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This article examines the philosophies that South Africa can adopt from specific high-growth nations to reinstate its "developmental state" paradigm. In the post-Apartheid period, following South Africa's liberation from the governing National Party, numerous initiatives were suggested to rejuvenate the nation and enhance its presence on both national and global stages. The newly established ANC government, under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, formulated and implemented several people-centric policies and strategic initiatives. The administration embraced "developmental state" ideals, believing that state economic engagement may improve its ability to address the legacy of apartheid, especially the challenges of poverty, unemployment, and widespread inequalities. Nevertheless, despite three decades of democracy, the purported "developmental state" continues to exhibit numerous governance and socioeconomic issues, including elevated poverty rates, social inequality, disparate land access, unemployment, and disparities in public service availability. The discourse on South Africa's status as a "developmental state" persists, along with enquiries into how the nation may realign itself to achieve its goal of being a "developmental state." This document seeks to compile methods that South Africa could use based on examples from selected high-growth nations. This paper will examine how South Africa might reverse its economic decline, the necessary institutional and structural reforms, and the social and political contexts required to establish itself as a more credible "developmental state". This research utilises a qualitative secondary analysis of existing textual data regarding the relationship between South Africa, the "developmental state," and the chosen high-growth countries.

Service delivery in cities is facing challenges related to high demand service delivery demand as a result of rural-urban migration patterns. This is the flow of people from rural areas to cities looking for better opportunities in relation to jobs and education. Thus, there is high demand for services in cites. The study seeks to assess whether there is high service delivery in cities because of rural-urban migration patterns. The study adopts a quantitative approach with the sample comprising 350 respondents, purposively selected through non- probability sampling, and required to complete a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. The researcher assisted in terms of questionnaire administration. The completed questionnaire provided the quantitative data for statistical analysis, using SPSS version 28.0. Study findings indicate that, among other factors, problems related to illegal water connection, pit latrine, high electricity demand in urban areas which indicates more demand. The findings suggest a need for urban planning to harness the good aspects of rural- urban migration, providing key pointers for sustainable growth in local government, as well as to address the high urban crime rate, unemployment, delays in hospitals. This study activates proactive urban planning and community involvement through public participation channels and the need for urban municipalities to create bi-laws that will proactively dela with rural to urban migration.

The secretive conduct of entrepreneurs regarding their business success undermines the principles of openness, transparency, and honesty, which are essential in entrepreneurship as they foster accountability, responsible business practices, and ethical behaviour. The research seeks to examine the degree to which entrepreneurs reveal information regarding their business success to various stakeholders. The research employed an interpretative perspective and a qualitative methodology. Purposive sampling was employed to choose entrepreneurs managing SMMEs in the Limpopo Province. An inductive methodology was employed to obtain comprehensive data regarding the communication of entrepreneurial success by firm owners. ATLAS.ti 8 was employed for data analysis. The findings indicated that entrepreneurs convey their success to diverse stakeholders, including relatives, friends, and business networks, by sharing best practices and inspiring others to pursue entrepreneurial endeavours. This study has discovered that the disclosure of success primarily occurs when entrepreneurs seek funding or loans from banks and the government. Standard communication with authorities was identified as another method by which entrepreneurs report their success to the South African Revenue Services during tax return submissions. This study found that entrepreneurs' perceptions of success vary in their communications with different stakeholders. The work offered significant contributions to the existing literature and future research from a theoretical standpoint.

