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This research assesses the levels of digital financial literacy (DFL) and the patterns of Fintech adoption among university students in South Africa. It expands the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework to investigate the impact of demographic factors on DFL as a precursor to Fintech utilisation. A quantitative methodology utilised convenience sampling to distribute 376 questionnaires at two public universities in South Africa. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and multiple linear regression using IBM SPSS version 29.0, with reliability evaluated through Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Findings reveal moderate to high levels of DFL among university students; however, notable knowledge deficiencies exist concerning consumer rights and redress mechanisms. Demographic analysis indicated that gender had no significant impact on DFL levels, whereas income, age, and educational attainment showed significant correlations. Three components of DFL demonstrated positive and significant correlations with university students' intentions to adopt Fintech products and services; however, awareness of digital financial risks did not significantly influence these adoption intentions. The findings enhance the theoretical framework of technology acceptance models in emerging markets and offer empirical evidence regarding DFL's influence on Fintech adoption. This study provides evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, financial institutions, and educational administrators aiming to improve financial inclusion initiatives and increase Fintech utilisation among university students in South Africa.

Career trajectories and graduate employment outcomes have been extensively studied across disciplines; however, the post-graduation pathways of National Certificate Vocational (NCV) Office Administration graduates from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions remain under-investigated. This study, grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory (ELT), explores the career destinations of NCV Office Administration graduates from a TVET college in Limpopo, South Africa. Adopting a qualitative research design within a constructivist paradigm, data were collected using open-ended questionnaires from 13 purposively sampled graduates. Thematic content analysis revealed a significant misalignment between the skills imparted by the NCV programme and labour market demands. This skills mismatch, exacerbated by limited industry engagement, adversely affects graduate employability. Based on these findings, the study recommends the establishment of a dedicated career guidance unit within the college to support informed programme selection and career planning. Furthermore, it advocates for enhanced collaboration between the college, academic staff, and industry stakeholders to facilitate graduates’ transition into employment. Curriculum development should respond dynamically to empirical insights reflecting current labour market trends. This study contributes to the discourse on improving employability outcomes for NCV Office Administration graduates and identifies avenues for further research.

Manufacturing firms significantly contribute to worldwide environmental deterioration by generating substantial waste, emitting greenhouse gases, contaminating water, and depleting natural resources. The situation in South Africa is particularly alarming, as just a minimal percentage of trash is effectively managed. Many municipal landfills are overwhelmed, and illicit dumping is prevalent. The industrial industry's persistent ecological imprint, along with the swift depletion of natural resources, highlights an urgent necessity for sustainable waste management strategies that can reduce environmental damage and improve corporate accountability. While existing literature recognises the environmental consequences of manufacturing and outlines general waste management strategies, there is a significant deficiency in empirical research assessing the efficacy of specific waste disposal methods, especially within the South African manufacturing sector. This study aims to objectively evaluate the efficacy of three waste management techniques inside manufacturing firms in the iLembe Municipal District of South Africa. A total of 262 firms were polled; however, only 191 responses were obtained, of which 184 were considered valid for data analysis. Descriptive statistics were utilised to summarise the central tendency and dispersion of the data, encompassing means, standard deviations, and percentages. Correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the strength and direction of linear relationships between continuous variables, specifically to assess the impact of waste re-use practices, examine the appropriateness of in-house recycling practices, and determine the efficacy of incineration as effective waste disposal methods. The findings indicate that in-house recycling, waste reuse, and incineration are extensively employed in the district, with chemical waste being the most predominant. This study provides empirical evidence of the beneficial impact of efficient waste management on organisational performance, hence facilitating more sustainable and strategic decision-making in the industrial industry.

