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Indigenous communities possess rich traditions of conflict resolution rooted in their cultural values, collective decision-making, and community involvement. However, the imposition of Western legal frameworks and colonial histories has often disrupted these practices, leading to increased tensions and unresolved conflicts. This study explored conflict resolution within Indigenous communities, emphasizing the role of social work in facilitating culturally appropriate processes. The study employed a qualitative approach, incorporating interviews with Indigenous leaders, social workers, and community members, alongside a review of relevant literature on traditional practices and social work interventions. Social workers play a crucial role as facilitators, helping to navigate tensions and bridging gaps between traditional practices and contemporary needs. Challenges include a lack of cultural competency and the need for ongoing community engagement. The integration of Indigenous knowledge systems into conflict resolution practices enhance outcomes and foster healing. Social workers prioritize cultural humility and active listening, ensuring that Indigenous voices lead the resolution process. By supporting the reclamation of traditional conflict resolution methods and advocating for culturally sensitive practices, social workers empowered Indigenous communities, promote resilience, and facilitate more effective conflict resolution. This perspective underscores the necessity of collaboration, respect, and recognition of Indigenous sovereignty in all social work interventions.

This study presents a systematic literature review analysing the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on higher education, focusing on its methods, results, and implications. By synthesising a diverse range of academic papers, the review explores how AI technologies influence educational standards and practices in higher education institutions. Findings reveal that AI has the potential to enhance the quality of higher education by diversifying teaching responsibilities, customising learning experiences, and employing intelligent, adaptive teaching strategies. These capabilities position AI as a transformative tool for improving educational delivery and outcomes. However, the study also highlights significant challenges associated with integrating AI into higher education. These challenges include delineating the appropriate scope of AI use, addressing inequalities in access to digital resources, and ensuring adequate training and support for educators and students. The review underscores the importance of understanding these complexities to guide the development of effective strategies and policies that optimise AI's potential while mitigating its limitations. The review offers critical insights into the dual role of AI in higher education, where it can either advance or hinder educational standards depending on how it is implemented. By examining the advantages, limitations, and broader consequences of AI-powered instructional tools, this study provides a comprehensive perspective on the intricate relationship between AI and educational quality. The findings aim to inform educators, policymakers, and stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges of adopting AI in higher education, contributing to the development of inclusive, innovative, and sustainable educational practices.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of cultural forces that shape social influence with a look at Hofstede’s cultural dimensions of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and individualism. The direct effect of these cultural dimensions on social influence is investigated. To measure social influence, this paper relies on the dimensions of Hofstede. A multiple regression analysis is applied to answer the hypotheses. The research design adopted for the research was quantitative, and the method used to collect data was an online survey. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and distributed to the targeted respondents for obtaining primary data.The respondents involved were 340 SMEs in the urban area of Harare province in Zimbabwe. A nonprobability convenience sampling method was used for the study. Hofstede’s cultural factors of power distance, individualism, and uncertainty avoidance were used as the independent variables that moderate social influence.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa previously faced challenges due to limited resources, restricted access to technology, and the need to constantly adapt to a dynamic business environment. The introduction of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerged as a potential solution to these issues, promising to enhance operational efficiency and strategic decision-making. As a representative of developing economies, South Africa experienced a growing interest in AI technologies. This study was conducted to explore the impact of generative AI on SME productivity in South Africa, an area which had been underexplored. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study evaluated the current state and implications of generative AI in South African SMEs. It involved in-depth interviews to gather perceptions, experiences, challenges, and benefits from SME owners and managers regarding the adoption of generative AI technologies. The findings analysed via R Statistical Software revealed significant insights into the specific areas where generative AI substantially impacted SME productivity. It also identified the challenges and opportunities associated with the adoption of generative AI by SMEs, as well as the potential long-term implications. Key findings included notable improvements in data-driven decision-making, operational efficiencies, and market expansion strategies. However, the study also highlighted barriers such as the lack of technical expertise, initial setup costs, and concerns over data security. Overall, the impact of generative AI on SMEs in South Africa was found to be predominantly positive, paving the way for further technological advancements and adoption in the sector.

