College PR Manager Leads by Example
Ms Hazel Langa, CLMS PR Manager, with her husband Skhumbuzo, eldest son Yandiswa and youngest son, Wandile.A drive for promoting public relations as a mindset that nurtures the positive growth of an organisation’s reputation is the main ingredient behind College of Law and Management Studies Public Relations Manager, Ms Hazel Langa, to not only graduate with her Master’s, but also be the KZN Regional Chair of the Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE).
MACE aims to fulfil a leadership role in the Higher-Education sector within southern Africa by adding value to practitioners in marketing, advancement and communication in 2018.
‘The state of marketing communications in South Africa is developing at a rapid pace and as communications practitioners, we have to change with it or risk being irrelevant. Therefore, to be able to effectively deliver on the strategic direction of the College’s brand identity, I have to keep abreast of the latest developments in this field by not only learning in the classroom, but also from other practitioners. With the new knowledge gained from this qualification, combined with the experience I will gather during my term as the KZN MACE Chair, I am confident that I will be successful in both these areas,’ said Langa.
Having joined UKZN as an Events Co-ordinator 14 years ago, Langa continued growing her leadership potential since being appointed College PR Manager in 2011 which was followed by a six-month tenure of being UKZN’s Director of University Relations in 2017. Her passion for communications development is not only limited to the Higher Education sector as her thesis: The Assessment of Communication in Local Government within eThekwini Municipality shines a spotlight on the communication gaps that exist within local government and their negative effect on service delivery. The study was supervised by Professor Purshottama Reddy.
Langa’s study looked at the conceptual, theoretical and legislative framework governing communications in local government with the aim to enable local municipalities to strengthen communication with local citizens. Findings revealed three major factors impeding the effectiveness of communication in the Municipality, namely: poor response and apathy from citizens that stifles participatory communication; political dynamics and cynicism which lead to messages being viewed as propaganda; and budgetary constraints which dictate the level of engagement with local communities.
The study recommended strengthening of ward committee structures as they are the closest to the communities; growing the use of digital and online communication tools so the City keeps abreast with the changing communications consumption patterns of its citizens; a concerted effort in reaching out to despondent citizens; and a need to strengthen the associations with the media as it drives messages to the masses.
‘I’m pleased that I have contributed to knowledge generation within my City as I will be sharing the findings of the study with the Municipal Institute of Learning (MILE) in the near future so that the outcomes can be attended to,’ said Langa. Working with her supervisor, Langa is currently in the process of converting her dissertation into a research article for publication in an accredited academic journal. She said, ‘I will always be indebted to my supportive supervisor, Professor P S Reddy, for his encouragement, patience and academic wisdom which developed my thinking and academic writing skills. His insights in public governance have broadened my understanding and appreciation of local government,’ adding that she is grateful to UKZN for creating an environment which empowered her to grow intellectually.
'The journey towards the completion of this dissertation would not have been possible without contributions and input from my family, colleagues and friends. It was such an honour and a humbling experience to realise just how many people are interested in my professional and academic development,' she added.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo jumo@ukzn.ac.za
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .Aerotropolis Trailblazer Graduates with PhD
Dr Nomkhosi Luthuli graduates with a PhD.The word Aerotropolis may sound like a tongue twister for many but for PhD graduate, Dr Nomkhosi Luthuli, the term is a niche area that sees her continually breaking new ground.
Luthuli, an expert in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and industrial development related research projects at UKZN, describes an aerotropolis as a city that is built around an airport to stimulate economic growth and generate revenue. However, it is her unique understanding of this area that saw her nominated for a benchmarking tour of aerotropolis and aviation related institutes in Dubai and the Netherlands in 2016 which saw her represent UKZN in the South Africa-Sweden urbanisation and cities in the 21st Century Forum.
This is a three-year project (2017 to 2020) which brings together researchers, students, industries, funding agencies and other societal actors from Sweden and South Africa to discuss global challenges and their impact on society. In 2018, Luthuli was featured in Destiny Magazine’s coveted Power of 40 list which profiles 40 women under the age of 40 doing extraordinary things in their various industries. In the same year, she also made The Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans list and was awarded the KZN Young Achievers Award under the Academic Category.
‘Aerotropolis is currently a key strategic investment and a major infrastructure project of the government of South Africa aimed at driving industrial and regional economic development. Conducting research around this area is useful for us to find better ways of setting up these kinds of industrial complexes within the African context,’ said Luthuli.
Supervised by Dr Jennifer Houghton, her study: An Exploration of the Conceptualisation and Enactment of Regional Economic Development Through an Analysis of the Durban Aerotropolis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa analysed how Regional Economic Development,is conceptualised and enacted. As such, her doctoral thesis provides an account of how, in the context of the Durban Aerotropolis, the region is conceptualised as an inherent notion in the Regional Economic Development approach.
‘My study explores the enactment of Regional Economic Development by examining the governance mechanisms of the aerotropolis project and interrogates the dynamics of agglomeration and clustering of businesses through the aerotropolis. Furthermore, regional marketing is considered as a critical component of the enactment of Regional Economic Development by uncovering the various efforts that have been co-ordinated by stakeholders to ensure that the Durban Aerotropolis is better positioned to attract foreign and local investment,’ said Luthuli.
Looking to the future, Luthuli is looking forward to exploring her specialist path and more importantly, changing the mindset that aviation and airport cities planning is a man’s field by proving that understanding the economics behind aviation can just as easily be a woman’s job. This is a call to action to inspire other women to break the glass ceiling and get involved in aviation and economics.
‘At this point, I am really torn between staying in academia and seeking opportunities in industry. It would be amazing to work for either the Department of Economic Development or Department of Trade and Investment at a national level more so with regards to my specialist knowledge in the area of economic development, cluster and agglomeration economics as well as industrial policy. However, I have my sights set on ACSA, the Dube Trade Port or Ekurhuleni for my expertise within the airport metropolis space or what is popularly known as aerotropolis. Women are in fact needed in this space and the world is currently my oyster in all kinds of ways,’ said Luthuli.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo jumo@ukzn.ac.za
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .Thesis Explores Virginity Testing as Women Empowerment
Ms Nokukhanya Biyela graduates with a Master’s degree at the UKZN Spring Graduation ceremonies. Ms Nokukhanya Biyela’s Master’s thesis in Child Care and Protection explored virginity testing as a tool for women empowerment.
UThukela District Municipality’s Maiden Bursary Scheme (MBS) for girls and/or young women who are virgins motivated Biyela to conduct her research.
The 16 female students awarded the bursary had to remain virgins while in receipt of the bursary. ‘Such an offer suggested the possibility of using the cultural practice of virginity testingof women and girls asa tool for educational empowerment,’ she said.
