A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce in the field of Information Systems / Artificial intelligence (AI) is the creation of intelligent machines that have the ability to work and act like humans and comprises various technologies. AI-powered technology is having a transformative effect on industries such as banking. This study investigated the adoption of AI technologies by South African banking firms. The investigation into the factors that explain the current extent of adoption was focused through the lens of the Technological, Organisational and Environmental (TOE) framework. Through a review of existing literature and online resources, this study firstly identified a basket of AI technologies perceived as relevant for South African banking firms. Six technologies that represent the basket of AI technologies were identified, namely: machine learning, robotic process automation, expert systems, virtual assistants, natural language processing, and pattern recognition. Secondly, the study aimed to determine the current state of adoption of the AI technologies. Thirdly, the study aimed to determine the factors influencing the adoption of AI technologies by banking firms. A systematic literature review was undertaken to determine the technological, organisational and environmental factors that influence technology adoption. A model using pre-determined TOE factors was developed and tested. The cross-sectional, quantitative study was undertaken via a self-administered, online questionnaire to a sample of 307 respondents from South African banking business units, resulting in 62 responses. Diffusion curves were used to illustrate the current adoption of AI technologies. The results revealed that robotic process automation is the most diffused technology, while natural language processing was the least diffused technology. The results also revealed a significant intention to adopt AI technologies in the next three years. The data was subjected to reliability and validity tests which established that the construct measures rendered consistent and reproducible results, and accurately depicted the constructs they were assigned to measure. Thereafter, correlations analysis was utilised to test the model’s hypotheses, and a multiple and stepwise regression were used as further tests of the model. Results revealed that AI technology skills, top management support, firm size and competitive pressure were positively related to the adoption of AI technologies, while perceived benefits, information technology infrastructure, cost, competitive pressure, regulation and mimetic pressure were not supported. AI technologies is a contemporary topic and is gathering a great deal of attention in both academia and practice. By applying the TOE framework, this study has provided a theoretical contribution and addressed a research gap in existing literature, specifically demonstrating that AI adoption is a function of all three contexts, i.e. technological, organisational and environmental. This study also provides a practical contribution for banking firms as they can understand the current adoption status of the average South African bank. Furthermore, for firms considering the adoption of AI technologies, this study offers insights into the relative influence of the TOE factors, and provides guidance to facilitate benchmarking and processes of adoption. / PH2020

M. Tech. Business Administration / The aim of this research is to investigate the extent of mobile banking usage among low-income people in Johannesburg. A descriptive design was conducted; data by means of a survey, using self-administered questionnaires, was collected from the inhabitants of the informal settlements of Tembisa and Alexandra Townships in Johannesburg. This represented a total population of about 6000 households. From which, a sample of 200 households was systematically selected randomly.

LL.M. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in the field of Strategic Marketing / Menstrual Hygiene Management is a process of keeping clean by girls and women through washing, changing and disposal of sanitary protection during their monthly periods. When schools provide a conducive environment for girls to manage their menses, girls become empowered and confident to participate in education without fear and embarrassment. Lasi High school in Mpolonjeni constituency is a rural school in low income settings whose girls like many girls in the area have to manage their monthly menstruation. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences and practices of rural school girls in Mpolonjeni community in managing their menses. A qualitative exploratory and descriptive study was undertaken through focus group discussions. The researcher managed to purposively select a sample of two focus groups with ten participants, each, three teachers and the Deputy Head Teacher. The study finding reveals that girls experience a number of challenges when managing their menses in the school setting which the school administration is not entirely aware of. Some of the issues raised by the girls can be addressed without unreasonable costs implications but through empathy and general support. The study recommends a further investigation for Education and school policies that will enhance enabling school environments to support girls in managing menstruation at school. / GR2018

