Dr. Katleho Mokoena is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Learning Information Networking Knowledge (LINK) Centre at the University of Witwatersrand. He completed his PhD studies at the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Theology and Religion on Ubuntu ethics and frontier technologies in the African context. Dr Mokoena has experience in digital and AI policy research and analysis through his involvement with research at the Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP), All Tech is Human, and Research ICT Africa. His prior experience includes postdoctoral research at Stellenbosch University, lecturing the University of South Africa, and teaching assistant at the University of Pretoria. He has presented research in local and international conferences and workshops including the BRICS Young Scientists Forum and G7/UNDP Global AI Hub for Sustainable Development. He has published several peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and reviews articles for several academic journals. Address: South Africa
Transformative Leadership In African Contexts: Strategies for Social Change, 2024
This chapter seeks to establish an ubuntu leadership theory in an African context in disruptive t... more This chapter seeks to establish an ubuntu leadership theory in an African context in disruptive times such as the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Instead of formulating leadership theories that are influenced by Western philosophies, this chapter investigates African indigenous knowledge. The 4IR is a paradox in Africa: it is technological progress, but it perpetuates inequality, poverty, and unemployment. Africa requires leadership that is not individualistic or focused on the growth of an institution, but rooted in the wellbeing and development of communities. The main argument here is for an ubuntu leadership model, for a technological age, in an African context, through the methodology of critical literature review. Two examples of ubuntu leadership in sustainable community development initiatives in rural communities are presented. These initiatives make use of technology to address socioeconomic challenges in Gwakwani in Limpopo and Mankosi in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Liberating Black Theology: Emerging South African Voices, 2023
This chapter explores the role of the Black Church in bridging the digital divide in South Africa... more This chapter explores the role of the Black Church in bridging the digital divide in South Africa through Community Networks such as the Zenzeleni Community Network. The chapter highlights the challenges facing the country in terms of digital inclusion, particularly for marginalised communities such as Black South Africans. The author argues that the Black church has a unique opportunity to address these challenges through its extensive reach and influence in these communities. The chapter discusses the involvement of the Black church in the Black Community Programs of the Black Consciousness Movement in the 1970s to advocate for the restoration human dignity and taking up initiative to be self-dependent. This chapter is a call for the Black church to be involved in community development programs for the digital age.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most spoken-about topics in the media, academia, gover... more Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most spoken-about topics in the media, academia, government and other platforms. One of the aspects that is often discussed is the ethical implications of AI and approaches to mitigate the risks. Artificial intelligence has an undeniable impact on industries as well as socio-economic structures; however, this article focusses on the impact of AI on three concerns mainly, humanity, spirituality and the environment. This article is an interdisciplinary study of African theological ethics and the philosophy of technology. It discusses the theological implications (doctrinal issues) of emerging technologies, particularly AI. It discusses technology as power which has impacted Africa since the first industrial revolution and emphasises the importance of African ethics in the context of AI in Africa. This article critically discusses ubuntu ethics and its critique. It focuses on AI and its impact on humanity, spirituality and the environment, and proposes a holistic ubuntu AI ethics approach in South Africa.
Scriptura: Journal for Biblical, Theological and Contextual Hermeneutics, 2023
Prophetic witness has been around since Biblical times, when prophets spoke truth to power on beh... more Prophetic witness has been around since Biblical times, when prophets spoke truth to power on behalf of God. In the South African context, prophetic witness saw the church speaking out against the injustices of colonialism and apartheid using various forms of protest. In post-1994 democratic South Africa, prophetic witness had to be reimagined in the public square, a process which appropriated various modes of prophetic witness. Cyberspace encompasses information technologies which manifest into a "virtual" world, and social media is one of the platforms of cyberspace. Theological and religious scholars have argued that the Internet is an essential space for religion, and this article further argues that cyberspace can also be regarded as a public space for prophetic witness. The role of social media users during pandemics, such as COVID-19, has the implications of spreading information, misinformation, and misconceptions at a rapid pace. Many churches used the virtual space to provide spiritual and emotional support during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article argues that the church also has a prophetic role to play, especially in the social media space, regarding the dissemination of information during a pandemic. Therefore, the main task of this article is to utilise Nico Koopman's five modes of prophetic witness, namely visionary, critics, storytellers, technical analysts, and policymakers in cyberspace in the recent COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics.
Since the inception of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) in 1994, the issue ... more Since the inception of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) in 1994, the issue of theological education has occupied a key place in the meetings of General Synod. This article analyses the development and implementation of URCSA’s ministerial formation programme over the past 25 years through the lens of the Belhar Confession. It examines the extent to which not only the curriculum but also the practices of ministerial formation have become driven, guided and shaped by the commitments inherent in the Confession of Belhar. Due to space constraints, this paper uses only Article One of Belhar as an interpretive and evaluative lens and focuses only on the Northern Theological Seminary in Pretoria, hoping thereby to stimulate further reflection in a similar vein.
Son of Man (2006) is the first Jesus film to be produced in South Africa and the first Jesus film... more Son of Man (2006) is the first Jesus film to be produced in South Africa and the first Jesus film with an all-black cast amongst all films about the life of Jesus. Son of Man retells the story of Jesus from the pre-1994 South African context and the transition to democracy. The film portrays a Jesus who is concerned about social justice and seeks to dismantle systems that perpetuate and maintain subjugation, oppression, discrimination and marginalisation. The film reinforces the ideology of black consciousness and the praxis of black theology creatively and artistically through film. Jesus in Son of Man embodies the life of Stephen Bantu Biko, and Steve Biko is thus given a Christ-figure around four things: non-violence, ideology, disappearance and death. A black Christological perspective is used to analyse the nature of Jesus Christ in Son of Man.
