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This paper seeks to evaluate proficient perceptions within business assessments in South Africa, where such perceptions play a significant role in the evaluation process, encompassing the selection of standards and the establishment of evaluation frameworks. The evolving economy of South Africa is marked by fluctuating economic circumstances and potential growth, compounded by inadequate benchmarks and a scarcity of relevant market information. Forecasting growth rates are further complicated by macroeconomic uncertainties, leading to a reliance on proficient perceptions when industry-specific guidelines and easily comprehensible alternatives to the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) are lacking. A mixed-methods strategy is employed in this study, combining quantitative and qualitative data, along with surveys set benchmarks for business assessments. The outcomes reveal that modifications based on judgment are necessary for variables like organizational size due to the absence of CAPM alternatives. This study stresses the importance of translating scholarly discoveries into practical applications, emphasizing the challenges and uncertainties that call for proficient perceptions in business evaluations. It advances the comprehension of these obstacles and proposes that further exploring macroeconomic variables and industry-specific guidelines could offer valuable insights. The study suggests that biases in evaluations, influenced by client interests, present a promising area for future inquiry.

This study investigated the causal interactions between macroprudential policy, measured by the Macroprudential Policy Index (MPI), and financial cycles represented by the Aggregate Financial Cycle (AFC) and the Credit and Asset Prices Financial Cycle (CAFC) in South Africa from 1970q1 to 2023q2. Additionally, the study explored the effects of macroprudential policy during different phases of financial cycles. Using the time-varying Granger-causality model, the study found that the MPI Granger-caused financial cycles during the 2003/07 credit boom in South Africa, while the AFC and CAFC Granger-caused macroprudential policy during the Covid-19-induced collapse of financial markets. The results suggest that macroprudential policy is employed more proactively during financial booms and more reactively during financial busts in South Africa. The Markov switching dynamic regression model used to assess the MPI's effects revealed that macroprudential policy's effectiveness is stronger during financial busts and weaker during financial booms in South Africa. This is because financial institutions in South Africa tend to resist stricter regulations during boom phases due to heightened optimism about future prospects. Conversely, they are more receptive to stimulatory interventions during bust phases. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the South African Reserve Bank and the Prudential Authority use macroprudential policy more assertively during financial booms to enhance its effectiveness. This could involve setting more stringent parameters upon activating macroprudential policy tools or complementing macroprudential policy with monetary policy during financial booms.

The study examined the influence of board nationality diversity on shareholder value creation of non- financial companies listed on the JSE for a 10- year period from 2013 to 2022.The study used quantitative quasi-experimental research design. The study measured board nationality diversity using proportion of foreign directors on board, Blau index for board nationality diversity, dummy variables for one, two and three or foreign directors. The proxies of shareholder value creation included standard market value added, market- to book ratio and Tobin’s Q and fixed effects model based on linear and curvilinear models were used to test the hypotheses. Main findings of the study demonstrate that proportion of foreign directors on board has an insignificant negative impact on standardised market value added and Tobin’s Q, while significant negative impact on market to book ratio.  Blau index for board nationality diversity has insignificant negative impact on standardised market value added and market to book ratio, yet insignificant positive impact on Tobin’s Q. One foreign director on board has significant positive impact on standard market value added and market to book ratio, while insignificant positive impact on Tobin’s Q. Two and three foreign directors on board have insignificant positive impact on all shareholder value creation measures. In relation to curvilinear models, proportion of foreign directors on board and Blau in index for board nationality diversity have both positive and negative impact on all shareholder value creation measures highlighting an inverted U- shaped effects.