Financial cycles are widely regarded as key drivers of global financial conditions and major contributors to international financial crises. Understanding the extent to which these cycles are interconnected is essential for developing early warning systems to predict financial crises and for informing the design of macroprudential and monetary policies. In this context, a dynamic factor model and time-varying Granger causality (TVGC) are employed to assess the degree of financial cycle synchronization between advanced economies and systemic middle-income countries (SMICs). Our data spans the period from 1980Q1 to 2023Q4. The analysis reveals that a common factor—shared by both advanced and systemic middle-income economies—plays a significant and persistent role in driving financial cycles across these regions. Notably, the influence of this common factor intensified following the 2007–2009 global financial crisis, highlighting the growing financial interconnectedness between these economies. These results strongly support the argument for closer coordination of macroprudential policies between advanced economies and SMICs. The findings from the TVGC analysis further reinforce the conclusions drawn from the dynamic factor model. Specifically, the TVGC results indicate a bidirectional causality between the financial cycles of advanced economies and SMICs, suggesting mutual influence. This bidirectional relationship underscores the importance of enhanced policy coordination across these economies to mitigate systemic risks.

This article seeks to give an overview of public participation in local government, with a focus on the City of Ekurhuleni. City of Ekurhuleni “place of peace” is one of the biggest (8) eight Metropolitan municipalities in South Africa which is located within Gauteng Province which is also known as GCR (Gauteng City Region). It is on record that there are more studies that has been done on public participation in different categories of municipalities in South Africa, including the public participation to the broader citizens within different spheres of government. Therefore, this paper’s aim is to outline, analysis and review some of the critical factors which the municipalities must consider towards its initiatives on public participation practices and forums. Some of the key aspects which gives an impactful view are the communication methods used by municipalities, including other spheres of government to reach community members. This paper will also assist in making an impactful assessment on the current trends and best practices within municipalities on how public participation processes are done, whether there is a gap identified which needs both academic and experiential attention thereon. The desktop-based research methods were used in conducting the research by reviewing secondary data which is available from journals. The aforesaid above was done with a view to outline what has been published in terms of the public participation literature, furthermore; there are few published articles which were consulted to get a deeper understanding around public participation achievements and the gaps thereon.

Since the start of the democratic era in 1994, South Africa has prioritised small, medium, and micro enterprises for economic growth and social development, offering significant opportunities to the unemployed population. However, the extent to which SMMEs contribute to the socio-economic progress of a particular economy is contingent upon various factors, including the specific country or sector in which they operate. In South Africa, the majority of SMMEs operate within the services sector, with 30% in wholesale and retail trade, 23% in community and social services, and 14% in financial services. Grounded on the  Resource-Based View theory, this study aims to investigate how SMMEs contribute to the social and economic development of South Africa. Furthermore, their contributions align with four of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, making this research both relevant and timely. This systematic literature review included nineteen research articles using bibliometric indicators from the Google Scholar database. As a result, the literature review revealed four key SMMEs’ contributions to South African socio-economic development namely employment creation and income generation, economic growth, development and specialisation, contribution to GDP, and poverty alleviation. To further enhance this contribution, it is recommended that governments provide support in the form of training programs, access to finance, and mentorship opportunities to help SMMEs grow and create more job opportunities..

Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are crucial to South Africa's economy, significantly contributing to job creation and innovation. However, they face challenges such as limited access to finance, skills shortages, and difficulties in adopting emerging technologies, which hinder their growth and sustainability. This study aims to explore the role of innovative entrepreneurship and technology in enhancing SMME performance. Through a systematic literature review and thematic analysis, the research identifies twelve key themes that underscore how innovative entrepreneurship can drive adaptability, improve operational efficiency, and facilitate market access. Findings indicate that innovative business models and practices are essential for SMMEs to overcome financial and operational barriers, enabling them to respond effectively to market demands. The study recommends that the South African government and private sector collaborate to enhance financial accessibility, develop targeted training programmes, and improve infrastructure. By fostering a supportive environment for innovative entrepreneurship, SMMEs can leverage emerging technologies more effectively, ultimately driving economic growth and social development in the country.

