Newsroom - Potchefstroom Campus

Fraud awareness campaign promotes ethical behaviour

EVASHNI JANSEN — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:19:37 +0000

Fraud awareness campaign promotes ethical behaviour

EVASHNI JANSEN Fri, 12/13/2024 - 12:19

To shine a spotlight on the widespread issues of fraud, the North-West University (NWU) Internal Audit Department hosted a robust awareness campaign in accordance with the celebration of International Fraud Awareness Week.

Esteemed speakers from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) – Klerksdorp (the Hawks) and Nexus Forensic delivered insights into fraud prevention and investigation to the NWU community – emphasising the need for ethical behaviour.

The director of Nexus Forensic, Adv Francois Labuschagne, spoke about the fraud triangle that is frequently cited as an illustration of the explanations why individuals commit fraud. He urged institutions to move to a culture where they approach internal audit with a view to detecting, responding to and preventing reputational crises that may arise.

“Institutions cannot simply be compliance-driven and wait for allegations to surface. They must be aware that fraud can hide in every dark corner of every transaction,” he said.

Adv Labuschagne further declared that institutions should enhance their risk assessment methodology, and called for management decisions to be questioned and not overlooked.

“Internal Audit needs to enhance their methodology for risk assessment to follow steps to ensure effective control of the identification of possible risks and must implement effective preventative detection controls. People should not just believe, because of the seniority the staff involved, that transactions are done the right way. What you see is not always what you get.”

Capt Kgaile Mpholo, in his capacity as a certified fraud examiner and commercial forensic practitioner, discussed the functions of the DPCI, emphasising the unit’s aim to address crime that requires specialised skills.

Capt Mpholo gave a summary of the nine fraudulent cases documented at the NWU for 2024 that are currently being investigated by the directorate. He stated that some of the schemes had been detected during audits.

“The Internal Audit activity at the NWU has been instrumental in exposing some their fraudulent activities and they also support ongoing investigations once they have lodged a criminal complaint with the DPCI.

Understanding the motivations behind criminal activities would aid in implementing measures to reduce the incidence of fraud, according to Capt Mpholo.

“Based on the modus operandi identified, we found segregation of duties, training of employees and fraud awareness campaigns to be useful to prevent fraud in institutions.” He concluded: “Prevention is very important because the consequences of fraud, once it has occurred, are bigger than we could think.”

Advocate Francois Labuschagne

Captain Kgaile Mpholo

Bafenyi Trust warms hearts with faith and food

MARELIZE SANTANA — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 10:06:55 +0000

Bafenyi Trust warms hearts with faith and food

by Belinda Bantham

MARELIZE SANTANA Mon, 12/09/2024 - 12:06

Dineo Mdingane has always believed in the power of community and the importance of lending a helping hand to those in need. As the managing director of Bafenyi Trust, a non-profit organisation dedicated to uplifting people in difficult circumstances through ministry and practical support, she has turned her passion into action.

One of the trust's most impactful initiatives is a soup kitchen in Promosa in Potchefstroom.

It started in 2020, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Dineo and her team at Bafenyi Trust recognised the growing need for food security within their community.
"We started by sending food parcels to community members in need," she recalls. "The government had issued essential services permits, and we were fortunate to be granted one."

The soup kitchen is still going strong today. It feeds 11 groups of people, five focused on children and six on adults. Altogether, meals are served to 1 300 people every week.

That is just a small part of the work Dineo and her team do.

Branching out into life skills and education

"The programme has evolved beyond just giving people food," she explains. "We offer life skills training in areas like parenting and financial management, helping people become more self-sufficient and encouraging them to view their lives differently."

For the children, Bafenyi Trust runs an after-school programme that offers support in subjects such as mathematics, English, and Afrikaans, while helping them develop a positive attitude toward their studies.

Dineo's passion for community engagement stems from her own academic and personal experiences. She began her studies at the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus, initially enrolling in social work due to her strong desire to help disadvantaged people.

However, after a year in social development studies, she realised it wasn't the right fit for her. This realisation led her to psychology, driven by her interest in the mental and emotional healing needed in rural communities.

Her studies in psychology and sociology provided her with the tools to make a meaningful impact, particularly in breaking the stigma surrounding therapy. She graduated with a BA in psychology and sociology in 2017.

Collaboration and connections

The Bafenyi Trust's work is done in collaboration with others, including volunteers. As part of their 67 minutes of service for Mandela Day, a team from the NWU Corporate Relations and Marketing division visited the Bafenyi Trust. They donated groceries on behalf of the Alumni Relations office and assisted in preparing food for the groups, further strengthening the connection between the university and the community it serves.

