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MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

five user perspectives including i) the two main factors influencing the Thanks to the collaboration of doctoral
the State Information Technology technological context. candidate and supervisor, we are a
Agency (SITA) as an agency of step closer to a future where citizens
government responsible for ICT in As a result of this analysis, Dr Madyibi, can access government services in
South Africa, ii) Senior ICT Managers under Professor Piderit’s guidance, ways that are sensitive to our context
from various National, Provincial was then able to go on to identify as a developing country on the
and Local government entities, iii) four steps that need to be taken African continent that is nonetheless
Thusong Service Centre Managers, by government decision makers in striving to take advantage of the
iv) Thusong Service Centre end- order to make the implementation of enormous technological advances
users and v) expert reviewers. This E-government in South Africa more that characterise life today. The work
stage of the study also involved effective. These steps are a review of not only aims to provide easier access
reviewing documents including the the existing status of e-Government, to services but also demonstrates the
National e-Government Strategy, the the adoption of the framework, the commitment of UFH to enhancing the
e-Government Policy, the National balancing of the development of lives of the communities in which it is
Broadband Policy and the ICT Policy technological, organisational and embedded witnessed so often in this
White Paper. The analysis of all this environmental characteristics in Research Report.
data then allowed for a revision of order to prioritise future plans, and
the conceptual framework in order the monitoring of e-Government
to close the gap between theory and projects.
practice.

The resulting revised framework
identifies a number of areas key to
the implementation of e-Government
at Thusong Service Centres drawn
from the Technology-Organisation-
Environment model which informs
the study: the organisational context,
the environmental context and the
technological context. Elements of
the organisational context include
the nature of senior leadership,
the extent to which collaboration
with other governmental entities is
achieved and resistance to change.
In the environmental context,
the research identified political,
economic, regulatory, cultural and
social issues. The study identified
ICT strategy and ICT infrastructure as

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Pandemics and infodemics:
the importance of providing
trustworthy information

Dr Charity Hove and Professor Liezel Cilliers

During the pandemic, social to inflict harm on another person,
media users created and organisation or country.
consumed information about
Covid-19 at a phenomenal pace. As we all know too well, during
As they did this, they effectively the pandemic, information about
contributed to an ‘infodemic’, an prevention, cures, symptoms, the
overload of both accurate and origins of the virus and emergency
inaccurate information conveyed measures put in place by governments
digitally as well as through more was disseminated widely. Sadly, much
traditional means of communication. of what was circulated was not true.
According to Dr Charity Hove, Studies examining the sharing of
a postdoctoral researcher, and information offer the potential of
Professor Liezel Cilliers of the insights which can be used to better
Department of Information Systems, manage infodemics in the future.
an infodemic can result in an increase This challenge of developing such
in the number of people who distrust knowledge was eagerly taken up by
the public health system, making Fort Hare researchers, Dr Hove and
it difficult to manage a pandemic Professor Cilliers.
effectively.
The aim of the study was to
Dr Charity Hove The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in investigate how social listening tools,
an example of which is the World
an overflow of health information Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) Early
AI-supported Response with Social
on social media, as many millions listening tool (EARS), could contribute
to the management of information
of people across the world created, about health during an infodemic.
During pandemics, information ages
uploaded and shared content. very quickly, so real-time, current,
up to date information is important.
Unfortunately, user-generated The EARS tool summarises real-time
information and online Covid-19
content is not verified before being conversations, making data available
to researchers for analysis.
shared with others. This has the
In South Africa, the National State of
potential to allow for disinformation, Disaster introduced to try to manage
the pandemic finally came to an end
misinformation and malinformation.

Disinformation is where a user

distributes information known to

be false. In contrast, misinformation

is information that is false, but

the person who is disseminating

it believes that it is true. Lastly,

malinformation is information that

is based on reality but which is used

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Professor Liezel Cilliers became aware of a fifth wave and the link to the government’s information
discovery of the Omicron XE variant site on the virus. Many social media
on 4 April 2022. The study conducted in the United Kingdom. This single platforms such as Facebook also
by Dr Hove and Professor Cilliers observation emerging from the study regulated the sharing of links in order
analysed trends on EARS in South stresses the need for the ongoing to try to control the spread of false
Africa using content analysis over a monitoring of social media for mis- information. If we are to limit the
month-long period after this date. and disinformation. alarm caused by false information,
the reinforcement of regulations is
Immediately apparent was the fact The study allowed the researchers to critical.
that the volume of conversations make a number of recommendations,
increased by 1.1% after the end of one of which is that South Africa False information can be harmful
the National State of Disaster was should develop its own social media in so many ways. In the context of
announced. One possible reason for listening tool. A tool that can analyse a pandemic, amongst other things
this increase in volume could have communications in all local languages it can result in people failing to take
been that people began to ask whether would allow for better tracking of precautions against contracting a
they were less likely to contract the information of all sorts and for disease, in the use of remedies that
virus two years after the start of the management of false information. A are actually harmful, and in a great
pandemic and, if so, whether the second recommendation relates to deal of anxiety and worry on the part
symptoms associated with it would be the need for trustworthy sources to of all citizens. Once again, Fort Hare
less serious. Needless to say, some be more visible and more accessible researchers have shown how the
argued that this had always been to users. In 2020, a regulation was skills and expert knowledge of its staff
the case. Interestingly, the study introduced stating that all internet can contribute to the public good in
also showed that the proportion rate sites with a .zaDNA top level domain South Africa and beyond.
of stigma associated with the virus needed to have a landing page with a
decreased by only 0.1% following
the announcement of the end of the
State of Disaster. Misinformation
and disinformation increased during
the study period possibly as users

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An alternative to the
universities? Investigating
service quality at TVET Colleges

Professor Kim Viljoen and Professor Liezel Cilliers

the Department of Higher Education circulation of a link to the survey over
and Training for some years now. a period of six months resulted in
In a speech made in June this year, 9,494 responses. The survey itself was
the Minister of Higher Education based on adaptations of SERVQUAL,
and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, the most consistently and widely used
demonstrated his awareness of this measure of service quality, frequently
need by declaring his determination used in the context of education.
to ‘grow the TVET section faster and The study then drew on descriptive
enable subsidy and infrastructure statistics (using percentages and
funding that can support its rapid means) to represent students’
student enrolment growth’. perceptions.

