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    Ukusetshenziswa Kokuxutshwa Kwezilimi Kusukwa Esingisini Kuyiwa Esizulwini Emagunjini Okufundela Anabafundi Abakhuluma Izilimi Ezehlukene Ezikoleni zaKwazulu-Natal, Esiyingini Ugu
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-11) Msani, Sindisiwe Cynthia; Ntombela, Sipho Albert
    Nakuba uMthethosisekelo waseNingizimu Afrika ubalula ukuthi abafundi banelungelo lokufunda ngezilimi ezisemthethweni kuleli lizwe abazikhethela zona ezikoleni (kusukela emabangeni aphansi kuya emabangeni aphezulu), iningi labafundi abamnyama lisazithola lifunda ngolimi lwesiNgisi, ulimi elingazikhethelenga lona. Ezikoleni lapho abafundi befunda ngolimi lwesiNgisi, okuwulimi abazithola bephoqelelwa ukufunda ngalo, othisha basebenzisa izindlela ezehlukene zokufundisa, okubalwa kuzo ukuxuba izilimi. Bakwenza lokhu ngenhloso yokusiza abafundi abazithola bekulesi simo ukuba bakuqonde lokhu okufundiswa ngolimi lwesiNgisi. Nakuba lukhona ucwaningo oselwenziwe mayelana nendlela yokuxuba izilimi kusukwa esiNgisini kuyiwa esiZulwini kodwa akukho nhlobo okwaziwayo mayelana nokusetshenziswa kwale ndlela emagunjini okufundela anabafundi abamnyama abakhuluma izilimi ezehlukene ezikoleni ezisesiFundazweni iKwaZulu-Natal. Kungaleso sizathu kulolu cwaningo ngiphenye iqhaza elibanjwa yile ndlela kusukwa esiNgisini kuyiwa esiZulwini emakilasini anabafundi abamnyama abakhuluma izilimi ezehlukene esiFundazweni iKwaZulu Natal, abangaluqondisisi ulimi lwesiZulu. Inhloso yalolu cwaningo ngukuhlaziya iqhaza elibanjwa yile ndlela kusukwa esiNgisini kuyiwa esiZulwini emagunjini anabafundi abamnyama abakhuluma izilimi ezehlukene esiFundazweni iKwaZulu-Natal. Kulolu cwaningo ngisebenzise izinjulalwazi ezimbili: okuyinjulalwazi kaBank, i-Framework of Multicultural Education nenjulalwazi kaHoward Giles i-Communication accomodation theory. Ngikhethe ukucwaninga ngezikole ezintathu ezikwisiFundazwe iKwaZulu-Natal njengezikole ezimele ezinye eziningi kuziFundazwe eziyisishiyagalolunye zaseNingizimu Afrika ezinabafundi abaxube izinhlanga zabantu abamnyama okusetshenziswa kuzo indlela exuba kusukwa esiNgisini kuyiwa ezilimini zabantu abamnyama. Ulwazi imininingo engiyihlaziye kulolu cwaningo ngiyiqoqe kothisha abalishumi nambili abafundisa isiNgisi njengolimi lokwengeza ezikoleni ezintathu esiFundazweni iKwaZulu-Natal esifundeni Ugu. Ulwazi ngiluqoqe ngisebenzisa ithuluzi elaziwa ngokuthi yi-observation, okunguthamela ukwenza kwababambiqhaza kanye nelinye elaziwa ngokuthi yinhlolovo. Ngibe sengiluhlaziya ngisebenzisa injulalwazi eyaziwa ngokuthi yi-Thematic Content Analysis. Okutholakele Ocwaningweni kuveza ukuthi indlela yokuxuba izilimi ichema nabafundi abakhuluma isiZulu iphinde iveze isimomqondo sothisha sokungalwemukeli ushintsho oselwenzeke emagunjini okufundela oludalwe ukufuduka kwabafundi besuka ezindaweni ezehlukene, okuyisigaba sesibili se-cultural shock ngokukaShen noChen (2020). Nokho lusadingeka ucwaningo oluzobheka ukuthi yiliphi iqhaza elibanjwa wukuxuba izilimi kusukwa esiNgisini kuyiwa esiZulwini emagunjini okufundela anabafundi abamnyama abakhuluma izilimi ezehlukene emakilasini afundiswa ngothisha asebedlule kuzo zozine izigaba ze-cultural shock.