Dineo highlights that the importance of collaboration, working closely with others who share the same heart and mission. "We're committed to helping people win, to providing a helping hand wherever we can because the need is there, and because we have the capacity and resources to help."

Their work is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared purpose and a compassionate heart.

Deep roots in faith and community

Janneman van Wyk and Elsa Coetzee founded Bafenyi Trust in 2010. Initially, it focused on supporting preschool practitioners by helping them register with the relevant departments, providing training and supplying teaching materials. Over time, their mission expanded as they sought to address the broader needs of the communities they served.

At the centre of everything Bafenyi Trust does is a deep commitment to faith. "We are a faith-based organisation, and while we're focused on meeting practical needs, sharing the gospel is at the heart of our mission," Dineo shares. The trust is driven by a desire to help people not only survive but thrive. We equip them with the tools and mindset needed to excel and view their lives in a positive light.”

Progress Mpangane, Eagi, Dineo and Abigail Oliphant unpack the donation from the NWU’s Alumni Relations office.

Team members from Corporate Relations and Marketing and the Bafenyi Trust.

Prof Raubenheimer is advancing quantitative risk analysis

BELINDA BANTHAM — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 08:06:11 +0000

Prof Raubenheimer is advancing quantitative risk analysis

by Steve Maphakathe

BELINDA BANTHAM Fri, 12/06/2024 - 10:06

Prof Helgard Raubenheimer, director of the Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics (CBMI) in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the North-West University (NWU), delivered a presentation demonstrating his expertise to the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Science (NITheCS) community.

The title of his presentation was “Extremes in risk management – a non-parametric approach to the estimation of the quantiles of compound distributions”. In his opening remarks, Prof Helgard gave an overview of operational risk, which is defined as the risk of loss resulting from inadequate internal processes or external events. He highlighted how operational risk differs from other types of financial risks, emphasising that it has no upside potential and is primarily concerned with losses.

In the same vein, Prof Helgard examined the limitations of traditional parametric methods such as the single-loss and perturbative approximations, which depend on predicting more extreme quantiles of an underlying severity distribution. He argued that inaccurate evaluations of these quantiles may result from faulty parametric distributional assumptions.

To get around this issue, Prof Helgard presented a new non-parametric multiplier technique that is based on the single-loss and perturbative approximations as well as the extreme value theory. This novel approach estimates a less extreme lower quantile of the severity distribution and seeks to increase accuracy without making significant parametric assumptions.

The Monte Carlo simulation, by which the novel approach was assessed, validates Prof Helgard’s innovative non-parametric technique as a reliable alternative for extreme quantile estimation – especially in cases where there is little data available.

Further, Prof Raubenheimer emphasised the need for accurate extreme quantile estimation, stating that incorrect assumptions about parametric distributions can lead to inaccuracies in quantile estimation, ultimately impacting financial stability.

His presentation featured a discussion of the practical implications of using the proposed methods in operational risk management in financial institutions.

Prof Helgard concluded by highlighting the importance of not just historical data, but also expert judgement and scenario analysis in improving risk assessments.

About Prof Helgard Raubenheimer

Prof Helgard holds a PhD in Risk Analysis, which he obtained at the NWU in 2010, and his primary research interest is quantitative risk management. From 2016 to 2021 Prof Raubenheimer served as the head of the Scientific Analytical Services (SAS) laboratory. His responsibilities included organising industry training initiatives and promoting interactions with the SAS Global Academic Programme, both domestically and abroad.

Prof Raubenheimer co-authored a number of peer-reviewed publications that Risk.net, the Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA), and the South African Statical Association (SASA) have praised both domestically and internationally.

Prof Helgard Raubenheimer

Two NWU School of Pharmacy professors receive South African Pharmacy Council awards

BELINDA BANTHAM — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 07:17:07 +0000

Two NWU School of Pharmacy professors receive South African Pharmacy Council awards BELINDA BANTHAM Thu, 12/05/2024 - 09:17

We would like to extend our hearty congratulations to Prof Jan Steenekamp and Prof Jacques Petzer, who recently received awards as “Best Moderator” and “Best Examiner” respectively from the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) at the SAPC Examiners/Moderators Lekgotla. The SAPC is a collective of experienced pharmacy professionals, educators and professionals from other key professions. The collective is focused on promoting universal health coverage by ensuring excellent and sustainable patient-centred pharmaceutical services by developing, enhancing and upholding acceptable norms and standards in all spheres of pharmacy. As part of the SAPC’s well-defined quality management system, moderations ensure that the assessments conducted by registered assessors are credible, valid, fair, reliable and practical. This management system further ensures that assessments are conducted in a consistent, accurate and well-designed manner – strengthening the credibility of student achievements.

