4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37773

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

Browse

Filters

2020 - 20244

Settings

Subject: search.filters.subject.Blockchain technology

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An assessment of the necessity of implementing a blockchain based land registry in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Jeram, Deelan; Saghatforoush, Ehsan; Azasu, Samuel
    Background statement: Several nations have recently implemented blockchain-based land management systems, focusing on land registration, titling, recordation, and information management, to enhance transparency, trust, data security, data quality, and immutability through consensus mechanisms. This technology streamlines access and tracking of land records, reducing fraud, corruption, record manipulation, and property resale while lowering transaction costs. These advantages aim to address issues of inefficient and untrustworthy land records in less developed countries. Problem: South Africa faces challenges, ranking 108 out of 190 in property registration according to the World Bank, with lengthy procedures (7), extended transaction times (23 days), and high costs (8% of property value). In contrast, blockchain-adopting countries like Sweden and Georgia are ranked at 9 and 5, respectively. Despite these inefficiencies blockchain technology has not yet made an inroad into the land registration or transaction process. Aim – The aim of this study is to investigate the potential use of blockchain technology to digitize land registration in South Africa. Methods: This paper investigates a blockchain property registry pilot project in Khayelitsha, South Africa, using Peled's theoretical framework and employs qualitative research methodologies, including case study analysis and expert interviews, supplemented by a systematic literature review. Outcomes: The study reveals significant challenges in South Africa's land registration, including unreliable land records, informal land tenure systems, limited access for marginalized communities, corruption, weak legal frameworks, post-colonial property rights legacy, and inefficient real estate transactions. Despite the promise of blockchain, these issues persist, hindering progress. Eight key factors obstruct blockchain adoption in South Africa's land registry, including legal barriers, organizational resistance, technological hurdles, resource constraints, political and social factors, and trust-related issues. The case study identifies additional obstacles, such as misalignment of interests, lack of formal agreements, data quality issues, and further legal barriers. Nonetheless, the pilot project managed to create a "pseudo title deed" with potential benefits for the city. This study suggests the application of blockchain in state-subsidized housing developments to enhance data security and enable electronic land transactions. It emphasizes the need for a combination of expertise, infrastructure readiness, and procedural changes to facilitate innovation in the public sector. Despite the potential, the study concludes that South Africa's land registry is not yet prepared for widespread blockchain implementation, citing legal, technological, and organizational challenges. Significance: This research is the first to explore the limited adoption of blockchain technology for land registration in South Africa, contributing valuable insights to the field. This paper identifies critical factors for successful blockchain-based property registry implementation, offering insights for legislation, policy development, and land registration system design to address inequalities and improve land tenure in developing countries. It outlines a potential path for South Africa's Deeds Registry to implement blockchain technology in state-subsidized housing developments
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An assessment of the necessity of implementing a blockchain based land registry in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-08) Jeram, Deelan; Saghatforoush, Ehsan; Azasu, Samuel
    Background statement: Several nations have recently implemented blockchain-based land management systems, focusing on land registration, titling, recordation, and information management, to enhance transparency, trust, data security, data quality, and immutability through consensus mechanisms. This technology streamlines access and tracking of land records, reducing fraud, corruption, record manipulation, and property resale while lowering transaction costs. These advantages aim to address issues of inefficient and untrustworthy land records in less developed countries. Problem: South Africa faces challenges, ranking 108 out of 190 in property registration according to the World Bank, with lengthy procedures (7), extended transaction times (23 days), and high costs (8% of property value). In contrast, blockchain-adopting countries like Sweden and Georgia are ranked at 9 and 5, respectively. Despite these inefficiencies blockchain technology has not yet made an inroad into the land registration or transaction process. Aim – The aim of this study is to investigate the potential use of blockchain technology to digitize land registration in South Africa. Methods: This paper investigates a blockchain property registry pilot project in Khayelitsha, South Africa, using Peled's theoretical framework and employs qualitative research methodologies, including case study analysis and expert interviews, supplemented