Twenty-six-year-old Biyela explored this topic for her dissertation as she is passionate about women empowerment. ‘There are divergent views on MBS, with traditionalists’ views in support of it and human rights activists’ and feminists’ views against it,’ she said. Her study also looked at South African legislation related to virginity testing.
‘The South African Constitution protects cultural diversity, and as such, persons belonging to a cultural community may not be denied the rights to enjoy and practice their culture. Pertinently, though, this right may not be exercised in a manner inconsistent with any provision of the Bill of Right,’ she said.
Formally trained as a social worker, Biyela is currently working at BSN Medical as a Laboratory Assistant. She says she wants to affect the lives of people by ‘promoting social change and empowering society.’ She enjoys working with children and would like to be an academic to pass on knowledge to others,
She thanked her supervisor, Mrs Willene Holness from the School of Law, for her endless support, guidance, expertise and encouragement. ‘The legal aspect of my study became so much more interesting and easily manageable through her guidance,’ she said.
She paid tribute to her family, particularly her mother, Ntwezinhle, and brother, Malusi, ‘for always encouraging me to follow my dream.’
Words: Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .Passion for Climate Change Mitigation Leads to Masters
Ms Thobeka Radebe who graduated with a Masters in Administration.September is a notable month for Human Sciences Research Council’s Junior Researcher, Ms Thobeka Radebe, as not only did she graduate with her Master of Administration degree, she is also travelling to London and Belgium to represent the Council’s Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery Unit at the Climate Change Conference hosted by the European Social Survey.
The active researcher, who is already pursuing her PhD in Public Administration, says acquiring new knowledge is instrumental in her chosen career path as there is a need for capacity development in the public and non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector domestically, regionally, continentally and globally.
‘My Masters will help me become more analytical and become a knowledgeable change agent. This qualification has helped me to be able to identify research problems based upon societal issues and needs as well as implement research techniques in the workplace or other institutional settings, and embed ethical considerations and values in the research undertakings. Studying towards a PhD has by far been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do but I have a natural thirst for knowledge and an insatiable appetite for reading books about environmental issues and this is the right choice,’ said Radebe.
Evaluating the Role of the State and Non-State Actors in Mitigating Water Shortages in eThekwini Municipality is the title of Radebe’s dissertation which focused on the role that the state and non-state actors play in mitigating water shortages. The study was supervised by Professor Thokozani Nzimakwe.
‘Water is a basic human need as without it, survival is not possible. Water scarcity is a South African reality that is a major inconvenience to everyone and an impediment to the country’s economic growth. With our country being water stressed, it is important for South Africa to look into this issue and understand its current and future challenges. To frame the water security challenges better, there is a need for more information on variables that control and impact water security and a need for an integrated, multi-disciplinary, multi-scale and multi-agency approach to research. Throughout my schooling, I have always had a passion and interest in environmental issues and trying to find ways in which we can live well and sustainably without harming the environment,’ said Radebe.
Apart from working on coming up with solutions to the world’s climate change and local development challenges one research at a time, Radebe also gives back to the community through the Remould organisation. ‘I’m part of an organisation called Remould that aims to give lives, ideas, systems and way of thinking in our communities. Being part of this organisation gives me life and something to look forward to.
‘I enjoy spending time with people from all walks of life through community projects or just going out with all my friends. I’m an adventure seeker so it’s my mission to do and try out different things as I live for traveling with my loved ones and my faith especially in my Christian journey,’ said Radebe.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .PhD for Banking Industry Expert
Dr Shahiem Patel graduates with his PhD in Leadership Studies. Implementing technological solutions to solve financial problems is what drives PhD in Leadership Studies graduate Dr Shahiem Patel.
Patel, a Customer Experience Transformation: Knowledge Management Analyst at Standard Bank, used his thesis titled: Developing a Crowd Sourcing Platform as a Funding Mechanism for a South African Higher Education Institution to explore the socio-economic landscape of South African Higher Education and the #FeesMustFall events.
‘My qualification allows me to explore the point where leadership and education intersects. Despite attempts by numerous public and private sector entities to address the challenges highlighted by the #FeesMustFall events, vast numbers of students remain excluded from accessing Higher Education due to the high costs associated therewith. I pursued this qualification because I did not want to be a bystander in the fight for financial access to Higher Education. At the outset, my belief was that technology was not being effectively applied to the Higher Education context,’ said Patel.
His research, which was supervised by Dr Angela James, involved SCRUM and Waterfall methodologies which are utilised to develop software using elements from both methodologies to develop the crowd sourcing platform, which is a novel idea.
‘The social impact associated with this research is potentially monumental because the crowd sourcing platform is available for use by any Higher Education entity or stakeholder. The power of the crowd and the internet could be harnessed to fund hundreds of thousands of students in the Higher Education system. The platform could be adapted to source funds for Higher Education infrastructure and or other expenses. Furthermore, it could also be potentially used to source basic education and training expenses,’ explained Patel.
Looking to the future, Patel looks forward to using his newly acquired knowledge and skills for professional growth as a leader.
‘Apart for working in the banking industry, I am also an MBA Supervisor at the Wits Business School. I am often invited to deliver guest lectures and keynote addresses at academic and professional institutions. This qualification will enable me to further develop my academic and professional leadership skills and acumen. I am actively pursuing opportunities that supports my vision of positioning myself as a leader that expands the areas of convergence between professional and academic progression,’ said Patel.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photographer: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .Graduate Pushes Through Own Boundaries to Emerge with PhD
Dr Thulani Dube graduates with his PhD in Management. As his home country of Zimbabwe is currently facing various socio-economic challenges such as a lack of financial access by the rural communities to cash crisis and liquidity, PhD in Management graduate, Dr Thulani Dube, is hopeful that his research can be used to positively influence policy formulation and direction especially to monetary authorities and the Zimbabwean government at large.
Titled: Mobile Money as a Strategy for Financial Inclusion and Improving Livelihood of Rural Consumers in Zimbabwe, Dube’s study supervised by Dr Bibi Chummun explores ways that monetary authorities through the development and improvement of financial inclusion policies that are pro-poor communities can better the lives of these citizens.
‘The research is very topical and current to Zimbabwe now as the development of mobile money and its adoption presented an opportunity to overcome the above-mentioned challenges. This generated a research interest in me to assess how this innovation has helped to overcome these challenges in the past and how can they be used to improve people’s lives in the future,’ he said.
While Dube - who is a lecturer in the Department of Marketing at Bindura University of Science Education - was seeking to contribute to solutions for his country’s challenges through exploring his research interests in e-commerce, e-banking, and mobile banking, he had his own hurdles to overcome.