Prof Steenekamp, current director of the School of Pharmacy at the North-West University (NWU), received the “Best Moderator” award for the pharmacist intern pre-registration examination. Prof Petzer, who has been a faculty member at the NWU School of Pharmacy since 2004, walked away with the “Best Examiner” award for the professional examination (foreign candidates).

The recognition of Prof Steenekamp and Prof Petzer at the SAPC Examiners/Moderators Lekgotla highlights not only their personal achievements but also the ongoing commitment to excellence at the NWU School of Pharmacy. Their awards reflect the high standards of teaching, assessment and moderation that the institution upholds, ensuring the continuous development of skilled professionals in the field of pharmacy. Such accolades also reinforce the essential role of moderators and examiners in maintaining the integrity and quality of education, ultimately contributing to improved healthcare services in South Africa. With leaders like Prof Steenekamp and Prof Petzer, the NWU School of Pharmacy continues to set the standard for excellence in pharmacy education and practice.

Prof Steenekamp holds BPharm, BSc Hons (Pharmacology), MSc (Pharmaceutics), and PhD (Pharmaceutics) degrees and stepped into the role of director at the School of Pharmacy in January 2024. His special research interest focuses on the formulation of solid oral dosage forms, particle size analysis of raw materials and liquid dosage forms, and on physicochemical principles applicable to dosage form development, especially oral solid dosage forms.

In the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Prof Petzer teaches drug design and structure elucidation courses. He also has an extramurally funded research programme in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, with a focus on drug discovery. His research interest has been the design and discovery of novel small molecule drugs, specifically for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. In this respect, Prof Petzer has established a research group dedicated to the design, synthesis and evaluation of small molecule therapeutics.

Prof Steenekamp received the “Best Moderator” award.

Prof Petzer received the “Best Examiner” award.

World Prematurity Day: Raising awareness about preterm birth

BELINDA BANTHAM — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 04:46:59 +0000

World Prematurity Day: Raising awareness about preterm birth BELINDA BANTHAM Wed, 12/04/2024 - 06:46

World Prematurity Day, observed annually on 17 November, is a global awareness day dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges of preterm birth and the impact it has on families and communities worldwide.

Every year, approximately 15 million babies are born preterm (before 37 weeks of gestation), making preterm birth a leading cause of death in children under five years old. World Prematurity Day aims to highlight the urgent need for action to reduce preterm birth rates and improve care for preterm infants.

The global impact of preterm birth

Preterm birth affects 1 in 10 babies born worldwide, with varying rates across countries. In some regions, the rate of preterm birth is significantly higher due to factors like limited access to healthcare, poor nutrition and high levels of stress. In South Africa, for example, the preterm birth rate is 12,4%. Although survival rates for preterm infants have greatly improved over the past few decades due to advances in medical care, the long-term developmental outcomes for preterm babies often remain a concern.

Preterm birth can be caused by various factors, including maternal health conditions such as pre-eclampsia, infections and multiple pregnancies, as well as lifestyle factors like smoking, malnutrition and stress. In many cases, the cause remains unknown. While medical advances have reduced the mortality rate for preterm babies, they still face significant challenges. Premature infants often require specialised care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to support their development, as their organs – especially the brain and lungs – are not fully developed.

The importance of awareness and advocacy

World Prematurity Day serves as a platform for raising awareness about the causes and consequences of preterm birth, as well as the need for improved healthcare for both mothers and babies. One key goal of the day is to promote better access to quality antenatal care, which can help identify and manage high-risk pregnancies. Public health initiatives also emphasise the importance of lifestyle changes, such as proper nutrition, stress management and avoiding smoking or drug use – all of which can reduce the risk of preterm birth.

In addition, World Prematurity Day advocates better care and support for families with preterm infants. The focus on neonatal care practices like neurodevelopmental supportive care (NDSC) – which reduces stress and promotes development in NICUs – is a critical part of improving outcomes for preterm babies. NDSC emphasises family-centred care, supporting the bond between parents and infants, and adjusting care to meet the individual developmental needs of premature babies.