Employee turnover poses a significant challenge for South African municipalities, particularly for retaining tacit organisational knowledge. Therefore, this study assessed how employee turnover impacts organisational tacit knowledge retention in South African municipalities. The study uses secondary data analysis to examine employee turnover in critical positions in various municipalities in South Africa, such as senior management and those earmarked as scarce skills. The findings of this study show that employee turnover significantly negatively impacts tacit organisational knowledge. The findings further revealed that turnover exacerbates the retention of the organisational knowledge gap within municipalities, often leading to diminished service quality and increased operational costs such as recruitment and use of service consultants. Furthermore, the study highlights the gap between rhetoric (policies) and actual practice (implementation) in addressing the issues of service quality and operational costs, noting that existing retention strategies and knowledge management approaches often need to be revised. Questioning the effectiveness of retention strategies, the paper suggests that municipalities require more proactive and innovative approaches to manage turnover and organisational tactical knowledge retention to enhance public service delivery continuity and organisational sustainability. Furthermore, municipalities should integrate retention strategies such as succession planning, continuous training, leadership, and mentorship programmes into a broader municipal governance framework.

The amalgamation of traditional and modern governance systems represents a transformative advancement in contemporary African government. This study examines the concept of "hybridity governance" within the African context, providing a comprehensive theoretical framework that integrates modern institutional procedures with traditional governance systems. The paper examines the evolution of African governance from pre-colonial to post-colonial eras, illustrating the emergence of hybrid governance as a response to internal dynamics and external influences. It accomplishes this by utilising historical studies. The philosophical underpinnings are investigated, highlighting organisational and social concepts that elucidate the acceptance of hybrid models. The paper elucidates the applications, accomplishments, and challenges of hybrid government in several African nations through various empirical case studies. A critical examination examines the consequences of these governance paradigms for public administration in Africa. It underscores opportunities for innovation and enhanced flexibility, while also emphasising intrinsic challenges such as job ambiguity and conflict. The report concludes with forecasts regarding the future trajectory of hybrid governance in Africa, considering the interplay of local socio-political dynamics, global interconnectedness, and technological advancements. This article serves as a vital resource for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders interested in the evolving governance paradigm in Africa, providing valuable applications and recommendations.  

This paper examines the shift from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 in relation to sustainable supply chain management (SCM), highlighting the incorporation of human-centric technologies. As industries progress, there is an increasing necessity to integrate technologies that enhance human-machine collaboration, optimise operational efficiency, and foster sustainability. This work aims to do a systematic review of the evolutionary process, emphasising the transformation of supply chain management by these technologies. A systematic review technique, adhering to the PRISMA framework, was utilised to collect and assess pertinent material published between 2010 to 2024. The review encompassed an exhaustive database search, stringent eligibility screening, and thematic analysis via Atlas-ti software to discern main themes and patterns concerning the incorporation of human-centric technology in supply chain management. The results indicate that the change to Industry 5.0 entails a substantial movement towards human-automation collaboration, with AI and machine learning as essential components. Digital transformation is redefining supply chain management by utilising big data, the Internet of Things, and blockchain technology to enhance transparency, traceability, and decision-making. Bionic supply chains, integrating human intelligence with machine efficiency, are developing as a vital foundation for operational resilience and sustainability. The study suggests that the incorporation of human-centric technology in supply chain management enhances efficiency and sustainability while fostering a more resilient supply network adept at reacting to interruptions. This paper offers essential recommendations for academics and practitioners seeking to enhance supply chain operations in the context of Industry 5.0.

This study advances research and practice related to adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of South Africa (SA). The study evaluated AI adoption by South African manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); established the challenges faced by manufacturing SMEs in adopting AI; and developed a framework for adopting AI for manufacturing SMEs’ growth and survival. The study adopted a systematic literature review approach. Articles from Scopus and Google scholar databases, ranging from the years 2018 to 2024, were used. Of the 206 articles found, 54 were shortlisted. The systematic review analysis was performed using the PRISMA framework. The results identified AI adoption by South African manufacturing SMEs is low, limiting their innovation and productivity. The results also show, despite the numerous benefits AI adoption can offer manufacturing SMEs in the country, a major constraint is the lack of a framework to enhance adoption and implementation. Hence, this study was conducted to develop a framework to improve AI adoption by South African manufacturing SMEs. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge and provide new insights to manufacturing SME owners/managers, policymakers and practitioners into AI adoption to enhance manufacturing SMEs’ ability to compete on the global stage.

