OpenUCT is the open access institutional repository of the University of Cape Town (UCT). It preserves and makes UCT scholarly outputs digitally and freely available, including theses and dissertations, journal articles, book chapters, technical and research reports, as well as open educational resources.
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Open Access
The design and implementation of deep learning methods for the diagnosis and anatomical analysis of stroke in brain CTs
(2026) Lieberman, Isabel; Calvey, Tanya; Robertson, Frances
Introduction Stroke is a leading cause of death globally, ranking second worldwide and third in South Africa. The burden on sub-Saharan African health systems is exacerbated by limited access to medical care, particularly radiological services. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) to medical diagnostics presents an exciting opportunity to address these challenges. This study aims to expand knowledge and infrastructure development for AI in medical diagnostics. Methods A dataset of publicly-available head computed tomography (CT) scans, including haemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke cases and controls, was used. Initially, SynthSeg, a deep learning model for automated segmentation and parcellation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), was applied to estimate regional volumes, complemented by manual evaluation of segmentations. Regional volumes were compared between stroke types and to controls. Following this, two deep-learning models were developed: a modified OzNet for stroke classification and a modified Deeplabv3 for segmenting ischaemia and haematomas. Results Haemorrhagic stroke (HS) often involved multiple vascular territories (particularly middle cerebral artery/ posterior cerebral artery (MCA/ PCA)), whereas ischaemic stroke (IS) generally caused localized MCA infarcts. IS volumes were significantly larger in MCA-supplied regions, while HS volumes resembled controls except in the precentral gyrus, pallidum, and pericalcarine cortex. Both stroke types showed reduced CSF but enlarged temporal horn and third ventricle volumes. SynthSeg's performance declined for severe lesions, highlighting the challenges in volumetric analysis for advanced pathologies. The classification model achieved 0.49 AUC (indicating overfitting), while the segmentation model attained a 0.4 Dice Score, underscoring the need for refined data and further honing. Conclusion These findings highlight distinct stroke-related volume changes and segmentation challenges, emphasizing the need for pathology-adapted solutions. Enhanced datasets and computational resources could further improve AI-driven stroke diagnostics, offering a scalable option in settings with limited radiological expertise.
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Open Access
How tertiary institutions ensure meaningful participation and engagement with stakeholders for sustainable water management
(2026) Lehulere, Kebone; Massyn, Mark
The purpose of this study was to examine how stakeholder engagement influences sustainable water management in university institutions involving water users, staff, and students. A qualitative case study was employed, grounded in the premise that effective stakeholder engagement, when implemented correctly, can serve as a catalyst for sustainable water management initiatives within the university setting. The University of Cape Town (UCT) was chosen as the research case. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data included interviews and observations, while secondary data was obtained through relevant policies, strategies and frameworks for sustainable water management engagements at the university. The thematic analysis revealed themes that identified factors that facilitate or hinder effective stakeholder engagement for sustainable water management at the UCT. Contributing factors for successful stakeholder engagement included social and cultural attitudes towards sustainability and integrating sustainable learning into the university's operations, teaching and learning. Conversely, factors that impede effective stakeholder engagements for sustainable water management include institutional, structural, as well as social and behavioural factors such as low student interest in sustainability matters, top-down governance and outdated bureaucratic processes, lack of behavioural change, inflated project costs, and lack of student engagement. The findings from this study revealed that stakeholder engagement approaches that can adapt to changes and consider the social and cultural influences of their context are most likely to succeed in sustainable water management initiatives. The findings of this study may be useful for facilitators of stakeholder engagements for sustainable water management at universities, helping to improve the success of sustainable practices and achieve sustainability goals.
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Open Access
When partnerships falter in plain sight: emotional concealment and invisible actors in cross-sector collaborations
(2026) Lala-Sides, Kaylarsh; Peter, Camaren
Cross-sector collaborations between non-profit and for-profit organisations face growing criticism for delivering disappointing results relative to their potential for impact, despite the presence of advanced frameworks and significant investments. While partnership literature extensively documents tensions at the macro level, the emotional processes at the micro level that influence collaborative effectiveness remain insufficiently explored. This phenomenological study examined the unique cognitions and emotions of 27 individuals from 15 organisations involved in South African cross-sector collaborations, conducting 54 interviews over 16 months and analysing data through categorisation theory. The study reveals that collaborative effectiveness is systematically hindered by emotional concealment within the experience field-an opaque micro-level context where actors navigate hidden motives, asymmetrical emotional states, and multiple identities. When non-profits adopt Surrender States and for-profits take on Assertive States while concealing their emotional experiences, partners forfeit access to complementary capabilities essential for value creation. This concealment creates a blinding effect that obstructs knowledge exchange, which is vital for generating relational rent. The study identifies a previously unrecognised archetype-the Collaboration Galvaniser-who navigates this emotional landscape through distinctive traits. These actors, mainly emerging from nontraditional organisations such as impact investors and social entrepreneurs, maintain a Neutral State that allows them to surface hidden motives and build interpretive bridges across institutional differences. Importantly, this vital work remains informal and unrecognised, functioning entirely outside formal partnership frameworks without institutional backing or support. The study presents three key theoretical contributions: a micro-foundational theory of collaborative emotion explaining ongoing underperformance; an extension of relational view theory demonstrating how emotional concealment hinders relational rent; and empirical evidence for bottom-up meaning-making driven by specific actors rather than diffuse processes. Practical contributions include frameworks for identifying Galvanisers, designing emotionally-aware partnerships, and assessing collaborative health beyond outcomes. These findings suggest that successful collaboration relies on a dual architecture: formal support mechanisms that provide organisation and structure, alongside informal galvanising efforts that address hidden emotional complexities. In settings such as the Global South, where cross-sector collaborations are crucial in tackling urgent societal issues, understanding these concealed dynamics directly influences the success of initiatives, ultimately benefiting millions of vulnerable individuals.
