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Africa is experiencing rapid urbanization, making it one of the most urbanized continents in the world. This trend is particularly evident in the Southern African regional block. With the ongoing push for enhanced regional integration, it is anticipated that there would be a rise in the migration of individuals within the region. The escalating pace of urbanization calls for a reassessment of future cities and the implications of the rural-urban split on the establishment of sustainable human settlements. This article initially analyzes the patterns of migration within the Southern Africa Development Community. Furthermore, an analysis is conducted on the factors that contribute to the significant internal migration inside member states. Furthermore, the article examines the connection between migration and urbanization in the region once again. The article employs qualitative and quantitative methodologies to examine the consequences of migration and urbanization on both the locations from which people migrate and the areas where they settle. The primary factors contributing to migration include the pursuit of economic opportunity, political instability, access to education, and climate-induced disasters. Migration and urbanization have both gotten worse in the SADC region at the same time, as shown by empirical literature, official migration documents, and quantitative time series data from the World Development Indicators. This suggests that migration causes more people to move to cities. The rise in population has led to inadequate housing, resulting in an increase in slums that surpasses the projected capacity of cities. This article suggests promoting infrastructure development that facilitates employment creation in the nations or districts of origin in order to prevent a one-way movement of migrants. Consequently, a rise in job prospects, salaries, and health conditions will result in a reduction in migration rates and alleviate the strain on numerous cities in the area.

The article aims to promote financial literacy among youngsters from low-income backgrounds, encouraging them to engage in cost-effective investments that will enable them to accumulate wealth in the future. The article outlines a novel approach in life skills that entails shifting away from relying on uncertain grants and supports. Instead, it proposes utilizing a straightforward and practical mathematical model to generate money starting from a young age. The authors demonstrate that by utilizing a highly efficient investing option, young children have the ability to generate substantial wealth. To exemplify, we demonstrate the suggested methodology utilizing sequences and summations. Our method/proposal facilitates the enhancement of boundless wealth generation by enabling those who can invest more than the minimum requirement to accumulate greater wealth. The efficacy assessment of the new method is validated through the computation of the smallest investment, which is merely symbolic, yet yields boundless financial outcomes. The study findings, which have the potential to enhance governmental decision-making, can also be utilized for personal betterment. This work is innovative as it presents an alternative approach that imparts discipline, consistency, and honesty. It allows individuals to easily adopt the model with appropriate adjustments, hence facilitating the creation of wealth.

This article argues that digitization of services is increasingly becoming an international phenomenon. As a case in point, the South African Post Office by its very nature and as part of the global institution requires a serious conversion from traditional service provision to digital and electronic services provision. This article is based on the study that was conducted in the South African Post Office in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Province. From the South African Post Office perspective, Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces are referred to as North Region. The primary objective of the study was to investigate the implications of digitization on service delivery in the South African Post Office, focusing in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces (North Region). The study found that service delivery is adversely affected due to non-digitization of postal services. The study recommended interventions that can be employed to improve postal service delivery. The research method employed in the study was of both quantitative and qualitative method. The majority of the respondents strongly agreed that digitization of postal services could improve service delivery and brings more income and service improvement to clients. The article concludes by providing suggestions towards improving service delivery in the South African Post Office by digitizing postal services.

The South African municipalities have continued to demonstrate weaknesses or inadequacies in monitoring and evaluation (M&E). A possible barrier in South African municipalities is a lack of M&E expertise. While M&E can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness and efficiency of a programme, some potential pitfalls and gaps were discovered during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A case study design was employed to conduct in-depth and detailed examination within two metropolitan municipalities in the Eastern Cape. A mixed methods approach was adopted in a convergent manner for data collection and analysis. In-depth interviews were utilised to collect data from 13 senior municipal managers at the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM). A total of 191 questionnaires were despatched to municipal employees and 186 were returned, giving a 97% response rate. The findings reflect the weaknesses of M&E policies in the municipalities and paints a picture of M&E not being prioritised in the municipality.  The findings also reflect the current situation at the municipalities concerned, which is that there are pitfalls and gaps when it comes to evaluation measures. Thus, the study concludes that accountability for financial and performance management is non-existent. This study attempts to make a valuable contribution by providing technical assistance, capacity building to ensure that municipalities have effective M&E systems in place to monitor and evaluate service delivery and improve the lives of communities.