Professor Kim Viljoen What do students think of TVET Eighty percent of the students who
Colleges though? In South Africa, responded to the survey reported
In South Africa, an argument is one of the main factors affecting being satisfied or very satisfied in
often made that our post-schooling students’ decisions as they leave responses exploring, amongst other
education system needs reshaping. school is employability and, as UFH things, lecturers’ friendliness, their
In 2022, fewer than half a million researchers Professor Kim Viljoen knowledge and professionalism,
young people were enrolled in of the Department of Business processes related to registration,
Technical and Vocational Education Management and Professor the competence and accessibility of
and Training (TVET) colleges, while Liezel Cilliers of the Department administrative staff, the standard of
more than a million were registered of Information Systems point out, work and course content, facilities on
in the universities. In other countries, service quality (SQ) has been reported the campuses and campus location.
the proportions in the different as influencing students’ perceptions
sectors are very different. In Germany, of employability. The two researchers’ Importantly, the study also explored
long noted as one of the economic study into service quality at TVET students’ access and use of
success stories of Europe, a relatively Colleges was therefore important, not technology, with Professors Viljoen
small proportion of young people least because it offered the promise and Cilliers discovering that 77% of all
go into the universities. Many more of producing recommendations that respondents owned a smartphone,
school leavers enrol in a range of could be used to improve service but only 9% had a laptop computer.
technical and vocational institutions provision and make this sector of As many as 980 of the respondents
across the country. post-secondary education more do not own any device on which
attractive to school leavers. they could learn online. Most
The need to reshape the post- respondents noted the high cost
school system has been a focus of Professors Viljoen and Cilliers used of data as an obstacle to online
a survey to engage with all students learning, with many also indicating
over the age of 18 registered for study that connectivity was a problem.
at the country’s 50 TVET Colleges. The However, overall students appeared

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to view online learning positively, academic support structures, as One other of the many
although only a third of respondents these could be offered and conducted recommendations focuses on the
claimed to enjoy the online learning online. need for the colleges to provide more
experience in 2020, and reported opportunities for social interaction
needing more motivation, adequate The two researchers also identified via clubs and societies on campus.
support from the college, and more the need to provide opportunities Professors Viljoen and Cilliers point
social interaction with the lecturer to for students to access mobile out that initiatives to improve social
gain more from their online learning devices and data by partnering with interaction would not necessarily be
experiences. technology companies and providing costly and could have an enormous
discounted rates for students. The impact on the way students feel about
Recommendations made by access to data represents a very real themselves and college life.
Professors Viljoen and Cilliers as a problem for TVET students and is
result of their study include the need something that must be addressed. Once again, this study by Fort Hare
to improve online learning facilities This would help them with their academics shows how research
by providing a balance of face-to-face studies, in forming study groups, in conducted at the University has the
and online learning interactions. If accessing the learning material from potential to make a real difference
colleges provide more online support, wherever they are, and in connecting at so many levels. Improvements in
more structure to the online learning to one another. Specifically, more TVET Colleges could make them much
material, and more opportunities TVET students need to be provided more attractive to school leavers and
for online ‘real time’ interactions, with laptops or tablets, as it is not an contribute to providing South Africa
they could add significant value to ideal learning experience for students with the skilled workforce needed to
the student learning experience. to use their mobile phones for study fulfil its economic potential.
This would also address student purposes.
dissatisfaction with additional

Research Report 2021/2022 | 52

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UFH-based accredited journal
contributes to renewal of local
government

Professor Ogochukwu Nzewi

Professor Ogochukwu Nzewi Thanks to the leadership of Editor-
in-Chief, Professor Ogochukwu
Nzewi of the Department of
Public Administration at the University
of Fort Hare and other members of
the editorial board, the Journal of Local
Government Research and Innovation
(JOLGRI), published in collaboration
with AOSIS on an open access platform
and accredited by the Department of
Higher Education and Training (DHET), is
making a mark in the academic arena by
providing a forum for multidisciplinary
research on local government in South
Africa.

The journal was established in January
2020 just as the world was about to
be rocked by the Covid-19 pandemic.
State President Cyril Ramaphosa had
announced a three-week lockdown
on the 26th March 2020 and this was
followed by the introduction of a
package of measures including the
recruitment, training and deployment
of 28 000 health care workers and an
economic stimulus package of more
than R500 billion, about 10% of South
Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The stimulus package was aimed at
assisting the poor, businesses and,
importantly, municipalities as they
moved to address the challenges posed
by the pandemic.

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What is widely perceived as the to meet complex challenges and, Department of Public Administration
at the same time, make the most at UFH, argues that the struggle
dysfunction of local government has of opportunities for innovation identified in the rallying call of ‘aluta
represented an opportunity for a new continua’ cannot last forever. The
made headlines in South Africa for journal as a forum for research. editorial then goes on to describe
JOLGRI as a journal which seeks to
many years now with commentators In 2021, JOLGRI was listed in the become a major player in scholarship
Directory for Open Access Journals and research on local government
citing capacity and skills deficits as (DOAJ), an index approved by the by developing a number of niche
Department of Higher Education research areas.
reasons for failures in service delivery. (DHET) for subsidy purposes. In an
editorial entitled ‘Transformative UFH’s Strategic Plan, Towards a
When JOLGRI was established there networks and public participation in Decade of Renewal, 2022-2026,
local government in the post COVID sets into motion a decade of new
was no indication that the world era’ written in the same year, Professor beginnings, fresh perspectives and
Nzewi noted how limitations on social good governance. Arguably, the same
was about to witness a period of contact during the pandemic had kind of renewal is needed in local
affected the way local government, government in South Africa. However,
unprecedented disruption. An the sphere of government closest to to re-envision local government as
the people, was able to interact with the globe recovers from COVID 19,
editorial written by Professor Nzewi in the people it served. For Professor research must play a role and it is
Nzewi, Covid-19 had forced a ‘hard here that JOLGRI has an enormous
January 2020, entitled Re-envisioning shift in previously designed public contribution to make. As a DHET
participatory strategies’. accredited journal hosted by UFH,
local government studies, research JOLGRI is not only working towards
JOLGRI is the only accredited South contributing to the University’s
and practice for the future, reflected African journal focused on local decade of renewal but also to the
government research and practice renewal of local government itself by
on the potential of local government and sees its role as becoming even encouraging and disseminating high
more urgent in coming years. In its quality research.
to best adopt practices and foster 2022 editorial entitled ‘Aluta Continua:
will it ever end? The reality of local
growth and innovation. However, government in practice’, Associate
Editor Dr Tando Rulashe, of the
as if predicting the near future, the

editorial also contemplated the ability

of many local governments, given their

current state, to manage day to day

responsibilities and, at the same time,

deal with any crises that might occur.

According to United Cities and Local

Government, the largest organisation

of local and regional governments

in the world, local governments in

developing nations struggle to attain

the momentum needed to innovate

and offer alternative services in many

areas including the need to manage

spatial development in the context of

historical legacies and climate change.