South Africa’s additive manufacturing research has mostly concentrated on engineering and technical aspects, with a lack of studies on management and organizational dynamics. To fill this gap, we conducted research on the direct and moderating links between leader emotional intelligence, organizational emotional culture, and employee job performance in South African additive manufacturing enterprises. We used a deductive research approach, a quantitative research method, and a cross-sectional explanatory correlational study design. Our study used simple random sampling to select 148 employees of additive manufacturing firms in South Africa. Questionnaires served as the data collection instruments, and online data gathering was done using Google Forms. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 software was used for data coding, data entry, and descriptive statistics. Smart PLS 4 was used to conduct partial Least Squares (PLS) Structural Equation Modelling. Findings of the study demonstrate that a significant positive relationship exists between leader emotional intelligence and employee job performance. A significant positive relationship also exists between leader emotional intelligence and organizational emotional climate. A significant positive relationship was found to exist between organizational emotional culture and employee job performance. The finding also showed that organizational emotional culture moderates the relationship between leader emotional intelligence and employee job performance. The findings suggest that developing emotional intelligence among leaders in South African additive manufacturing enterprises could enhance both staff productivity and the organizational emotional environment. Our findings highlight the importance of prioritizing leader emotional intelligence training and development for additive manufacturing enterprises in creating a good emotional environment conducive to enhanced staff job performance.

The purpose of the study is to ascertain the influence of ecolabels in the consumption of certified green products. It explores ecolabels in Durban, hoping to gain valuable insights into ecolabels’ role in influencing the consumption of certified green products. The study employed a quantitative and a non-probability sampling method to understand the influence of ecolabels among green consumers in Durban. To ensure that the data represents the diversity of Durban consumers, a random sampling method was adopted. The data was collected using questionnaires and analysed using the IBM SPSS Version 25. The study employed a sample of 384 customers from retail malls within selected Durban suburbs. The findings revealed that consumers generally have a positive perception of ecolabels and are likely to recommend certified green products. However, the data also revealed that there is scepticism around certified green products as they are considered expensive and can perhaps be attributed to the high cost of certification, credibility issues and the cost associated with the ecolabelling. There is a potential trend towards wider acceptance, with more respondents trusting the authenticity of ecolabels than not. The study also found that older respondents and those with higher income tend to have a more positive perception of ecolabels, potentially due to higher disposable income and greater familiarity with the concept. This suggests that addressing concerns about cost and credibility could further increase positive consumer perception of ecolabels. Businesses can use these findings to develop strategies to address consumer concerns about the cost and credibility of certified green products. They can also target marketing efforts towards older demographics and higher-income consumers who are more receptive to ecolabels. Policymakers can use the findings to evaluate the effectiveness of existing ecolabeling programs and also develop strategies to increase consumer awareness and trust in ecolabels, especially younger audiences.

Internationally, migrants encounter a multitude of obstacles in the countries they settle in, including being denied access to essential services and economic prospects due to restrictive laws that undermine their ability to contribute to the fulfilment of the 2030 global agenda. While it is crucial to incorporate migration into development goals at all levels, the integration at the local government level is still incomplete. This research utilises the notion of global governance and employs a qualitative case study approach to conduct an explorative investigation of the difficulties pertaining to the integration of migration into municipal development plans. A total of 20 individuals engaged in municipal development planning were interviewed. The data was collected by reviewing municipal strategic plans. Thematic analysis was employed for data analysis. The study findings indicate that the lack of current migration data, negative attitudes towards migration, and insufficient coordination among parties responsible for development planning are the primary obstacles to integrating migration into municipal development planning. The exclusion of migrants has significant ramifications for municipal planning. Not only does it contradict the 2030 global goal, which recognises migrants as catalysts for sustainable development, but it also renders municipal planning inadequate and unsustainable. The discoveries aided in the creation of the Migration and Municipal Development Planning Framework. The framework has substantial ramifications for municipal planning since it delineates the actions that local municipalities could take to seamlessly incorporate migration issues into development planning, along with the anticipated results. The framework is a unique and valuable addition to the existing knowledge since it offers a fresh viewpoint on the relationship between migration and sustainable development, specifically at the level of local government.