Despite extensive research on the impact of educational technology in enhancing the quality of teaching, learning, and learner academic achievement, there remains a notable lack of research focusing on teachers’ perspectives regarding the role of technology in addressing educational inequities. Using South Africa as a case study, this qualitative investigation sought to explore South African teachers’ views on the perceived role of educational technology in promoting educational equity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four purposefully selected teachers from public schools in South Africa. The thematic findings indicated that the participants believed educational technology holds the potential to significantly contribute to the redress of educational inequities by expanding access to information and resources, improving the quality and efficiency of education, and catering to diverse learner preferences. However, participants also expressed concern that technology could potentially worsen existing disparities rooted in socioeconomic status. They emphasized the importance of equitable access to technological infrastructure. This study provides insights into the complex relationship between educational technology and equity within the South African context and underscores the importance of incorporating teachers’ perspectives in the implementation of technology-driven initiatives intended to eliminate educational inequalities.

As African countries continue to improve their healthcare quality, a study of this nature that sought to examine satisfaction with healthcare services from the perspective of healthcare users cannot be overemphasized, as the findings serve as a benchmark to guide policy decisions in the healthcare sector. This study assessed perception of satisfaction on the quality of decentralised healthcare service delivery from a positivist research orientation. A total of 408 users of healthcare services from 10 districts of Lesotho were selected to respond to a set of questionnaires and a researcher-administered survey developed from the six World Health Organisation–defined dimensions of quality healthcare: safety, equity, acceptability, accessibility, efficiency, and effectiveness. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysing the data obtained. The findings of the study revealed mixed feelings among users of healthcare services in Lesotho. For example, healthcare users were generally satisfied with how receptive service providers were to innovative service delivery, honesty, and the overall competence of healthcare service providers. However, significant deficits were observed in treatment safety, record-keeping, equitable geographic service distribution, and timely access. Particularly worrying were concerns about drug administration, rural service equity, and duplication of health procedures. There were no significant differences in the respondents’ satisfaction regarding healthcare services despite variations in their sexual orientation and age distribution. The study highlights the systemic inequalities and inefficiencies that counter the desired objectives of decentralised healthcare and the critical need for participatory health governance, digital health systems, improved communication strategies, health infrastructure investments and adaptive governance frameworks to bridge the disconnect between the lived experiences of healthcare users and decentralised health policy frameworks. The results offer evidence-based insights for healthcare administrators, donors, health communicators and policymakers seeking to enhance equity and quality in healthcare in resource-constrained African settings.

Management appointments do not represent gender equality, even though men and women are given equal opportunity. Social conventions and laws have supported male-dominated workplaces. This qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual study used a phenomenological technique to examine women's management experiences in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa. The intended audience was managerial women. Purposive sampling, unstructured individual interviews, and inductive topic analysis were used. Trustworthiness was determined by credibility, transferability, reliability, and confirmability. Promoting autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice was ethical. This study found workplace gender bias, male resistance to female leadership, gender intimidation, and a non-supportive work atmosphere. These data may help create workplace recommendations for women in managerial roles.

The maturing democracy in South Africa is navigating challenges within the context of participatory democracy, which has evolved into two distinct states. The arrangement of these two states reflects the citizens' efforts to mobilise for the public state, as opposed to their belief in the private state. The public state is exemplified by active participation aimed at advancing the interests of the impoverished, which should serve as a foundational element to inform the government of its citizens' desires. The second state is the private state (intra-state), which functions in the digital age and communicates swiftly on various matters distinct from those of the public state. All these states appeal to the same government, yet one state appears to be thriving more than the others, complicating the philosophical framework that underlies South Africa's public administration aimed at unifying the nation. This study aims to illustrate the quality of services and the dependencies of these two states on government, highlighting how their existence is scientifically steering the government in divergent directions. Secondly, this illustrates how these two states are influenced by class contradictions within society, where one class oppresses another to promote its interests through government influence. The study concludes that intra-state arrangements are illegitimate, serving to exploit power dynamics over the public state and impacting national interests. A single public state is recommended for establishment.

The evolving perceptions of trust within the community about both national and local government have substantial ramifications for the long-term viability of the nation's democracy and the degree of societal trust. This study sought to evaluate the degree of public trust among South African adults in their national and municipal governments, as well as to analyse the variables influencing this trust. The report underscores considerable scepticism in South African national and local administrations, attributable to performance deficiencies, inadequate service delivery, absence of transparency, and insufficient community participation. Individuals associated with the ANC exhibit comparatively more trust owing to past allegiance. We advocate promoting reforms to restore public trust by enhancing governance processes, increasing transparency, and ensuring efficient service delivery, especially for marginalised areas.