The role of communities and governments

While much progress has been made, much work remains to be done. On World Prematurity Day, various organisations, healthcare providers and individuals come together to share information, host events and advocate policy changes that can reduce preterm birth rates. Governments, healthcare systems and communities are urged to invest in research, support for mothers and babies and strategies to improve the overall health of pregnant women.

World Prematurity Day is a powerful reminder of the importance of early intervention, medical care and community support in reducing the impact of preterm birth. By raising awareness and fostering a global conversation, this day helps ensure that preterm infants receive the care and attention they need to survive and thrive.

How the NWU contributes

Prof Welma Lubbe, director of the NuMIQ Research Focus Area, is a leading expert on NDSC. Her work spans across South African NICUs and abroad, with involvement in various international organisations working in this field. Prof Lubbe developed the INDeSC project as part of her PhD in Nursing Science. This project aims to implement neurodevelopmental supportive care (INDeSC) in all NICUs across South Africa, and has already successfully started implementation projects in various public and private hospitals. One private hospital group, led by a very dedicated PhD student, has integrated the INDeSC assessment tool into their audit processes. In the public sector, prof Lubbe collaborates locally with both the Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp-Tshepong hospital complexes with the INDeSC study and the PremmieSense parenting education study, which is nearing completion. The next large project is the roll-out in the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH), which has large neonatal wards with up to 200 babies who need care at any given time. The CHBAH multi-professional team is a very motivated and creative team, ready to take on the journey to become the flagship hospital for developmental care in Gauteng and wider.

Prof Lubbe is frequently invited as guest speaker to World Prematurity Day events and this year (2024) she had the opportunity to share her knowledge with staff and mothers at the Nelspruit Mediclinic as part of a World Prematurity Day event arranged by the V&A Placement agency. She also collaborates with LIFE St George’s Hospital in Gqeberha and this year presented a talk on “The language of preterm infants” to almost 100 healthcare professionals in the Eastern Cape. Prof Lubbe aims to empower healthcare professionals and parents to improve care and short- and long-term outcomes for preterm infants fighting bravely at the start of their little lives. Prof Lubbe is also the founder and owner of Little Steps, which aims to advocate for preterm infants and ensure the knowledge is shared and parents and healthcare teams are empowered to ensure the best outcome for all.

The PremmieSense research team donates nappies for premature babies to the Potchefstroom hospital NICU.

Presenters at the LIFE St George's Hospital. From left to right are Prof Lizelle van Wyk, Dr Gerg Boden, Samantha Schoncknecht, Sr Anel Beale, Dr Nkululeko Majola and Prof Welma Lubbe.

SADiLaR launches Higher Education Support Programme to advance multilingualism at universities

BELINDA BANTHAM — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 08:41:38 +0000

SADiLaR launches Higher Education Support Programme to advance multilingualism at universities BELINDA BANTHAM Mon, 12/02/2024 - 10:41

The South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR) at the North-West University (NWU) is intensifying its efforts to support the higher education sector in advancing the implementation of the Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions.

Following the successful completion of the national language resources audit in 2023, SADiLaR has introduced a comprehensive Higher Education Support Programme aimed at building capacity, enhancing project execution, and fostering resource and infrastructure development across South African universities.

This initiative is a direct response to key findings outlined in the national language resources audit report (Van Dyk, et al., 2023), which highlighted critical challenges to the sustainable implementation of the aforementioned framework.

The audit identified eight key areas requiring urgent attention:

1. Expertise and support in language planning and management

2. Expertise and support in language policy monitoring and reporting

3. Training in multilingual pedagogies

4. Academic language development

5. Terminology development

6. Co-ownership and co-responsibility through collaboration and shared funding

7. Hegemony of English in academic settings

8. Improving the language ability of staff at the conversational level

Led by Prof Tobie van Dyk who is on a secondment appointment to SADiLaR, the Higher Education Support Programme is designed to address these issues by providing targeted support to universities in most of these areas. Through this initiative, SADiLaR plays a pivotal role in reshaping the linguistic landscape of higher education, promoting equitable access to educational resources, and improving the overall learning experience for students from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

“Multilingualism in higher education is not just a matter of policy, but a critical enabler of social and academic inclusion,” said Prof van Dyk. “We aim to support universities with the necessary tools, expertise and infrastructure to manage linguistic diversity effectively, thereby fostering an environment where all students can thrive academically, regardless of their linguistic background.”

Background: The Language Resources Audit

In September 2021, SADiLaR was endorsed by the Universities South Africa (USAf), through its Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages (CoPAL), to conduct a comprehensive national language resources audit across all public universities in South Africa to note resources universities require to successfully implement the new language policy framework.

