic development goals.Item Factors affecting the implementation of the South African Police Service directive on accessibility infrastructure(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mahlalela, Mduduzi Simanga; Wotela,KambidimaThe United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) Article 9 guides the implementation of universal access, as the accessibility of facilities and physical environment requires usable designs (Sholanke et al, 2019). In South Africa, the policy is implemented through the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2016) and the National Strategic Framework on Universal Design and Access (2021) to promote fairness, eradicate discrimination, and advocate for reasonable accommodation. Hence, the policy addresses the importance of user-friendly infrastructures and the implementation of universal access in all departments. However, Maart et al (2007) point out that policies on infrastructure access, experience implementation challenges. The South African Police Service Strategic Plan (2020-2024) and the SDIP (2022-2023) highlight the importance of infrastructure plans and police accessibility in police stations. While the Annual Report of 2020-2021 narrates the challenges experienced in completing accessibility projects and new police stations because of delayed suppliers. Mthethwa (2012) identifies that, assessing policy improves accountability and service delivery for policymakers and implementers. These aspects frame the research problem. Therefore, the research assesses the factors affecting the implementation of the South African Police Service directive on accessibility infrastructure, focusing on the process, attitudes, progress, and challenges as main questions. The research details the problem, identifies the knowledge gap, and further establishes a framework to understand the research findings. A qualitative research strategy is proposed for the study, employing a case study design administered with an interview schedule to gather data from participants within the Facility Management in the South African Police ServiceItem Bridging the Digital Divide: Afrocentric Approaches in the 2021 My Body My Space Online Arts Festival for Rural Emakhazeni, Mpumalanga(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-08) Khathi, Nomfundo Linami; Ntombela, NontobekoThe attempt at online arts festival for a rural community seems to be executed in ways that do not consider issues of digital dissemination in historically marginalised spaces. Those organising events requiring internet access in rural communities overlook that rural areas are not very ‘well’ developed. The study does not reject online arts festivals for historically marginalised areas but suggests that the approach taken should take into account rural issues related to resources. The hindrances with online access for rural communities have not been adequately addressed. The theory of Afrocentrism emphasises that Africans need to make Africa the centre of their own problems and solutions, by advocating that Africans need to locate themselves historically and culturally. They need to acknowledge their context and situation so that they can provide solutions aligned with their problems. The study notices a paradigm shift in South Africa, as the MBMS festival is now being held in the rural Emakhazeni community, moving away from the ‘traditionally known’ urban festival locations. This shift includes moving from an in-person MBMS festival to an online format in 2021, which has been affected by data and internet coverage issues in rural Emakhazeni. While the festival is accessible online by anyone, its original intention was to serve the Emakhazeni rural community. Through a predominantly qualitative research approach, primary and secondary data were examined, exploring the 2021 MBMS online arts festival hosted on WhatsApp for rural Emakhazeni. The stakeholders in this study include the organisers of the MBMS festival, the Department of Arts and Culture, the Emakhazeni community members, and the performers of the festival. I engage d with multiple sources, to explore how these paradigm shifts could be envisioned or executed differently with an Afrocentric perspective. Although the MBMS online festival is curated in a way that appears to respond to the modern discourses on accessibility and audience development, it simultaneously forgets that rural areas are not very well developed in many parts of South Africa. Through an exploration of the 2021MBMS festival, I unpack the way it established online accessibility and address the implications of this for the rural Emakhazeni. This research contributes to the investigation of what was silenced during the colonial and apartheid eras in South Africa, when many individuals were marginalised and denied access. Both practical steps and policy-oriented approaches are suggested by the study.