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The governance of Information and Communication Technology (ICTG) has become crucial for promoting academic, strategic, and operational objectives at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The aim of this research is to assess if hybrid ICTG models that integrate global frameworks like COBIT, ITIL, and ISO/IEC 38500 with tailored institutional modifications result in enhanced academic outcomes and administrative effectiveness in comparison to higher education institutions that depend exclusively on universal governance standards. A qualitative, desk-oriented research methodology was utilised, relying solely on secondary data sourced from peer-reviewed articles, academic research findings, and recorded higher education institution case studies published from 2016 to 2024. Thematic content analysis was performed to discern governance mechanisms, persistent difficulties, and contextual elements affecting ICTG efficacy across different nations and institutional categories. The results suggest that hybrid ICTG models provide a more robust alignment between ICT operations and institutional objectives, increased governance sophistication, and superior service quality. The dedication of leadership, clear organisational structure, and relational governance tools like communication and stakeholder involvement are vital facilitators of ICTG performance, especially in resource-limited higher education institutions. The analysed evidence indicates that inflexible, foreign governance models may be inappropriate unless they are contextually modified to fit the institutional culture, capabilities, and governance development. The research enhances ICTG scholarship by promoting a conceptual comprehension of hybrid governance frameworks that reconcile global norms with local significance. Despite being constrained by its dependence on secondary data, the study uncovers significant ramifications for institutional policy, ICT leadership advancement, and governance transformation. Subsequent research ought to integrate empirical evidence and comparative analyses across several institutions to substantiate the suggested conceptual framework and evaluate its wider relevance.

Black postgraduate (PG) students in South African universities and universities of technology experience significant supervisory conflicts, including contradictory guidance, neglect, and favoritism, which delay graduation and intensify inequities rooted in post-apartheid higher education (HE) dynamics. Prevailing research overlooks these students’ lived experiences, creating a gap in understanding systemic barriers to equitable supervision. This qualitative study employed narrative inquiry with six purposively sampled black PG students (four females, two males) from PhD, MTech, and MSc programs across South African universities. Semi-structured interviews explored supervisory conflicts, institutional responses, and academic impacts. Thematic analysis framework, yielding six themes validated through member checking. Key findings revealed conflicting supervisory directions causing years-long stagnation; prolonged neglect and feedback delays demotivating students; irrelevant objectives imposed by additional supervisors leading to academic penalties; inexperienced supervisors contributing to dropouts; power imbalances and ethical breaches such as gift-giving favoring certain students; and inadequate institutional resolutions forcing adversarial advocacy. Supervisory conflicts undermine black students' progress and well-being, demanding decolonial reforms for inclusive practices. Recommendations include mandatory supervisory contracts, accreditation, ombud services, and bias training to enhance throughput and equity. Future research should pursue longitudinal, comparative designs and intervention trials.

University Professional Staff (UPS) [administrators, secretaries, and operations managers] perform important managerial duties but are excluded from career promotion that are usually evaluated using academic criteria despite showing excellence in administration. This systemic paradox causes career stagnation, unclear promotion pathways, and undervaluation of their complex contributions, mainly evident in South African higher education institutions (HEIs). This study investigated the barriers impeding UPS career progression, examined their hybrid academic-administrative roles, and explored implications for institutional equity and effectiveness within HEIs. This qualitative study used purposive sampling to select 11 UPS from South African HEIs. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews on career development and promotion challenges. Thematic content analysis was used and identified main themes. Ethical clearance confirmed confidentiality and voluntary involvement. Trustworthiness was protected using member checking and reflexivity to accurately capture participants’ lived experiences and institutional realities. Eleven UPS respondents generated four themes: role perception, institutional support, academic-administrative divide, and social-emotional duties. Participants described complex, developing roles but career inertia due to uncertain promotion criteria and minimal recognition. Institutional support was inconsistent, with limited training and ambiguous career pathways. The divide between academic and UPS staff persists, alongside unrecognized emotional labour, prompting calls for transparent promotion processes and structured career development. UPS undertake multifaceted administrative, managerial, and emotional roles that are undervalued within HEIs. Career progression is hindered by unclear promotion criteria, institutional barriers, and an academic-administrative divide. Training and career development opportunities are inadequate and unevenly accessible. To address these issues, institutions should clarify promotion processes, establish formal career pathways, enhance support programs, foster collaboration between academic and UPS staff, and recognize social-emotional labour. Future research should track career impacts over time and explore interventions to promote UPS equity and development.

