UWCScholar

This repository serves as a digital archive for the preservation of research outputs from the University of the Western Cape

Communities in UWCScholar

Select a community to browse its collections.

Now showing 1 - 5 of 11

Recent Submissions

New language practices on TikTok and X
(University of the Western Cape, 2025) Nqwazi, Onam; Shaikjee, Mooniq
Social media’s presence has brought opportunities for the change of language and vocabulary use over the years. This is because it has become the most used and easily accessible communication platform. This study seeks to outline the exploration of new language practices on social media. This will be done by identifying the emergence of new vocabulary that is being used by people on social media platforms, more specifically on the applications TikTok and X. This study is vital because it provides insight into the impact of language use on social media and examines the creativity in the creation of new words and how they keep evolving in the digital space. The study adopts a qualitative methodological approach to collect the data and employs content analysis to examine the data. This study gathers and analyses users’ posts, comments and videos on TikTok and X to explore how individuals express themselves through using slang, memes, emojis and inventing new terms and phrases. The study draws on a computer-mediated discourse analysis theoretical framework, which examines the study of communication through digital means, as well as a content analysis analytical framework to examine the data. The findings of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of emerging vocabulary on TikTok and X, offering a clearer meaning of new slang and explaining the communicative practice of them.
Trusted criminals conceal and fragment: a forensic linguistics case study of subprime mortgage fraud in South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2026) Ntente, Susan; Prof Russell Kaschula
The aim behind this novel autoethnographic case study, which was conducted retrospectively, was to explore ways in which forensic linguistics could assist me make sense of my experiences as an unwitting victim of a crime known as subprime mortgage fraud. It sheds light on the fraud script used by a specific syndicate in South Africa, to realise their profit motif. Due to its dual nature, the study tries to strike a balance between the linguistic and criminological demands of the investigation. From the forensic linguistic side of the equation linguistic tricksters employed discourse patterns, linguistic structures, vocabulary and lexical choices, grammar, semantics, etc. which presented as a cocktail of deceptive speech acts (e.g. vague language, eloquent silence; othering discourses, empty promises, distancing, etc.). These were exposed by using conversation, content, document, critical discourse analyses, among others. From a criminological standpoint, over and above the documented strategies of loan steering, phantom help, social engineering, concealment, fragmentation, conversion, etc.; this study unearths a ‘bite and blow’ (i.e. two-faced behaviour showing kindness on the outside while secretly acting out bad intentions); ‘pacifying’ or ‘lulling’ (e.g. the issuing of false fines); a ‘soft-landing yet illegal eviction’ of victims, etc.; all culminating in a unique scapegoating strategy with a shape-shifting and/or catfishing twist (e.g. the ‘unknown’ conveyancer who turned out to have been my former financial advisor all along); all of which served to conceal the deceptive behaviour. To highlight the case’s uniquely South African flavour the investigation employed several tools of the trade (e.g. network analysis, criminal profiling, the follow-the-money strategy, inductive reasoning; inferencing, the ‘but for’ test, etc.); key among these being the Aquilian delictual liability concept. The case study was also pitted against a handful of judicial opinions dealing with pure economic loss. The findings suggest the subprime mortgage fraud the study sought to expose and hopefully dismantle, is but a symptom of a bigger and more ominous well-oiled and under-the-radar machinery demanding urgent transnational cooperation. This is a thriving shadow economy facilitated by organised crime, while lubricated by corruption and other partners in crime, which are currently bringing the entire African continent and South Africa in particular, to their knees. While a lot of effort has been invested in ensuring the highest level of rigour possible; confronting the study’s limitations and the implications thereof, for future investigations, means acknowledging that all that this investigation can ultimately lay claim to, is the provision of a basis for a testable set of propositions by which a body of theory about organised economic crime (and by default subprime mortgage fraud), could be assembled.
An investigation into the outcomes of articulation agreements between South African Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and universities for students in Engineering Studies.
(University of the Western Cape, 2026) Cavin McPherson
This doctoral thesis offers a critical analysis of how articulation agreements between South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and Universities of Technology (UoTs) are enacted and experienced, with a specific focus on engineering pathways. Despite the presence of national frameworks such as the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and the Articulation Policy (DHET, 2017a), persistent disconnects remain between policy intentions and the actual lived experience of students transitioning from TVET to higher education. Existing research frequently documents misalignments between policy and institutional practice but rarely investigates the underlying systemic, cultural, and relational dynamics or foregrounds student voices in shaping these transitions. This study addresses this critical gap by asking: How have articulation agreements between TVET colleges and universities been enacted, and what have been the outcomes of such