‘I was diagnosed with diabetes and it really affected my progress as I had to walk long distances with my research assistant to collect data which was difficult due to my health, poor road networks and how the homesteads are organised. However, in the end it became fun as we interacted with the respondents as some viewed us as agents of mobile network providers and it was interesting to see the country side,’ he said.
His supervisors leaving the institution in the beginning of his studies and the financial strain of his studies on his family were the other challenges he had to overcome. In the end however, things worked out as he ended up with ‘the best supervisor’.
‘My family budget was severely affected as the research was not funded. I had to save to finance my travelling expenses. My new supervisor, Dr Bibi Chummun, was a great support in every way to all these challenges as she always checked up on me. At times she would just call to find out how I was doing not necessarily to check on my study progress but find out about my health, family and life in general. That kept me going as I would have given up if I didn’t have her in my corner,’ he said.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .Cum Laude pass for Zimbabwe's Economist
Master of Commerce in Economics cum laude graduate, Mr Blessing Sakupwanya.Mr Blessing Sakupwanya graduated cum laude with his Master of Commerce in Economics during the UKZN Spring Graduation ceremonies.
Sakupwanya, who is from Harare, Zimbabwe, is an expert in the field of economics, specifically policy development and management, development economics, insight forecast, micro and macro economic analysis, public policy analysis, investment portfolio analysis and monitoring and evaluation. He has served as an economist for various banks in Zimbabwe, including Nedbank, before working closely with the then Finance Minister Finance Minister of Zimbabwe, Mr Tendai Biti, and the political Party MDC (Movement for Democratic Change).
At present, he is managing the Bopang Group’s Microfinance subsidiary in Centurion, Pretoria, and privately mentors students from some of the best business schools in the country, including GIBS and Unisa’s Business School.
His dissertation focused on the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Domestic Investment (DI) for the South African economy over time. ‘This is an interesting one as you know that most developing countries are going all over the world looking for Foreign Direct Investment, FDI so my focus was to assess the relationship between FDI and Domestic Investment for the South African economy over time and to ascertain the effects of FDI inflows on Domestic Investment in South Africa (that is the crowd in or out effects of FDI on DI). The results revealed that there is an adjustment towards long-run equilibrium arising from shocks in the short-run,’ he said.
Sakupwanya, who did his undergraduate degree Mrewa High School and his honours at the University of Zimbabwe, said that for every US$1 of FDI inflow in South Africa, the total investment in the economy increased by 74 cents. ‘Drawing from the results obtained in this study, it is sensible for South African policymakers to formulate strategies aimed at stimulating DI by encouraging better involvement of domestic investors in production and investment activities,’ he said.
The young economist said he was deeply indebted to a number of people who contributed to the successful completion of his Master’s. Foremost was his supervisor, Dr Sophia Mukorera, whose ‘guidance, suggestions, comments and references have enabled me to finish the longest and most challenging piece of work. She is a star.’ He also thanked staff and friends in the School of Accounting Economics and Finance who lent their assistance and encouragement throughout his studies. ‘My warmest thanks to my mother for the endless support, love and care throughout my life. Your selfless love has constantly encouraged me to the end of one of the most challenging tasks in my life. I wish to thank my wife, Julia, whose love and continued support enabled me to overcome the frustrations that occurred in the process of writing this dissertation,’ said Sakupwanya.
Words: Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .PhD Graduate Passionate About Evidence-Based Africanisation of Regional Governance in Southern Africa
PhD in Administration graduate, Dr McBride Nkhalamba, with his supervisor, Dr Fayth Ruffin (third from left), and his family.During his studies, PhD in Administration graduate Dr McBride Nkhalamba balanced his doctoral studies involving a three-country case study with a hectic work and family schedule - all while living on two continents.
Nkhalamba’s current appointment as the Head of Research Methodology and Development for the African Union’s African Peer Review Mechanism involves providing strategic leadership to the research efforts of an inter-governmental agency of the African Union established to promote Africanised governance modes in Africa.
The avid scholar who hails from Malawi holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree from the University of Malawi. Although Nkhalamba is a Fulbright Scholar with a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the Maxwell School of Public Affairs, University of Syracuse, New York, his doctoral studies presented intellectual and logistical challenges as he travelled between South Africa, Botswana, Malawi and elsewhere across Africa.
‘As a doctoral researcher, the first challenge I confronted was the need to be intellectually formless about the upcoming results. A doctoral researcher, as should be the case with all researchers, can only grow as a scholar and create new knowledge by first being dispassionate with one’s thought traditions as well as personal belief and value system. This was a challenge, especially since I have over two decades of work experience in sectors closely related to the topic of study,’ said Nkhalamba.
Through his study: The Confluence of Regionalism, State Functionalism and Public Private Partnerships in Southern Africa: Perspectives from Botswana, Malawi and South Africa, Nkhalamba presents new novel knowledge about regional integration and statecraft with implications for public-private partnerships in Africa. This knowledge promotes African epistemologies; breaking away from westernised paradigms of governance and international relations. The study was supervised by Dr Fayth Ruffin.
‘My motivation to pursue this degree was borne out of two critical interests I consider to be imperative for the advancement of any society or civilisation. The first was my need to develop a grounded scientific understanding of statecraft and regional integration in southern Africa. The second aspect was the indispensable need to create a record of the profound findings on endogenous conceptualisations of statecraft and regional integration. As a Pan-African scholar, I recognise that effective statecraft is inalienable to the goal of creating a united and prosperous Africa. I recognised from my earlier studies that undue external influences on our polities were significantly owed to our poor ideation and incoherent architecture of our own politico-administrative space,’ explained Nkhalamba.
‘The novel study findings strongly suggest that in southern Africa, among the most senior and respected practitioners, there is a deep rooted indifference to the ideological and architectural origins of the concepts that govern statecraft and regional integration. The unquestioned adoption of the notion of Westphalia sovereignty, which is defined by neo-colonial geo-politics or borders, reveals the extent to which the political liberation project remains unaccomplished. Further, despite the emphasis on the European Union linear model of economic integration, the politico-administrative frame within which southern African polities are required to govern the process, remains exogenously driven and unyielding. These dynamics have been confirmed by the study and have implications for the forms and direction of regional integration in the Southern Africa community. The study introduced the new concepts of “Afristate intrafunctionalism” and “amalgamated sovereignty” to advance statecraft and regionalism,’ he added.