SADiLaR successfully administered the audit between July 2022 and July 2023. The audit was administered at 24 of the 26 public higher education institutions in South Africa. For the audit, two questionnaires were designed – one directed at staff, and the other directed at students. Questionnaires focussed on such domains in higher education as language services, teaching and learning (including scholarship), the language of communication and administration, and student life / co-curricular activities. The full language resources audit report is available here.

Faculty of Theology initiative improves pass rates of matrics

BELINDA BANTHAM — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 06:35:40 +0000

Faculty of Theology initiative improves pass rates of matrics

by Oscar Mosiane

BELINDA BANTHAM Wed, 11/27/2024 - 08:35

Two Potchefstroom secondary schools are reaping the benefits of an initiative of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Theology aimed at improving study methods and motivating learners.

According to Prof Fazel Ebrihiam Freeks, project leader, there has been a definite improvement in the pass rates of Grade 12 learners at Promosa Secondary School and Potchefstroom Secondary School.

"It is important that we provide support and motivation to Grade 12 learners so that they can enhance their results and qualify for university admission. This will enable them to pursue qualifications and to make a positive impact in society," says Prof Freeks.

The project, which commenced in 2020, provides comprehensive support to learners in Grades 10 to 12, including guidance, effective study methods, motivational resources and the development of resilience, among others.

Key themes addressed are time management and the identification of time stealers, effective communication, and the reinforcement of core values such as discipline, respect, courage and the pursuit of a purpose-driven life.

Pass rates at Promosa Secondary School have increased from 47% in 2020 to 73% in 2023. At Potchefstroom Secondary School, the matric pass rate in 2023 was 78,6% compared to 74% in 2021. Prof Freeks attributes these positive results to the application of effective study methods, coupled with motivation, encouragement, inspiration and a sense of courage among the learners.

Prof Fazel Freeks with the learners of Promosa Secondary School.

Prof Fazel Freeks with Potchefstroom Secondary School learners.

Good news for interest rates as 2024 draws to a close

MARELIZE SANTANA — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 07:15:57 +0000

Good news for interest rates as 2024 draws to a close MARELIZE SANTANA Fri, 11/22/2024 - 09:15

It is good news for business and consumers that the repo rate was unanimously reduced by 25 basis points (bps) on 21 November.

In commenting on the latest Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) statement to again reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps), Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says it was widely anticipated that the MPC would continue its cautious stance on easing monetary policy.

“The outlook for inflation now seems benign, with inflation likely to settle around the 4,5% midpoint of the target range of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). Barring shocks, there must now be scope in the early months of 2025 for further interest rate cuts to underpin the incipient but uneven economic recovery.”

Prof Parsons says the SARB now projects a 2% gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate for South Africa by 2027.

“The MPC emphasises that this better growth path is based on sustaining domestic reform initiatives, maintaining prudent public debt levels and keeping wage settlements in line with productivity.”

According to Prof Parsons, there needs to be wider recognition of the extent to which short-term business confidence must steadily and deliberately be converted into long-term investor confidence, upon which higher job-rich growth ultimately depends.

Chronic medication’s effects go up in smoke

MARELIZE SANTANA — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 13:19:47 +0000

Chronic medication’s effects go up in smoke

by Willie du Plessis

MARELIZE SANTANA Thu, 11/07/2024 - 15:19

Medical experts agree smoking is a health hazard, but many smokers choose to justify this habit by highlighting the calming and socialising effects they believe it may have. Some smokers of plants such as dagga also point to the medical benefits some studies have shown.

A new NWU study is challenging smokers’ perceptions and justifications by looking at the possible detrimental effect the habit may have on the effectiveness of chronic medication.

Dr Wihan Pheiffer, senior lecturer at the DSI/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, says their study on herb-drug interactions specifically concerns what effects the smoking of tobacco and other plant material has on the pharmacokinetics — the uptake, breakdown (metabolism) distribution and removal — of medication in the body.

“This includes how smoking can delay the time medication is in the body, which leads to higher blood levels and may result in toxicity in patients. In some cases, it may also lead to acceleration in the metabolism and removal, which may render the medication useless.”

Dr Pheiffer explains that although his research group focuses on the potential effects of smoking in mouse models, it has been modified to express human genes. “This allows us to accurately explore specific changes in the pharmacokinetics in the mice, and so predict the changes in humans. Additionally, we can identify the negative effects of exposure to smoke.”