agreements for students and institutions? The research is anchored in an interpretivist, qualitative case study methodology, combining semi-structured interviews with staff and focus group discussions with engineering students across three UoTs. The analytical framework integrates Ecological Systems Theory with Relational Agency Theory, providing a nuanced lens to examine how multiple levels, such as policy, institution, staff, and individual, interact in the articulation process. Findings uncover a complex reality: while formal pathways exist on paper, effective articulation is often undermined by fragmented curricula, inconsistent institutional collaboration, and limited recognition of TVET qualifications by university staff. Notably, the success of many articulation arrangements rests precariously on the efforts of “articulation champions”, who are dedicated individuals whose advocacy is vital, but whose absence exposes systemic vulnerability. Student narratives reveal multiple challenges across the academic, administrative, and psychosocial realms, with many navigating intricate admission and credit-transfer processes in the absence of coherent support systems. The thesis concludes that achieving equitable educational transitions demands more than compliance with policy: it requires systemic alignment, robust inter-institutional partnerships, ongoing staff development, and the institutionalisation of holistic student support. This research reframes articulation not merely as a policy or pipeline issue, but as an ecological and relational process that is dynamic, context-dependent, and deeply human. Actionable recommendations are provided for policymakers, institutional leaders, practitioners, and future researchers, including the need for ii https://uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za/homeembedded articulation support structures, targeted professional development, and longitudinal research tracking student outcomes. In doing so, the study not only fills a critical gap in the South African literature but also sets an international research and practice agenda that prioritises lived experience and multi-level agency as central to educational policy transformation.
Commodification of African spirituality: a critical discourse analysis of Moja Love and Mzansi Magic selected reality shows
(University of the Western Cape, 2025) Ntobela, Thozama; Prof. Mantoa Motinyane
African spirituality places great significance on language. It functions as a channel for individuals to communicate and interact with the divine, ancestral beings, and spiritual entities. In the realm of African spirituality, the use of language in ritual acts serves as a method of creating a relationship with supreme deities or beings. Specific languages are frequently used to invoke and summon our ancestors by means of prayers, chants, and incantations. Language is utilized as a tool for communication and invocation in order to build a connection with and summon the presence of ancestors. Furthermore, the conveyance and conservation of African spiritual knowledge frequently depend on verbal exchange, emphasizing the significance of protecting and respecting oral traditions and customary rites. The main aim of this study is to investigate the impact of television programs, namely Izangoma Zodumo and Gogo Skhotheni, aired on Moja Love and the Mzansi Magic channels, in the commercialization of African spirituality. The secondary objective is to showcase the interdependence of spoken language, human conduct, and nonverbal signals within a social setting through discourse and topic analysis. This involves analyzing the conduct and behaviors displayed by the actors in the chosen TV show. This will entail scrutinizing show critiques and conducting interviews with spiritual healers who have encountered comparable situations to the traditional healers presented on the show. Additionally, the analytical framework of Photovoice is employed as a collaborative research approach that combines photography and narrative to foreground the lived experiences of participants. This approach enables the study to generate visual and narrative representations of participants' experiences of African spirituality. The findings indicate that selected reality television shows contribute to the commodification of African spirituality through their representation of cultural and spiritual practices. These representations may reinforce existing negative stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding Indigenous cultures. The study contributes to scholarship on Indigenous knowledge and media studies by demonstrating how reality television can transform culturally and spiritually significant practices into mediated and commercially consumable representations. It further provides insights that may assist media practitioners in developing more nuanced and culturally sensitive representations of African spirituality.
The legal status of cannabis in Canada, Germany, and South Africa: A scoping review
(University of the Western Cape, 2026) Moodley, Kim Wilma; Egieyeh, Samuel
Introduction The legalisation of cannabis presents significant legal and policy challenges. While some countries have adopted structured, evidence-based reforms, South Africa remains within a fragmented and unclear framework. This study provides a comparative analysis of legalisation frameworks in Canada, Germany, and South Africa examining the impacts of each country’s model. Background A comparative analysis was undertaken of cannabis legalisation frameworks in Canada, Germany, and South Africa to assess their regulatory approaches and their impacts on legal clarity, regulatory completeness, economic opportunities, and the management of illicit cannabis activities. Method A structured scoping review was conducted using peer-reviewed articles, legal frameworks, and non-peer-reviewed policy documents. A five-stage review process guided data selection and analysis, focusing on legal themes, regulatory trends, and evidence gaps. Stakeholder consultation was excluded from the scope of the study.