Transformative Leadership In African Contexts: Strategies for Social Change, 2024
This chapter seeks to establish an ubuntu leadership theory in an African context in disruptive t... more This chapter seeks to establish an ubuntu leadership theory in an African context in disruptive times such as the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Instead of formulating leadership theories that are influenced by Western philosophies, this chapter investigates African indigenous knowledge. The 4IR is a paradox in Africa: it is technological progress, but it perpetuates inequality, poverty, and unemployment. Africa requires leadership that is not individualistic or focused on the growth of an institution, but rooted in the wellbeing and development of communities. The main argument here is for an ubuntu leadership model, for a technological age, in an African context, through the methodology of critical literature review. Two examples of ubuntu leadership in sustainable community development initiatives in rural communities are presented. These initiatives make use of technology to address socioeconomic challenges in Gwakwani in Limpopo and Mankosi in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Liberating Black Theology: Emerging South African Voices, 2023
This chapter explores the role of the Black Church in bridging the digital divide in South Africa... more This chapter explores the role of the Black Church in bridging the digital divide in South Africa through Community Networks such as the Zenzeleni Community Network. The chapter highlights the challenges facing the country in terms of digital inclusion, particularly for marginalised communities such as Black South Africans. The author argues that the Black church has a unique opportunity to address these challenges through its extensive reach and influence in these communities. The chapter discusses the involvement of the Black church in the Black Community Programs of the Black Consciousness Movement in the 1970s to advocate for the restoration human dignity and taking up initiative to be self-dependent. This chapter is a call for the Black church to be involved in community development programs for the digital age.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most spoken-about topics in the media, academia, gover... more Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most spoken-about topics in the media, academia, government and other platforms. One of the aspects that is often discussed is the ethical implications of AI and approaches to mitigate the risks. Artificial intelligence has an undeniable impact on industries as well as socio-economic structures; however, this article focusses on the impact of AI on three concerns mainly, humanity, spirituality and the environment. This article is an interdisciplinary study of African theological ethics and the philosophy of technology. It discusses the theological implications (doctrinal issues) of emerging technologies, particularly AI. It discusses technology as power which has impacted Africa since the first industrial revolution and emphasises the importance of African ethics in the context of AI in Africa. This article critically discusses ubuntu ethics and its critique. It focuses on AI and its impact on humanity, spirituality and the environment, and proposes a holistic ubuntu AI ethics approach in South Africa.
Scriptura: Journal for Biblical, Theological and Contextual Hermeneutics, 2023
Prophetic witness has been around since Biblical times, when prophets spoke truth to power on beh... more Prophetic witness has been around since Biblical times, when prophets spoke truth to power on behalf of God. In the South African context, prophetic witness saw the church speaking out against the injustices of colonialism and apartheid using various forms of protest. In post-1994 democratic South Africa, prophetic witness had to be reimagined in the public square, a process which appropriated various modes of prophetic witness. Cyberspace encompasses information technologies which manifest into a "virtual" world, and social media is one of the platforms of cyberspace. Theological and religious scholars have argued that the Internet is an essential space for religion, and this article further argues that cyberspace can also be regarded as a public space for prophetic witness. The role of social media users during pandemics, such as COVID-19, has the implications of spreading information, misinformation, and misconceptions at a rapid pace. Many churches used the virtual space to provide spiritual and emotional support during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article argues that the church also has a prophetic role to play, especially in the social media space, regarding the dissemination of information during a pandemic. Therefore, the main task of this article is to utilise Nico Koopman's five modes of prophetic witness, namely visionary, critics, storytellers, technical analysts, and policymakers in cyberspace in the recent COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics.
Since the inception of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) in 1994, the issue ... more Since the inception of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) in 1994, the issue of theological education has occupied a key place in the meetings of General Synod. This article analyses the development and implementation of URCSA’s ministerial formation programme over the past 25 years through the lens of the Belhar Confession. It examines the extent to which not only the curriculum but also the practices of ministerial formation have become driven, guided and shaped by the commitments inherent in the Confession of Belhar. Due to space constraints, this paper uses only Article One of Belhar as an interpretive and evaluative lens and focuses only on the Northern Theological Seminary in Pretoria, hoping thereby to stimulate further reflection in a similar vein.
Son of Man (2006) is the first Jesus film to be produced in South Africa and the first Jesus film... more Son of Man (2006) is the first Jesus film to be produced in South Africa and the first Jesus film with an all-black cast amongst all films about the life of Jesus. Son of Man retells the story of Jesus from the pre-1994 South African context and the transition to democracy. The film portrays a Jesus who is concerned about social justice and seeks to dismantle systems that perpetuate and maintain subjugation, oppression, discrimination and marginalisation. The film reinforces the ideology of black consciousness and the praxis of black theology creatively and artistically through film. Jesus in Son of Man embodies the life of Stephen Bantu Biko, and Steve Biko is thus given a Christ-figure around four things: non-violence, ideology, disappearance and death. A black Christological perspective is used to analyse the nature of Jesus Christ in Son of Man.
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