M.Comm. (Information Technology Management) / The advancement of technology in mobile devices, places South African banking institutions in unique positions to leverage these advancements into innovative, value-added services. Mobile banking is one such innovation that has afforded banking clients the ability to - amongst other services - view bank statements, pay bills, and transfer money. Despite a growing trend towards mobile banking service offerings by South African banks, privacy and security issues are still considered a concern. This dissertation conceptualises the influence of demographic factors on perceptions of mobile banking. Privacy Calculus Model (PCM) has been used as a theoretical lens to explain the cognitive process involved when a potential mobile banking subscriber is presented with mobile banking technology solutions. PCM is extended by abstracting the risk/benefit trade-off psyche held by SA bank clients, and there is an attempt to explain, using PCM, the bank clients’ cognitive process and willingness to subscribe to mobile banking services. A quantitative research method has been used for this purpose. Purposeful sampling that targeted South African bank account holders was applied. Empirical results show that potential South African mobile banking subscribers are not homogenously influenced in the same manner. Instead - for example - people in different age groups are subject to different influences than a grouping defined by highest education level. Thus, in order for South Africa’s four big banks to attract and retain mobile banking subscribers, they should realise that different groups of people are influenced by subscription to mobile banking in different ways.

Even though major advances in economic theory and modelling have in some cases furthered our understanding of how the economy works, the system as a whole has become more complex. If policymakers had perfect knowledge about the actual state of the economy, the various transmission mechanisms as well as the true underlying model, monetary intervention would be greatly simplified. In reality, however, the monetary authorities have to contend with considerable uncertainty in relation to the above-mentioned factors. This said, uncertainty has mostly been neglected in both the theoretical and empirical literature focusing on monetary policy analysis. Nonetheless, findings from a review of theoretical literature that does exist on this topic suggest that optimal central banks act more conservatively when faced with uncertainty. Similarly, empirical findings from the literature also favour conservatism. However, there is some evidence to suggest that this is not always the case. These results suggest that central banks do not always act optimally when faced with uncertainty. The limited number of industrial country cases examined prevents any generalised view from emerging. If anything, the literature findings suggest that central bank behaviour differs across countries. This thesis aims to contribute to the empirical literature by studying the effects of uncertainty on monetary policy in the developing country case of South Africa. In simplest terms, the thesis seeks to establish whether or not the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) responded optimally to uncertainty as suggested by theoretical models thereof. To this end, the thesis employs a theoretical model which resembles a structural rule-based approach. The optimal interest rate rule was derived given a set of structural equations relating to demand, the Phillips curve and the real exchange rate. To incorporate uncertainty, it is assumed that the coefficients are dependent on the variances of the exogenous variables, namely inflation, the output gap and the exchange rate. The uncertainty adjusted model allows us to investigate whether monetary policy is more aggressive or passive when uncertainty about the relevant exogenous variable increases. Inflation, output gap and exchange rate uncertainty estimates were derived through GARCH-model specifications related to the structural equations as defined in the theoretical model. The investigation considered both indirect and direct uncertainty effects with a sample period stretching from 1990 to 2011. The findings reported in this thesis provide strong evidence in support of the notion that uncertainty plays a significant role within the South African monetary policy landscape and contributes towards explaining the SARB’s actions. Furthermore, the results suggest that the SARB did in fact act optimally in responding more conservatively to target variable fluctuations on average. Also, the findings could potentially strengthen the case for inflation targeting as a monetary policy regime, as the results indicate a marked decline in the effects of uncertainty under inflation targeting than before. / Economics / D. Com. (Economics)