The problem this study investigated was high rates of school leaders’ work-related stress results with mental illness and death. The primary objective of the study was to investigate the influence of work-related stress on emotional and psychological well-being and performance of school leaders in Vulindlela Circuit.  The study was premised within interpretivism, and we used interviews qualitative technique, to elicit data from 25 secondary school leaderships about their reflections and experiences with work-related stress. The interview transcripts were analysed using NVivo version 14, a program for qualitative data analysis, analyzing the reoccurring themes and patterns of the study, supplemented with narratives. The study discovered that role conflict, role ambiguity, and overload were common workplace stressors affecting the emotional and psychological well-being of school leaderships. The findings are important because they will serve as awareness and mitigation of school leaders’ work-related stress. The study recommends the rolling out of tailormade wellness programmes that will promote mental wellness, and support well-being and stress-reduction techniques through greater task clarity. This study contributes education research on school leadership workplace stressors in Vulindlela Circuit and larger South African context, by laying the groundwork for future studies on interventions to improve school leaderships' performance and well-being.

This study examines the relationship between financial sustainability and the financial well-being of SME owners in Durban, South Africa. Utilising a quantitative research design, data were gathered through close-ended surveys from a diverse cross-section of SME owners, employing a cross-sectional approach.The study adopted a positivist philosophical framework, emphasising quantitative data analysis to derive conclusions. A total of 250 responses were collected, yielding a robust response rate of 82%. The analysis involved descriptive statistics and correlation analysis, with the correlation matrix revealing a positive, statistically significant correlation (r = 0.504, p < 0.05) between financial sustainability and financial well-being. The findings indicate that higher levels of financial sustainability are associated with greater financial well-being among SME owners, though the strength of this relationship is moderate. The regression analysis further supports this positive association, suggesting that interventions aimed at enhancing financial sustainability may significantly improve the financial well-being of SME owners. These results align with the theoretical framework of the Easterlin Paradox, which highlights the relative importance of financial stability in enhancing overall well-being. Based on these findings, several recommendations are proposed, including fostering financial literacy, enhancing access to financial resources, and promoting entrepreneurial collaboration.

The debates over the decolonisation of higher education in South Africa have resulted in differing perspectives on epistemologies and pedagogical techniques. While discussions rage about the conceptualisation and methods of decolonising higher education, as well as the practical efficiency of applying nuanced epistemologies, students continue to face racism, discrimination, and exclusion in higher education institutions. In its broadest sense, the foundation for the conversation on inclusion is founded on the elephant in the room, apartheid, which has been an Achilles heel in the change of South Africa's educational landscape. The apartheid curriculum, in all of its stages, largely prepared workers for low-wage, exploitative work. It showed little concern for emphasising Afrocentric foundations that expanded Black communities' cultural and traditional value systems. Bantu education's harsh social engineering prowess attempted to sidestep African philosophical frameworks (Ubuntu), which are crucial for motivating pupils' confidence, consciousness, and self-actualization. Against this backdrop, this study views decolonisation as a chance to include African languages, value systems, histories, customs, beliefs, cultures, and experiences in higher education.  This paper argues that the abstract inclusion of African languages devoid of intrinsic depth and essence is a patronising exercise purposed to vaguely position African languages alongside English and Afrikaans; doing so prohibits a deeper humanistic appreciation and knowledge of African traditions and indigenous systems. This paper emphasizes the crucial role of African languages and indigenous knowledge systems in addressing racism and inequality, and encourages their gradual and benign incorporation into higher education curricula.

