College of Human Sciences
Unisan’s research set to improve accident records management through AI
Dr Vanessa Neo Mathope
Our biggest fears can make or break us. From an early age, growing up in the small town of Brits, in the North West Province, Dr Vanessa Neo Mathope, a lecturer in the Department of Information Science at Unisa, feared losing her identity and only being seen as someone’s wife or mother. "My maternal grandmother raised me, and my mother cared a lot about the 'Mrs' title; so much so that she stayed in an abusive marriage. My father was hitting her, even during pregnancy," she recalls.
Mathope’s traumas motivated her to change her circumstances and to achieve her goal of obtaining a PhD. She explains, "I love the freedom that comes with being Dr Vanessa Neo Mathope, because I am no longer just 'Neo who looks like her mom', or 'Neo, Mathope’s wife' or 'Neo, Atli’s mom'. I have become Neo wa Dr."
In her thesis, entitled "Adoption of artificial intelligence to manage records in support of the claims management system at the Road Accident Fund in South Africa", she employed a convergent mixed-methods research approach to develop a framework for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into records management processes to support the claims management system at the Road Accident Fund (RAF). It is envisaged that this framework will guide records management practitioners in leveraging intelligent robotic machines, immersive algorithms and systems to transform record-keeping, ultimately improving claims processing and pay-outs for improved service delivery.
She hopes that her research will have a marked impact on organisations such as the RAF, the only entity in South Africa to compensate and rehabilitate motor vehicle accident victims for bodily injuries. The RAF’s operations revolve around receiving and creating records, which makes records management a vital function. Mathope explains that records management is often overlooked or grossly neglected in such entities. While there is a paucity of research into organisations’ records and the management thereof, future studies will hopefully rectify that. Another wish of hers is that her research will have an impact in the academic space, as it addresses the highly relevant topic of AI for the profession of Archives and Records Management, integrating both historical and modern aspects as critical tools for fulfilling a professional mandate. "My thesis aligns with Unisa’s vision of being the African university shaping futures in the service of humanity, as it falls under one of the catalytic niche areas," she notes.
Mathope’s journey was made easier thanks to the unwavering support of her husband, who reassured her that she always had a shoulder to lean on and should never doubt herself or her capabilities. Her supervisor, Dr Mashilo Modiba, also played a significant role in her PhD journey by pushing her to complete her study in record time. He would, for instance, call her at night and, if she had been sleeping, say: "Tsoga a gona kgomo ya boroko!", which translates as "nobody derives wealth from sleeping". That motivated this newly minted PhD to strive for the best and work hard.
Acting Chair of the Department of Information Science, Dr Makutla Mojapelo, extended a heartfelt congratulatory message to Mathope on the successful completion of her PhD in Information Science. "As a department committed to excellence, we take great pride in your academic accomplishments," said Mojapelo. "Given the depth of the expertise and insights you have cultivated through your academic journey, we look forward to many ways in which your PhD will continue to enrich and shape the quality of the work we do in the department. In a country where information professionals are rightfully listed amongst the scarce skills, your accomplishment holds promise to the department and broader society."
* By Nnana Martina Jege, Communication and Marketing, College of Human Sciences
Publish date: 2025/07/03
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