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Open Access
Designing a regenerative African performance-making practice: a response to emerging cultures
(2026) Kunutsor, Alfred Elikem; Matchett, Sara; Fuh, Divine
This thesis addresses the critical need to reconnect with indigenous knowledge systems within the context of contemporary performance. The research underscores the disconnect between my contemporary performance practices and traditional cultural practices, particularly among the Aŋlɔ-Eʋe people in Ghana. This exploration is vital as it situates performance-making not only as an artistic endeavour but as a means to engage with post-colonial theories of identity, co-creation with nature, and sustainability. Employing a practice-led and auto-ethnographic research approach, the study integrated various methods, including workshops, interviews, participant observations, and reflexive journaling, to document the experiences and insights gathered during the research process. The outcome of these activities combined artistic practice with critical reflection and theoretical engagement, for a holistic understanding of performance within the frameworks of indigenous knowledge systems. Central themes of the research, such as “emergence” and the Aŋlɔ-Eʋe concepts of seselelɑ̃me1 and aveyiyi,2 significantly informed the facilitation of performance laboratories and encounters, leading to the development of a regenerative African performance-making practice. Findings from the research revealed that by embracing indigenous practices and narratives, contemporary performance could serve as a medium for promoting sustainable and regenerative performance practices. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (1992) has lamented the decline of indigenous practices due to the significant challenges they have faced under colonial influences. He suggests that indigenous practices, such as dramatic performances and ceremonies, were integral to community life before colonialism. However, colonialism actively sought to suppress these traditions, viewing many as “works of the devil”, (Thiong'o, 1992:37) which led to the banning of various ceremonies. During my daŋu,3 especially in my hometown of Asaɖame, I observed how the rise of Christianity has limited the observance of many age-old indigenous practices, such as drumming and dancing at communal ceremonies. Even knowledge of and belief in plant and herbal medicine is dying out. The thesis thus argues for the necessity of recognising and revitalising indigenous traditions within contemporary settings to reclaim African cultural practices. The research highlighted the transformative potential of performance, as it allowed “encounterers”4 to engage dynamically with their cultural and spiritual identities in relation to their surroundings. Ultimately, the thesis asserts that the integration of indigenous knowledge into contemporary performance-making practices not only revitalises cultural expressions but also cultivates a multi-layered appreciation of African-ness; an acknowledgement of African multiplicity and historical consciousness, constituted through diverse practices and subjectivities. By valuing indigenous knowledge, the thesis appreciates these diverse cultural expressions as part of a rich array of African identifications, which remain fluid and capable of adapting to contemporary contexts, making a significant contribution to the discourse on performance studies. This work advocates a balanced approach that honours indigenous practices while innovatively engaging with modernity, offering valuable insights into how performance can reflect and shape cultural consciousness.
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Open Access
Examining social media marketing strategies: a qualitative case study of SMMEs In Cape Town
(2026) Kondlo, Nandipha; Dlamini, Siphiwe; Shambare; Richardson
Social media has assumed a central role in the contemporary digital environment, reshaping how businesses attract, engage, and retain customers. Despite this growing prominence, limited empirical work has examined how Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South(ern) Africa strategically employ social media to develop sustainable and cost-efficient marketing approaches. Although existing studies acknowledge the widespread adoption of social media by small businesses, there remains insufficient guidance on how SMMEs can translate such usage into coherent marketing strategies. This gap highlights the need for a deeper understanding of how entrepreneurial marketers integrate social media into their marketing decision-making. This study addresses this gap by investigating the social media marketing practices of SMMEs, with the purpose of developing a social media marketing strategies framework tailored specifically for this sector. The study was informed by a constructivist paradigm and adopted a qualitative case study design, which enabled an in-depth examination of the phenomenon. A purposive sample of 10 entrepreneurial marketers from Khayelitsha in Cape Town was selected to generate rich, contextually grounded insights. The findings demonstrate that SMMEs utilise social media through resource planning, scheduled posting, enhancing business visibility, direct marketing, and branding. Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram emerged as the dominant platforms. The analysis further revealed four primary social media applications among SMMEs: promotion and selling, connection and collaboration, social monitoring, and customer relationship management. The study contributes to the entrepreneurial marketing literature by providing empirical evidence that SMMEs' use of social media is more purposeful, structured, and resource-aware than previously suggested. The development of the SMME Social Media Marketing Strategies Framework offers a practical tool to support owner-managers in designing and implementing social media marketing activities that enhance customer engagement while optimising marketing resources.