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Maria Marchetti-Mercer

Professor of Psychology and Assistant Dean of Research: Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand
Prof Maria Marchetti-Mercer is a professor of psychology at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and currently serving as assistant dean of research for the Faculty of Humanities. She served as the head of the School of Human and Community Development at Wits from 2012 to 2016. Prior to that, she was the head of the Psychology Department at the University of Pretoria from 2001 to 2011.
She has been involved in the training of professional psychologists especially with regard to family therapy for nearly 30 years and her doctoral thesis was on the Milan School of family therapy. She has also received advanced post-graduate family therapy training in Italy.
Her current area of research focuses on the impact of migration on South African families and most recently the use of ICTs in African migrant families. Her new co-edited book, “Transnational Families in Africa: Migrants and the Role of Information Communication Technologies” has just been published. She also co-authored a book, “The Italian Diaspora in South Africa: Nostalgia, Identity, and Belonging in the Second and Third Generations" (Routledge) with A. Virga in 2023. She is a C1 NRF-rated researcher and has published widely both nationally and internationally in the field of migration and families, the training of professional psychologists, and family murder.
In 2008 she received an award from the Institute for School-Based Family Counseling and the University of San Francisco Center for Child and Family Development for outstanding international contributions to school-based family counselling presented at Brasenose College, Oxford University. She was awarded the Order of the Star of Italy in 2022 for her professional contributions from the president of Italy.

Zimbabwean migration to South Africa: how technology helps keep families together

Apr 01, 2024 04:38 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology

Political instability and economic decline in Zimbabwe have accelerated migration to South Africa in the last two decades. Because of the overriding socio-economic focus of the migration, people often fail to understand...

Economy

Apple’s 2nm Chips Skip iPhone 17 as TSMC Prepares 2026 Launch for iPhone 18

Apple has decided to wait until 2026 to incorporate TSMCs 2nm chips into the iPhone 18. The move bypasses the iPhone 17, as TSMC works on scaling its production to meet industry demands and cut costs. Apple Expected to...

Alibaba Partners with E-Mart in $4 Billion Deal to Strengthen South Korean Online Retail Leadership

In a $4 billion agreement, Alibaba Group and E-Mart are merging their South Korean e-commerce platforms, forming a joint venture to take full ownership of Gmarket. The deal positions the companies to compete with top...

Xiaomi Expands EV Charging Access Across China With NIO, XPeng, and Li Auto Networks

Xiaomi has joined the EV charging networks of NIO, XPeng, and Li Auto, giving its customers access to over 29,000 stations across China. The move marks a strategic step in bolstering Xiaomis EV business amid growing...

BYD Contractor Rejects 'Slavery-like Conditions' Accusations in Brazil as Labor Controversy Deepens

Jinjiang Group, a contractor for BYD, has denied accusations of mistreatment at a Brazilian EV factory, calling them baseless and pointing to cultural misunderstandings as tensions grow over worker rights. Jinjiang Denies...

Japan Airlines Faces Cyberattack Disruption with Over 60 Delayed Flights and Canceled Domestic Routes

Japan Airlines experienced significant disruptions on Thursday as a cyberattack led to over 60 flight delays, including 11 international routes, and two domestic cancellations. The airline quickly resolved the network...

Politics

Trump Flirts With Idea of Wayne Gretzky for Canada PM Suggests 'He'd Win Without Even Campaigning'

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his return to the White House in 2025, he has recently caused a stir by floating the idea of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky running for prime minister of Canada. This unexpected...

Elon Musk Reveals Shocking Weight-Loss Secret Calls Himself Ozempic Santa and Stuns Fans

On Christmas Day, billionaire Elon Musk shocked his followers by sharing a revealing post about his weight-loss journey. Known for his outspoken personality, Musk posted a photo of himself dressed as Santa Claus on X,...

Fox Host Apologizes to John Fetterman Calls Him My Favorite Senator After Shocking Change of Heart

Fox News host Jesse Watters has taken the unexpected step of putting Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman on his nice list, surprising viewers with an apology for his past criticism. The conservative pundit, known for his...

Most Obamacare Applicants Live in Trump-Voting States Raising Concerns for the GOP

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains a vital healthcare source for millions of Americans, with a surprising number of participants hailing from states that voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. As of...

Marianne Williamson Vows to Rebuild DNC After Losses, Says 'We Must Reinvent the Party or Fall Behind'

On December 26, 2024, Marianne Williamson, a spiritual author and former presidential candidate, declared her candidacy for Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The 72-year-old author, best known for her...

Science

Public Health Experts Warn of ‘Quad-Demic’ as Flu, COVID, RSV, and Norovirus Threaten Winter Surge

Public health experts are raising alarms over a potential quad-demic this winter, with flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus all expected to surge simultaneously. This unprecedented convergence of...

Philippines' 'Missile Acquisition' Plan Provokes China's 'Arms Race' Warning

The Philippines has announced plans to acquire the U.S.-developed Typhon missile system to bolster its maritime defense capabilities. This decision has elicited strong reactions from China, which warns that such a move...

Christmas Eve Asteroid' to Skim Past Earth at 14,743 mph Tonight, NASA Warns

NASA has announced that an asteroid, comparable in size to a 10-story building, will make a close approach to Earth on Christmas Eve. The space rock, designated 2003 SD220, is expected to pass by our planet at a speed of...

Emergency Declared as Bird Flu 'Spreads' to California Dairy Cows

California Governor Gavin Newsom has officially declared a state of emergency in response to the rapidly escalating bird flu outbreak. The declaration comes after avian influenza was detected in dairy cows, a rare and...

Missing Radioactive Material in New Jersey Sparks Panic — Are Drones ‘Hunting for It’?

A small amount of radioactive material went missing in New Jersey earlier this month, raising concerns over public safety and potential security risks. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) confirmed on December 2,...

Technology

Nintendo Switch 2 Reveal Rumors Explode as Countdown Ending January 8 Fuels New Leaks

Nintendo Switch 2 speculation reaches new heights with a countdown set for January 8 and leaked dock images circulating online. Fans are eager but cautious as the buzz around the anticipated reveal grows. Weibo Leaker...

Sam Altman Says Superintelligence Will Ignite a 10X Boom in AI Breakthroughs Transforming the Future of Innovation

Sam Altman envisions a world where superintelligence propels AI innovation 10x faster than expected, transforming global progress and redefining humanitys future. Early Arrival of AGI Sparks Debate The most noteworthy is...

South Korea Eyes $13.9 Billion KSMC Project to Outpace TSMC and Reinvent Semiconductor Innovation

South Korea is developing KSMC with a $13.9 billion investment to challenge TSMC and foster innovation across its semiconductor ecosystem. KSMC Proposal Aims to Strengthen South Koreas Semiconductor Sector Korea...

Microsoft Steps Back from OpenAI Dependency in 365 Copilot with New AI Models Integration Strategy

Microsoft is reshaping its AI strategy for 365 Copilot by integrating in-house and third-party models, easing its reliance on OpenAI due to cost and speed concerns for enterprise users, according to sources. Microsoft...

BYD Factory in Brazil Faces Investigation as Chinese Workers Found in 'Slavery-like Conditions'

Brazilian officials discovered 163 Chinese workers in slavery-like conditions at a BYD factory construction site in Bahia. Workers faced withheld passports, long hours, and unsafe environments, sparking an ongoing...