Looking to the future, Nkhalamba says he has renewed commitment towards making a difference in Africa by working to entrench endogenously conceived concepts and models into the architecture of statecraft and the economic logic of continental Africa’s intra-regional and cross-continental engagement.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .Research Recommends Policy Interventions to Address Childcare Gender Imbalance
Dr Michelle Hatch with her partner, Jonathan; son, Brandon; and daughter, Lara.Who is responsible for childcare in South Africa, what are the indirect economic costs of childcare and what are the non-economic costs and benefits of childcare? These are the questions that PhD graduate and UKZN’s economics lecturer Dr Michelle Hatch sought to answer through her study titled: An Economic Study of Childcare in South Africa which aims to highlight the economics surrounding single, married and working mothers by exploring both the costs and the benefits to women in South Africa of raising children.
‘My research looks at various family dynamics such as caregivers versus biological parents, the disparity that exists between earnings of men and women in the SA labour market and if the social and foster care grants realistically bridge that gap as well as the differences and similarities between races through the use of the National Income Dynamics Study. In South Africa, we do not have a lot of data on physical and financial childcare that asks these questions and I am hoping to provide the answers through this research,’ said Hatch.
Hatch, who recently graduated with her PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand, says she hopes that this quantitative research will make a positive difference in the lives of women, children and families in South Africa.
‘My thesis uses nationally representative longitudinal data to show that women in South Africa carry disproportionate responsibility for the physical care, and often, also the financial care of children. My study then analyses the emotional and economic implications for women with regards to childcare responsibilities. My findings highlight the need for policy interventions that address this gender imbalance in childcare if the socio-economics status of women and children is to be substantively improved,’ explained Hatch.
Hatch is a recipient of the DST-NRF Mandela Initiative Community of Practice on Poverty and Inequality; an NRF sabbatical grant which aims to address the declining number of full-time university academic staff with doctoral degrees.
Hatch’s research has also opened up possibilities for interdisciplinary collaboration as she is keen to partner with colleagues from the School of Law to see which legal aspects of the topic they can explore for research publication. She also plans to publish her research in economic journals.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .Masters in Accountancy Degrees for UKZN Lecturers
School of Accounting Economics and Finance academics (from left) Ms Hlengiwe Ndlela, Ms Shazia Essa, Ms Kerry-Lee Gurr and Ms Salma Vanker. Teaching students to grasp how the theory they are learning in class is practically applied in the real world is a vocation that School of Accounting, Economics and Finance academics and Master in Accountancy graduates, Ms Hlengiwe Ndlela, Ms Kerry-Lee Gurr, Ms Shazia Essa and Ms Salma Vanker, remain passionate about.
As a Chartered Accountant and registered Auditor, Ndlela shares her passion for teaching auditing with community outreach work. Raised in Inanda, Durban, by a single mother who worked as a domestic worker, Ndlela worked hard to secure a bursary from Ernst & Young Inc. to pursue her BCom Accounting degree at UKZN. While doing her second-year, she fell pregnant with her daughter but refused to drop out. Her determination would also carry her through her Honours studies after three attempts. ‘Today I am graduating with my Masters, which I never thought I would even pursue when I was struggling with my Honours seven years ago. I strongly believe in lifelong learning and have a passion in teaching others,’ said Ndlela who is the Co-founder of the 1Woman1Girl Mentorship Program, member of the Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa (ABASA), an Audit Committee Member of a Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal amongst many others she also runs a programme that is designed to support African Students currently pursuing their CTA / Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting.
Examining the Effects of Audit Opinion on Municipalities' Operations: A Case of Mpofana Local Municipality was the title of Ndlela’s dissertation. Supervised by Professor Mabutho Sibanda, the study was based on a portion of governance in the municipal space and examined the effect of an audit opinion on how the municipality is run, the response or action plans to address audit findings and the service delivery.
As a Financial Lecturer, Gurr enjoys teaching future Chartered Accountants. Titled An Exploration of the Effect of Mergers and Acquisitions on Long-run Value Creation of Companies Within South Africa, Gurr’s thesis was supervised by Mr Leo Deodutt. ‘This enables me to offer a quality service to the students. As an academic, it is vital to constantly expand one’s knowledge, and as such, a Master’s degree was the next logical step in my transformation,’ said Gurr.
While attaining this qualification meant a lot of sacrifices for Gurr, the benefits are worth it. ‘I had to sacrifice time with my family as well as my wedding plans. It was very difficult at times to juggle work and study commitments but I managed to stay passionate through my support system and fellow colleagues who were also going through various phases of their own research. The plan is to start gathering my thoughts and gear up towards a PhD, the ultimate goal for an academic,’ said Gurr.
IFRSs for SMEs: An Empirical Study of the KwaZulu-Natal SME Sector was the title of Essa’s dissertation which was supervised by Dr Rajendra Rajaram. The study aims to empower the SME sector with financial reporting skills to assist entrepreneurs. ‘It was not difficult to stay interested about my topic as I am extremely passionate about the SME sector and initiatives that will help grow and sustain this sector. In South Africa, SMEs contribute significantly to our GDP levels and to reduce unemployment and it is paramount that they receive the necessary support to help them succeed,’ said Essa.
Balancing her studies with two children under the age of five; together with the assignments and exams from her Master’s coursework was a daunting task which Essa however conquered and extends a big salute to Rajaram, for always motivating and believing in her, even on days when she didn’t believe in herself.
‘There were days, where I would pitch up to lectures with baby cereal in my hair, or not had slept for days before an exam because my babies would have taken turns getting sick. I remember writing paragraphs of my research with my two year old sitting on my lap. Midway I was ready to give up, I sat in tears telling my mum “I can’t do this, I’m going to deregister.” My four year old was listening to this and echoed to me what I always tell them “You have to try your best mum. You won’t know until you try”. I then realised that I had two little people looking up at me, and I needed to set a good example and make this happen. I could not have done it without God’s grace and a strong support system – which I am extremely grateful for. I have my eye on that red PhD coat, fingers crossed,’ said Essa.
Adoption of Islamic Banking by Muslim Accountants and Lawyers in KwaZulu-Natal was the title of Vanker’s dissertation. The study was supervised by Mr Leo Deodutt and provided insight into the need for a collaboration between various stakeholders to navigate challenges faced and find solutions to implement Islamic Banking in the ever-complex and dynamic business environment whilst still adhering to the principles of Islam.
‘I was awakened to the ideological and practical richness and relevance of expanding this niche market of Islamic Banking. Looking back at this achievement, I hope to inspire and motivate my own students to achieve their dreams,’ added Vanker.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .Law Student Graduates Cum Laude
LLM cum laude graduate, Ms Kirstin Hagglund.Durbanite, Ms Kirstin Hagglund, graduated with a Master of Laws degree cum laude at UKZN’s Spring Graduation ceremonies.