The need for local governments

Research Report 2021/2022 | 54

Legal
Issues

55 | University of Fort Hare

Research Report 2021/2022 | 56

LEGAL ISSUES

Free trade and the human
right to food: The need to re-
theorise and review international
agricultural trade regulation

Dr Shelton Mota Makore, Professor Patrick Osode and Dr Nombulelo Lubisi

Over the last fifty years or so, countries. Despite these different For the three researchers, the
trade across international points of view, the idea that liberalising ideological thinking underpinning
borders has increasingly agricultural trade should comply with the liberalisation of agricultural
been freed from constraints as a obligations related to the human trade is problematic on a number
result of globalisation. However, right to food is gaining momentum of counts especially when evaluated
concerns about food security have led in multilateral agricultural trade against the human right to food.
to questioning of this liberalisation of negotiations. Their study therefore argues that
trade especially in the context of the the WTO needs to re-theorise and
aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic A study conducted by Dr Shelton reform its Agreement on Agriculture
and the Russia-Ukraine war. The Mota Makore, postdoctoral fellow in and, in doing so, pay attention to
interruption of food supply chains the Faculty of Law, Professor Patrick whether continued adherence to the
has undermined the realisation of Osode of the Faculty of Law and Dr established international law principle
the human right to food and the need Nombulelo Lubisi, also of the Faculty of lex specialis, or the idea that more
to ensure access to nutrition for the of Law, argues that current rules specific rules should prevail over
poor is now more urgent than ever. for the regulation of trade are not general rules, is appropriate as the
supportive of the realisation of the promotion and protection of human
Nonetheless, supporters of human right to food especially in rights is one of the most important
developing countries. In making this goals of contemporary international
free trade maintain that the argument, the three researchers law. The framing of WTO rules (set out
question the set of principles and in the Agreement on Agriculture) in a
current regulatory framework for beliefs underlying the existing way that undermines the human right
regulatory framework. to food and food security therefore
international agricultural trade creates the compelling need to re-
The study itself drew on a literature think those rules from a perspective
improves the accessibility, availability, review involving a critical examination that prioritises state compliance with
of pertinent legal instruments and obligations arising from the human
and affordability of food to the scholarly writings. The review of the right to food.
literature was conducted in order to
world’s population. Some human demonstrate the need for the WTO The human right to food is not the
to consider non-trade concerns, the only reason for the need to review
rights scholars and other academic most important of which involves the WTO rules identified by the three
human right to food. researchers, however. A reform of
commentators, on the other hand,

maintain that the current World

Trade Organisation’s (WTO) model of

liberalisation-based governance for

agricultural trade exacerbates global

hunger, rural underdevelopment

and contributes to environmental

degradation, especially in developing

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LEGAL ISSUES

pertinent global trade law rules would Reference:
also benefit small-scale farmers
and people living in rural areas who Mota, S., Osode. P. & Lubisi, N. In
are affected by agricultural trade press. ‘Re-theorising international
liberalisation. agricultural trade regulation to
realise the human right to food in
Once again, another study by developing countries.’ Journal for
University of Fort Hare researchers Juridical Science.
demonstrates a commitment not
only to the rigorous production of
knowledge but also the goal of using
knowledge to contribute to greater
equality.

Research Report 2021/2022 | 58

LEGAL ISSUES

The role of the judiciary in
achieving the goals of the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development in South Africa

Professor Ntlama-Makhanya

All South Africans remember 1994, the
year of the first democratic election,
as a year of dramatic change. For
Professor Ntlama-Makhanya, Professor of
Public Law in the Nelson Mandela School
of Law, however, it was the adoption of the
Constitution in 1996 that marked the date
when South Africa finally began to carve out
a new identity for itself.

The Constitution set out the values on
which the new democratic order was to
be based, values such as freedom, equality
and dignity. However, as Justice Pius Langa,
South Africa’s Chief Justice and head of
the Constitutional Court from 2005 until
his retirement in 2009, points out, ‘What
the Constitution proclaims … is one thing.
What really matters to the women, men
and children of our country is the reality
of change and how the constitutional
prescripts manifest themselves in their
lives’.

For Professor Ntlama-Makhanya, this
means that the role of the judiciary, and the
Constitutional Court in particular, is key to
ensuring that all South Africans do indeed
benefit from the values enshrined in the

Professor Ntlama-Makhanya

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LEGAL ISSUES

Constitution. She cites the case of For Professor Ntlama-Makhanya, Professor Ntlama-Makhaya’s research
Harksen v Lane as an example of this however, the role of the judiciary goes explores the role of the judiciary as a
process. The Harksen v Lane case beyond the borders of South Africa, a model for the achievement of the goals
focused on the Insolvency Act and a point taken up in her latest research. of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
section protecting the rights given The United Nations Organisation’s Development in South Africa. In doing
by a man to his wife or a child born (UNO’s) 2030 Agenda on Sustainable this, she shows other countries how
of their marriage in an antenuptial Development is described by the functioning of the judiciary in a
contract (ANC) from being set aside the UNO as a ‘plan of action for constitutional democracy can be a
during sequestration. As it stood, people, planet and prosperity’. The model for other countries. Looking
the section of the Act appeared to implementation of the Agenda is a locally and globally at the same time
discriminate against certain groups cross-national project requiring the is a feature of much of the research
of people. A wife could keep benefits development of a common identity featured in this report. Once again we
given to her under an ANC, but gifts based on human rights. The intention see another UFH researcher making
given by a wife to a man could be set of this global project is to eliminate these connections to take knowledge
aside. The judgement in the Harksen all forms of systemic inequality and forward.
v Lane case addressed this inequality discrimination in order to create
and thus ensured that society was a society that is based on values
able to draw on the value of equality enshrined, at a domestic level, in the
enshrined in the Constitution. South African Constitution.