This study aims to examine the effects of deep acting on employees employed at the racecourse. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of deep acting, a type of emotional labour, on the well-being and job performance of service employees in the hotel industry in South Africa. Additionally, the study intends to provide effective coping strategies to minimise any negative consequences of emotional labour. This study employs a qualitative methodology, utilising purposive sampling to choose eight participants from the racecourse industry. The data was gathered using semi-structured in-depth interviews, enabling a thorough investigation of the participants' experiences and perceptions. Thematic analysis was employed to examine the data and discover significant themes and patterns pertaining to the practice of deep acting and its effects. According to the study, sales assistants reported that deep acting was less stressful than surface acting. The practice of deep acting had a positive impact on the job performance and communication abilities of the sales associates, hence contributing to their professional development. Notwithstanding these advantages, certain individuals experienced a sense of being underappreciated by their employers due to the emotional work they performed. The results indicate that engaging in deep acting promotes a heightened sense of empathy towards clients and improves the performance of sales associates as a result of their cumulative work experience. This research emphasises the necessity for organisations, especially those in the hospitality sector, to acknowledge and endorse the emotional labour carried out by their employees. By acknowledging the beneficial aspects of deep acting and providing appropriate coping mechanisms, employers can help alleviate potential negative impacts on employee well-being. Acquiring this comprehension can result in improved management techniques that foster employee contentment and productivity. This study adds to the scarce body of scholarship on emotional work in the South African setting, particularly within the racecourse business. This study presents innovative perspectives on the impact of deep acting on service employees and provides practical approaches for efficiently managing emotional labour. The research highlights the significance of maintaining a balance between employees' self-management and their regulation of client interactions, which ultimately improves the overall quality of customer service and staff satisfaction.

Bullying is a significant concern for learners in South African educational institutions, and it requires immediate attention and intervention from interested parties, such as social workers. This form of violence is prevalent during the school years and involves aggressive behaviour towards victims. The phenomenon of bullying attracts local and global interest from social scientists, who use it as a term to describe its social and emotional effects. The concept is associated with mental health problems, a decline in school performance, school dropout, contemplation of suicide, suicide, and other complex social problems. Social workers are well-versed in the concept of bullying due to their involvement with the issue. The study utilized qualitative research, employing purposive sampling, and thematic analysis to analyze data from a sample of 21 social workers linked to schools. The research design employed was exploratory in nature. The study utilized face-to-face, semi-structured interviews as a means of data collection, with an interview guide serving as the instrument. Prior to collecting data, the researcher obtained permission from participants and sought their consent for audio-recording. Ethical considerations, such as informed consent, debriefing, beneficence, confidentiality, and avoiding harm, were closely followed. The study drew on two theoretical frameworks, namely the ecological and strength-based approaches.   Keywork: Bullying, effects, emotional, learning, social, social workers.

Ulwaluko or Traditional Male Circumcision is an old African practice that has survived years of criticism and attenuation of Western civilization through religion and education. With the growing Western influence on the continent, there is mounting questioning of the virtues of ulwaluko in some circles even amongst Africans themselves. Proponents of ulwaluko see the ritual as a potent tool for leadership development amongst young men. By adopting a qualitative research design, the authors collected data by interviewing young men who recently performed the ritual. Adopting a phenomenological approach helped the author understand the lived experiences of the target group.  The researcher found that over time, there have been influences that sought to weaken and derail the intended objectives of ulwaluko. The researcher also found that leadership development has always been and continues to be integral to the ritual. The recommendations from the study are that the custodians of African cultural beliefs, customs, and values should reclaim their scope of influence and dominance on cultural practices. Greater awareness also needs to be created of the virtues of ulwaluko particularly amongst the younger generations. The author concludes that ulwaluko still plays a pivotal and prominent role in leadership development amongst young African males and that its benefits cannot be undermined.  

Language plays a critical role in isiXhosa poetry. Through the play and interplay of morphemes, words, phrases and lines, poets carry their messages to the intended audience. In investigating five (5) isiXhosa poems, we discovered that poets do use language that denigrates women. This language manifest itself in isiXhosa poetry by words, phrases, and lines that paint women as gold diggers, robbers, lacking intellect, promiscuous, properties of men. The discovery was made through the use of qualitative research approach and critical discourse analysis design. The selected data was analysed through the lenses of African feminism, which examines the experiences of women in literature, such as oppression of women, traces of gender inequality, role of women, as well as representation of women. Main findings of the study demonstrate that language used in isiXhosa poetry upholds the ideals patriarchal ideology and logic. It uses language that is gender bias, sexist and anti-feminism. This form of language contributes to gender-based violence, as it represents women as objects of men, lacking intellect, promiscuous. In this paper, we recommend that poets find alternative language in criticising women; using language that uphold dignity of women will not compromise their message. Furthermore, poems that uses language that denigrate women must not be selected to be studied in basic education.