Hagglund’s dissertation was a comparative study which looked at the laws of Germany and America. She said that in South African criminal law, intention will extend to those consequences which are foreseen by the accused as a result of engaging in certain conduct, no matter how remote those consequences may be. ‘This form of intention, dolus eventualis, was what the Supreme Court of Appeal found Oscar Pistorius guilty on,’ she said.
‘Dolus eventualis has been subject to much criticism because both dolus eventualis required for murder, and conscious negligence required for culpable homicide, contain an element of subjective foresight of the remote possibility of death occurring by the accused which blurs the distinction between cases of murder and culpable homicide,’ she said.
German and American law as well as academic opinion were consulted to establish how the respective countries have dealt with the conflation of murder and negligent killings. ‘Considering the lack of clarity surrounding the test for dolus eventualis, I was motivated to examine the current test for dolus eventualis in the case of murder and to determine its sufficiency and whether it can be more clearly distinguished from cases of culpable homicide.
From the research, I found that the current test for dolus eventualis in the case of murder cannot be properly distinguished from cases of culpable homicide and should be reformulated to include foresight of a real, reasonable or substantial possibility of death ensuing,’ said Hagglund. ‘This creates a higher standard of proof which is appropriate for the ‘seriousness and stigma attached to the crime of murder and allows for the contentious volitional component of the test to be dispensed with,’ she said.
‘However, if death was not foreseen as probable, it needs to be asked whether the accused’s conduct offends the legal system to cover those situations in which the accused’s conduct has no social utility and displays an extreme indifference to the value of human life,’ she added.
Hagglund, who is pleased to be joining the candidate attorney programme at international law firm Norton Rose Fulbright next year, said, ‘I could not be happier to be graduating cum laude. The hard work and dedication was definitely worth it. Many weekends and social events were sacrificed to write my dissertation or study for exams. Therefore, you need to be committed to and passionate about the topic you are researching and writing on.’
She thanked the UKZN School of Law for granting her a Postgraduate Scholarship that funded most of her LLM studies. ‘I am also eternally grateful to my parents for making the sacrifices that allowed me to pursue and devote myself to my LLM. I could not have completed it without their constant support, motivation and words of encouragement,’ she said.
She also acknowledged her supervisor, Dr Franaaz Khan, for her ‘constant and invaluable support and guidance.’
Words: Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .MCom Degree for BMF President
Black Management Forum (BMF) President and Master of Commerce in Leadership Studies graduate, Mr Mncane Mthunzi.With his career spanning across various industries including retail, transport, industrial products, telecommunications, broadcasting, information technology and governance, it is without a doubt that Mr Mncane Mthunzi, President of the Black Management Forum (BMF), is growing his leadership portfolio as he recently graduated with a Master of Commerce in Leadership Studies degree from UKZN.
Through his research titled: The Impact of Leadership Development Initiatives in the Acceleration of Black Talent on JSE-listed Companies, Mthunzi got to hear first-hand the stories of people who have been victims of an untransformed society, an experience he describes as “life altering”.
‘The research was an emotional roller-coaster. There were moments where I would walk away angered by the experiences that some of my participants had to endure in our South Africa. However, my passion for transformation and for a just, equitable and fairer society inspired me to keep typing, rephrasing and improving my dissertation so that the informed knowledge it contains will be my contribution towards changing this status quo,’ said Mthunzi.
The study, which was supervised by Professor Cecil Proches, suggests easy to implement solutions that JSE-listed companies can adopt as part of their transformation initiatives.
‘This study provides solutions about advancing the career of Black professionals to executive levels in JSE-listed companies. The findings are ground breaking, taking into consideration that the Sunday Times recently published an article about the conversion of non-executives to executives in accelerating diversity and inclusion in Boards and Executive Committees. The people that I have shared it with are happy to implement it in their own companies,’ he added.
While Master’s graduate, leader, husband, father, BMF President, Massbuild (Massmart) Commercial Director and Executive Committee member are titles held by Mthunzi, he plans on adding more to his already impressive resume. ‘Of course, I need to upgrade my title from Mr to Dr in the next three years. I’m taking a breather and my journey for that PhD starts next year. I initially wanted to write a book and thought it would be useful if it was grounded on research to make it impactful. This gave me an opportunity to earn a qualification and make me a scholar in the process,’ said Mthunzi.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .Entrepreneurship Student Graduates Cum Laude
Master of Commerce in Entrepreneurship cum laude graduate, Mrs Abiola Abatan.Mrs Abiola Abatan graduated cum laude with a Master of Commerce in Entrepreneurship at the UKZN 2018 Spring Graduation ceremonies.
Abatan, whose topic explored the profitability, success and survival of Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises, said while SMMEs have a huge impact on a country’s economy, many of them still end up failing. ‘A large number of SMMEs are not making decisions that are strategic enough for their business competitive advantage and sustainability,’ she said.
Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, the mother of two said her findings showed that although SMMEs are aware of business actions or strategies available for their businesses’ sustainability, they disagree with adopting some of these strategies due to major challenges that they face.
The cum laude graduate encouraged girls and women to believe in themselves. ‘Failure does not mean that you can never achieve greatness in your lifetime. Once you have an opportunity, grab it and make good use of it,’ she said.
Abatan thanked her supervisor, Dr Sulaiman O Atiku, for his ‘constant guidance and patience,’ and her family for their support and understanding. She paid tribute to her ‘wonderful and supportive husband,’ Mr Omotayo Abatan. ‘I thank him for believing in me and for his constant encouragement,’ she said.
Abatan is a consultant at Greenhall Enterprise where she provides operations and market research services for entrepreneurs. In her spare time, she loves travelling, going to the cinema and spending time with her family.
Words: Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer
author : .author email : .Staffer Graduates Cum Laude
Mr Abdulbaqi Badru graduates cum laude for his Master of Commerce in Information Systems and Technology.UKZN Masters student, Mr Abdulbaqi Badru, graduated cum laude at the University’s 2018 Spring Graduation ceremonies.
Badru, who is currently working at the University as an IT Support Consultant, received his Master of Commerce (cum laude) in Information Systems and Technology.
Titled: Managing IT Outsourcing (ITO) Risks: The Case of Large Organisations in South Africa, Badru’s study investigated how large organisations manage the risks of outsourcing IT functions to third-party organisations and develop an ITO risk management framework. He emphasised the importance of constituting a risk committee to manage the process of ITO. ‘This committee must conduct due diligence in selecting the appropriate ITSP and integrate risk governance and assurance policies in their ITO risk management strategy to continuously monitor residual risks,’ he said.
Originally from Lagos State in Nigeria, Badru said he was excited to graduate cum laude. This joy was however bitter sweet as his father passed away shortly after he submitted his dissertation.