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LEGAL ISSUES

Two heads are better than
one: Assessing South Africa’s
‘twin-peaks’ financial regulation
model

Professor Patrick Osode

The Financial Sector Regulation One problem identified by Professor head of the National Treasury) is
Act (FSRA) was signed into law Osode relates to a section of vested with the power to remove
in August 2017. This event saw the FSRA that requires the PA to the FSCA Commissioner from office.
South Africa joining a short list of support sustainable competition in Given that the Minster is a political
countries that have switched to a ‘twin the provision of financial products appointee, the way is left open for
peaks’ model of financial regulation. and related services. According to political interference. Professor
The ‘twin peaks’ model involves Professor Osode, this clearly leaves Osode argues that international best
regulatory jurisdiction over financial space for the PA to undertake its practice and the academic literature
services players (banks, insurance mandate of promoting competition draw on the need for financial sector
companies, pensions administrators without the consent, support and/ regulatory agency heads, such
and so on) now being exercised by or collaboration of the Competition as the FSCA Commissioner, to be
two separate, independent agencies: Commission, something which immune from political interference
the Prudential Authority (PA), part of would clearly be desirable given the and manipulation. As the FSRA
the administrative structure of the importance of alignment and synergy already makes the FSCA accountable
South African Reserve Bank, and the between competition promotion to Parliament, vesting the power
Financial Sector Conduct Authority initiatives as well as the very real both to appoint and remove the
(FSCA), a reincarnation of the former prospect of regulatory turf protection. FSCA Commissioner in the Finance
Financial Services Board. Minister in order to further secure
Another problem for Professor accountability to the government of
UFH researcher Professor Patrick Osode relates to the role and the day is problematic. Depending
Osode’s study of the ‘twin peaks’ model powers allocated to the Minister of on how it is configured, and although
resulted in an article published in the Finance to hire and fire the PA’s Chief accountability to Parliament
Interdisciplinary Journal of Economics Executive Officer as this raises the alone could occasionally result in
and Business Law. The article seeks to possibility of political interference in the FSCA’s paralysis because of
understand the rationale behind the the functioning of the PA itself. For deadlocks, Parliamentary oversight
adoption of the ‘twin peaks’ model Professor Osode, this represents would protect the FSCA from being
by South Africa and then assesses its a failure, on the part of lawmakers, ‘captured’ by powerful political and
fitness for the purposes intended by to ensure the PA’s immunity from private interests.
those responsible for its adoption in political interference and is a design
this country. In the article, Professor flaw in the South African ‘twin peaks’ Important in the FSRA is that one of
Osode comes to the conclusion that, model. the few mandates given to the FSCA is
although the design of the model is the responsibility to promote financial
fundamentally sound, some aspects The potential for political interference inclusion, something which is clearly
are flawed. is also highlighted in the fact that very important in a country such as
the Finance Minister (as political South Africa where divides between

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Professor Patrick Osode

the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ are so Osode comes to the conclusion that round of financial services law reform
stark. However, the means by which other countries could learn from would do well to take heed of his
financial inclusion would be achieved South Africa’s implementation of the perspicacity.
were only beginning to emerge in ‘twin peaks’ model. Professor Osode
2020, three years after the FSRA cites Australia’s recent Hayne Report Reference:
became part of national legislation. In which looked into misconduct in
spite of this, the success of the FSCA the banking, pension and financial Osode, P. 2021. ‘Two heads are
in delivering on its closely related services industry noting that Australia better than one: Assessing South
mandate to design and deliver could learn from the design of Africa’s ‘twin peaks’ financial
financial education programmes for South Africa’s ‘twin peaks’ regulatory model. Interdisciplinary Journal of
current and future financial service architecture. Economics and Business Law, 10:
consumers as well as the general 0-32
public has already shown the potential In turning a critical eye to the
to impact on financial inclusion in the implementation of the ‘twin peaks’
country. model in South Africa, Professor
Osode once again shows how the
In spite of being able to identify expertise and insight of Fort Hare
problems with the implementation of researchers have much to offer the
the model in South Africa, Professor country. Those involved in the next

Research Report 2021/2022 | 62

LEGAL ISSUES

Company law and investor
confidence: Analysing
Zimbabwe’s new Companies
and Other Business Entities Act

Professor Patrick Osode and Dr Friedrich Hamadziripi

For many, company law is of are unable or unwilling to do so. action.
concern only to commercial The term ‘derivative’ arises because
lawyers or students doing a an individual, usually a minority For Professor Osode and Dr
degree in commerce. However, shareholder, steps into the shoes of Hamadziripi, the design of a system
as Professor Patrick Osode and Dr the company to seek redress on its for derivative action needs to balance
Friedrich Hamadziripi, his former behalf. The individual will not receive the need for directors of a company
doctoral student who is now a post- direct benefit from the court order to be able to exercise authority and, at
doctoral fellow at the North-West being sought. Rather it is the company the same time, be accountable. They
University, argue, company law that will receive the benefit although also identify the need for the interests
can have implications for anyone shareholders may eventually derive of the company to be balanced
concerned about everyday things like some benefit if the wrong identified in alongside those of its shareholders.
the cost of living and employment the action is addressed.
as sound law can increase investor A system for derivative action that
confidence at a national level and so The primary function of derivative favours shareholders is open to
lead to economic development. proceedings is to ensure abuse and can result in interference
accountability on the part of directors in the management of the company.
Professor Osode and Dr Friedrich of a company. The possibility of It may also discourage directors
Hamadziripi’s interest is in the derivative action therefore functions from entrepreneurial risk-taking and
derivative action, a type of lawsuit that as a kind of ‘watchdog’ on the actions undermine efficiency of the business.
allows an individual or stakeholder of directors and is seen as part of On the other hand, an ineffective
to institute legal action on behalf of good corporate governance which is system for derivative action has the
a company to protect the interests attractive to investors. potential to protect errant directors
of that company. As a company is a and decrease investor confidence.
legal entity in its own right, it is usually In Zimbabwe, the new Companies
the company that must institute legal and Other Business Entities (COBE) Professor Osode and Dr Hamadziripi’s
actions to address any wrongs against Act introduces the derivative action analysis is that, in developing
it. However, in certain circumstances, into Zimbabwean company law. A the COBE Act, the Zimbabwean
some countries allow individuals recent article written by Professor legislature borrowed freely from the
to bring a derivative action lawsuit Osode and Dr Hamadziripi in the contemporaneous ownership rule in
provided they are shareholders in the Journal of African Law, published by the United States of America. This rule
company at the time of the incident the University of Cambridge Press is not part of the system for derivative
that gave rise to the concern leading on behalf of the School of Oriental action in the United Kingdom (UK) or
to the suit itself. A derivative action and African Studies (SOAS) of the South Africa (SA). In Zimbabwe, this
is usually brought before the court University of London, assesses some means that the only stakeholders
when the directors of a company major weaknesses in the way the who can institute derivative litigation
COBE Act allows for the derivative are those who hold at least 10% of

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a company’s shares at the time the
alleged misconduct took place. This
makes the system for derivative
action in Zimbabwe one of the most
restrictive in the world. In South
Africa, virtually any stakeholder
has the right to pursue derivative
action. Existing share ownership
patterns in Zimbabwe mean that
the 10% threshold is difficult to
achieve. According to Professor
Osode and Dr Hamadziripi, this
means that the COBE Act runs the
risk of limiting shareholders’ access
to justice and, thus, fails in promoting
the accountability of directors and
managers.