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    The relationship between interest rates, credit risk and profitability of commercial banks in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Shabangu, Thembelihle Nyeleti Lulu; Chakamera, Chengete
    This research investigates the relationship between interest rates, credit risk, and profitability of commercial banks in South Africa over a 20-year period from 2002 to 2022. The study focuses on seven listed commercial banks, utilising secondary data and employing panel data analysis with Feasible Generalised Least Squares (FGLS) regression to correct for heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation. The objectives were to examine the effects of interest rates on credit risk and profitability, as well as the effect of credit risk on profitability. The findings reveal a non-linear relationship between interest rates and credit risk, with regression analysis showing an insignificant relationship. This suggests that interest rate changes may not significantly influence credit risk. Bank-specific factors such as size and capital adequacy were found to strongly influence credit risk. Regarding interest rates' effect on profitability, a weak positive linear relationship was observed, but regression analysis indicated an insignificant relationship. Credit risk was found to have a significant positive impact on profitability at the 1% significance level, highlighting its importance for bank profitability. Overall, the study concludes that bank-specific factors play a pivotal role in credit risk and profitability, emphasising the need for banks to focus on these factors for effective risk management and profitability enhancement. The positive correlation between profitability and economic growth suggests that South African banks are more profitable under favourable economic conditions. The study's contribution lies in providing empirical evidence and insights to aid banks in developing strategies to navigate interest rate environments and enhance financial stability, as well as assisting policymakers, including the South African Reserve Bank, in monetary policy execution.
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    Exploring digital transformation for improved operational efficiency between mine dispatch and road logistics processes in the SA mining sector
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Setlhalogile, Onalenna; Oba, Pius
    This research explored how digital transformation can enhance operational efficiency between South African mines and road transporters, with a particular focus on the dispatch processes. The South African mining sector is characterised by labour-intensive, complex operations and a highly interconnected value chain comprising of numerous stakeholders and functional activities. While core mining activities often receive strategic attention, supporting functions such as dispatch and logistics, are frequently undervalued, despite playing a crucial role in ensuring end-to-end value chain efficiency as well as market responsiveness. The success of any business offering products rests on its ability to meet customer requirements timeously and on ensuring that the right kind of product is dispatched and delivered. This study expands on the concept of operational efficiency within the mine-road logistics process in the South African mining industry. To fully understand this particular process, it was important to understand the mines’ pit-to-port process, which looks at the entire value chain, from blasting to processing minerals all the way to the point of delivery, either to domestic customers or to the ports for export. The study aimed to assess the current operational inefficiencies and digital maturity levels between the mines and road transporters, as well as to identify the best practices and digital solutions that can optimise this interface. A qualitative methodology was adopted, incorporating semi-structured interviews and desktop research across three mining sectors: coal, chrome, and manganese. The interview questions were structured in such a way that the data collected from the respondents would be comprehensive enough to adequately address the research objectives. The questions were broken down into several subsections focusing on the respondents’ roles and responsibilities within the mine-road logistics process, the current operational process, expanding on operational efficiency as a concept and within the study context, understanding digital maturity and digital transformation as well as its impact on respective organisations. ii The findings revealed process fragmentation, manual communication methods, poor system integration, lack of standardised processes, and a siloed approach to digitalisation as the key barriers to efficiency. However, existing digital touchpoints such as weighbridge software, load-cell technologies, and limited fleet tracking indicate a foundation on which more integrated, real-time solutions can be built. The study recommends implementing centralised logistics platforms, predictive maintenance systems and integrated communication tools, as well as process automation solutions aligned with a clear digital transformation strategy. The recommendations gathered through the literature review and data collection through interviews emphasise system integration as a key driver to successful digital transformation within the South African mine-road transporter logistics process. By highlighting these challenges and opportunities, this research contributes to a broader understanding of how digital technologies can improve coordination, visibility, and value delivery in South Africa’s mining logistics ecosystem. This research study also highlights the importance of process mapping as a means to identify gaps, bottlenecks and non-value adding activities and as a basis for identifying fit-for-purpose digital solutions.