He thanked Almighty Allah; his family and his girlfriend; supervisor, Mr Nurudeen Ajayi and his family; as well as UKZN’s Dr Reshma Subbaye (now Director at MUT); Dr Rubby Dhunpath and Professor Michael Samuel. ‘A very big thank you to my mother who came all the way from Nigeria to be at my graduation. She is an inspiring woman who believes in me and worked hard to make sure my siblings and I received the best education we had access to,’ he said. He also paid tribute to the Nigerian Muslim community in Pietermaritzburg and Durban, his badminton friends as well as colleagues at the University Teaching and Learning Office. ‘My appreciation also goes to UKZN and ISACA for covering my fees in the first and second year of my study,’ he added.
Badru, an avid badminton player, is a member of the University’s Badminton club and represented UKZN at the USSA Badminton 2016 and 2017 as a player and at the 2018 edition as a manager. He was selected as one of UKZN’s 40 most inspiring students in 2017. ‘Never say never as you can be whatever you dream of’, he said to other students.
Words: Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .Multi-diversity Spice of Life for PhD Graduate
The multi-talented Dr Xoliswa Majola graduates with her PhD. An all-rounder is the best way to describe Graduate School of Business and Leadership (GSB&L) academic and PhD graduate, Dr Xoliswa Majola.
She started out as a young entrepreneur styling her neighbours' hair after school at the age of 14 in her hometown of Hammarsdale to raise funds for her high school tuition.
Then she went on to perform in theatre productions including Stimela SaseZola, Sarafina, the Zulu, Celebrate 10 years of South African Democracy and Sarafina to mention a few, under the tutelage of the legendary Mbongeni Ngema and Leleti Khumalo.
Now Majola is pursuing her future in academia through lecturing and researching the fourth industrial revolution, big data, health informatics and smart cities, while exploring her passion for law by studying towards a law degree.
‘I am the first person coming from the entertainment industry to get a PhD, which is not related to entertainment. When I told Mbongeni Ngema about it, he was so excited that one of his own is getting a PhD. Somizi used to say to dancers that were getting old, they must go and look for a job at Shoprite. That hit me so hard because I knew I was not going to stay young forever and one day I will be told to go and look for a job at Shoprite. When I decided to go to university, it was just to do one degree, and go back to the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, I was convinced by my friends to enrol for honours degree since I had good results, I got an opportunity to do a Masters at UKZN and I ended up being consumed by books till now,’ said Majola.
Designing a Conceptual Model of Management Information Systems for Local Economic Development Practice in KwaZulu-Natal was the title of Majola’s thesis supervised by Dr Sachin Suknunan and Professor Brian McArthur. The research, which was conducted under the GSB&L’s Regional and Local Economic Development Initiative, a partnership between the School and the KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Department (EDTEA), was requested by the Department as its findings will be used to develop a system that can be used by all local economic development stakeholders in the province.
‘Local Economic Development (LED) is currently the focus of our country and many government institutions have to contribute in it. However, when you look at the literature, there are a number of challenges that hinder the realisation of LED,’ explained Majola.
Another important finding highlighted by Majola’s research is that as much as people want to use technology there is still not adequate support for public servants and it requires accountability and transparency which they find it difficult to adhere to.
‘The other crucial finding points to politics, where you find that one district is governed by two political parties and they tend to hide information from each other and refer to it as classified information. This alludes to the need for realisation that despite our differences we need to sort out the issue of our economy which is currently struggling and put aside political battles. The findings revealed that indeed the LED stakeholders have a lot of information that they need to share amongst each other however, there is a lack of co-ordination in this regard,’ she added.
While her heart still beats for the entertainment industry, Majola is excited about what the future holds in leadership or law and her other various roles which include being an executive member of the University of KwaZulu-Natal Staff Union (UKSU).
‘My concentration span is limited and I get bored very easily so studying can be very hard. When I teach, I fully understand that there are students like me and I make sure I accommodate them so that they will not get bored and hate studying. I believe that my story can bring hope to parents who are struggling with children who are energetic and have no career aspirations. I went and did what I loved most, being on stage and that was not enough for me, I am glad that the decision to leave entertainment industry was mine and I have no regrets,’ said Majola.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .Supportive Research Community Helps PhD Graduates Succeed
Clockwise from top: Dr Edson Vengesai, Dr Wilfred Akinola and Dr Magret Olarewaju.PhD graduates, Dr Edson Vengesai, Dr Wilfred Akinola and Dr Magret Olarewaju, are indebted to the Macroeconomics Working Group (MWG), a body of economists comprising academic staff and post-graduate students from the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, for enhancing their doctoral journey. MWG aims to advance and develop research in the field of economists.
Vengesai, who is from Zimbabwe, said while studying towards a PhD path can be daunting and draining, a support system makes enabled one to cope with challenges associated with attaining the qualification. ‘The first time I attended an MWG meeting, I was so inspired to see some students like me doing this exploit. From there, being part of the group made my research life easy. Getting input, advice and guidance from a supportive supervisor, fellow students and academics who are part of the MWG network lessens the burden and closes the research gap. Learning from the presentations of other researchers in MWG and senior academics in the school helped in developing my own work,’ said Vengesai.
Through his thesis titled: Firm Investment Behaviour: The Role of Leverage, Liquidity and Cash Flow Volatility: African Evidence, Vengesai examines the impact of leverage on investment behaviour of African firms to ascertain if the increase in leverage is a good strategy for developing economies. The study was supervised by Dr Farai Kwenda.
‘Financial practitioners in developing economies adopt finance and investment theories founded based on developed economies fundamentals and yet there is no turn around or growth in the developing economies. In reality, there is persistent structural and behavioural heterogeneity between firms from developed and developing economies due to different economic structures which results in different economic implications. The study found evidence that leverage actually constrains investment and the impact is stronger for firms with low growth opportunities. Hence, it is not a good idea for African firms to match developed economies leverage levels. The effect of liquidity was found to be heterogeneous with financial constraints and growth opportunities,’ explained Vengesai.
Higher Education Enrolment, Human Capital and Economic Growth in the Sub-Saharan African Countries was the title of Akinola’s thesis. The study was supervised by Dr Gerry Bokana. ‘The research looked at 30 Sub-Saharan African countries. Through it, I was able to discover which factors determine higher enrolment among these countries; the productivity effects of human capital among these countries and that the Sub-Saharan African region has the lowest enrolment rates among the regions of the world, what causes the high dropout rates and offer solution to this problem,’ said Akinola.
When Akinola, who is an economics lecturer at Nigeria’s Federal University Oye decided to embark on his PhD studies, he knew it would be challenging. Those challenges however ended up bringing his wife and three children to South Africa and he is thankful that he had a group of people who understood what he was going through. ‘Getting a direction in this research work was the major challenge I had. My first two years in South Africa were really challenging but in January 2017, at a conference organised by the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, solutions to my challenges were offered to me through MWG. Thank you to my research colleagues at the Macro-Economic Working Group. When the going got tough, they supported me. I have this qualification today because of their support and that of my family,’ he said.
