Prof Gcaza wants to change the digital space for the better by combating social ills such as cyberbullying, online harassment and exposure to inappropriate content among the youth through cybersecurity. The goal is to create responsible digital citizens.
“The increasing dependency on digital platforms can lead to a range of issues, including reduced attention spans, increased anxiety, and the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life,” she says.
Motivated to counter these concerns and empower her community, the Kariega-born academic founded The Cyberculture Foundation to promote responsible internet use and digital wellness among children and youth.
“We focus on digital citizenship, cyber safety, and mental well-being to ensure that the digital transformation enhances, rather than hinders the lives of individuals,” she says.
Prof Gcaza stresses that having responsible digital citizens is crucial in today’s interconnected world because the impact of online actions extends far beyond the screen.
“In the digital space, individuals have the power to influence others, shape public opinion, and even cause harm – whether intentionally or unintentionally.”
Aware of this, Prof Gcaza, alongside her Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology (EBET) colleague Prof Kerry-Lynn Thomson and digital animator Nomfundo Khumalo from the Faculty of Humanities, launched the Cybersmart Squad project in 2023.
This is an initiative which focuses on teaching Grade R learners about cyber safety through engaging and age-appropriate content.
The project entailed the creation of a cybersmart squad, where cartoon characters based on the Big Five animals in South Africa, teach young children how to interact responsibly online to become good digital citizens.
“The project was well received and has resonated with both educators and parents. A total of 12 schools have already signed up to be part of the pilot, including more than 700 Grade R learners, which is currently being run in Nelson Mandela Bay.”
Prof Gcaza also teaches, conducts research, and engages in community outreach programmes. She lectures and is the programme coordinator of the cybersecurity postgraduate diploma from a teaching perspective and a member of the Centre for Research in Information and Cyber Security (CRICS).
Prof Gcaza has also won numerous academic excellence awards. These include the Golden Key Honorary Award (2012), CSIR Collaboration Excellence Award (2018) and InspiringFifty Award (2019), and she featured as one of Mail & Guardian’s Young 200 South Africans (2023).
In 2024, she has been shortlisted for the Cybersecurity Women Barrier Breaker of the Year Award, and featured as one of the Top 100 Cybersecurity Women to watch and as one of the Unsung Heroes by Sunday World.
Having obtained her doctorate degree at just 26 years old, Prof Gcaza says she initially pursued Information Technology because it was known to offer job security. However, she fell in love with this field during her studies.
She credits her faith in God, her family, particularly her father and husband, in believing in her potential while shaping her values. This, she says, helped to propel her to new heights.
“Additionally, I owe a great deal to the mentors and coaches I have met along the way, particularly Prof Rossouw von Solms. His mentorship has profoundly influenced my career, both academically and personally. Ultimately, my success is the result of faith, family, mentorship, and a relentless commitment to excellence.”
uMamkwemnte, uMadabane (her clan names) believes everyone has a unique role to play in this world, even if one has not fully discovered it yet.
Prof Gcaza seems to have discovered hers, as an evangelist for cyber security. She notes how the expansion of digital platforms will continue to influence how we interact, work, and learn.
“The more connected we become, the more important it will be to ensure that individuals and organisations use technology in ways that are ethical, secure, and beneficial to society.”
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