A strike suit is a lawsuit of In order to institute a derivative Zimbabwe leads both researchers to
questionable merit brought in order suit, complainants must demand recommend that the Act should be
to arrive at a private settlement that a board of directors reverse a reviewed and amended.
before a case reaches court, possibly course of action being disputed or
because settling out of court would show that making such a demand This publication in a prestigious
cost less than a defendant’s legal of the board would have been futile. journal shows how careful analysis
costs. At the time the COBE Act was This rule is known as the ‘demand of a law, in this case one enacted in
adopted, the threat of strike suits requirement’. Another criticism of a neighbouring country, could have
was relatively high. According to the COBE Act identified by Professor the potential to impact on the lives
Professor Osode and Dr Hamadziripi, Osode and Dr Hamadziripi relates to of millions of people if it succeeds in
this is no longer the case in spite the expectation that the Zimbabwean promoting a review of legislation to
of the fact that some incentives legislature should have provided ensure sound corporate governance
for mischievous shareholders to more guidance about the response a and enhance investor confidence
engage in litigation with the hope of company can make to a demand from and is yet another instance of UFH
concluding a settlement still remain. shareholders to reverse a course research making a difference at an
Although the threat of strike suits of action. In the opinion of the two international level.
could provide a reason for the rule researchers, the new Act falls short
requiring potential litigants to have on detail and needs to be amended Reference:
a minimum shareholding of 10%, the immediately to address this problem.
threat of strike suits is no longer high One aspect identified as lacking more Hamadziripi, F. & Osode. P.
making the rule itself questionable in specifically is guidance as to whether, 2022. ‘A critical assessment of
the researchers’ eyes. upon receipt of the demand, a pertinent locus standi features
company can apply to a court to set of the derivative remedy under
In addition, the new COBE Act does not the demand aside if it lacks merit. Zimbabwe’s new Companies and
cover cases of directorial negligence, Other Business Entities Act.’ Journal
proposed acts or omissions by The points described above are just of African Law, 66(2):315-338.
management and litigation against some of the problems identified in
third parties. It can only be hoped that the COBE Act by Professor Osode
the Zimbabwean courts will adopt a and Dr Hamadziripi. Analysis of the
flexible approach to interpreting the provisions for derivative action in
Act to cover such cases.

Research Report 2021/2022 | 64

LEGAL ISSUES

Getting to school
and the right to
basic education

Dr Siyabulela Fobosi

Geographically, South Africa is Learners’ access to school transport
a vast country. Its history and during the Covid-19 pandemic
the fact that many learners live emerged as a concern for Dr
in deeply rural areas mean that many Siyabulela Fobosi, senior researcher
children have to travel long distances and acting head of the UNESCO
to get to school. As a result, learners’ Oliver Tambo Chair of Human Rights
access to scholar transport is critical in the Faculty of Law. During the early
to their ability to access education. lockdowns, schools were closed. As
restrictions eased, schools reopened
Dr Siyabulela Fobosi The National Land Transport Policy and the matter of transport became
(NLTP) was created in conjunction with important. Unlike other countries in
the Department of Basic Education the developed world, South Africa
and several stakeholders in order to was not necessarily able to implement
address concerns related to the ability some of the measures used to limit
of learners to access safe transport to infection adopted in richer countries.
school. The policy establishes minimal In some countries, occupancy of
norms and requirements for the vehicles was reduced and regular
provision of learner transportation. cleaning schedules were introduced.
Responsibility for scholar transport In Norway, the recommendation was
is divided between provincial and that learners should avoid school
national departments of education. transport and families should rather
Learners deemed to be in need of use their own vehicles to convey
transportation are identified by the children to school.
provincial education department.
Needy learners in Grades R and Dr Fobosi’s concern with access to
One are prioritised . Students with transport, and thus to basic education,
disabilities must be transported and led him to conduct a study based on
the policy provides for no provision a rights-based approach in order to
for carrying learners to school in areas investigate access to school transport
where public services are available. in the Amathole West district in the
Unfortunately, the implementation Eastern Cape. The study drew on a
of the policy has been delayed due survey as well as observations and
to issues related to finance and the documentary research. Participants
allocation of accountability. in the study included eight educators
and 160 learners from two primary

65 | University of Fort Hare

LEGAL ISSUES

and two secondary schools. The In a submission to the Standing
majority of learners and teachers Committee on Appropriations in 2017,
surveyed were female. Equal Education, a membership-
based movement of learners,
The survey questioned learners’ parents, teachers and community
satisfaction with the location of the members, noted that ‘the lack of
schools they attended, with only adequate and sufficient scholar
16% noting they were dissatisfied. transport cripples a learner’s ability to
However, 61% of the learners surveyed access schooling, and consequently
travel 10 kilometres from home to violates many South African learners’
school, with 26% indicating that they constitutionally protected right to a
travelled more than 20 kilometres, basic education’. Dr Fobosi’s study
thus demonstrating that learners of Amathole West validates this
rely on scholar transport to exercise observation by identifying the high
the right to access basic education. proportion of learners’ long distances
These findings indicate that scholar from schools, and so identifies the
transport plays an important role in need for the NLTP to be implemented
ensuring the realisation of the right to as soon as possible if learners’ rights
access basic education. are to be realised.

Research Report 2021/2022 | 66

67 | University of Fort Hare

Vice
Chancellor’s
Research
Awards

Research Report 2021/2022 | 68

VICE CHANCELLOR’S RESEARCH AWARDS

VC’S SENIOR
RESEARCHER
AWARDS

OVERALL WINNER:
Professor Blessing Aderibigbe

Professor Blessing Aderibigbe of the Department of
Chemistry is an organic/ polymer chemist with a special
interest in the design of systems for multi-drug delivery and
polymer-based wound dressings loaded with plant-based
extracts and essential oils. The goal of her current research
is to design hybrid molecules for targeted drug delivery
which have reduced toxic effects.

Rated C2 by the National Research Foundation (NRF),
Professor Aderibigbe’s research has resulted in contributions
to no fewer than 87 journal articles and 42 book chapters,
in many cases as lead author. She has also participated in
conferences held nationally and internationally, travelling to
places as diverse as Kerala in India and New Orleans in the
United States in order to do so.

Professor Blessing Aderibigbe Professor Aderibigbe has been the recipient of two NRF
postdoctoral fellowships and, in 2007, received a special
award from the Parenteral Drug Association, an organisation
devoted to providing information to the pharmaceutical and
biopharmaceutical community.

One of her current research projects, involving collaboration
with colleagues from the Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) and the University of the Witwatersrand,
is funded by the Department of Trade, Industry and
Competition’s Technology and Human Resources for
Industry Programme (THRIP).