The use of force by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been widely reported. Unfortunately, the situation does not seem to be improving. However, it is not yet reported whether the members of the SAPS instinctively display aggressive or nonaggressive behaviour in response to the handling of violent and non-violent protestations in South Africa. Therefore, this article aims to assess whether police’s behaviour in the handling of protestations is instinctively aggressive or nonaggressive. Secondly, the article reflects on the possible factors that may contribute to the police’s aggressive behaviour towards protestations in South Africa. This article makes use of videography, which is a qualitative method of inquiry and interpretive in nature. Videography involves analysing video data as a focused hermeneutical and ethnographic exercise. In this regard, video recordings that are publicly accessible online which show South African police’s responses and conduct when handling protestation were analysed. Such videos were purposefully selected as they were deemed fit and useful for the object of this paper. Another method that was applied is a critical review of literature on police brutality in South Africa. Based on the analysis of evidence flowing from video analysis, it is clear that members of the SAPS tend to display aggressive behaviour when responding to violent protestations. At the same time, some members of the SAPS seem to lose their temper due to provocations by protesting individuals. The article reveals that the handling of protestations requires a thorough assessment of risks that may be incurred when applying various strategies for crowd management. This may need the state to invest in training and skilling the members of the SAPS in handling of violent and non-violent protestations. The article provides the basis for crowd management specialists within the SAPS to develop strategies suitable for ensuring professional and nonaggressive behaviour by the police in handling both violent and non-violent protestations.

Scholars and policymakers widely acknowledge the critical role of good governance in rural development and poverty reduction. Unfortunately, decades of good governance reforms have not reduced poverty in Nigeria. But what is good governance? The problem is that the working definition and popularized principles of good governance do not actually emanate from the poor. Moreover, there is a lack of contextualization of the concept of good governance within the Nigerian context. Rather, donors’ institutional understanding is universalized through the imposition of a good governance agenda. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the concept of good governance through the lens of rural communities in south-west Nigeria. Understanding good governance from the viewpoint of local citizens, who are the recipients of governance reforms, is vital for effective targeted reform. The study is based on the premise that communities possess a deep understanding of their own social circumstances and possess the capacity to express their unique insights. Employing Participatory Action Research (PAR) and qualitative methods like semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, the research engaged a purposively selected sample from three rural communities in south-west Nigeria. The findings revealed that, for these communities, good governance primarily involves the government's ability to meet basic needs and provide welfare-enhancing infrastructure. Conversely, bad governance is characterized by declining welfare, economic hardship, and inadequate infrastructure. Interestingly, participants did not prioritize reforms like regular elections or anti-corruption measures as core attributes of good governance, although they did not oppose these aspects. This study underscores the need to incorporate the perspectives of local citizens in defining good governance, allowing for homegrown solutions that might offer quicker and cost-effective strategies for development.

The study examines whether the customer complaints management policy in the Department of Employment and Labour in the Free State province is effectively and efficiently implemented. Skilful and committed policy implementers are required to ensure that policies are implemented successfully. A descriptive qualitative research design was employed in this study using semi-structured online interviews, to gather data from 20 participants who were purposively selected. The major findings of the study reveals that a lack of clarity and accessibility of complaint channels, inadequate training of newly appointed officials in customer complaint management processes, and user-unfriendliness of the complaint processes flow are prohibiting factors of the implementation of the policy. Additionally, there was a lack of effective communication and coordination among both the internal and external stakeholders, and a noticeable absence of consequence management. The study recommend that the Department of Employment and Labour should consider to design a user-friendly customer complaints management processes flow as well as to incorporate customer complaints module during the induction of newly appointed employees.

