First Session of FCAL’s Graduation Ceremonies Sees Multiple Staff Members Receiving PhDs

The University of Zululand (UNIZULU) will this week join scores of families around the country in celebrating the milestones of the institution’s 2024 graduates.

Launching this much-anticipated week of emotional reflections, glorious celebrations and witnessing of first-time graduates – for some families – was the Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law (FCAL) which conferred higher certificates, diplomas as well as bachelor, honours, master’s and doctoral degrees in two sessions.

Among the recipients in the first session were Dr Deochund Mothilal, the Registrar of the University; Dr Monument Makhanya, who works in the institution’s Pastoral Care Unit; Dr Malibongwe Mpofu, FCAL Faculty Manager; and Dr Nomasonto Khanyile, an academic in the University’s Law Department.

Not only do these achievements signify UNIZULU’s upward trajectory pertaining to producing doctoral graduates but they are also indicative of the institution’s alignment with the Department of Higher Education and Training’s strategic objective to increase the percentage of PhD holders in the country.

Dr Mothilal received a Doctor of Laws degree. His study was a comparative study which critically analysed the legal framework regulating the operation of drones in South Africa. It examined the regulatory frameworks that govern drone operation in the country, amidst the rapid advancements in drone technology driven by artificial intelligence. Deficiencies in the current legal framework were identified and recommendations to tailor and refine the present legal framework into regulations that can effectively govern the operation of drones in South Africa were made.

The thesis primarily aimed to enhance the current drone legal framework. Adopting a qualitative approach, Dr Mothilal conducted an extensive comparative analysis of the prevailing drone regulations in South Africa with those in China, Japan, the USA, and Australia, through an in-depth analysis of legislative documents, official publications, and scholarly literature. The thesis examined the legal frameworks of each country on registration requirements, airspace restrictions, licensing procedures, the introduction of artificial intelligence in digital systems, protection of personal information, right to privacy, accountability of operators, regulatory compliance, and enforcement mechanisms.

The thesis recommended amendments to the POPI Act to provide clear guidelines on the handling and protection of personal data collected during drone flights in public areas and real-time tracking with retrofitted remote IDs to be implemented. A critical gap in the legal framework hindering the enforceability of fines issued by the Director of Civil Aviation, Section 144(8) of the Civil Aviation Act, was seen as necessary to be repealed and replaced with the proposed succinct and more decisive provision.

Dr Makhanya was conferred a Doctor of Public Administration qualification. In his study, the doctor explored female leadership by critically analysing the influence of their transformational leadership style on employee performance and organisational culture development in institutions located in the rural and semi-urban areas of Amajuba and Ugu District municipalities. A qualitative research method was employed to collect data from a purposively selected sample of general managers, senior managers, managers and general employees in the two districts. The findings revealed, among other aspects, that female leaders are transformational and that they enhance employee performance and organisational culture development in both municipalities, because they were empathetic and strategic, and they led with a conscience.

Also a Doctor of Public Administration degree recipient, Dr Mpofu’s study critically assessed the role of traditional leaders who attend and participate in municipal councils, specifically in Mhlontlo and Engcobo local municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province. Utilising a qualitative approach, the study used a case study design to assess different perspectives of traditional leaders, municipal councillors and municipal officials who participated in the research. The findings showed that several key challenges were repeatedly encountered which included the use of political influence, political infighting, the predetermination of resolutions taken by the political component of the council, a lack of respect and recognition on the part of the traditional leaders during council meetings, and a lack of consultation when performing municipal functions related to service delivery projects.

Finally, Dr Khanyile was conferred a Doctor of Laws degree. Her thesis was titled “Decolonising the Reasonable Person Test under the Context of Criminal Law: A Transformative Constitutional Imperative”. Rooted in the imperative of transformative constitutionalism, this research study sought to dismantle entrenched structures of power and privilege, ushering in a new era of equity and justice. At its core, the research problem lies in the inherent biases and Eurocentric assumptions embedded within the Reasonable Person Test, a cornerstone of legal reasoning in criminal jurisprudence. Drawing upon critical race theory and postcolonial perspectives, the methodology embraced a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing doctrinal analysis, comparative legal studies, and qualitative inquiry. The findings illuminated the profound implications of decolonising the Reasonable Person Test. The study recognises diverse lived experiences and cultural perspectives as essential components of legal reasoning. By centering marginalised voices and experiences, the reimagined Reasonable Person Test transcended its colonial origins, embodying a more inclusive and pluralistic vision of justice.

The 2024 graduation continues until Friday, 10 May.

• Naledi Hlefane