A company cannot grow unless its employees engage in meaningful behaviours. Therefore, higher learning institutions must foster organisational citizenship behaviour. An educational institution's overall operations are impacted by it, which significantly affects institutions’ operations, enhances the effectiveness of educators, and has a favourable effect on students' academic performance. However, the behaviours that men and women are expected to exhibit and how their actions are perceived are both influenced by their gender. Based on the role theory as the theoretical framework, this study explored the differences between male and female respondents' exhibition of altruism, conscientiousness, sportsmanship, courtesy, and civic virtue among academics. 253 academics were chosen at random from a group of 405 participants using a convenience sampling strategy. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire and analysed through descriptive, factor analysis, and the Mann-Whitney U test. The means showed that employees of this institution appeared to be good citizens displaying all five citizenship dimensions. Furthermore, factor analysis results reported the extraction of five components. Thereafter, the Mann-Whitney test revealed that there were no discernible differences between the organisational citizenship behaviour scores of male and female respondents across all dimensions. These findings create an awareness of the importance of organisational citizenship behaviour in higher learning institutions and give managers a better knowledge of these behaviours. This study advocates that leaders should foster a strong organisational culture that promotes the exhibition of these behaviours within the workplace to make it easier for them to offer assistance to students, and colleagues and advance institutions’ goals.

This study integrates the psychological contract theory with the self-determination theory to examine the impact of relational and transactional psychological contracts on the professional identity of young professionals in Ghana’s professional services sector. It further explores how these identities influence their career resilience, considering the moderating effects of conscientiousness and organisational support. Employing a quantitative methodology, the research utilised a structured questionnaire to collect data from 421 professionals across various sectors within Ghana’s professional services firms. The data was analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings confirm that relational and transactional psychological contracts positively influence Professional Identity Strength (PIS), with relational contracts showing a stronger effect. PIS significantly predicts career resilience. Additionally, the moderating effects of conscientiousness and a supportive organisational climate are significant, enhancing the positive impact of PIS on career resilience. This study contributes to the literature by combining psychological contract and self-determination theories to provide new insights into the dynamics of professional identity and resilience in the workplace, particularly within the context of Ghana’s professional services sector.

The study sought to explore and describe the various policies regarding access to Maternity health care services in the North West Province, South Africa, through the lens of midwives.  Legal and ethical frameworks guide maternity healthcare services to ensure such a service's quality, safety, and standardization. A qualitative, descriptive, explorative research design was followed. Nine purposefully sampled midwives participated in a one-on-one in-depth interview. Data were analyzed using Collaizi's descriptive method based on the emerging themes and categories. One overarching theme with six categories emerged from the data. From the overarching perspective, it was evident that midwives were dissatisfied with the ambiguity of various policies guiding patients' access to Maternity healthcare services. To a certain extent, the admission policy was inconsistent with the patient's rights and constitution of the land on access to health. The ambiguity of admission position led to uncontrolled movements of self-referred patients to clinical facilities. The ambiguity of the transfer policy contributed to challenges during interfacility transfers of referred patients from lower levels of care facilities and vice versa. In addition, the policy on escorts of patients was unspecific about the healthcare personnel required to escort complicated patients in transit, which caused care interruptions. The study findings highlight the Midwives' concerns regarding various policies of access to maternity health services, and the marked ineffectiveness of controlling patients' movement into facilities could be the reason for overcrowding, inadvertently causing a decline in the quality of maternity healthcare services. The study findings may alert policymakers to be cautious and ensure that policies are succinct and consistent with other related laws.