The Internet of Things (IoT) offers dual dimensions of affordance for educational resources management (ERM), particularly in a Comprehensive open distance e-learning institution in South Africa. The affordance of IoT for educational resources management is not well articulated in a CODEL institution. The study aimed to establish the role of IoT in the administration and management of educational resources. Technology affordance theory is used to establish the role, perceptions, and causality of IoT affordance in ERM. The research opted for the qualitative approach to establish the role and causality of the IoT affordance of ERM. The study found that the CODEL institution is IoT-driven when handling ERM. The main contribution relates to two propositions such as South African higher education institutions, including the CODEL institution, require the articulation and realignment of an IoT-driven business enterprise system for the implementation of OER in tuition; and in an IoT-driven context such as CODEL, where OER are implemented, there is a motive for academics and institutions to develop an Artificial Intelligence or interactive robot for creating and locating OER. It suggests that CODEL should realign its business enterprise system with IoT-driven infrastructure and adopt artificial intelligence practices for OER advancement. Future research should investigate the availability of IoT in all South African higher education institutions.

Efficient internal branding is essential for aligning employees with an organization's ideals, especially in service industries such as banking. This study examines the influence of employee engagement on the efficacy of internal branding activities in commercial banks located in Urban Masvingo, with the objective of understanding the impact of these initiatives on staff commitment and service quality. A quantitative survey design was utilised, focussing on management-level employees, shop floor personnel, and customers from certain banks, employing stratified random sampling to guarantee a varied participant pool. The results demonstrate that although the majority of internal branding efforts focus on frontline employees, there is a significant deficiency in engagement among shop floor personnel. The lack of established recognition procedures and allocated funding for internal branding undermines effectiveness. Strong managerial support and employee participation in branding activities were recognised as essential factors for improving engagement and alignment with brand values. To enhance internal branding, banks must to conduct frequent evaluations of employee engagement, incorporate branding into HR operations, establish formal recognition systems, and promote the co-creation of branding initiatives. These measures will foster a unified organisational culture and enhance service performance, hence augmenting brand equity in a competitive marketplace. This report provides actionable ideas for banks to enhance employee involvement in internal branding and sustain a competitive advantage in a fluctuating market..

This paper explores the relationship between talent management and dimensions of employee commitment at Nelspruit Banks, a major player in Mpumalanga Province. The paper uses a self-administered Likert-scale questionnaire to collect employee responses on talent management and its impact on normative, affective, and continuous commitment levels. The questionnaire was analysed using IBM SPSS version 28, 63 questionnaires were used for data analysis. This study employed both descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, and pie charts) and inferential statistics (Pearson product moment) to investigate the relationship between talent management and employee commitment. The main findings of the study indicated that talent management positively correlates with two employee commitment components. Notably, talent management positively correlated with continuance and normative commitment. These findings underscore the importance of talent management practices in fostering employee loyalty and retention. It is recommended that Banks consider implementing targeted strategies to foster a positive work environment, recognize and reward employee contributions, and provide opportunities for career development and growth. By focusing on these areas, the banks can strengthen employee commitment and improve overall organizational performance.

High unemployment levels means that graduates are now encouraged to consider entrepreneurship as a career, and it is necessary to understand how entrepreneurship education influences their career choices. We investigated the relationship between entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurial intentions of business management students at selected Universities of Technology (UoT) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.  We used quantitative research questionnaire to survey the entrepreneurial intentions and skills of students of 224 students enrolled in business courses and had completed a module in entrepreneurship at undergraduate level. Regression analysis of entrepreneurial education variables and entrepreneurial intention was conducted. The findings of this study indicated that Entrepreneurial intention is positively affected by entrepreneurial skills, creativity, leadership, and business experience but negatively by financial knowledge. These results show that while higher levels of financial knowledge have a negative impact on entrepreneurial intention of business students. Therefore, the university curriculum must cultivate traits like resourcefulness, leadership, and ambition which encourages beneficial outcomes of entrepreneurial intention amongst students.

