Maxwell M Maseko | University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa (original) (raw)

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Papers by Maxwell M Maseko

Journal of African Elections, 2024

This paper tracks the performance of Voter Management Devices (VMDs) in South Africa from their p... more This paper tracks the performance of Voter Management Devices (VMDs) in South Africa from their piloting in the 2021 local government election to their adoption in the 2024 general elections. It seeks to unpack what this performance means for further modernising electoral processes in the country, and especially for the introduction of e-voting. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) argues that hand-held touch-screen electronic devices ushered in a new era for election management in South Africa. Procured for millions of rand, VMDs replaced the old Zip-Zip barcode machines used since 1998 which could not capture real-time information. They were introduced at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic posed a threat to electoral participation in the democratic world. While the IEC and some observers argue that VMDs strengthened tough health controls in the voting process during their piloting, as with most new technology they still experienced several challenges and technical glitches. Nevertheless, the IEC resolved to deploy the new devices in the 2024 general elections. Following further glitches in the general elections, two main research questions have emerged: is South Africa technologically ready to handle e-voting based on the performance of VMDs? and what can other African countries learn from South Africa regarding modernising their voting systems? Data for this study was collected using qualitative methods. This study found that political will alone is insufficient for the modernisation of voting systems. The performance of VMDs requires further scrutiny before e-voting can be successfully implemented in South Africa.

Digital Policy Studies , 2024

As more African countries connect their citizens to the Internet and other digital technologies i... more As more African countries connect their citizens to the Internet and other digital technologies in a bid to improve services, questions are being asked about the protection of human rights for nationals online. The wake of the COVID-19 pandemic forced many countries on the continent to search for alternative ways to provide services. Varying national shutdowns impacted democratic processes such as elections and accompanying actions such as voter registration and campaigning. This paper aims to assess the trends and challenges around the implementation of digital rights and propose a way forward for scholars and practitioners promoting digital rights. It uses a South African example to demonstrate the protection of human rights (by default digital rights) by a Constitution deemed as one of the most progressive in the world. Data was collected using desktop research to identify and assess common themes and differences across the continent. The results show that as technologies continue evolving at a fast pace, it is fundamental for African governments to reassess and adapt their laws to maintain and protect the rights of their citizens online.

Digital Policy Studies , 2024

This paper uses a South African case study to closely examine how the recent explosion of digital... more This paper uses a South African case study to closely examine how the recent explosion of digital technologies has impacted electoral democracy in Africa. It seeks to answer a key research question about the risks and benefits of using technology in elections on the continent. Although South Africa has not adopted e-voting, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) piloted the use of thousands of new voter management devices in the 2021 local government election. At the time, the IEC also stated that it had delivered its 'most technologically advanced election' yet. Despite embracing some of the technological changes, the IEC argues that it is not yet cost-effective to introduce new voting technology in South Africa. There is strong evidence from other African countries as well, suggesting that the constitutionality and feasibility of electronic voting devices is questionable. The integrity of elections can also be doubtful if the process is not inclusive of the population. Aside from a thorough literature review, this paper analysed a combination of official IEC statements and reports on technology and e-voting in South Africa, including public pronouncements on the use of digital technologies on the African continent. Insights from this work will benefit election officials, policymakers, scholars, and others interested in the advancement of research in this growing field of study.