This study investigates the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve operational performance in Zimbabwean road haulage enterprises, with a focus on driver training as a moderator. As the logistics industry faces new difficulties, AI technologies have great promise for increasing efficiency and decision making. However, the usefulness of these technologies is determined by the skill levels of the drivers using them. This study demonstrated how extensive driver training improves the capacity to comprehend AI-generated insights, resulting in better route management, lower operating costs, and increased safety. This study examines how AI affects key performance variables such as cost savings, productivity, customer happiness, and environmental sustainability, using real data from road haulage companies. Key findings demonstrate how AI is transforming decision-making, improving operational effectiveness, and optimizing routes. The research highlights several noteworthy obstacles in addition to their obvious advantages, such as budgetary limitations, difficulty in obtaining pertinent data, and the need for more regionalized AI solutions. The findings, which are based on case studies and performance data from diverse enterprises, indicate that (i) organizations that invest in both AI and driver training benefit from a synergistic impact, resulting in higher operational outcomes, (ii) there is need to combine technical improvements with human experience to achieve maximum performance in Zimbabwe's competitive road-haulage market and finally (iii) this study offers helpful recommendations for successfully integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into haulage processes, along with insights into best practices and alternative approaches to overcome current obstacles. This study emphasizes the importance of context-specific solutions in emerging regions, enhancing the expanding corpus of knowledge on AI applications, particularly in logistics.

The Adaptive Market Hypothesis (AMH) allows for a re-evaluation of the relationship between macroeconomic variables and stock market returns, acknowledging that this relationship is time-varying and asymmetrical. This study investigates the impact of macroeconomic factors on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) sector returns under varying market conditions from January 2008 to December 2024. Using a Markov regime-switching model, the findings show that macroeconomic effects on sectoral returns are regime-dependent and time-sensitive. In bullish markets, inflation growth has a significant negative impact on Industrial sector returns, but no significant effect during bearish regimes. For the Financial sector, inflation and money supply growth negatively affect returns, while the real effective exchange rate growth has a positive impact. In the Resource sector, all macroeconomic variables significantly influence returns during bearish conditions, with inflation growth showing a notable negative effect. Overall, JSE sector returns exhibit bull and bear market dynamics, and the influence of macroeconomic variables is neither uniform nor static aligning with the AMH framework.

The efficient integration of young people into the global job market is fundamental to sustainable development, significantly impacting economic stability, social unity, and demographic benefits. This study examines the determinants of youth labour absorption across key economic sectors in South Africa. The study uses the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to analyse sector-specific time-series data. The empirical findings show that youth labour market outcomes are influenced by both macroeconomic and microeconomic factors, with varying effects across economic sectors. The identified key determinants of youth labour absorption include economic growth, skills levels, labour costs, capital- or labour-intensity, profitability, and investment. In the manufacturing sector, for example, a rising capital-to-labour ratio was identified as one of the key constraints on youth labour absorption, while relatively low labour costs supported youth labour absorption in the community and social services sector. These sector-specific insights highlight the necessity of differentiated policy responses. Accordingly, the study recommends targeted strategies to promote inclusive economic growth, bridge skills mismatches, and encourage investment in labour-intensive industries.

This study aims to provide compelling evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of local economic development (LED) in advancing economic and social development. The research undertook a systematic review of existing literature to assess whether LED strategies have effectively addressed the racially and gender-based socio-economic disparities between affluent and impoverished communities. The analysis revealed that municipal LED efforts have predominantly concentrated on community economic development projects, many of which have turned out to be economically unfeasible with minimal enduring impact on poverty alleviation. Moreover, the collaboration among government entities, local businesses, and the voluntary sector was frequently found to be weak or altogether absent. For significant socio-economic transformation in South Africa, LED policies must emphasize not only an increase in the number of job opportunities but also a diversification of economic activities. Local governments are called upon to play a proactive role in this transformative process. Furthermore, the LED strategy should be comprehensive and not reliant on a limited number of projects. This study This research is characterised by originality and great scientific value, as it underscores the necessity for the national government to take on a leadership position and devise LED guidelines that empower local authorities with the capacity to effectively foster LED activities.

