Barriers to electronic signature adoption in South African conveyancing

Abstract

Background: The conveyancing industry in South Africa has lagged in adopting digital processes because of interconnected social, technical and regulatory constraints. This has increased the risk of identity fraud and data manipulation in property transactions. Although electronic signatures are secure and legally compliant, adoption remains limited, highlighting the need for digital transformation.
Objectives: This study investigated barriers to adopting electronic signature technology in South African conveyancing through a socio-technical systems (STS) lens, examining how technical, social and environmental subsystems interact to affect adoption.
Method: A qualitative design was employed. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives from three major conveyancing organisations in South Africa, complemented by document analysis of six compliance texts. Data were analysed using directed content analysis guided by STS theory.
Results: Four barriers emerged: high implementation costs (technical subsystem), limited digital literacy and trust deficits (social subsystem), and restrictive legislative frameworks (environmental subsystem). Interpreted through STS theory, these barriers are interconnected, creating a socio-technical adoption deadlock in which no single intervention is sufficient to drive adoption.
Conclusion: Electronic signatures can streamline conveyancing, reduce fraud and promote compliance, but effective adoption requires regulatory reform, affordable technology and improved user confidence.
Contribution: This study contributes by applying STS theory to electronic signature adoption in South African conveyancing and introducing the concept of a socio-technical adoption deadlock to explain persistent barriers. It provides insights for policymakers, practitioners and technologists seeking to modernise property transaction systems.