Journal of Public Adminitration, 2023

Exactly three decades after South Africa's first democratic elections, the country's major metrop... more Exactly three decades after South Africa's first democratic elections, the country's major metropolitan municipalities still lean towards traditional spaces of citizen participation and bureaucratic insulation between elections. They are seemingly not taking full advantage of the worldwide boom in Internet usage and meaningfully moving their citizen participation processes to online social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Where this is happening, the process is a 'tick-box' exercise and is mainly used as an information dissemination tool on the part of municipality administrators. The question remains as to why this is being allowed to continue despite high Internet usage in South Africa. What then is the effect of this on improved service delivery, transparency, and accountability in the public sector? This paper, therefore, argues that social media in the hands of these municipalities is unlikely to deepen democracy that demands greater participation of citizens in a country's governance processes. It largely draws on semi-structured qualitative interviews with municipal officials responsible for citizen participation in Cape Town and Johannesburg, two of South Africa's biggest metropolitan municipalities, and analyses their usage of Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp in their communications with their citizens. The results are not surprising given the ongoing debate among practitioners and scholars about the role of the Internet (social media in particular) in strengthening democracy. One side believes using social media in participation will contribute to civic decline, and others think that social media usage in citizen participation has a role to play in re-invigorating civic life. The paper is extracted from the author's recently published PhD thesis on social media usage in citizen participation in South Africa's two biggest metropolitan municipalities.

PhD Thesis, 2022

This study’s central focus is to assess how various classes of people in in distinct localities a... more This study’s central focus is to assess how various classes of people in in distinct localities across Cape Town and Johannesburg use social media in citizen participation concerning municipal governance processes. While largely drawing on interviews, the study also uses quantitative descriptive data. While some scholars believe that social media use will contribute to civic decline, others think that it has a role to play in re-invigorating civic life. This study has found that there is a gap in understanding important differences in the ways various classes in different contexts mobilise and adapt social media and that the capacity of the “poor” and their social movements to engage as collective citizens using social media has been understated. The wealthy social movements rely more on litigation and money power. Each social group adapts social media to suit its socio-political imperatives and context. South Africa’s major municipalities still lean towards traditional spaces of citizen participation and bureaucratic insulation.

Thesis Chapters by Maxwell M Maseko

University of South Africa, 2017

South Africa started the Women’s Budget Initiative in 1995 as part of its commitment to meeting i... more South Africa started the Women’s Budget Initiative in 1995 as part of its commitment to meeting its gender equality objectives and gender mainstreaming. However, in later years, research has found that government Gender Responsive Budgeting or GRB initiatives in South Africa are either dormant or dead. There is a range of reasons for this and some of them are not directly related to gender budgets or even gender. Research has shown that perhaps the greatest weakness is the lack of advocacy. From the review of existing literature, it is clear that there is a need for strong alliances between key stakeholders, which are Parliament, non-governmental organisations, academics, United Nations and the media to sustain the momentum of the gender budget process. Capacity building and training are also important for budget officers, civil society, national and local parliamentarians, given the low level of skilled financial personnel in municipalities. The availability of adequate sex-disaggregated data is an important success factor for municipalities so that they can deliver services equitably to their communities. This research is exploratory in nature and focuses on assessing GRB in one of South Africa’s largest urban municipalities. It also reviewed the 2012/13 Integrated Development Plan through a focus on health, housing infrastructure, safety and security and education. These are some of the wellknown variables to ease the plight of the poor and are good quality of life indicators for men, women, boys and girls. The research method that has been used in this research is both qualitative and quantitative. This study has found that there is no clear co-coordinated plan for the implementation of GRB in this metropolitan municipality. The lack of resources is also seen as the main challenge to GRB in this metropolitan municipality.

Books by Maxwell M Maseko

IGI Global Publishers , 2024

Democracy in many African countries faces serious challenges linked to weak leadership, poor gove... more Democracy in many African countries faces serious challenges linked to weak leadership, poor governance, malfunctioning state institutions, and slow or stagnant development. For these countries, the challenges can be attributed to an exploitative system rooted in colonialism, neo-colonialism, imperialism, and apartheid. Digital transformation and the global rise of digital technologies have created new opportunities to meet the challenges of democracy concerning citizen engagement, broadening public debate, increasing transparency and accountability, and improving service delivery. This chapter critically examines whether using digital technologies in political settings strengthens or weakens democracy on the continent. It highlights three main scholarly debates about using digital tools to address the declining quality of democracy. Data from various secondary sources was used to address the problem. The author found that digitalisation undoubtedly exposes democracy to new threats, but its benefits far outweigh the concerns.