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / Co-operative financial institutions (CFIs) as a concept has been in existence in South Africa for a number of years either as credit unions, “stokvels”, savings and credit co-operatives and/or FSC‟s. As a result, regulators have long realized the need and potential of the CFI concept, with an exemption notice promulgated in 1994 and the Co-operative Bank specific legislation in 2007, allowing institutions modeled around a common bond to take deposits within certain conditions, to ensure the safety and soundness of such institutions and to facilitate financial inclusion. The study provides an overview of the regulatory and supervisory frameworks for CFIs in South Africa, noting the roles of various regulatory stakeholders as well as the perceptions of the regulated institutions. The study finds that despite the small size relative to the overall economy, and the low penetration rates, the CFI sector in South Africa is providing financial services to marginalized communities. However, capacity is a major constraint in the development and growth of the sector. As a result, any supervisory interventions will be pointless in the absence of appropriate capacity interventions. Despite the existence of various regulators, regulatory and supervisory oversight is considered weak. There is lack of clarity on the various roles of the different regulators within the sector, raising scope for regulatory arbitrage. In addition, the role of the representative body has been called into question, with some CFIs querying its relevance. Regulations have been put in place to address some of these anomalies, and these were evaluated in the context of recommending appropriate supervisory frameworks to enhance the safety and soundness of the sector and minimize regulatory arbitrage. The recommendations are also aligned to the nature and size of such institutions within the broader national strategy of promoting access to financial services in a safe and sound manner.

LL.M. (Banking Law) / The charging of interest and the variation thereof throughout the term of a credit agreement has, in a modern South Africa, become the rule rather than the exception. This is so because in a constant evolving economy it will not be viable for large financial institutions to commit themselves to fixed interest rates especially where a credit agreement such as a mortgage agreement may extend over many years. With this comes the question as to the extent of a credit provider’s discretion to vary interest rates and the manner in which it purports to do so. Naturally where the National Credit Act finds application in respect of a credit agreement the provisions thereof relating to interest and the variation thereof will determine whether a clause allowing a credit provider to vary the interest rate unilaterally is valid and enforceable. However in instances where the National Credit Act is not applicable to a certain credit agreement, especially in the case where the consumer is a juristic person, the interest rate levied and the variation thereof will fall to be decided in terms of the common law. The application of the common law in this regard is not without difficulty and there have been many conflicting decisions of our courts in this regard. Whilst the supreme court of appeal has finally decided on the matter of discretionary interest rate clauses it is no doubt that this issue will surface for many years to come. This dissertation explains the comparative positions of interest rate and variable interest rate clauses in terms of the National Credit Act and the common law.

The use of the Web to carry out business on the Internet has become a viable option in all business sectors, and Internet banking in South Africa is no exception. The nature of business on the Internet in South Africa and the World is investigated. The extent of Internet banking in South Africa is ascertained and the expectations and perceived problems of online bankers are discussed. The importance of Human Computer Interface and Web Interface Design for successful business is promoted with a discussion of their guidelines and principles. Web Evaluation techniques and Tools are assessed and The "Gartner" Web evaluation tool is selected to evaluate the three bank Web sites. The results of the evaluation indicate that there are several generally well implemented design criteria used by all of the banks while some criteria are not implemented at all. Each bank is discussed individually to identify strong and weak features of their Web site design. Essential aspects of Web design have been proposed for inclusion during the design of "online" Banking Web sites.

Thesis (LLM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017. / The world, more especially countries in Africa are battling with the effects of poverty, unemployment and destitution. South Africa is one African country that succumbed to racial inequality brought about by apartheid wherein black people were denied participation into any form of income generating endeavours that would ensure their sustenance. The South African Government after attaining independence in 1994 put in place policies meant to emancipate and empower the Historically Disadvantaged People (HDP). In line with that approach, the government deemed it fit to empower the South African populace through Co-operatives. This study analyses and critiques the Co-operative Banks Act, 40 of 2007 as the focal instrument regulating financial co-operatives in South Africa and its contribution towards economic growth and poverty reduction. The study further exposes some of the imminent challenges experienced in the field of financial co-operatives as far as registration of such cooperatives is concerned. The Act since its inception has only managed to have only two co-operative banks established and the rest of the Co-operative Financial Institutions (CFI’s) are not registered and are operating under an exemption notice. Therefore, this study brings to light some of the challenges leading to the failure to become co-operative banks, and also delves into the act itself to assess whether its provisions are the reason for this ultimate failure to register financial co-operatives. The challenges experienced by financial co-operatives in South Africa would be addressed by drawing lessons from countries such as Kenya and Canada which have managed to establish a strong and vibrant co-operative industry so as to suggest ways in which they may also improve and graduate to become successful Co-operative Banks.