The University of Venda (UNIVEN), through its Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, has further strengthened its position as a leader in cybersecurity by successfully hosting the presti-gious International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP)–UNIVEN–CSIR International Cybersecurity Conference, underscoring its growing influence as a regional and global innova-tor in digital security.
Held recently in Pretoria, South Africa, the conference placed UNIVEN firmly on the interna-tional cybersecurity map, fostering pride among stakeholders while advancing critical conver-sations on safeguarding digital economies. The faculty, under the leadership of Executive Dean Professor Kanyane, demonstrated its commitment to addressing complex cybersecurity challenges facing governments, industries, and societies worldwide.
The conference was officially opened by the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, Professor Modimowabarwa Kanyane and Dr Jabu Mtsweni from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). In their opening remarks, they emphasised the urgent need for robust cybersecurity frameworks and collective action to protect digital infrastructure, setting a confident, forward-looking tone for the event.
Among the standout presentations was Dr Willard Munyoka’s paper titled “A Multidimen-sional Review of Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in E-Government Systems: The Case of South Africa.” His research identified three critical vulnerability domains—technical, human, and organisational factors that continue to undermine the resilience of e-government systems. Dr Munyoka introduced a multidimensional risk map linking these vulnerabilities to systemic threat vectors, offering policymakers a practical and strategic tool to strengthen South Africa’s digital governance landscape.
Adding an international perspective, Professor Ruidong Zhang, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Venda from the Zhejiang University Business School (ZIBS) in China, delivered an insightful presentation on Large Language Models (LLMs). He highlighted the global con-sensus that LLMs have revolutionised artificial intelligence by enabling advanced natural language processing across applications such as conversational AI, text summarisation, and coding assistance. However, he cautioned that these advancements introduce significant security and privacy risks, calling for comprehensive risk awareness and robust mitigation strategies.
Showcasing emerging innovation, Ms Livhuwani Mutshafa presented her pioneering study, “Towards Facial Expression Analysis for Enhanced Threat Detection in Surveillance.” Her work demonstrated the innovative application of deep learning technologies, inspiring optimism for the development of safer, smarter, and more responsive security systems.
By convening global experts alongside homegrown researchers, the University of Venda is actively strengthening South Africa’s digital resilience and making a meaningful contribution to national cybersecurity strategies. The conference proceedings, now published, further elevate UNIVEN’s reputation as a leading cybersecurity research hub, attract future collaborations and funding opportunities, and position South Africa as an influential player in global cybersecurity innovation.
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Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