This study explored the relationship between leadership styles adopted by managers in the district hospital in the Limpopo province in South Africa (SA) and service delivery to rural communities in the area. This study was essential as over 70% of district hospitals in SA are non-compliant with meeting its service delivery commitments. There was a need to investigate whether the challenges associated with the poor service delivery were related to the leadership styles adopted by managers in the district hospital. Both transformational and transactional leadership styles formed the basis of the study. A quantitative research methodology and case study were used. A Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) was used to determine which leadership styles were adopted and the outcomes at the hospital. The survey was completed by seventy managers in the hospital. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the data analysis. The findings of the study revealed that certain leadership styles, as well as attributes impacted on service delivery to communities. The data suggested that, although some transformational leadership traits were exhibited by managers at the hospital, this had not necessarily led to improved service delivery to communities. The study was therefore critical, as it has become evident to policymakers that an expansion in the scope and quality of health care to rural communities in SA is vital. Recommendations were made for the improvement of service delivery by the hospital. An integrated leadership approach is therefore essential with a view to addressing challenges in the hospital and improving service delivery to the community.

This article explores theorisation that identifies the locus of South Africa’s scorched-earth lived experiences in the fixation on scientific dogma and conceptual binaries as well as governance utopianisms, wherein the latter are derivatives of the former. It explores South African’s lived experiences over the past 28 years in order to demonstrate that politicians’ reverence for governance utopianism has failed to appreciate the unity of realities, facts, values, objectivities, subjectivities, permanences, fluxes and changes, which consist of complex intricacies that are not amenable to dogmatic “incontrovertibly true” sets of authoritative principles and catchy governance utopianisms, because humanity’s imagination and creative thought are experimental in nature given the diversity of spatialities and “geography differences.” From desktop-based research literature survey and theorisation, the article advances a theoretical argument that if “science is one,” and if reality is unitary, then fragmentary theories and models are creatures of humanity’s world of imperfections. Additionally, the article analyses statistical evidence drawn from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) in order to demonstrate that the scorched-earth metaphor is real for South Africa’s 28-year democratic governance. It finds that in South Africa’s twenty-eight years of democratic experiment, lived experiences resemble scorched-earth metaphor with no silver lining in sight. Philosophically, the paper concludes that if what resides on God’s left is on humanity’s right, then the “rightness” and/or “leftness” of people consists of intractable complexities of particularity, individuality and incommunicability that have led to fragmentary science, fixation on dogma and binaries as well as politicians’ reverence for governance utopianisms, simultaneously as society’s lived experiences resemble normalised scorched-earth.

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.

The defining characteristic of CI practice is the implementation and strict adherence to ethical principles. While there is evidence of ongoing CI practices by corporations, critics argue that there is a dearth of scientific research on the implementation and enforcement of CI ethics. Critics contend that the absence of ethical adoption and enforcement of competitive intelligence (CI) principles has created a nebulous zone that blurs the distinction between CI and industrial espionage. The adoption and implementation of competitive intelligence (CI) ethics guarantees that companies engage in ethical and legal CI practices. It improves the standing of companies and reduces the cost of having to restore a damaged reputation. The aim of this study was to determine the level of acceptance of corporate integrity ethics in the ICT industry in South Africa. Furthermore, the objective is to evaluate the strategies employed for enforcing ethical practices and the various elements that impact the adoption of corporate integrity ethics in the ICT industry in South Africa. The research employed a quantitative approach, utilizing a web-based questionnaire to gather data from professionals working in the South African ICT business. The study discovered that South African ICT companies fully embraced CI ethics. Furthermore, the study identified seven elements that have an impact on the adoption of CI ethics, as well as multiple approaches for enforcing ethical practices. As a result, South African ICT enterprises are able to save money that would otherwise be spent on repairing their reputation after being accused of industrial espionage. Furthermore, companies should enhance and diminish aspects that have a positive and negative impact on the adoption of CI ethics, respectively.

Security guards face victimization in the workplace as well as through the nature of their employment as first responders to criminal activity. Consequently, these risks threaten their job satisfaction, well-being, and turnover rate in the industry. Exacerbating the problem further is the dearth of scientific studies and reliable reports on the victimization of security guards specific to the South African context. Thus, the goal of the study is to explore the victimization of security guards working in Gauteng, South Africa. This paper is informed by 14 qualitative one-on-one interviews with security guards. The narrative accounts provide rich and descriptive data which were thematically analyzed. The findings suggest that security guards experience victimization in terms of their working conditions and crime victimization while on duty. Moreover, the implications of victimization are exposed. Interestingly, a recurring theme throughout the paper is the sense of powerlessness experienced by the participants as substantiated through literature. This paper makes a unique contribution to industry and academia due to the dearth of scientific studies and reports on the victimization of security guards specific to the South African context. Additionally, the paper advocates for working towards sustainable solutions through work engagement, awareness, training, and effective management strategies.