This paper examines the effect of indigenous innovation and entrepreneurship in further advancing socioeconomic development in Ghana. It emphasizes how culturally imbibe knowledge systems and traditional practices contribute to long-term development. Specifically in tourism-related industries like agriculture, crafts, and traditional medicine. A quantitative survey was conducted with 362 indigenous entrepreneurs from three administrative regions of Ghana. Structured questionnaires were employed to gather data about innovative techniques and socioeconomic results. The data was asses using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to find the underlying scope of the innovation and multiple regression analysis. This focus on the relationship between indigenous innovation and socioeconomic factors. The results show a significant relationship between indigenous innovation techniques and major socioeconomic outcomes. The study findings portray a significant and positive correlation between indigenous innovation practices and key socio-economic outcomes, such as employment generation , income growth and cultural continuity. The relationship was significant at p < 0.001. These findings point out that indigenous innovation is not only as a driver of local economic development, but rather is a vehicle for preserving cultural identity and community resilience. The study presents novel empirical evidence from the Global South, challenging conventional innovation paradigms in stressing the socio-cultural relevance of indigenous knowledge systems. It provides new insights on how grassroots entrepreneurial behaviors anchored in tradition can supplement national development initiatives and enhance the broader debate on inclusive innovation.

Trigonometry is currently an examinable section in the subject of mathematics and is assessed in grade 12 examinations. This study addresses the challenge that teachers’ knowledge and the supply of quality learning support material is inadequate in trigonometry in secondary schools The purpose is to determine how Mathematical models/manipulatives helped grade 12 learners adopt more interactive approaches toward the learning of three-dimensional trigonometric problems and whether the use of models improves the learning of mathematics. The study used a qualitative approach with a case study research design. The interpretive paradigm framed the analysis of the learners' interactions with the Mathematical manipulatives. This case study was conducted at a school in KwaZulu-Natal (n=16) in South Africa. Grade 12 mathematics learners participated in the research, engaging in qualitative assessments in structured activity worksheets consisting of questions on 3-dimensional trigonometric problems and semi-structured interviews. Findings emanating from the data analysis reveal that the use of manipulatives is beneficial to learners when solving 3D trigonometric problems and suggest that the use of manipulatives shows a reduction in task difficulty by linking the concrete to the abstract, and manipulatives encourage mathematical fluency.

This study investigates the dynamic relationship between credit supply and demand shocks and household consumption in South Africa using a quantile autoregressive distributed lag (QARDL) model. Motivated by the increasing reliance of South African households on debt amid stagnant income growth, rising living costs, and persistent unemployment, the research aims to understand how credit market conditions influence consumption across different segments of the income distribution. Drawing on data spanning from 1970 to 2024, the study incorporates key macroeconomic variables including real GDP per capita, household income per capita, household debt as a percentage of GDP, the credit-to-GDP ratio, inflation, interest rates, and the unemployment rate. The QARDL framework allows for the estimation of both short-run and long-run relationships while accounting for heterogeneity across consumption quantiles. The results indicate that household consumption is more responsive to income shocks and credit availability in the lower and middle quantiles, suggesting heightened sensitivity among poorer households. Credit supply, proxied by the credit-to-GDP ratio, exhibits weak but positive short-run effects, while household debt consistently exerts a negative influence on consumption across all quantiles and time horizons, with stronger effects in lower quantiles. These findings highlight the consumption-depressing effects of excessive debt, especially for financially vulnerable households. Moreover, macroeconomic stability indicators such as inflation and interest rates are found to negatively affect consumption, particularly in lower quantiles, underscoring the uneven transmission of monetary policy. The empirical results support the hypothesis that household debt contributes to financial fragility and undermines consumption over time, while credit supply shocks play a more modest role. The study concludes that policies aimed at improving income stability, managing household debt levels, and enhancing financial inclusion—particularly for low-income groups—are essential for sustaining household consumption and promoting inclusive economic growth in South Africa.

