The University of South Africa’s Institute for Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship [ISCC] has spotlighted the work of Associate Professor Mpekoa, an NRF Y-rated researcher with 23 years’ experience across industry and academia.

Full Professor of Human Resource Management

Unisa Cybersecurity Expert Prof Mpekoa Advances Research on Secure, Inclusive Digital Systems

The University of South Africa’s Institute for Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship [ISCC] has spotlighted the work of Associate Professor Mpekoa, an NRF Y-rated researcher with 23 years’ experience across industry and academia.

With 17 years in academia and more than 8 years in management roles, Prof Mpekoa has established herself as a cybersecurity specialist. Her research sits at the intersection of mobile technologies, cybersecurity, and e-government systems, with a focus on identifying vulnerabilities in existing platforms and developing frameworks to enhance resilience against cyberattacks.

Her contributions span several critical areas, including mobile voting, phishing, smishing, and vishing prevention, as well as biometric authentication. She has also addressed broader societal challenges, such as digital responsibility and accessibility for visually impaired learners.

Current projects now extend into cyberwarfare frameworks, machine learning for threat detection, and cybersecurity awareness training. Prof Mpekoa works collaboratively across academia, government, and industry to develop tools, guidelines, and standards that strengthen information security.

She is also supervising postgraduate research on emerging topics, including zero-day malware detection, containerization for workplace data security, blockchain-enabled smart contracts, and adaptive authentication schemes.

“By combining technical innovation with human-centered approaches, her research strengthens digital infrastructures while promoting ethical and inclusive adoption of ICT solutions in South Africa and beyond,” the ISCC noted.

*A Vision for Inclusive Digital Ecosystems*
Looking ahead, Prof Mpekoa aims to pioneer secure, inclusive, and human-centered digital ecosystems. Building on her earlier work in mobile voting frameworks, she envisions ICT solutions that are both technically robust and socially responsive.

Her research vision emphasises adaptive frameworks and standards that protect against evolving cyber threats, while ensuring accessibility and equity in digital participation across Africa.