Clinical data confirms that smoking has an effect

He says clinical data shows that smoking tobacco affects certain medication by either accelerating or delaying its metabolism in the body. Is this true for everything people smoke? This is what Dr Pheiffer and his team want to establish. Their aim is to investigate the effects all types of plants may have. They will eventually also test traditional medications that are inhaled in other ways, like incense.

The study is in its early stages and, this being just the start of a long-term research project, the researchers realise there may be obstacles on the way – some of which they already have overcome.

“This type of research is unfortunately very expensive, but we are lucky to already have received national funding.” He says they are also very fortunate to have ethical and accredited laboratory animal technologists and a veterinarian on the team to help with specialised training for the student researchers participating in the study.

“We believe this study will have significant impact and will certainly empower patients who rely on chronic medication to make informed decisions when it comes to their health. Showing that it has an effect may empower medical practitioners to encourage or suggest to people on specific medication to stop smoking or to consult their doctor for alternative and more efficient treatment. This will greatly improve their quality of life. The research can also specifically aid in responsibly adapting treatment or prescription medication,” he concludes.

Watch Dr Pheiffer give more information about the project in the video below.

What product cues influence consumers' perceived value of pork meat?

MARELIZE SANTANA — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 13:12:53 +0000

What product cues influence consumers' perceived value of pork meat?

by Willie du Plessis

MARELIZE SANTANA Thu, 11/07/2024 - 15:12

The consumption of pork meat products is increasing due to its affordability, versatility and high protein content.

A North-West University (NWU) research project from the Consumer Sciences subject group in the School of Applied Health Sciences, is focusing on food product cues (sensory and non-sensory attributes) that influence consumers’ food choices. Prof Annchen Mielmann is now looking into the cues of pork meat because of its increased popularity among consumers.

She and fellow colleague Carike Brits are co-supervisors of master’s student Diewald Jordaan, who is specifically investigating what intrinsic and extrinsic product cues influence consumers’ perceived value of pork meat.

“Due to the higher demand for pork meat, consumers are becoming more concerned about the quality, safety and environmental impact thereof. Pork meat has numerous product cues that could influence consumers’ perceived value, a contributing factor in modelling consumers’ choice of pork product,” says Prof Mielmann.

She says their quantitative and ethically approved study used an online questionnaire for data collection purposes.

The study findings indicated that most of the respondents consumed pork meat on a weekly basis and more than 75% perceived pork meat as positive.

“Interestingly, the most important reasons for purchasing pork meat products were the variety of products available, the meat’s sensory characteristics and its affordability compared to other red meats.”

Flavour, taste and affordability

According to Prof Mielmann, Diewald identified a total of 17 intrinsic cues (i.e. sensory properties such as smell, taste and appearance) and 26 extrinsic cues (i.e. non-physical properties such as price and quality).

He points out that while respondents regarded the flavour and taste of pork meat as the most important intrinsic cues, the price and quality of pork meat were viewed as the most important extrinsic cues.

Significant associations were also reported between socio-demographic factors and product cues, and between the value that respondents perceived and pork meat cues.

“This study accentuates the importance of sensory characteristics shaping consumers' perceived value of pork meat as respondents valued intrinsic cues as more important than extrinsic cues.”

Study can aid pork industry to promote pork meat

The research team believes the product cues identified in this study might aid the South African pork industry to promote pork’s nutritional value and unique product cues that will contribute to an improved quality evaluation and a more optimistic perceived value of pork-derived food products.

“Furthermore, this study could benefit the consumer by meeting their consumption requirements that will support the stance and growth of the South African pork industry.”

Prof Mielmann concludes that the sensory characteristics of food play a fundamental role in linking consumer behaviour, nutrition and food sciences to sustain the growing demand for affordable, protein-rich products that will improve the dietary well-being of consumers.

Prof Annchen Mielmann

Carike Brits

Diewald Jordaan

Newsroom - Potchefstroom Campus

Fraud awareness campaign promotes ethical behaviour

Bafenyi Trust warms hearts with faith and food

Prof Raubenheimer is advancing quantitative risk analysis

Two NWU School of Pharmacy professors receive South African Pharmacy Council awards

World Prematurity Day: Raising awareness about preterm birth

SADiLaR launches Higher Education Support Programme to advance multilingualism at universities

Faculty of Theology initiative improves pass rates of matrics

Good news for interest rates as 2024 draws to a close

Chronic medication’s effects go up in smoke

What product cues influence consumers' perceived value of pork meat?

Two NWU School of Pharmacy professors receive South African Pharmacy Council awards