The antecedents of counterproductive work behaviour (CWB) in the higher education sector have remained unexamined in available literature. Moreover, the impact of job insecurity, job stress, and negative emotions on the occurrence of CWB within the academic context have hardly been interrogated. This study therefore, aimed at investigating the impact of job insecurity, job stress and negative emotions on CWB and further examining the mediating role of job stress and negative emotions in the occurrences of CWB among academics. Data was collected from 716 academics in Technical Universities in Ghana using self-reported questionnaires with close-ended questions and a convenient sampling technique. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to verify the measurement structure of the constructs. Structural Equation Model was employed to test the hypotheses in the conceptual model. The result showed a statistically significant direct effect of job insecurity, job stress and negative emotions on the occurrence of counterproductive work behaviour among academics. It was further revealed that there is a positive relationship between job insecurity and job stress, with job stress partially mediating the relationship between job insecurity and counterproductive work behaviour. Furthermore, negative emotions acted as a partial mediator in the relationship between job stress and counterproductive work behaviour. The findings have implications for higher education institutions in taking steps to address job insecurity, job stress, and negative emotional experiences of academics to mitigate counterproductive work behaviour among academics.

The proverb, Tsiwana i laiwa ndilani”, was used in Vhavenda speaking communities to encourage children to be attentive and receptive to guidance and advice from anyone offering moral and ethical values. This paper aims is to explore how Vhaven?a people used the proverb Tsiwana i laiwa n?ilani. The reason of implementing it was to promote collective responsibilities of raising children with a set of values and manners desirable to society. A qualitative narrative inquiry was used, and data was collected through semi-structured interview. All Vhavenda speaking elders participated in the study. Purposive sampling was used to select six Vhavenda speaking elders who are knowledgeable with the use of the proverb. Data were merged into relevant themes using thematic analysis and coding also applied. This study was grounded by Symbolic Interactionism with Mead Theory as its theoretical framework. The proverb Tsiwana i laiwa n?ilani was the launching proverb for elders to express themselves about instilling norms and values in young children. Main findings of the study demonstrate that (i) a proverb Tsiwana i laiwa n?ilani is an idiom, (ii) it takes a village to raise an African child and finally a child is not an orphan per se. The study recommended that any adults who come across a misbehaving child, should feel free to instil guidance and advice as a way of promoting the cultural norms and values amongst the Vhavenda youth. It is also recommended that the programme to revive ndayo was suggested which encourages a collaborative effort between families, communities, schools, churches, and relevant government departments.

Over the years, internship programmes have been used by the government to reduce youth unemployment. However, there is no clear indication of the extent to which the programmes enhance the career progression of recipients and whether internship programmes are essential in determining an individual career path. Hence, the study sought to examine the relationship between internship programme and career progression. A quantitative study was adopted to investigate the relationship of internship programmes with the career progressions of recipients in South Africa. The data was collected from Mbombela Municipality's current internship candidates and employees who were absorbed from the internship programme using a four-point Likert scale self-developed questionnaire. Out of one hundred research instruments distributed to research participants that were identified based on purposeful and convenient non-probability sampling, only seventy useful responses were retrieved. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the participant's demographic information, while Pearson Product-Moment Correlation was used to analyse the relationship between the internship programme and career progression. The result was 0.001, which means that a positive linear correlation exists between internship programmes and career progression. When managed correctly, these programmes can effectively curb the unemployment rate through absorption, personal development, and providing the right experience matching their qualifications. Furthermore, by emphasising the subtle aspects of internship programmes that have significantly impacted each programme participant's career growth, the study contributes to the existing knowledge of the study variables in order to structure internship programmes according to the educational qualification and provide participants with the required tools that will enhance a positive career progression when the internship is concluded.