69 | University of Fort Hare

VICE CHANCELLOR’S RESEARCH AWARDS

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES WINNER:
Professor Pius Tanga

Professor Pius Tanga, Deputy Dean
for Research and Internationalisation
in the Faculty of Social Sciences
and Humanities, completed his
professional training as a social
worker in Yaounde, Cameroon and in
Nigeria. He has taught at universities
in Cameroon and at the University of
KwaZulu-Natal here in South Africa.
He has been at the University of Fort
Hare (UFH) since 2009.

Professor Tanga’s research interests South Africa. Professor Tanga added Professor Pius Tanga
include social justice and social to his qualifications with a Master
protection for children and families, of Arts degree in Human Rights and In addition, Professor Tanga has
and social work education in Africa. a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher extensive experience as an examiner,
He has conducted development- Education and Training at UFH. having assessed 97 Master’s
oriented research for bilateral and dissertations and 37 doctoral theses
multilateral donors and humanitarian In 2009, he was the recipient of the for universities in both South Africa
agencies such as the European Union, Vice Chancellor’s Research Award at and further afield. He is rated C3 by
SOS, the Kellogg Foundation, the the National University of Lesotho and the NRF and is currently co-editing a
International Development Research received the Vice Chancellor’s Senior Routledge Handbook of African Social
Centre (IDRC), based in Canada, and Researcher Award for the Faculty of Work Education.
the United Nations Children’s Fund Social Sciences and Humanities at
(UNICEF). In addition, he has over UFH in 2014, 2019 and 2021. To date,
a hundred academic publications Professor Tanga has supervised 38
in the form of journal articles, book full research Master’s degrees and 23
chapters / books, and research / doctoral degrees to completion. He
technical reports. He is a member has also supervised four postdoctoral
of the editorial board of one South fellows and hosted three National
African journal and two international Research Foundation (NRF) interns.
journals.

Professor Tanga holds a Diploma
in Social Work from the National
School for Social Workers, Yaoundé,
Cameroon; a Bachelor of Social
Work / Community Development
degree from the University of
Nigeria, Nsukka with honours in the
Upper Class Division; and a Master
of Social Work degree from the
University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He
then completed his doctoral studies
at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in

Research Report 2021/2022 | 70

VICE CHANCELLOR’S RESEARCH AWARDS

FACULTY OF LAW WINNER:
Professor Nomthandazo P Ntlama-Makhanya

Professor Nomthandazo Ntlama-Makhanya is Professor of Public
Law in the Department of Public Law at the Nelson R Mandela
School of Law at the University of Fort Hare (UFH). She has also
occupied the position of Head of Research in the School of Law
and acted as Head and Chairholder of the UNESCO ‘Oliver Tambo’
Chair of Human Rights at UFH.

Professor Ntlama-Makhanya’s professional accomplishments
include time spent as a Commissioner of the South African Judicial
Services Commission (JSC), a position in which she represented
the Society of Law Teachers of Southern Africa. She has also
acted as a Judge of the High Court in both the Bhisho (Eastern
Cape) and Durban (KwaZulu-Natal) divisions. She is currently a
Member of the South African Electoral Court and acted as a judge
at the Makhanda High Court in the Eastern Cape for a four-week
period in August / September of this year.

Professor Nomthandazo Ntlama-Makhanya Professor Ntlama-Makhanya’s research has resulted in the
publication of many academic articles, book chapters and articles
in newsletters. She has participated in numerous national and
international conferences and has vast experience of supervising
and examining at both Master’s and doctoral levels. Her research
has resulted in a C3 rating from the National Research Foundation
(NRF). As a result of appointments as an acting judge, Professor
Ntlama-Makhanya has produced legal judgments. She has also
provided legal opinions on matters before the Courts. Her
speciality is Constitutional Law, an area that covers broad topics
on human rights, customary law, gender equality, socio-economic
rights, judiciary and state institutions. She serves on the editorial
boards of a number of academic and legal journals.

Professor Ntlama-Makhanya’s accomplishments are not only
academic. She is a retired national and international netballer,
having represented South Africa in competitions held in various
countries. Her legal background and talent as a sportsperson
come together in her current role as National Chairperson of
the Disciplinary Appeals Committee for Netball South Africa.
Professor Ntlama-Makhanya’s love of sport is not limited to
netball, however, an observation evidenced by her role as Deputy
President of King Central and District Rugby Union, an affiliate of
Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality District Rugby Union, with
the latter District being an affiliate of Border Rugby Union. She is
also Life-term President of her home team, the Jungle Lion Sports
Club.

71 | University of Fort Hare

VICE CHANCELLOR’S RESEARCH AWARDS

VC’S EMERGING
RESEARCHER
AWARDS

OVERALL WINNER: Dr Nomzamo Dube
Dr Nomzamo Dube

Dr Nomzamo Dube is currently attached
to the University of Fort Hare’s Centre for
Transdisciplinary Studies as an Academic
Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor in
Applied Communication Management
degree and Bachelor and Master of Social
Science degrees in Communication, all
from the University of Fort Hare. She
also gained a Post Graduate Diploma in
Higher Education and Training (PGDHET)
from UFH. Dr Dube moved to Nelson
Mandela University for her doctoral
studies and attained the degree of Doctor
of Philosophy (PhD) in 2019.

Dr Dube is currently leading a research
project on the experiences of both
students and staff in the higher education
system and is working on a book project
on violent student protests at universities.
Her research interests include social and
broadcast media and studies on Kalanga,
the third most spoken language in
Zimbawe.

Dr Dube published her debut novel
‘Milk, bile and honey’ in 2020, which was
shortlisted for the National Institute of
Humanities and Social Science’s Fiction
Award in 2021.

Research Report 2021/2022 | 72

VICE CHANCELLOR’S RESEARCH AWARDS

FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE WINNER:
Dr Palesa Makhetha-Kosi

Dr Palesa Makhetha-Kosi Dr Palesa Makhetha-Kosi has fourteen years’ experience as
a lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University
of Fort Hare (UFH) and has served as Head of the Department
for the last eight years. She has been a coordinator for the
Extended Curriculum Programme in the Faculty of Management
and Commerce since 2010 and also for the BCom honours
programme funded by the Bank SETA since 2017. Dr Makhetha-
Kosi has a passion for mentoring young academics, and took this
up actively in her leadership of the Department of Economics.
Her work providing guidance to younger members of staff has
paid off as 90% of staff members have been developed within the
Department, a remarkable example of the philosophy of ‘growing
one’s own timber’.