This study explores the effectiveness of government support structures and programs (GSSPs) for some Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) of Gauteng Province in South Africa through the lived experiences of seven respondents representing the SMMEs that received support. With thematic content analysis (TCA), the research exposes recurrent themes in the perceived effectiveness of the assistance provided by the GSSPs. The study highlights both successes and critical gaps. The findings suggest that the SMMEs appreciate the material support from the GSSPs. However, they indicate that the one-approach-fits-all used was deficient. The approach generally lacks holistic, customized intervention and limits the overall impact. They particularly would have preferred additional support in business management skills and funding. The study recommends a comprehensive and customized approach that represents responsive government support frameworks.

Trade in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) region experiences imbalances due to South Africa’s dominance and fragmented communication. This study aims to highlight communication's strategic role in enhancing trade policy, logistics, and cooperation within SACU, focusing on digital platforms, ICT, policy alignment, and transparency. A qualitative, literature-based methodology is conducted, employing thematic analysis of academic and institutional sources to explore how communication strategies influence trade facilitation and integration within SACU. Five key themes are identified: Uneven ICT infrastructure, Economic impact of clear policy communication, Trade imbalances due to information asymmetry, Underutilised digital trade platforms, and Urgent need for communication capacity building. Communication’s crucial role for SACU integration includes institutional coordination, private sector engagement, and crisis management. It identifies missed strategic opportunities like dashboards and localized messaging. Addressing gaps in communication capacity, ICT infrastructure, digital platforms, and policy communication is vital for equitable, efficient regional trade integration. Policy proposals include investing in infrastructure, consolidating digital platforms, standardizing protocols, and promoting inclusive consultations. The study emphasizes adaptive governance and integration with regional value chains to ensure inclusive, efficient trade facilitation and equitable economic development across all member states.

Small, Micro- and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) play a significant role in most world economies, particularly in developing countries. South Africa’s SMMEs demonstrate a high failure rate and do not seem to match the performances of applicable best practices. Regarding construction SMMEs, these issues are particularly noticeable. This study wants to investigate the level of performance of SMMEs in the construction industry of the Gauteng Province in South Africa as compared to SADC and best practices by addressing the research question, “To what extent do Gauteng construction SMMEs deviate from global best practice and SADC measures in terms of performance metrics?”, using regional and global lenses. The study design was cross-sectional qualitative based on secondary data. The targeted study population consisted of registered Gauteng construction SMMEs, and SADC and global best practices benchmarks were used for measuring these performances. The study found the Gauteng construction SMMEs were not engaging in social responsibility, and were lacking the most in business results, policy and strategy, processes, and in people management.

This study examined the demographic and operational attributes of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Windhoek, Namibia, and their ramifications for bank funding. The study analysed a sample of 66 small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners and operators, focussing on gender, education, age, company experience, yearly income, sector type, and business registration status. Findings indicate a prevalence of female entrepreneurs, a well-educated business populace, and an emphasis on middle-aged business proprietors. The data indicates that although a considerable number of SMEs were in the nascent phases of operation, the majority of enterprises were registered with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA). The findings highlighted the capacity of financial institutions (FIs) to offer customised assistance to SMEs, particularly in varied and non-traditional industries, to foster sustainable economic growth in Windhoek. The study finishes with recommendations for banks to enhance services and assess the funding requirements of these enterprises according to their distinct characteristics and challenges