Finishing her PhD in the record time of one year, 11 months was not the only highlight of Olarewaju’s PhD journey as it has led to the publication of her research.
Dividend Policy, Agency Cost and Bank Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa was the title of Olarewaju’s thesis. The study was supervised by Professor Mabutho Sibanda and Professor Stephen Migiro.
‘During my PhD, I published five journals articles in Department of Higher Education and Training accredited journals. I attended and presented three papers at different international conferences across the United States of America, Dubai and South Africa. My greatest challenge during this programme was insufficient finance, but I survived through determination, hard work, persistence and I also appreciate MWG for their immense contribution to the successful completion of this degree and my family for their support,’ said Olarewaju .
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photographs: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .PhD Research Zooms in on SA’s Untapped Ocean Economy
Maritime expert, Dr Sanele Gumede, graduates with his PhD in Leadership Studies.New oceans economy growth areas are a priority for South Africa’s Operation Phakisa, which represents a new spirit of moving faster in meeting government’s targets.
It is in this light that the Leadership Studies PhD study of Dr Sanele Gumede explored the untapped opportunities in the ocean economy in which South Africa can benefit. In terms of Operation Phakisa, the South African government’s starting point was that the country is surrounded by a vast ocean which has not fully taken advantage of given its immense potential. According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, the oceans have the potential to contribute up to R177 billion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and create just over one million jobs by 2033.
Gumede’s maritime study titled: South Africa's Seaport Governance and Pricing: Dilemmas and Reformswhich was supervised by Dr Mihalis Chasomeris, focuses on how with improved governance and pricing, the ocean would assist South Africa to grow, thus increasing employment. ‘My research was triggered by the potential contribution that our South African ports have in our economy. There are not many South African port governance and pricing research studies, for the obvious reason of data availability. Finding data has been the biggest challenge in my research and there was a lot of red tape around the data I required. At some point, I even considered changing the field but my vision of helping shape South Africa’s ports contribution to South Africa’s economy kept me going. My thesis achieves this by suggesting measures that should they be adopted will enhance South Africa’s port performance and competitiveness,’ he said.
The need for South African scholars to do research and come up with innovative solutions to South Africa’s problems is what drives Gumede. He is urging people to look at pursuing PhDs as a way of positively shaping the country.
‘Studying for a PhD has shaped me to be more innovative and question the status quo. The more PhD holders South Africa has, the more the country will be able to solve its own problems. Relying on scholars from other countries to find solutions to South Africa’s problems does not sit well with me. I am really grateful for my supervisor, Dr Chasomeris, who introduced me to the field of maritime economics and local and international economics conferences and societies. It is from these conferences that I received constructive criticism which helped in shaping my studies,’ said Gumede.
He said his family is excited about his academic achievement as he is the first member within his family to get a PhD. ‘During my first graduation, my mother asked about those special people that wear red gowns. At that time, it seemed like a mountain that I’d never climb. I am humbled by God’s blessing and favours as my parents are still alive to witness this moment. I dedicate this red gown to them,’ said Gumede.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .Graduate Rises Above Challenges and Emerges Stronger with Second PhD
The Zakwe family celebrating the achievement of their father, Dr Peter Zakwe, at the recent UKZN Spring Graduation ceremonies.No two PhD journeys are the same.
This has been the experience of PhD in Leadership Studies graduate, Dr Thisha Peter Zakwe, who celebrated the culmination of his second doctoral journey at the recent UKZN Spring Graduation ceremonies.
Dr Zakwe, who already holds a PhD in Geography, retired last year from his position of School’s Inspector in the uMsinga and Nquthu areas after working for the Department of Education for 39 years. It is this wealth of professional and personal experience that Zakwe used to explore leadership in the education system through his study titled: From Looking-glass Self-metaphor to Self-Reflective Practice: Self-study as Professional Development, which was supervised by Professor Kriben Pillay.
‘This autobiographical self-study inquiry captures the tormenting agony and excruciating pain of my life. I was born in the rural area of uMsinga with my twin sister. I was named Thisha (teacher) and she was named Mistress. She passed away before school-going age, hence, I dedicate this thesis to her. It seems that our grandparents derived these names from their passion for education which fuelled my aspirations to become a teacher, principal and circuit manager,’ said Zakwe.
While the almost prophetic symbolism behind his name and passion for education led him to the education sector, the fulfilment of his vocation was not without its challenges. These hurdles included his line manager making death threats against him because he held a doctorate and having to go through many legal processes to challenge this form of unethical leadership as well as keep his job. In 2014, Zakwe also battled with health issues after being diagnosed with diabetes. Throughout this period however, he never wavered from setting a good example for his three children, one of whom is celebrated Durban hip-hop artist, Zakwe.
‘Great leaders go through turbulent times, and when I think of everything I went through and when it came to doing this PhD, I knew that I had to do and say something that has never been said before in our particular social contexts. My contribution to the body of knowledge is enhancing leadership in service delivery,’ said Zakwe.
Apart from celebrating his graduation, Zakwe has another reason to celebrate. Together with Pillay, he has embarked on the process of converting his thesis into a book that will be accessible to the general cohort of educators.
‘Dr Zakwe’s second doctoral journey was a long and arduous one; not because of any intellectual constraints on his part, but because of the professional leadership challenges that he encountered which motivated him to reconceptualise his study and to foray into a deep self-study that looked at his challenges as a way of providing a real-life model of service delivery in a turbulent educational environment. I am excited about this book as its focus is on the primary theme of self-actualisation as a leader amidst difficult professional circumstances,’ said Pillay.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .CLMS Celebrates Staff Achievement
Clockwise from top: Ms Amy Ramsamy, Ms Mandisa Mbatani, Ms Nokuthula Ndlovu, Ms Thina Ngubane, Ms Nontobeko Buthelezi and Mr Asif Satar.In a bid to recognise that staff members are the most valuable asset in an organisation, the College of Law and Management Studies is celebrating six UKZN staff members who graduated with their Master’s degrees across various different disciplines.
With the fourth industrial revolution upon us, Ms Nokuthula Ndlovu, who graduated with her Master of Commerce in Leadership Studies is conscious to the fact that South African libraries must keep abreast with the changes of this revolution. Ndlovu, a Senior Librarian and Information Specialist, is on a journey to ensure that UKZN libraries understand the importance of acquiring tools that support research, teaching, learning and community work for the University to maintain its standard of being a research led university of African scholarship.