Annually, South African universities experience an overwhelming number of learners who are interested in enrolling with them because they are viewed as more appealing post-secondary school study options compared to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges. Therefore, it is important to understand high school learners’ views of TVET colleges so that the issue of oversubscription at universities can be addressed and ensure TVET colleges are a favourable option for learners. In South Africa, most studies investigating TVET colleges as study options involve samples primarily of students already enrolled at TVET colleges. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate high school learners’ views on TVET colleges as a study option after high school. A qualitative study was conducted in which data was collected using a qualitative questionnaire from a sample of 42 high school learners from Grades 10, 11, and 12. Three themes were constructed from the data: the pull factors, the push factors, and the expectations of TVET colleges. Several misconceptions and expectations about TVETs were identified. As most studies used TVET students as study samples, the findings in this study have implications for TVET colleges as they provide insights into the perspectives of South African high school learners and how TVET colleges need to market themselves as viable study options.

Extensive research has been dedicated to the study of women on boards, revealing a gradual improvement in the actual representation of women as directors on firm boards. This paper presents a comprehensive critical theory framework that combines talent management with corporate governance, human resources, and gender theories to elucidate the underrepresentation of women on corporate boards. This conceptual study, conducted through theoretical literature analysis, identifies a knowledge gap in the limited attention given to studies on the talent of women serving on boards. The purpose of this essay was to explain the sluggish progress of female directors on boards globally, despite the implementation of different laws and the evident business rationale for enhancing women's presence on boards. This study incorporates divergent and unanimous critical analyses of women on boards research, which either facilitates or impedes the advancement of women to executive positions. The primary discoveries of this study enhance the existing information by pinpointing several obstacles that contribute to the underrepresentation of women on corporate boards. These problems stem from structural factors inside organizations, individual psychological factors, and societal preconceptions. These theoretical perspectives identify obstacles and biases in the process of recruiting, developing, and retaining women directors. The implementation of a suitable talent management solution can address these issues.

This study aimed to assess the readiness of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in Mamelodi township to adopt the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Within the South African environment, small, medium, and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) are frequently associated with a substantial rate of failure. Previous studies have investigated many factors that contribute to the low survival rate of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). However, most of the studies focused on managerial issues, such as lack of experience, ineffective management methods, insufficient financial management, and obsolete marketing techniques. Most established companies have adopted various technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and are thriving as a result of the benefits associated with digitalization and automation. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the readiness of SMMEs in adopting the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and achieving similar benefits. Qualitative data was collected through interviews with owners and managers of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in Mamelodi township, Tshwane Municipality. The study found that SMMEs in Mamelodi are willing to adopt the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), while encountering various difficulties. The results provide significant insights for owners and managers of Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in townships about the implementation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Furthermore, government organizations tasked with supporting the creation and sustainability of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) are aware of the scope of their operations, specifically in a township like Mamelodi. The study provided a vital contribution to the growing body of research on Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in townships and their incorporation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The essay highlighted major barriers that hinder the adoption and use of existing technology, while also providing tangible evidence of the influence of contemporary technology on the development and success of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs).

After the inception of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, education emerged as a pivotal concern on the global agenda. The significance of education innovation lies in its ability to enhance the caliber of instruction and bolster school performance. In spite of the various obstacles faced by rural schools in South Africa, certain institutions are exhibiting indications of exceptional performance and advancement in terms of educational innovations, the provision of high-quality education, and the academic achievements of their students. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of principals' comprehension of the significance of educational innovation and their level of implementation of innovative practices on student achievement. The research employed a descriptive case study approach inside a quantitative research framework. A sample size of 108 secondary school principals in the Vhembe District, located in the Limpopo Province, was obtained through the utilization of random sampling procedures. Data collection was conducted through the utilization of questionnaires, while the analysis of the collected data was performed using descriptive statistical techniques. A total of 70 questionnaires were collected and deemed usable, resulting in a response rate of 64.8% for the study. The outcomes of the study indicate that principals within the Vhembe district had a comprehensive understanding of the imperative nature of educational innovation. Additionally, the research revealed that principals are utilizing many new leadership and management approaches in order to improve student achievement. This project aims to contribute to the enhancement of learner performance and the quality of education in secondary schools located in rural parts of South Africa through the promotion of educational innovation. The recommendations of the study hold potential value in the development of policies, the improvement of learner performance, and the provision of education of superior quality.