Journal of African Elections, 2024

This paper tracks the performance of Voter Management Devices (VMDs) in South Africa from their p... more This paper tracks the performance of Voter Management Devices (VMDs) in South Africa from their piloting in the 2021 local government election to their adoption in the 2024 general elections. It seeks to unpack what this performance means for further modernising electoral processes in the country, and especially for the introduction of e-voting. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) argues that hand-held touch-screen electronic devices ushered in a new era for election management in South Africa. Procured for millions of rand, VMDs replaced the old Zip-Zip barcode machines used since 1998 which could not capture real-time information. They were introduced at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic posed a threat to electoral participation in the democratic world. While the IEC and some observers argue that VMDs strengthened tough health controls in the voting process during their piloting, as with most new technology they still experienced several challenges and technical glitches. Nevertheless, the IEC resolved to deploy the new devices in the 2024 general elections. Following further glitches in the general elections, two main research questions have emerged: is South Africa technologically ready to handle e-voting based on the performance of VMDs? and what can other African countries learn from South Africa regarding modernising their voting systems? Data for this study was collected using qualitative methods. This study found that political will alone is insufficient for the modernisation of voting systems. The performance of VMDs requires further scrutiny before e-voting can be successfully implemented in South Africa.

Digital Policy Studies , 2024

As more African countries connect their citizens to the Internet and other digital technologies i... more As more African countries connect their citizens to the Internet and other digital technologies in a bid to improve services, questions are being asked about the protection of human rights for nationals online. The wake of the COVID-19 pandemic forced many countries on the continent to search for alternative ways to provide services. Varying national shutdowns impacted democratic processes such as elections and accompanying actions such as voter registration and campaigning. This paper aims to assess the trends and challenges around the implementation of digital rights and propose a way forward for scholars and practitioners promoting digital rights. It uses a South African example to demonstrate the protection of human rights (by default digital rights) by a Constitution deemed as one of the most progressive in the world. Data was collected using desktop research to identify and assess common themes and differences across the continent. The results show that as technologies continue evolving at a fast pace, it is fundamental for African governments to reassess and adapt their laws to maintain and protect the rights of their citizens online.

Digital Policy Studies , 2024

This paper uses a South African case study to closely examine how the recent explosion of digital... more This paper uses a South African case study to closely examine how the recent explosion of digital technologies has impacted electoral democracy in Africa. It seeks to answer a key research question about the risks and benefits of using technology in elections on the continent. Although South Africa has not adopted e-voting, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) piloted the use of thousands of new voter management devices in the 2021 local government election. At the time, the IEC also stated that it had delivered its 'most technologically advanced election' yet. Despite embracing some of the technological changes, the IEC argues that it is not yet cost-effective to introduce new voting technology in South Africa. There is strong evidence from other African countries as well, suggesting that the constitutionality and feasibility of electronic voting devices is questionable. The integrity of elections can also be doubtful if the process is not inclusive of the population. Aside from a thorough literature review, this paper analysed a combination of official IEC statements and reports on technology and e-voting in South Africa, including public pronouncements on the use of digital technologies on the African continent. Insights from this work will benefit election officials, policymakers, scholars, and others interested in the advancement of research in this growing field of study.