Competitive intelligence strategies are employed by higher education institutions to assist with student recruitment. These competitive intelligence (CI) strategies help maintain or increase market share in education. Utilising competitive intelligence is crucial for firms in competitive markets, assisting in strategic planning and execution. Higher education organisations can benefit from CI to make informed decisions and develop strategic goals. The competition between selected public universities that reside in the same town has resulted in devising competitive strategies to attract grade 12 students with effective and innovative student recruitment strategies. The study sought to examine how competitive intelligence is used as a strategy to promote student recruitment at selected public universities. The study adopted a quantitative research approach where 234 first-time entering university students were used as key informants. To collect data, a questionnaire was used and is attached. It was discovered that both institutions utilised similar strategies to recruit students. Results reveal that the selected public universities employ traditional and technology-based strategies for student recruitment, relying on past success rather than a standardised approach based on competitive intelligence. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of competitive intelligence strategies in student recruitment, aiming to promote diverse communication needs among current and potential students.

The advent of Industry 5.0 marks a pivotal moment in global industry, characterized by the fusion of advanced technologies and human-centred approaches. Embedding Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) into teacher training becomes imperative in Africa, where the demand for skilled professionals is burgeoning. This study delves into the transformative potential of TPACK for African educators, emphasizing its role in equipping them with skills to prepare students for Industry 5.0 demands. Through a systematic literature review spanning from 2000 to 2024, this research examines TPACK's multifaceted dimensions and its relevance to twenty-first-century learning skills in Africa. It scrutinizes how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence reshape pedagogical practices and content delivery in African educational contexts. Furthermore, it explores TPACK's ability to empower teachers in nurturing critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy among students, essential for navigating the complexities of Industry 5.0. The findings underscore the necessity for tailored professional development programs integrating TPACK into African teacher training curricula. Moreover, the research stresses the importance of contextualizing TPACK within the socio-economic and cultural realities of African classrooms to ensure its efficacy. Additionally, the study highlights the pivotal roles of government policies and educational institutions in providing necessary support and resources for widespread TPACK adoption among educators. This research advocates for a paradigm shift in African teacher education, highlighting TPACK's centrality in preparing educators for Industry 5.0 challenges and opportunities. By equipping teachers with adept technology integration skills, African nations can foster innovative and globally competitive learners poised to thrive in the fourth industrial revolution.

The post-secondary vocational education system in South Africa encounters many challenges, including a lack of professionalism among certain teaching people, an unresponsive curriculum, and inadequate management of day-to-day operations, leading to fragmentation within the system. This is corroborated by a 2014 Training Needs Assessment Study (TNAS) that uncovered a dearth of effective college leadership management abilities and the utilisation of insufficient instructional approaches in certain vocational schools. This study aimed to investigate the possible factors influencing the quality of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in certain colleges located in the Gauteng area of South Africa. The study employed a quantitative research methodology, collecting data using a survey. Subsequently, the data was subjected to analysis using SPSS. This study hypothesised that the current state of affairs may be attributed to inadequate and fragmented leadership and management techniques. The researchers expressed uncertainty regarding the implementation of a more integrated and focused leadership approach that would disperse responsibility for student accomplishment in order to enhance outcomes. This study aimed to examine the main obstacles to enhancing students' performance in TVET colleges and explore how a dispersed instructional leadership approach may be conceptualised to tackle these challenges at the institutional level. The study highlights the significance of collaboration and a fair allocation of power and competence to promote a collective leadership vision in the pursuit of enhanced institutional performance in a sector in need of positive results.

The extent of women's representation and visibility in local government planning in South Africa has been significantly constrained. Over the years, the recurring phenomenon of insufficient participation and representation in local governance has become a prevalent issue within the country. The inclusion and participation of women in the decision-making process of local government should not be driven solely by the necessity to comply with legislative and policy frameworks and not by just a mere representation in terms of reflecting on the number of participants. Incorporating diverse individuals and groups is crucial in guaranteeing that progress within communities is accomplished acceptably.  The act of prioritizing men's interests or political opportunism over women's interests in local government planning lacks justification.  This study elucidates diverse factors that underlie the insufficient involvement and representation of women in local government planning. These variables encompass the prevalence of custom, culture, and tradition; socialisation, attitudes, and stereotypes; violence against women in politics; the media; finances and resources; structural deficiencies; patriarchy; and education. The research relied on existing scholarly works and documented accounts to investigate the causative elements and explicate their effect on the developmental condition. The article posits that addressing these factors requires a comprehensive approach that includes a multifaceted approach and a dosage of sustained efforts to ensure that there is gender balance and fair representation of women in local government planning. The study contributes to a better understanding of the participation and representation of women in the context of local government planning. It provides insights into strategies for creating more inclusive opportunities for women to express their views and exercise influence in local decision-making procedures.