This qualitative study intentionally gathered insights from 12 educators of varying seniority across three schools in the Nkangala Education District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, regarding their experiences with mobile learning (facilitated through Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp Messenger) as a professional development and knowledge retention tool during the Covid-19 pandemic. The findings, derived from semi-structured interviews and document analysis, indicated that young educators positively embraced the implementation of Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp Messenger. Senior educators deemed WhatsApp Messenger less intimidating than Microsoft Teams, thereby endorsing it as the preferred medium for professional growth and knowledge retention. This led to a lack of incentive among senior educators to participate in the professional learning events facilitated by Microsoft Teams. Thus, they depended on the supplemental learning information disseminated via WhatsApp Messenger as the principal method for professional development and knowledge retention activities. The research identified multiple obstacles to utilising mobile learning for professional development and knowledge retention, specifically: insufficient ICT skills among senior educators, ineffective content facilitation by subject advisors, and inadequate communication and scheduling of professional development programs. The study advocated for a systematic coordination of: 1) a series of ICT skills training for underqualified educators; 2) peer teaching among novice, mid-career, and senior educators to address internal skills deficiencies; 3) effective communication among the district, circuits, and schools; and 4) skills audits for subject advisors to enhance competency in areas of deficiency. By presenting these recommendations, the report alerts schools, circuits, and districts to the likelihood that the Covid-19-induced adoption of hybrid professional development will become the standard practice.

Girls and women continue to suffer at the hands of patriarchal society that excludes them in family resource allocation. The primary objective of this paper is to examine the challenge that leads to the exclusion of family resource allocation in the form of educational resources for African girls and women. This paper adopts a self-study research approach, which is undergirded by interpretivism philosophical methodology. Intersectional feminism offers a lens for questioning the domination and supremacy of patriarchal society that perpetuates girls’ and women’s vulnerability in the acquisition of family resources in this age. We then discuss how girls and women lead lives marred by hunger, poverty, and inequality. Furthermore, we discuss gender violence and inequality, girl commodification, lessons from matriarchal and patriarchal polities, and gender discrimination at the workplace. We recommend that gender stereotypes and discrimination be eliminated in all social settings; and that at family, society and workplace levels. Finally, that educational institution should reconstruct curricula that should purposively interrogate girls and women's gender stereotyping and discrimination, GBV and other gender issues.

The study aims to investigate the energy conservation behaviour of owners and managers of small hospitality firms by incorporating social norms into an extended Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) model. In addition, the study examines the mediating effects of causal chain of the VBN model in the context of energy conservation behaviour. The world faces serious environmental challenges such as loss of biodiversity, pollution, depletion of natural resources and global warming. One of the causes of these environmental challenges is the production and consumption of energy by households and firms. The hospitality sector uses a significant amount of energy in its operation leading to negative environmental impacts. Reducing energy use will improve environmental and financial sustainability of hospitality firms. Energy conservation behaviour is one of the significant ways to reduce energy consumption.  The study adopts the survey method for data collection and the respondents are conveniently sampled. The Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling is used for data analysis. Based on a dataset of 360 respondents, the study finds that the extended VBM model that includes social norms is applicable in explaining the energy conservation behaviour of owners/managers of small hospitality firms. The mediating effects of the causal chain of the VBN model are significant. The theoretical implication is the applicability of an extended VBN model that includes social norms to predict energy conservation behaviour. Recommendations on how to improve energy conservation behaviour include improving the level of awareness of ecological problems caused by energy consumption. The study aims to investigate the energy conservation behaviour of owners and managers of small hospitality firms by incorporating social norms into an extended Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) model. In addition, the study examines the mediating effects of causal chain of the VBN model in the context of energy conservation behaviour. The world faces serious environmental challenges such as loss of biodiversity, pollution, depletion of natural resources and global warming. One of the causes of these environmental challenges is the production and consumption of energy by households and firms. The hospitality sector uses a significant amount of energy in its operation leading to negative environmental impacts. Reducing energy use will improve environmental and financial sustainability of hospitality firms. Energy conservation behaviour is one of the significant ways to reduce energy consumption.  The study adopts the survey method for data collection and the respondents are conveniently sampled. The Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling is used for data analysis. Based on a dataset of 360 respondents, the study finds that the extended VBM model that includes social norms is applicable in explaining the energy conservation behaviour of owners/managers of small hospitality firms. The mediating effects of the causal chain of the VBN model are significant. The theoretical implication is the applicability of an extended VBN model that includes social norms to predict energy conservation behaviour. Recommendations on how to improve energy conservation behaviour include improving the level of awareness of ecological problems caused by energy consumption.