The moderating effect of parental income on parental financial communication and financial literacy is increasingly becoming important. The objective of this study was to determine whether the relationship between parental financial communication of young adults and their financial literacy is moderated by parental income. Financial literacy was measured through financial knowledge, financial behaviour, financial attitudes, and financial decision-making. Quantitative research approach was adopted for this study. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data among young adults in South Africa. Moderated regression analysis was used to analyse data. Four hypotheses were tested. The results showed that parental income moderated the relationship between parental financial communication with financial knowledge, financial behaviour, financial attitude, and financial decision-making. Therefore, the overall results indicated that the relationship between parental financial communication and financial literacy is moderated by parental income.  This study is amongst the first to investigate whether the relationship between parental financial communication and financial literacy is moderated by parental income. This study concluded by providing recommendations and suggestions for future research.

The lack of economic access is one of the main challenges facing small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It contributes to the elevated levels of unemployment and slows the resolution of high inequality and poverty in South Africa. Economic access is the ability of historically disadvantaged individuals and entities to participate in the economy. This study aimed to explore how institutional development can support economic access for SMEs. The study explored how setting up new or improving existing socio-economic structures or legal entities could support economic access for SMEs. The support received by SMEs in South Africa from three institutions, the Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO), the Infrastructure Delivery Division (IDD) and the Development Laboratories (DLabs), set up by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) was assessed. Quantitative data from the DBSA and IPPO, as well as qualitative views from informants, were used to assess the economic access of SMEs. The study shows that the IPPO, IDD and DLabs added value by achieving the objectives for which they were created. Furthermore, the results show that institutional development supports economic access for SMEs, and that this support is scalable. The study showed that institutional development could be a tool to support SMEs to participate in the economy. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on ways to support SMEs to grow and contribute to reducing unemployment, inequality and poverty.

Globally, access to HIV services by key populations has always been a challenge even prior the emergence of Coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19). With reference to Zimbabwe, sex workers experienced challenges in accessing HIV services as was exacerbated by the pandemic and related lockdown restrictions. In the given context, it was critical to develop innovative approaches to increase female sex workers’ access to HIV treatment. Such approaches help prevent treatment interruption and contribute to HIV epidemic control. The study aimed to explore and describe the innovative approaches that were adopted to enhance HIV service delivery among female sex workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe. A qualitative, descriptive phenomenological design was used to attain the study’s objective. Ten purposefully sampled participants were individually interviewed following a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analysed using Colaizzi’s seven steps. The research findings yielded the following themes: participants received differentiated HIV service delivery through community-based outreach, virtual psychosocial interventions, and support systems through peers, family, and institutions. The innovative approaches to promote HIV service delivery during COVID-19 enhanced female sex workers’ access to differentiated person-centred care and promoted treatment continuity. Community workers were also vital in supporting their peers’ treatment adherence. The lessons drawn from this study are critical and can be utilised in different settings.

In South Africa, the internship programme was introduced under the Skills Development Act of 1998, with the primary goal of addressing the country's skills shortage and fostering the growth of a skilled workforce. This act laid the foundation for various skills development initiatives, including internships, aimed at enhancing employment prospects and facilitating the transfer and development of essential skills among graduates. As a result, the pursuit of internship programme has become a prevalent practice among university and college graduates in South Africa, as they recognize its significance in securing employment and acquiring the necessary skills. Considering this, the objective of this study was to examine the relationship between internship programme and skills development within three government departments in Limpopo Province. The research employed a quantitative research approach and collected empirical data using semi-structured questionnaires. Seventy-one (71) past and present interns from the three select government departments were surveyed between October and December 2019. The data collected were analysed using Microsoft Excel. The study's findings reveal a positive nexus between the internship programme and skills development. Interns were able to acquire a diverse range of skills.  The study recommends that there should be a rotational assignment as part of the internship programme to expose interns to different departments. Internship programme should serve as a valuable platform for the transfer and development of skills, providing interns with meaningful experiential learning opportunities.