The purpose of this study is to explore the challenges and opportunities of the COVID-19 pandemic for women entrepreneurs operating in the informal food sector. An exploratory qualitative approach is used to guide the collection and analysis of data which were collected from a sample of twenty women entrepreneurs. Verbatim transcriptions of digital recordings were analyzed thematically. The findings of the study indicate that women experienced the worst economic effects of the pandemic and faced a range of challenges, such as decreased customer base and demand, loss of income, lack of government and private support, safety and security fears, disrupted supply chains, and requirement for trading permits. Whereas the opportunities encompassed usage of digital technologies, alternative markets and new product offerings, and establishment of Informal women business networks. From the study findings, it is hence vital that policies acknowledge the importance of women and informal food vendors in the nation's informal food system.

Functional foods are foods that improve mental and physical well-being. Consumption of functional food has attracted much interest globally based on its benefit in the prevention of life-threatening diseases such as obesity, stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and cancer. Notwithstanding the health importance of functional food consumption, research on the marketing of functional foods is sparse in the literature. The research seeks to evaluate consumers purchase behaviour toward functional foods. The research employed a quantitative method. A consumer survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire on a sample of 384 consumers at several grocery stores in the uMhlathuze region, South Africa. The findings demonstrate the significance of understanding consumer motivations and attitudes in enabling food producers to implement the best marketing strategy to increase sales as well as enabling dietitians and medical professionals to share information and create more awareness regarding the health benefits of consuming functional foods. Likewise, the findings showed a significant positive correlation between social factors and age. This indicated that as people increase in age, social factors have more impact on their purchase decisions toward functional foods.

Whenever the issue of poor employee performance arises, the question of the provision of staff training takes center stage. Staff training is seen as the principal driving force and central to effective and efficient job performance. The quest to achieve high performance at the workplace has always been derailed by an acute lack of skills. Despite the plethora of studies of staff training and employee performance in different sectors, the literature has not yet explored the relationship between the two variables in the transport sector, particularly in the South African context. However, the relationship between staff training and employee performance has been engulfed in and apprehended by complexities, mistrust, and misunderstandings. It is through this premise that this paper seeks to evaluate the influence of staff training on employee performance in the transport sector. The study adopted an exploratory research design and tapped into a qualitative research approach. Using the purposive sampling technique, a sample of 15 respondents, comprised of skill development representatives of organizations operating in the transport sector in Durban, were interviewed. Unstructured interviews were used to collect data from the respondents. The key findings revealed that staff training has a positive influence on employee performance in the transport sector. The study plays a pivotal role in extending knowledge in the fields of staff training and employee performance.

The utilization of powerful machine learning models in artificial intelligence offers novel prospects for the identification of fraudulent activities. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a revolutionary technological tool that enhances the ability to detect and prevent fraud by improving efficiency and effectiveness. This research offers a thorough examination of the utilization of artificial intelligence technology in the realm of procurement fraud prevention and detection. Additionally, it highlights the obstacles that arise when employing machine learning techniques for the purpose of identifying and preventing fraudulent activities. A mixed methods approach was employed in this study, wherein data was collected through an unstructured interview and questionnaire. We conducted a comprehensive review of relevant scholarly articles and online resources. The findings indicate that fraudsters are progressively advancing in their skills, which poses a significant challenge in detecting fraudulent activities. The advent of AI in fraud detection has demonstrated its transformative impact. AI has achieved unparalleled precision and velocity in crime detection and prevention, surpassing the capabilities of any human. Artificial intelligence (AI) enhances the capacity for automation. Accessing unstructured data in the form of spreadsheets, digital documents, and email inboxes poses a significant issue for the procurement function. In order to achieve a successful procurement transformation, businesses should prioritize the creation of essential tools, guarantee acceptance through the establishment of a superior user experience, and integrate both novel and pre-existing technology. It is imperative to disseminate knowledge to the general public regarding the escalating sophistication of artificial intelligence (AI) in the realm of fraud detection and prevention. This includes elucidating the potential benefits of AI in identifying patterns of suspicious activities, assessing its efficacy in predicting potential threats or fraudulent activities prior to their manifestation, and exploring its utility in analyzing historical data pertaining to both familiar and unfamiliar forms of fraudulent behavior.

