A framework for the integration of a Mobile Technology-Enabled Platform with the Justice System Services to Empower Rural Communities in Namibia

Mendonca, Hedvig Nyanyukweni Kakoko

A framework for the integration of a Mobile Technology-Enabled Platform with the Justice System Services to Empower Rural Communities in Namibia

Author(s)

Mendonca, Hedvig Nyanyukweni Kakoko

Date Issued

2026

Type

doctoral thesis

Publisher

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Abstract

ccess to Justice system’s services is a fundamental human right that is embedded in the constitution of Namibia. The Justice system offers services, including legal advice and information, legal representation, and rehabilitation and reform through the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). However, it seems like a distant dream in its current implementation, especially for rural communities. This is primarily because access to the services is limited, especially for those living in the rural areas of the country, due to various challenges from both the service provider and the recipients’ perspectives. From the service providers’ standpoint, the challenges include ageing infrastructure, geographical distances, and language barriers. Challenges such as a lack of awareness, language barriers, low literacy levels, and distanciation are increasingly prohibitive to accessing the Justice system’s services. Thus, a solution is needed to improve access to MOJ services and improve service delivery to the rural communities in the country. Based on the problem, this study aimed to develop a framework that can be used to integrate MOJ services with a mobile technology-enabled platform to empower rural communities. To achieve this aim, a case study design was chosen as the most appropriate approach. Two cases (MOJ and Nam-Hana Rural Community) were selected using a set of criteria. The rural community was assigned a pseudo name, Nam-Hana, for confidentiality purposes. Participants from each case were carefully selected using a set of criteria specific to each case. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data from the two cases separately, starting with the MOJ. The perspectives of the MOJ and the Nam-Hana community were necessary. This was to gain a deeper understanding of how the services were provided and received, holistically. The interview process adhered to the University’s (CPUT) ethics rules. The Nam-Hana community's cultural rules were also complied with. Additionally, the participants’ rights and privacy were respected. Actor-network theory (ANT), a socio-technical theory, was used to underpin the study. ANT was used as a guiding lens for both data analysis and the interpretation of findings. As a result of the data analysis, a set of findings (factors influencing access to MOJ services) emerged. The factors include durability of services, immutable mobiles, power dynamics, process automation, and awareness. The interpretation of the findings led to the development of a framework that can be used to integrate the MOJ services with a mobile technology-enabled platform to empower rural communities. The study significantly contributes to the body of knowledge in three ways, namely: theoretically, practically, and methodologically. The study contributes theoretically through the developed framework for the purpose of integration. Practically, the findings of this study can and will inform policymakers and stakeholders about the feasibility, benefits, and potential implications of integrating a mobile technology-enabled platform into the Justice system’s services. Conversely, it guides the development and implementation of technological innovations, ensuring that MOJ services reach even the most remote areas in Namibia. Additionally, the study contributes methodologically, with the use of ANT to examine rural community actor-networks, and it helps us understand how different actors work together in a rural setting, in developing indigenous systems that are easily accessible, equitable, and sustainabe.

Additional information

Thesis (DPhil (Informatics))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2026

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