by a systematic literature review. Outcomes: The study reveals significant challenges in South Africa's land registration, including unreliable land records, informal land tenure systems, limited access for marginalized communities, corruption, weak legal frameworks, post-colonial property rights legacy, and inefficient real estate transactions. Despite the promise of blockchain, these issues persist, hindering progress. Eight key factors obstruct blockchain adoption in South Africa's land registry, including legal barriers, organizational resistance, technological hurdles, resource constraints, political and social factors, and trust-related issues. The case study identifies additional obstacles, such as misalignment of interests, lack of formal agreements, data quality issues, and further legal barriers. Nonetheless, the pilot project managed to create a "pseudo title deed" with potential benefits for the city. This study suggests the application of blockchain in state-subsidized housing developments to enhance data security and enable electronic land transactions. It emphasizes the need for a combination of expertise, infrastructure readiness, and procedural changes to facilitate innovation in the public sector. Despite the potential, the study concludes that South Africa's land registry is not yet prepared for widespread blockchain implementation, citing legal, technological, and organizational challenges. Significance: This research is the first to explore the limited adoption of blockchain technology for land registration in South Africa, contributing valuable insights to the field. This paper identifies critical factors for successful blockchain-based property registry implementation, offering insights for legislation, policy development, and land registration system design to address inequalities and improve land tenure in developing countries. It outlines a potential path for South Africa's Deeds Registry to implement blockchain technology in state-subsidized housing developments.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The adoption of Blockchain among the SMEs in Gauteng, South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Motea, Mosa; Wotela, Kambidima
    This study investigates factors that influence the adoption of Blockchain technology among small to medium enterprises (SMEs) within Gauteng, South Africa, through the lens of the challenges they face. The adoption of Blockchain in the SME sector is lagging as compared to other counterparts in emerging economies. It is evident, based on the literature review that SMEs face numerous business problems, and this creates severe challenges hindering the adoption of new technologies. The Technology- Organisational-Environment (TOE) framework was utilised as a theoretical framework and used for this study to analyse the adoption of technology among SMEs. A qualitative research approach was considered the most appropriate for this study. Primary data was collected from six SMEs comprising of owners and directors or senior managers using semi-structured interviews. A purposive sampling technique was chosen to select the participants. The interview question guide developed from insights gained from the literature review section, and other questions were added depending on the respondents' feedback. The author adopted Bryman's four-stage thematic coding for data analysis. The findings of this study offer’s knowledge and practical enlightenment on the factors that drive the adoption of technologies among the SME sector
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Blockchain technology: an examination of use-cases in the accounting profession
    (2020) Malinga, Sibusiso
    The accounting profession is one of the most sought-after professions. Worldwide, accountants are in high demand, making this a lucrative career. Most companies, nonprofit organisations and government departments need accountants and rely on accounting skills to ensure that finances are managed professionally and that there is accountability. However, the accounting profession demands a great deal of manual work, which takes up time. Manual tasks are also prone to errors. The primary objective of this study was to determine the current manual accounting tasks and the tasks that can be automated with blockchain technology. The secondary purpose was to determine how the automation of ongoing accounting tasks will affect the accounting profession. The study adopted a mixed method of research. The sample comprised 21 accountants representing two companies in South Africa, and the sampling techniques were chosen for convenience and were of a purposive nature. The results provided some valuable insights into current manual accounting tasks. These tasks can be automated by blockchain technology, the time spent on these manual accounting tasks, the frequency of the manual accounting tasks, and the anticipated impact of automating tasks in the accounting profession. The results showed that blockchain technology could save accountants a great deal of time that could be used on more valuable tasks in terms of financial analysis and reporting. The study will assist accountants in a leading logistics company with identifying manual tasks currently being undertaken. Recommendations regarding blockchain technology will be made available to the company, and this research will contribute to the optimisation of the accountant’s time and tasks. The study will add to the blockchain technology and the body of knowledge (BoK) in the accounting profession.