The study explored perceptions regarding the experiences and perceptions of people in rural areas regarding the quality of borehole water and the health risks involved. A country-wide study using face-to-face and virtual meetings was implored to interview the respondents. In five of the nine South African provinces, purposefully selected focus groups were used to interview the participants. The members were carefully gathered due to their previous knowledge and/or experiences with boreholes or water contaminants. In the other four provinces, four conveniently sampled individuals who were willing to share their impressions were interviewed. The participants unanimously mention that the water quality in boreholes of government is poor, and that there are dangerous contaminants in the water. The knowledgeable groups were aware of some studies in their areas that had found various forms of agricultural deposits, minerals, chemicals, and even dirty deposits from other areas. They also complained that the boreholes were not maintained, and the water had become undrinkable. These sentiments were confirmed from individual responses through interviews, concurring that borehole quality is generally poor, and the health risks are very high. The paper recommended innovative methods to treat boreholes and clean the water to improve its quality and reduce the health risks that pollute the water.

Police work is a high-stress occupation that exposes officers to violence, threats, and traumatic events daily. These experiences can cause significant personal distress and negatively impact performance. To cope with these stressful events, police officers employ various strategies. This study examined the coping strategies used by junior police officers at Pretoria's central police station, using Lazarus and Folkman's coping model. A qualitative, descriptive design was used to explore the experiences of nine junior officers through individual interviews. The results showed that junior officers primarily used emotional coping strategies rather than avoidance strategies. The identified coping mechanisms included religion, socialization, self-encouragement, motivation, work acceptance, and consultation with health professionals. The study recommends conducting longitudinal studies with larger samples across multiple police stations in Gauteng and among senior officers to further understand and support police officers' mental well-being.

Language and communication play pivotal roles in the insurance industry, impacting claims processing, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. This study investigates the dynamics of errors within insurance claims across six distinct languages—African, Afrikaans, English, French, German, and Asian languages. The purpose is to identify language-specific error patterns and their implications for customer-centric methods. This study utilises a dataset of insurance claims spanning multiple languages. The analysis encompasses the probability theories approach to unravel error distributions and their associations. The study reveals that linguistic diversity significantly impacts the insurance industry, emphasising the need for language-centric approaches to error reduction This highlights the need for customised communication strategies and enlightening initiatives to address the unique challenges faced by this linguistic demographic especially the complex legal jargon that is not easily understood by all. In conclusion, this paper advises insurance companies to navigate the complex terrain of multilingual interactions. It enriches the existing body of knowledge surrounding insurance claim management, offering a roadmap to navigate the intricacies of language diversity within the industry. By addressing the linguistic-specific challenges identified in this study, insurance providers can enhance their services, reduce errors, and ultimately foster improved customer experiences.

Informal and accidental focus groups emerged in which academic personnel of the same higher education institutions (HEIs) who travel together in small vehicles, stimulated the interest to embark on this writing. The people traveling together have to interact with one another even where they initially did not know each other, due to close proximity. These opportunities took place in various settings of South Africa, such as years and places. The authors realised that especially when these trips are too long, dialogues that take place there can include informative life lessons. They then formerly decided to ‘collect’ data through observations, sometimes taking field notes such as in anthropological research approaches. The findings from very few focus groups produced a variety of lessons for the authors, but it was more pleasing that the lessons learned by the focus group members on those platforms were massive. The study found the proximity and separation of different departments as lost opportunities. It then recommends the introduction of interactions of an informal nature for experts of different fields, including those who do not even know one another.  

This study investigated the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It examined the extent to which SMEs can engage in CSR to achieve larger sizes. A purposive study selected three large corporates that started as SMEs and grew to become large corporates through CSR. Interviews with managers leading CSR in these corporates revealed that CSR can be a key driver of growth, leading to larger sizes. The study concludes that CSR can be effectively used by SMEs to enhance their growth, potentially even to multinational enterprise levels. Recommendations include training employees in CSR knowledge, integrating CSR into business operations, prioritizing CSR initiatives, exposing management to CSR, and incorporating CSR into the mission for strategic status.