Dr Palesa Makhetha-Kosi holds a Doctor of Commerce degree in
Economics from the Nelson Mandela University and a Master of
Commerce degree in Economics from UFH. To date, she has acted
as sole supervisor of ten Master’s degrees and as co-supervisor for
another five. In addition, she has supervised 61 honours students.
Her current supervision load includes nine Master’s students and
one doctoral study, work that is performed in addition to that of
coordinating postgraduate studies within the Department overall.

She has been involved in several research initiatives including a
project conducted for the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury and
the National Department of Employment and Labour. As a result
of a partnership that she secured between the University and
the Department of Employment and Labour, Dr Makhetha-Kosi is
the South African representative on the BRICS Research Network
for Labour. She is currently working on two papers resulting
from her doctoral thesis, a paper in the field of teaching and
learning and another collaborative paper on inclusive growth and
financial exclusion. Her research interests include banking, labour
economics, and economic development.

VC’S INNOVATION
AWARDS

73 | University of Fort Hare

VICE CHANCELLOR’S RESEARCH AWARDS

MOST INNOVATIVE PROTOTYPE DEVELOPED MEDAL WINNER:
Professor Edson L. Meyer and Dr Olufemi Olayiwola

Professor Edson L. Meyer, Director
of the University of Fort Hare’s
Institute of Technology, has been
actively involved in renewable energy
research for 26 years. His skills and
expertise in semiconductor device
physics, inorganic material chemistry,
solid state physics and novel
material characterisation, solar cells,
modules and systems, solar energy
yield studies, building integrated
photovoltaics, and solar resource
assessment have resulted in the
award of a C rating by the National
Research Foundation (NRF).

Professor Meyer has been part of the Professor Edson L. Meyer (Left) and Dr Olufemi Olayiwola (Right)
Energy Research Programme in South
Africa since 2006. His own research of the Fort Hare Institute of research work is complemented
group is part of the Photovoltaic Spoke Technology contributing to research by his experience of working for
funded by the national Department of on solar photovoltaic applications several years in the solar photovoltaic
Science and Innovation. In addition, and smart energy systems. His skills industry in Nigeria and South Africa.
he has been the lead investigator in and expertise lie in renewable energy
a long-term contract with the national technologies, solar photovoltaic Dr Olayiwola holds a Bachelor of
utility Eskom for measurement and applications and devices, device Science degree in Physics (Hons.), and
verification of energy conservation physics, semiconductor materials, a Master of Science degree in Electrical
initiatives in the domestic, commercial power electronics, electrical and and Electronics Engineering, and was
and industrial sectors. Through electrochemical systems, digital awarded his Doctor of Philosophy
his strategic research endeavours, technologies and artificial intelligence. degree in Electrical Engineering from
Professor Meyer has worked with He has published in various the University of Cape Town.
more than 75 postdoctoral fellows, international high-impact journals
doctoral and master’s graduates, and devoted to electrical and electronic
has produced more than 300 research engineering and serves as a reviewer
articles, contributions to conference in the same area. Dr Olayiwola’s
proceedings, and technical reports.
Professor Meyer received his doctoral
degree in physics from the University
of Port Elizabeth in 2002.

Dr Olufemi I. Olayiwola is a member

PRE-COMMERCIALIZATION INNOVATION PRODUCT, SERVICE OR PROCESS
DEVELOPED MEDAL WINNER:
Professor Edson L. Meyer and Dr Olufemi I. Olayiwola

Research Report 2021/2022 | 74

VICE CHANCELLOR’S RESEARCH AWARDS

NEWLY NRF-RATED
RESEARCHERS

Professor Forget Mingiri Kapingura

Faculty of Management and commerce
Department: Economics
NRF Rating category: C3

Professor Forget Mingiri Kapingura holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Economics
from the University of Fort Hare (UFH). His research interests are in Development
Economics with a special focus on the role of the financial sector in the economy. He is a
member of the Editorial Board of the Sriwijaya International Journal of Dynamic Economics
and Business. Professor Kapingura was the recipient of the Emerging Researcher Award
at both Faculty and Institutional level in 2017.

Professor Nomthandazo Ntlama-Makhanya

Faculty of Law Faculty
Department: Public Law
NRF Rating category: C3

Professor Ntlama-Makhanya is Professor of Public Law in the Nelson Mandela School
of Law. Previously Head of Research in the School of Law, she also acted as Chairholder
of the UNESCO ‘Oliver Tambo’ Chair of Human Rights. Professor Ntlama-Makhana is a
former Commissioner of the South African Judicial Services Commission (JSC) and has
acted as a judge of the High Court. Her research focuses on Constitutional Law and
she has published on various topics related to human rights, customary law, gender
equality, socio-economic rights and the judiciary and state institutions. Professor
Ntlama-Makhanya holds a Doctor of Laws degree awarded by the University of Fort
Hare.

Professor Golden Makaka

Faculty of Science and Agriculture
Department: Physics
NRF Rating category: C2

Professor Golden Makaka has more than 25 years of experience as a researcher in
computational physics research and renewable energy applications. His research focus
is in using computational physics in energy system design, simulation and modelling,
heat transfer, temperature distribution and ventilation rate in buildings, and predicating
energy consumption. He has been instrumental in developing techniques to mitigate
climate change through smart power generation and his research has resulted in the
design of a high efficiency, easy to maintain generator. Professor Makaka holds a Doctor
of Philosophy degree awarded by the University of Fort Hare.

75 | University of Fort Hare

VICE CHANCELLOR’S RESEARCH AWARDS

Professor Liezel Cilliers

Faculty of Management and Commerce
Department: Information Systems
NRF Rating category: C3

Professor Liezel Cilliers’ research interests focus on electronic health with specific
reference to electronic health records, health applications and health information
found on social media. Her research on information disseminated using social media
during Covid-19 pandemic, much of which was misleading or even false, has resulted
in ‘infodemics’ becoming a major research focus for the future. Professor Cilliers is
currently the Acting Dean of Management and Commerce. Originally qualified as a
physiotherapist, Professor Cilliers was Head of the Department of Physiotherapy at
both both Frere and Cecilia Makiwane hospitals before taking up a position in the
Department of Information Systems at the University of Fort Hare (UFH). Her doctoral
degree in Information Systems was awarded by Fort Hare in 2014.