Journal of Public Adminitration, 2023

Exactly three decades after South Africa's first democratic elections, the country's major metrop... more Exactly three decades after South Africa's first democratic elections, the country's major metropolitan municipalities still lean towards traditional spaces of citizen participation and bureaucratic insulation between elections. They are seemingly not taking full advantage of the worldwide boom in Internet usage and meaningfully moving their citizen participation processes to online social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Where this is happening, the process is a 'tick-box' exercise and is mainly used as an information dissemination tool on the part of municipality administrators. The question remains as to why this is being allowed to continue despite high Internet usage in South Africa. What then is the effect of this on improved service delivery, transparency, and accountability in the public sector? This paper, therefore, argues that social media in the hands of these municipalities is unlikely to deepen democracy that demands greater participation of citizens in a country's governance processes. It largely draws on semi-structured qualitative interviews with municipal officials responsible for citizen participation in Cape Town and Johannesburg, two of South Africa's biggest metropolitan municipalities, and analyses their usage of Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp in their communications with their citizens. The results are not surprising given the ongoing debate among practitioners and scholars about the role of the Internet (social media in particular) in strengthening democracy. One side believes using social media in participation will contribute to civic decline, and others think that social media usage in citizen participation has a role to play in re-invigorating civic life. The paper is extracted from the author's recently published PhD thesis on social media usage in citizen participation in South Africa's two biggest metropolitan municipalities.

PhD Thesis, 2022

This study’s central focus is to assess how various classes of people in in distinct localities a... more This study’s central focus is to assess how various classes of people in in distinct localities across Cape Town and Johannesburg use social media in citizen participation concerning municipal governance processes. While largely drawing on interviews, the study also uses quantitative descriptive data. While some scholars believe that social media use will contribute to civic decline, others think that it has a role to play in re-invigorating civic life. This study has found that there is a gap in understanding important differences in the ways various classes in different contexts mobilise and adapt social media and that the capacity of the “poor” and their social movements to engage as collective citizens using social media has been understated. The wealthy social movements rely more on litigation and money power. Each social group adapts social media to suit its socio-political imperatives and context. South Africa’s major municipalities still lean towards traditional spaces of citizen participation and bureaucratic insulation.

University of South Africa, 2017

South Africa started the Women’s Budget Initiative in 1995 as part of its commitment to meeting i... more South Africa started the Women’s Budget Initiative in 1995 as part of its commitment to meeting its gender equality objectives and gender mainstreaming. However, in later years, research has found that government Gender Responsive Budgeting or GRB initiatives in South Africa are either dormant or dead. There is a range of reasons for this and some of them are not directly related to gender budgets or even gender. Research has shown that perhaps the greatest weakness is the lack of advocacy. From the review of existing literature, it is clear that there is a need for strong alliances between key stakeholders, which are Parliament, non-governmental organisations, academics, United Nations and the media to sustain the momentum of the gender budget process. Capacity building and training are also important for budget officers, civil society, national and local parliamentarians, given the low level of skilled financial personnel in municipalities. The availability of adequate sex-disaggregated data is an important success factor for municipalities so that they can deliver services equitably to their communities. This research is exploratory in nature and focuses on assessing GRB in one of South Africa’s largest urban municipalities. It also reviewed the 2012/13 Integrated Development Plan through a focus on health, housing infrastructure, safety and security and education. These are some of the wellknown variables to ease the plight of the poor and are good quality of life indicators for men, women, boys and girls. The research method that has been used in this research is both qualitative and quantitative. This study has found that there is no clear co-coordinated plan for the implementation of GRB in this metropolitan municipality. The lack of resources is also seen as the main challenge to GRB in this metropolitan municipality.

IGI Global Publishers , 2024

Democracy in many African countries faces serious challenges linked to weak leadership, poor gove... more Democracy in many African countries faces serious challenges linked to weak leadership, poor governance, malfunctioning state institutions, and slow or stagnant development. For these countries, the challenges can be attributed to an exploitative system rooted in colonialism, neo-colonialism, imperialism, and apartheid. Digital transformation and the global rise of digital technologies have created new opportunities to meet the challenges of democracy concerning citizen engagement, broadening public debate, increasing transparency and accountability, and improving service delivery. This chapter critically examines whether using digital technologies in political settings strengthens or weakens democracy on the continent. It highlights three main scholarly debates about using digital tools to address the declining quality of democracy. Data from various secondary sources was used to address the problem. The author found that digitalisation undoubtedly exposes democracy to new threats, but its benefits far outweigh the concerns.