This paper uses politico-social capital theorisation of the relationship between public trust and democracy in order to demonstrate the interdependence of the African National Congress’ (ANC’s) declining electoral fortunes and the increasing public trust deficits in South Africa’s state, constitutional democracy and political institutions. As desktop-based research, the paper conducts literature survey to distils the relationship between public trust, as social capital, in institutions of society, and electoral performance and formation of societal leadership vacuum, within complexities of the political-economy and political culture and system such as those entrenched in South Africa under the ANC’s 28-year rule. The paper analyses statistical evidence from Afrobarometer’s 2022 survey about South Africans’ public trust in state and political institutions from 2006 to 2021, as well as national, provincial and local government election results from the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) from 1994 to 2019, to corroborate its theoretical framing. It makes three findings, thus: there is a direct relationship between the ANC’s declining electoral fortunes and the erosion of public trust in institutions of society; the ANC’s 28-years of state governance has created an ominous societal leadership vacuum, setting South Africa’s democracy on the precipice of civil strife; and, the ANC’s declining electoral fortunes will persist into the foreseeable future because public trust is hard to regain and sustain once eroded.

With the intensity of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being widely adopted to perform key tasks in economic activities. The audit profession has also embraced AI in the performance of its function in carrying out activities like audits, oversight, and advisory functions. The application of AI has been met with acceptance, given its advantages in some quarters and with resistance/scepticism in some. Proponents table benefits such as improved sampling procedures, reduced labour, and time in performing audits, increased efficiency, and effectiveness (due to increased audit coverage) including improved audit quality. Opponents raise pragmatic concerns such as the violation of ethical principles governing the audit profession, potential biases (loss of employment) as well as the challenges of coordinating machine and human activities. The study has two objectives. Firstly, to explore the role of AI in the external audit function. Secondly, to evaluate the ongoing debates on artificial intelligence and external auditing and assess the implications of using AI in the external audit function. The study adopts a qualitative research approach, employing a critical literature review. The study will accentuate the controversies and convergences among researchers on the role and implications of applying AI in external auditing to bring to light possible research gaps that can be explored by future researchers on the subject area. Highlighting the potential externalities of using AI has both theoretical and practical implications.

This discursive study explores the attempt to create feasible job creations for young graduates from various higher education institutions across South Africa. A systematic review of various literature sources on the phenomenon argues that entrepreneurship education can create and develop in students creative and innovative, business initiatives, risk-taking, strategic business minds, appropriate decision-making, and opportunities in diverse entrepreneurship activities, after graduation. The integration of entrepreneurship education into higher education across South African Higher Education will boost national economic development. The existing Department of Higher Education's initiative of Entrepreneurship Development into the country's Higher Education requires assessment and repositioning for effective approaches that can actualize the objectives of the initiative. The study recommends the need for universities' managements to re-strategise and connect theory with practical, in diverse significant collaborations with various private businesses, government institutions, and Non-Governmental Organisations.

The significance of professional development in the educational system cannot be overstated as it has a direct impact on the quality of teaching and learning. Furthermore, it has the potential to shape the classroom practices and performances of teachers. Teachers participate in diverse professional development endeavours to enhance their instructional methodologies. The efficacy of said activities is contingent upon their influence on pedagogical practices within the classroom. The process of selecting three department heads and five teachers from a pool of eight public high schools in the King Cetshwayo District of KwaZulu-Natal Province was conducted through purposive means. The present study employed a qualitative research methodology to gather data from a sample of economics teachers. Specifically, semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with five teachers from each of the five schools. Additionally, a focus group interview was conducted with the three heads of departments (HoDs) from three high schools, which were selected based on convenience. The Andragogy theory served as a theoretical framework that formed the basis for the professional development activities of teachers. The data that was gathered has been presented thematically and through interpretation. Teachers expressed dissatisfaction with the insufficient and sporadic professional development opportunities they have participated in. The training sessions and workshops failed to cater to the specific requirements of the classroom and were conducted during hours that caused interference with their classroom engagements. The teachers expressed the belief that their professional requirements should be evaluated through consultation, assessment, or observation by senior teachers or Heads of Departments. It is recommended that teachers receive regular training and workshops on a termly basis, with sufficient support provided to ensure their attendance. Effective monitoring and follow-up procedures are imperative for the achievement of favourable outcomes in professional development.