The primary goal of this study was to examine the role of reskilling programmes on digital transformation at a Large Financial Services Organisation. The business climate and the world of work are going through an unprecedented large-scale transition - such as the transition from the agricultural economy to the industrial revolution. The era of digitisation, automation and acceleration is upon us. The society is in an economy where new critical skills have emerged and these new emerging skills have become necessary for individuals, businesses, and the economy to succeed. However, very little research has been done on the role of reskilling programmes on the digital transformation at a Large Financial Services Organisation. The study employed quantitative research and a structured closed questionnaire was used to collect field data from a selected sample of 88 respondents drawn from a target population in the study area. The field data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 29. Statistical tools, including frequency tables, pie charts, and graphs, were used to analyse data. The study findings indicate that jobs have been significantly affected by digital transformation and new emerging job functions in large financial services organisations. A digital transformation programme had a direct relationship with the implementation of reskilling programmes. The study recommended that designing technology-focused training programmes appropriately and selecting or creating technology-focused training programmes with essential elements are necessary for successful outcomes.

Policymakers and scholars universally accept and recognize the influence of small, macro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) on stimulating economic growth and job creation. To succeed and prosper, SMMEs need to establish a sound financial management function; therefore, it is vital to investigate the financial challenges these firms are experiencing. The objective of this paper was, to investigate possible challenges that SMMEs experience when applying for credit from banks. The study sought to answer the main research question - ‘What challenges are encountered by SMMEs when applying for credit from banks? The study adopted a qualitative research methodology. The population used in this research was derived from SMMEs and banking officials in the Vhembe District Municipality area. Stratified random sampling was used to select a sample of 10 research participants. An interview guide was used to gather data from the participants; the data was analyzed using Atlas.ti. The results indicated that most SMMEs in the Vhembe district are not adequately supported, especially in the areas of financial resources, as well as in financial literacy skills and expertise. Specifically, this study identified that the credit application challenges faced by SMMEs are related to - lack of collateral security, lack of financial application education, complex bank credit access regulations, non-satisfaction of banks’ qualifying criteria, as well as stringent credit system, and documentation requirements.

This study investigates how corporate governance (CG) principles affect the financial performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), South Africa, using stewardship theory. Corporate governance (CG) encompasses the regulations, procedures, and mechanisms Overseeing the administration and implementation of a business. Efficient corporate governance (CG) is crucial for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to function with maximum effectiveness and optimise entrepreneurial value. The study seeks to fill this vacuum in information by investigating the impact of using stewardship theory, which prioritises the long-term interests of stakeholders, on the financial performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in KZN.A quantitative approach was employed and a cross-sectional design was employed to survey 217 SMEs in the Durban South area. Descriptive statistics reveal a diversified KZN SME environment, with a predominance of medium-sized businesses, balanced gender representation, and a variety of business ages and educational backgrounds among owners and managers. Inferential statistics show significant correlations between CG principles and financial success metrics of SMEs, particularly affecting returns on invested capital and assets, net profit, asset value, and sales turnover. The results are consistent with earlier studies on the beneficial effects of CG on SME performance. The study is limited to SMEs in the Durban South area and may not be generalizable to other regions. Future research might compare studies across different areas and examine the long-term effects of CG on SMEs to identify optimum practices. The study recommends prioritizing efficient CG procedures tailored to SME needs. It suggests developing business management competencies and advocating for supporting legislation to enhance SME performance.

The purpose of this study is to explore the performance measurement approach of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the South Durban region of South Africa. It has long been known that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in economic growth and income distribution in the world's major economies. However, due to globalisation, the fourth industrial revolution and increased competition from multinationals, South African SMEs face new challenges in measuring their performance. To respond to these challenges, SMEs must adopt efficient and effective performance measurement models. However, currently, according to the researchers, there is no such performance measurement framework. This study aims, among others, to close this gap in the literature. This study uses a deductive, positivist research design to comprehensively explore performance measurement practices in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in a given region. Based on Morgan's sample size table, size 217 was chosen. The use of financial and non-financial performance measures is preferred by SMEs as it shows better performance compared to only one measure. In addition, the study found a positive correlation between business size and age, indicating that larger businesses tend to be older.The results of this study help to understand the complex relationship between job dimensions, age, and performance, highlighting the importance of choosing appropriate performance measures. Future research is recommended to gain a deeper understanding of these relationships and how they vary across contexts and sectors.