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    The use of digital banking platforms and its impact on customer satisfaction: an emperical study in the South African banking sector context.
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Sekabate, Palesa
    Digital Banking Platforms are always evolving and there’s new products, services and features that are introduced to the market. Digital banking and digital banking platforms have become part of the norm for accessing banking services to many. South African banks are closing physical bank branches and moving services to digital banking platforms thus creating convenience for customers while simultaneously cutting operational costs. While there’s a clear migration to digital banking platforms, there’s still a significant number of customers who use physical bank branches and this may be attributed to numerous factors. Many necessary factors have been highlighted by various models developed by academia and industry, however there aren’t many that accurately explain how digital banking platform usage in the banking sector occurs. This study aims to identify the factors that affect digital banking platform usage and the degree to which customer satisfaction affects digital banking platform usage. Therefore, this exploratory quantitative study examines the applicability of the factors to the banking sector in South Africa. Three hundred and ninety digital banking platform users were sent surveys electronically on Linked-In. There were two hundred and twenty-one responses to which two hundred and two were adequately completed to be used for the analysis. The findings were analysed using the Principal Components Analysis (CPA) to ensure that the data is convergent and distinct. Descriptive analysis and structural equation modelling were used to determine the impact of the various factors on the use of digital baking platforms and the impact on customer satisfaction. A structural fit model was used to determine the model fit. The results to the study indicated that factors influencing the use of digital banking platforms include performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, behavioural use, trust and security, service quality and customer satisfaction. The study revealed that a factor with the least influence on the use of digital banking platforms is social influence. The development and testing of the expanded Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model for the use of digital banking platforms and its impact on customer satisfaction in the South African context, constitutes one of the many theoretical contributions. The model takes to account iii factors such as trust and security, service quality and customer satisfaction. The contextual contribution of this study assists the South African banking sector by directing the sector towards the efficient use of digital banking platforms and providing a practical contribution to focus its resources on raising consumer awareness of digital banking platforms, offering features and products that are easy to use. Thus, creating an atmosphere that encourages the usage of digital banking platforms
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    Characterization of CYP2D6 PharmacogeneticVariation in Sub- Saharan African Populations
    (Wiley, 2023-03) Twesigomwe, David; Boua, Palwendé R.; Paximadis, Maria; Ramsay, Michèle; Tiemessen, Caroline T.; Lombard, Zané; Hazelhurst, Scott; Drögemöller, Britt I.; Wright, Galen E.B.; Adebamowo, Clement; Agongo, Godfred; Matshaba, Mogomotsi; Simo, Gustave; Simuunza, Martin C.
    Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is a key enzyme in drug response owing to its involvement in the metabolismof ~ 25% of clinically prescribed medications. The encoding CYP2D6 gene is highly polymorphic, and manypharmacogenetics studies have been performed worldwide to investigate the distribution of CYP2D6 star alleles(haplotypes); however, African populations have been relatively understudied to date. In this study, the distributionsof CYP2D6 star alleles and predicted drug metabolizer phenotypes— derived from activity scores—were examinedacross multiple sub- Saharan African populations based on bioinformatics analysis of 961 high- depth whole genomesequences. This was followed by characterization of novel star alleles and suballeles in a subset of the participantsvia targeted high-fidelity Single- Molecule Real-Time resequencing (Pacific Biosciences). This study revealed varyingfrequencies of known CYP2D6 alleles and predicted phenotypes across different African ethnolinguistic groups.Twenty- seven novel CYP2D6 star alleles were predicted computationally and two of them were further validated. Thisstudy highlights the importance of studying variation in key pharmacogenes such as CYP2D6 in the African contextto better understand population- specific allele frequencies. This will aid in the development of better genotypingpanels and star allele detection approaches with a view toward supporting effective implementation of precisionmedicine strategies in Africa and across the African diaspora.