https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/181 2026-06-23T07:55:47Z 2026-06-23T07:55:47Z Mabaso, Fikile Maud https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32551 2026-06-22T12:43:29Z 2025-09-01T00:00:00Z

An exploratory study on the uses and gratifications of smartphones in the workplace: a case study of the National Energy Regulatory of South Africa (NERSA) Mabaso, Fikile Maud Smartphone use in the workplace has shown both positive and negative effects. The study examines how employees of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) utilise smartphones and the gratifications derived from their use. The Regulator permits all employees, including general staff and management, to use smartphones during working hours to enhance communication and improve service delivery in the energy industry. However, the absence of a regulatory framework in the form of policies, regulations, and guidelines leaves it unclear how smartphones should be used and managed in the workplace. The researcher identified a gap in the literature on smartphone use in the workplace, particularly within an organisation such as NERSA, thereby necessitating this study. No researcher had conducted this type of work at the time of the study. The study adopted an interpretive paradigm to explore the uses and gratifications of smartphones in the workplace and to understand how staff and management utilised smartphones. The study was largely qualitative and used descriptive statistics. The target population comprised two hundred and twenty (220) NERSA employees. Of these, eighty-eight (88) took part. The study employed the uses and gratifications theory to explore how smartphones were utilised in the workplace. Self-administered online questionnaires, comprising open- and closed-ended questions, were distributed via SurveyMonkey to collect data. Respondents were sent an online questionnaire via a link in their email. The data from open-ended questions were analysed and organised thematically, while the data from closed-ended questions were presented in graphs and tables. It was found that employees used their smartphones more for personal activities than for work-related tasks, with personal use in the workplace exceeding 15 percent. The study recommends increasing smartphone use in the workplace to better benefit organisations. Policies, regulations, or guidelines should be adopted to advise employees on this matter.

2025-09-01T00:00:00Z Ntuli, Samkelisiwe Faith https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32523 2026-06-04T07:06:34Z 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z

An Analysis of the Effectiveness of Crisis Communication During a Pandemic at a National Government Agency: A Case of South African Revenue Service (SARS) Ntuli, Samkelisiwe Faith This study investigated the effectiveness of crisis communication during a pandemic within a South African national government agency, with a specific focus on managers' perspectives. The occurrence of business crises worldwide is common and the impacts of such crises on businesses can be huge. These crises disturb the expectations of stakeholders as people usually become angry and upset, which threatens the relationship between the enterprise and its stakeholders. The COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, exposed numerous vulnerabilities in public sector communication strategies, particularly in times of crisis. Guided by the Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT), this qualitative study employed an exploratory research design and used semi-structured interviews to gather data from managers at different levels within the agency. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. The findings reveal that while the government agency had a crisis communication plan in place, it was not adequately equipped to address a high-impact and prolonged crisis like COVID-19. Communication efforts were hindered by conflicting information sources and an underdeveloped internal culture of information-sharing. The study also found that the agency predominantly employed an accommodative communication strategy, prioritising transparency to build public trust. However, inconsistent execution of this strategy weakened its overall effectiveness. The study recommends revising crisis communication plans to better address pandemic-specific dynamics, promoting a proactive information-sharing culture, enhancing responsiveness to misinformation, and leveraging data analytics and emerging technologies for improved message dissemination. This research contributes to the literature on public sector crisis communication by offering practical strategies for improving communication effectiveness during pandemics. It also highlights the importance of agility, empathy, and trust-building in maintaining organisational credibility and stakeholder confidence in crisis situations.

2025-11-01T00:00:00Z Khumalo, Zekhethelo Nikeziwe https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32460 2026-05-26T13:40:32Z 2026-04-19T00:00:00Z

Investigating the differential effects of social media addiction on teenagers’ mental health: A study of high school learners in the KZN Province Khumalo, Zekhethelo Nikeziwe In today's digital age, teenagers are growing up in a digital culture where social media platforms are prevalent and substantially influence various parts of their lives. This study sought to investigate the effects of social media addiction on the mental health of teenage learners at Sacred Heart Secondary School (SHSS) in the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. The study sought to provide vital insights into how social media influence the mental health of high school teenagers and to identify strategies to lessen these effects, particularly for teenagers in rural schools like SHSS. As a boarding school, teenagers are often compelled to seek connections beyond their immediate environment, making this investigation especially relevant. To address the research problem and to achieve the objectives, a quantitative research approach and descriptive research design were employed, with 113 teenage learners selected through a stratified technique from SHSS. The respondents in this survey provided feedback using a self-administered questionnaire with both closed-ended and open-ended questions, and the results were coded using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 3.0.0.0 (172) and presented in graphs and tables. The results indicated that teenagers spend at least 1-3 hours on social media per day, suggesting a significant level of engagement that could influence mental health outcomes. Furthermore, the study findings established that excessive use of social media can lead to diverse effects on the mental health of teenagers, including disrupted sleep patterns, difficulty in concentration or decision-making, feelings of nervousness or being tense and anxious, often because of stress. Additionally, a relatively small but significant portion of teenagers are affected by cyberbullying, also indicating the importance of addressing cyberbullying proactively, as it can have serious consequences for teenagers’ psychological well-being even if only a small number of teenagers is affected. The study also highlighted that although excessive use of social media can be associated with diverse negative effects, positive feelings of connection and support can also be found, which can be beneficial for their mental health. Moreover, the study found that learners from higher-income backgrounds often engage with a variety of platforms, which contributed to higher anxiety levels. Based on these findings, the research sought to add to the growing body of knowledge regarding social media use in South African high schools and provide practical recommendations, i.e. parents monitoring their kids screen time to assist in managing their social media usage and protecting their mental well-being. Abstract and text in English

2026-04-19T00:00:00Z Ncube, Mfezi Prince https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32432 2026-06-16T16:58:44Z 2025-11-30T00:00:00Z

Social media as a marketing communication strategy: a comparative study between South African and South Korean schools Ncube, Mfezi Prince This study explored how social media is used as a marketing communication strategy by comparing two private British-curriculum schools: the International School of Cape Town (ISCT) in South Africa and British Education Korea (BEK) in South Korea. Although both countries are globally competitive and digitally connected, they are shaped by different cultural influences. South Africa draws on both Ubuntu and Western values, while South Korea is influenced by Confucian traditions and strong technological development. The study addressed a gap in understanding how social media supports key marketing functions such as identity, presence, relationship building, conversation, reputation, information sharing, and group engagement within the school settings. The research followed an interpretivist paradigm and used a qualitative approach. Textual analysis was applied to the schools' social media content in the period August 2023 to August 2024, namely X, Instagram and Facebook to examine how marketing communication was carried out in practice. Four research questions guided the comparison, focusing on similarities, differences, cultural influences, and the platforms used to support marketing goals. The findings revealed that both schools use social media to build their brands, engage audiences, and communicate their values. ISCT used a wider range of content, highlighting academic performance, cultural diversity, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. ISCT used X alongside Facebook and Instagram for marketing communication. BEK focused more narrowly on academic achievements and arts competitions using Facebook and Instagram. These differences reflected variations in audience demographics, institutional focus, and cultural expectations. Overall, the research contributes to discussions on digital marketing in education and shows how cultural context shapes communication strategies. It concludes that schools can improve competitiveness and stakeholder engagement by using social media strategically and in ways that reflect their specific environments.

2025-11-30T00:00:00Z