‘Libraries are an information hub serving 21st century students,’ said Ndlovu whose research study was titled Embracing Changes in Technology: A Case Study of the University of KwaZulu-Natal Libraries, supervised by Professor Cecil Proches. ‘With evolving technology, it is essential that academic libraries are on par with these changes as lagging behind can be detrimental to the purpose of the university,’ she said. Using innovative ideas and the expertise acquired from this qualification, Ndlovu is looking forward to being a valuable asset to UKZN with the continued support of her family and colleagues which she is grateful for. ‘The information service industry is rapidly changing, as it is driven by technology it was thus empirical to do a study that investigated changes in technology on a leadership perspective’, she said.
Mr Asif Satar’s research combined technology and students. Satar, IT Consultant Information and Communication Systems (ICS) Department at the PMB campus, graduated with a Master of Business Administration. His study: The Use of Social Media and Internet by Tertiary Students to Disseminate and Understand Information, was supervised by Dr Muhammad Hoque.
‘We are all aware that social media is a huge platform and I investigated if this platform could be used for future education,’ said Satar. His research findings reveal interesting viewpoints on how students perceive the influence of social media on their teaching and learning. ‘Although social media has its advantages and drawbacks, students still prefer the traditional methods for teaching and learning. The findings revealed that there is a minority of students who would prefer online teaching and learning but a solution would be to use blended systems,’ he said.
Ms Thina Ngubane who graduated with a Master of Commerce in Leadership Studies is the Office Administrator at the College of Law and Management Studies Teaching and Learning Unit. Her research: Determining the Awareness and Challenges of Informal Traders with Regards to Business Operations in Durban: Local Economic Development Perspective, was supervised by Dr Muhammad Hoque.
‘The aim of the study was to address their (informal traders) challenges and suggest improved policies that will favour their needs. None of the interviewees had received financial support from the municipality and started their businesses through personal savings in addition to loans from friends. These traders are discouraged from applying for bank loans because of the application procedures and requirements such as business plans and collateral security. They also suspect that the municipality system of the awarding of financial grants is corrupt due to bribery and police harassment due to permits is also a major challenge. The long waiting period for the applications for permits, most of which are never granted is also a hurdle,’ said Ngubane.
Ngubane said her research was inspired by the significant role that informal traders play in the country’s economic growth. She plans to pursue doctoral studies in the field of Local Economic Development and hopefully work for research institutes or as part of research projects related to this field.
Ms Mandisa Mbatani, Master of Commerce in Human Resources Management graduate was motivated by the University’s Integrated Talent Management which she explored through her dissertation: The Assessment of the Implementation of Talent Management at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, supervised by Ms Trishana Ramluckan.
As the Human Resources Consultant in the College of Law and Management Studies, Mbatani said her research focused on the effectiveness of Talent Management at UKZN. ‘Our University, like many other organisations has Integrated Talent Management so I was interested in knowing how widely it has been received and welcomed by employees and if its effectiveness in assisting the organisations achieve their goals. I hope this qualification will help in identifying opportunities where I can make an impact with the knowledge that I have acquired,’ she said.
Ms Amy Ramsamy who graduated with a Master of Business of Administration is the Research Accountant at the College of Humanities. Her study: Professional Services Staff Perceptions of Performance Management at the University of KwaZulu-Natal: A Case Study of the College of Humanities supervised by Dr Rosemary Sibanda. ‘Currently there exists extensive research on academic staff perceptions of performance management in Higher Education. So being a staff member in the professional services sector, I felt it was imperative to quantify professional services staff’s perceptions of performance management to establish its effectiveness, efficiency and contribution to staff motivation. My study set out to understand this under-examined subject by ascertaining how professional services employees perceive the effectiveness of performance management, for positive employee outcomes and ultimately motivating staff to achieve the organisation’s strategic goals,’ said Ramsamy.
Ramsamy’s future plans include publishing her research and growing into a senior management role within UKZN.
Ms Nontobeko Buthelezi, Master of Commerce Human in Resources Management graduate’s research was titled: An Evaluation of Succession Planning Effectiveness in Transnet Pipeline KwaZulu-Natal Durban. The study was supervised by Ms Trishana Ramluckan.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photographs: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .PhD in Public Administration for Reverend
Reverend Collen Bongani Sibiya who graduated with a PhD in Public Administration. Balancing his duties as the Director of Human Resource Development at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in KwaZulu-Natal and the leader of Pietermaritzburg’s Rock of Life Movement Church has been quite a juggling act for PhD in Public Administration graduate Reverend Collen Bongani Sibiya.
‘Studying became a large part of my life as my family, friends, as well as my colleagues at work could not really understand at times what was taking up so much of my time. Amidst the challenges of the balancing act, I was enthusiastic, optimistic and motivated to do a doctoral degree, knowing that it is a long project and bearing in mind that I was primarily doing it for myself. As a Reverend, I am proud to say that the members of my congregation and the church organisation at large have always been very supportive of my studies, for which I am very grateful and appreciative,’ said Sibiya.
Examining Strategic Management Processes in Public Organisations: A Case Study of KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs was the title of Sibiya’s thesis supervised by Professor Mogie Subban. The study aims to address the fit between strategy development and execution for enhanced service delivery, whilst focusing on tangible outputs and performance-oriented outcomes that invoke public confidence in government.
‘The model provides an opportunity for senior managers to improve on efficiency levels in their leadership and management within the public institution, while managing financial constraints. It proposes the Six “Rights” Strategy Execution Model that could facilitate effective and efficient service delivery and organisational performance of KwaZulu-Natal as part of its “business” management approach to fulfilling its Constitutional mandate in the current dispensation and beyond. In conclusion, the department is encouraged to increase its allocation to operational plans in order to curb the problem of budgetary constraints hindering effective strategy execution and management,’ explained Sibiya.
Another hurdle that Sibiya had to overcome during his PhD journey was being involved in a car accident in October last year whilst travelling from UKZN’s Westville campus to work in Pietermaritzburg.
‘Luckily, the accident left me unharmed but I lost my computer and other equipment with research information as my car was written off. My supervisor, Professor Subban was extremely supportive of my calamity, and gave me an attentive ear as I recovered. She ensured that I got quickly back on track with my research. My lovely wife Lungile was my pillar of strength through the ordeal. My two beautiful children understood my time away from them during my studies. My dearest mum and my elder sister have been a tower of strength to me,’ said Sibiya.
Commenting on her student’s success, Subban said: ‘Reverend Sibiya has made me very proud with his academic accomplishment as he is a very obedient and respectful scholar despite his onerous work commitments and I commend him on his contribution to the field of public sector strategic management.’
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Rogan Ward
author : .author email : .