Professor Leon van Niekerk

Faculty of Health Sciences
Department of Human Movement Science
NRF Rating category: C2

Prof. Leon van Niekerk completed his PhD in Psychology (2006) at the University of
Johannesburg and a European Masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology (2007) at
the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium. He is a registered Counselling Psychologist
and specializes in Sport Psychology. He assisted numerous national and International
athletes in sports such as golf, squash, football, rugby, Olympic- and Paralympic
athletes, swimmers, cricket players and teams such as our national life-saving teams,
national acro-tumbling team, SA Proteas netball team, Bafana-Bafana, Lions u/18
team, and sports teams of numerous schools, universities and clubs since 2000.
Prof Leon teach Sport Psychology and Research Methodology to undergraduate
and post-graduate students in HMS since 2015 at the University of Fort Hare. He
published numerous peer reviewed articles in national and international journals and
wrote various chapters in academic books. His current research interests are in the
psychological well-being of athletes, including topics such as sexual abuse in sport,
the development of mental toughness, the development of sport identity and life
roles, burnout, stress and anxiety among athletes, the effectiveness of mindfulness
during competition, mental health in sport and the psychological health benefits of
exercise.

Dr Yeshona Sukai

Fort Hare Institute of Technology
NRF Rating category: Y2

Dr. Yeshona Sukai is a senior researcher in the Bioenergy Research Group at the Fort
Hare Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on industrial waste valorisation for
the production of biofuels and bioproducts using microbial fermentation processes.
Before joining the University of Fort Hare, Dr Sukai was a postdoctoral fellow in the
Microbiology and Chemical Engineering Departments at the University of KwaZulu-
Natal (UKZN) where she also completed her Bachelor of Science, Master of Science
and doctoral degrees.

Research Report 2021/2022 | 76

VICE CHANCELLOR’S RESEARCH AWARDS

Professor Oluyinka Osunkunle

Faculty of Social science and Humanities
Department: Communication
NRF Rating category: C2

Professor Oluyinka Osunkunle is an Associate Professor in the Department of
Communication in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities. His main research
interest is in Development Communication, especially community media and the
development of social media efficacies. Other research areas include stakeholder
relations, political communication and cultural studies. In 2017, Professor Osunkunle
was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Research Excellence Award in the Senior
Researcher Category for the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities. Professor
Osunkunle’s doctoral degree was awarded by the University of Fort Hare.

Dr Chioneso Show Marange

Faculty of Management and Commerce
Department: Statistics
NRF Rating category : Y2

Dr Chioneso Marange is a senior lecturer in the Department of Statistics. He is
registered as a Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat.) in the field of mathematical
sciences with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP)
and is affiliated as a Chartered Statistician in the field of statistical sciences with the
Institute for Practicing Statisticians (ICCSSA). Dr Marange’s main research focus is on
the development of empirical likelihood based testing and estimation procedures
and has involved collaboration with academics both in South Africa and overseas.
It covers topics including health promotion, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual risk
reduction, HIV treatment and prevention methods and physical activity. His doctoral
degree in Biostatistics was awarded by the University of Fort Hare in 2019.

Dr Shylet Yvonne Chivanga

Faculty of Management and Commerce
Department: Development Studies
NRF Rating category: Y2

Dr Shylet Yvonne Chivanga is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of
Development Studies. Her main research interests lie in social policy and rural and
international development. She participated in the Water Research Commission of
South Africa’s Student Capacity Development Programme and, in this role, served as
a research assistant in a study investigating the role of communities as water service
intermediaries in the Eastern Cape and the Free State. Dr Chivanga also contributed
to a project aimed at building capacity in the Mnquma Local Municipality conducted
by the Department of Development Studies. Dr Chivanga holds a doctoral degrees
in Development Studies awarded by the University of Fort Hare.

77 | University of Fort Hare

VICE CHANCELLOR’S RESEARCH AWARDS

Professor Ikechukwu (Ike) Umejesi

Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Department: Sociology/Anthropology
NRF Rating category: C2

Professor Ikechukwu Umejesi is a multidisciplinary scholar with research interests in
land use and natural resource extraction and the conflicts and exploitation that can
arise as a result. He has also published on gender-related issues including domestic
violence. In 2009 Professor Umejesi was awarded a fellowship by the Young Scientist
Programme hosted by the International Institute for Applied Systems Applications
(IIASA) in Austria, one of only two fellows from Africa that year. Since then, he has
been involved in a number of international projects, often as principal investigator/
grant holder. Prof Umejesi has also produced two literary works in poetry and fiction.
He holds qualifications from universities in South Africa, Nigeria, Austria and Poland
including a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Fort Hare.

Dr Leocadia Zhou

Faculty of Science and Agriculture
Department: Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC)
NRF Rating category: C3 Rating

Dr Leocadia Zhou is Director of the UFH Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC)
in the Faculty of Science & Agriculture. Her research activities focus on climate change
related studies with an emphasis on water, energy, food security, vulnerability and
adaptation. She is currently involved in six collaborative research projects involving
stakeholders from a number of different entities including universities in South
Africa, the Netherlands and Belgium as well as the Department of the Environment,
Forestry and. Fisheries and the Water Research Council. Dr Zhou holds a doctoral
degree in Geography and Environmental Science awarded by the University of Fort
Hare.

Dr Gloria Aderonke Otunola

Faculty of Science and Agriculture
Department: Biochemistry
NRF Rating Category: C2

Dr Gloria Aderonke Otunola is a senior research fellow and co-leader of the Medicinal
Plants and Economic Development Research Niche Area (MPED-RNA). Her research
focuses on applied nutritional, biochemical and pharmacological evaluation. She
is currently involved in research formulating functional foods, beverages and
nutraceuticals targeted at specific chronic diseases. Products developed as a
result of her research are currently being tested for acceptability and efficacy and
intellectual property (IP) rights and patenting. Dr Otunula is also involved in research
on the development and functionality of bio-nanoparticles in in delivering bioactive
compounds into target organs to combat diseases such as cancer. Dr Otunola a
doctoral degree from the University of Ilorin in Nigeria.

Research Report 2021/2022 | 78

Acknowledgements

The Research and Innovation Office is very grateful
to various players who took part, in different but
complementary ways, in the development and
finalization of this research report. The following
individuals are gratefully acknowledged:

Editorial Panel
• Dr Aceme Nyika (Chairperson; Director: Research and

Innovation)
• Professor Andries Bezuidenhout (Faculty of Management

& Commerce)
• Dr Lelethu Heshula (Faculty of Science and Agriculture)
• Professor Maya van Gent (Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Professor Philani Moyo (Director: Fort Hare Institute of

Social and Economic Research)
Professor Chris Boughey, Writer (Professor Emeritus, Centre
for Postgraduate Studies, Rhodes University)
Alida Mundell, Senior Graphic Designer (UFH Institutional
Advancement)
Tim Wilson, Photographer (UFH Institutional Advancement)
Dr Octavia Sibanda, Administration and Coordination
(Research Manager: Research and Innovation)
Kanyisile Mandla, Administration (Research and Innovation
Director’s Office)

79 | University of Fort Hare



www.ufh.ac.za ufh1916 @ufh1916 @ufh1916

Research Report 2021/2022 | 81