A North-West University (NWU) academic has earned international recognition for research examining how ready South Africa’s public sector is to adopt blockchain technology.

Dr Beatah Sibanda received the 2024 Best Abstract Award from the British Blockchain Association for her study on blockchain adoption in government systems.

Her research highlights a key gap between growing interest in blockchain and the country’s actual readiness to implement it at scale. It points to constraints such as limited technical capacity, regulatory uncertainty and misaligned infrastructure across public institutions.

The award was made for her paper, “Assessing the readiness of the South African public sector to embrace blockchain technology: Factors for successful adoption”, which explores the conditions needed for successful integration of blockchain into governance systems.

Dr Sibanda said the recognition confirms the global relevance of her work and its contribution to debates on digital governance.

“Receiving the 2024 Best Abstract Award was both an honour and a significant milestone in my academic journey,” she said. “It affirmed that my research contributes meaningfully to global scholarly conversations.”

Her findings show that adopting blockchain in government requires more than technological innovation. It depends on coordinated development across policy frameworks, institutional systems and human capacity.

“There is clear recognition of the potential of blockchain, but the sector is not yet fully prepared for adoption,” she said. “The foundations still require strengthening.”

The study identifies several critical factors for successful implementation, including regulatory clarity, leadership commitment, technical expertise and collaboration between government, academia and the private sector.

Dr Sibanda emphasised that legal certainty remains essential, alongside improved understanding of blockchain within government structures. She added that infrastructure alignment is necessary to ensure that blockchain solutions can integrate with existing systems.

Her work forms part of a broader global conversation on how emerging technologies can improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in public administration.

In 2026, Dr Sibanda was invited as a delegate to the ISC2026 conference, where discussions focused on moving blockchain from theory to policy-driven implementation.

She noted that international trends show increasing involvement of legislative institutions in shaping blockchain regulation and innovation strategies, signalling a shift towards more structured adoption approaches.

The recognition by the British Blockchain Association highlights growing international attention on research that addresses governance challenges in developing economies. Dr Sibanda’s work continues to contribute to discussions on digital transformation in the public sector, particularly in strengthening institutional systems and service delivery.

Dr Beatah Sibanda receives the 2024 Best Abstract Award from the British Blockchain Association.