The effectiveness of web-based learning has garnered significant attention in the global educational landscape, with numerous studies providing invaluable insights to transform education through technology. These research endeavors have generated theoretical frameworks that underpin the implementation and utilization of technology for educational enhancement. However, despite the remarkable contributions of these studies, concerns persist regarding the adept management of web-based Learning Management Systems (LMS). Hence, this paper addresses this critical concern by conducting an analysis of LMS management at a South African University of Technology. Utilising a mixed-methods approach, this study combines qualitative interviews with lecturers and quantitative analysis involving students to comprehensively assess the management of web-based LMS. By triangulating these diverse data sources, this research offers a holistic perspective on LMS management, thereby enriching the understanding of this multifaceted field. The findings of this study indicate that the University of Technology has made significant strides in adopting and implementing web-based learning technologies via Think Learn Zone (TLZ) Moodle platform. However, certain challenges were identified. Notably, inconsistencies in lecturer training, concerns about accessibility, and the demand for enhanced technical support for students. Moreover, the study highlights that while the LMS serves as a pivotal tool for disseminating educational content, its effectiveness hinges on the synergy between administrative decisions and faculty practices.

The study aims to explore inadequate pedagogical training for higher education and strategies that could enhance effective teaching. The study adopted a constructivist paradigm and qualitative research design as it is qualitative in nature. Bandura’s social cognitive theory forms the basis for the study. The theory holds that learning occurs in a social context, interacts with the surroundings and actions, and applies the already stored schemata to acquire new knowledge. Data were generated from the critical review of the relevant literature. It was interpreted and analyzed thematically following Castle and Amanda’s five steps of thematic analysis. The results showed inadequate funding and wrong assumptions about the teaching abilities of lecturers with advanced degrees. In addition, there is also a lack of formal training programs, which contributes to the poor state of teacher training. The study revealed that enough funding and transparent lecturers’ pedagogical training structures can enhance lecturers’ teaching abilities. The study concludes that teacher training for higher education is insufficient. However, proper financial support for relevant and effective teacher training programmes could improve lecturers’ teaching skills and thus better students’ performance. The study recommends that all lecturers in higher education should go under formal teacher training. Universities should also source funds to enhance formal teacher training for novice lecturers. There should be frequent refresher courses on the latest teaching methods for gurus already in the field.

A journal publishing house grows by maintaining and increasing the level of production of journals over the years. As a result, a non-decreasing trend becomes worrisome, because it may mean some likelihood of decline in journal publications. A declining trend warrants an investigation into this aspect, and possible intervention methods for a turnaround to increase journal publications. A respected publishing house in South Africa showed declining trends in its annual yield of various of its journals. The aim of the study was to measure the journal productivity of various journals in a specified publishing house with specific objectives being to determine the level of production over the years; to compare the level of production for the various journals; and to identify the most produced and the least produced journals. A categorical multivariate time series analysis-based study design was conducted. A trend of published articles in a South African oral health-based journal publishing house was investigated for 11-years from 2008 to 2018 in which 197 journals were used. The journals were under the subfields of direct restorative dentistry (DRD), direct restorative materials (DRM), endodontics and paedodontics. Publications of the paedodontics and direct restorative dentistry and materials journals showed a decline over the years, to their extinction. There was no journal on indirect restorative materials, which is a field related to other restorative journals. Merging these could enhance the popularity of a new one. Then, the constantly low endodontics may be augmented by increasing the journal scope.