This case note critically analyses the Labour Court’s decision in JDJ Diagnostics (Pty) Ltd v Michael Kruger and Others under Case No: D705/2023 delivered on 30 April 2025 (JDJ Diagnostics), which highlights the procedural firmness required in applications to stay the enforcement of arbitration awards under the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (LRA). JDJ Diagnostics’ failure to substantiate its claim of urgency, comply with section 145(8), or justify nonconformity under section 145(3) led to the dismissal of its urgent application. The case illustrates the judiciary’s firm stance against abuse of court processes in the aftermath of the 2014 amendment of the LRA, which shifted toward formalisation in review procedures. Drawing on case law and scholarly publications, the case note explores how the court’s reasoning reflects broader trends in labour dispute resolution, reinforcing the binding nature of arbitration awards and the evidentiary burden on employers seeking to delay enforcement. The judgment confirms that the furnishing of security is no longer discretionary but foundational, marking a continued evolution towards enforcement, fairness, and efficiency in the speedy resolution of disputes in the South African labour law landscape.

The aim of the paper is to demonstrate how financialization of the economy has created structural inequalities in South Africa; and to further demonstrate the pertinence of rural development in alleviating the structural repercussions of the finance dominated regime. Financialization of the South African economy relates to the supremacy of speculative reforms, finance and shareholder-oriented motives in the oversight of the economy. The paper exhibits the failures of the dominance of financial and profit-making efforts in South Africa. The paper uses desktop analysis and literature survey to theoretically explore the opportunity space of rural development as a response to the effects of financialization of the South African economy. The paper finds that financialization of the South African economy polarizes and spatialises income distribution for the benefit of the elite minority in the urban financial and corporate space while the rural poor are getting poorer. It further finds that government planning and policy making efforts do not respond directly to the causes of inequality which were framed by the exclusionary economic planning. Moreover, local policy making has left a lacuna in as far as rural community based financial reconstruction and rehabilitation is concerned; instead, development policies seem to give reverence to the accentuation of exclusionary planning for the elite minority. The paper posits that the opportunity space for rural development should be exploited and given concerted efforts to remedy the impact of financialisaton and exclusionary colonial planning. Lastly, community-based cooperatives should be prioritised as appropriate institutional role players in facilitating the process of inclusive and redistributive rural development in South Africa.

In South Africa, education has been strengthened by granting access to everyone. Yet there are significant differences between the apartheid era and the present. However, during apartheid times the curriculum was different. For example, access was limited, instruction was taught in a language other than English, and political power was all exercised over four distinct groups in the school system during apartheid: Whites, Black people, Indians, and Coloured people. While the current South African education system has been instrumental in enhancing the quality of instruction and learning, technological integration, and government, stakeholder, and non-governmental organization intervention, (NGO). Based on writings published within the context of South Africa, we provide a first critique of the country's educational system. Our main goal is to evaluate the shift in concentration to critique the educational system. This study recommends using quantitative research to investigate the outlook of the South African Education System. The South African Education System is critically outlooked in terms of enhancing in its education system, this is due to the lack of Government and Department of Education (DOE) to take initiative.

Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are a key part of socio-economic development in South Africa by providing employment, generating incomes, and alleviating poverty. Despite their significance, South African SMEs continue to register high failure rates, low growth rates, and short lifespan, particularly in unstable industries. Existing research has consistently cantered on the determinants of firm performance but has been remiss in considering the combined effect of firm size, financial turnover, and performance on lifespan in SMEs—specifically in diversified industrial settings. Bridging the research gap in extant research, the present research considered the interrelationship between the aforementioned variables in the best-performing and poorest-performing industries in South Africa, Manufacturing and Construction industries. The study used a correlational research design and collected data from 204 SMEs using structured questionnaires to gauge the number of employees, turnover per year, and operation period in years. Pearson correlation analysis established that in the Manufacturing industry, longevity was weakly and significantly interrelated with turnover and size but in the Construction industry was weak or statistically non-significant. Contrastingingly, when both industries were combined together, weak but statistically significant interrelationship was established between longevity and both turnover and size, but a strongly positive interrelationship was established between turnover and size. The results conclude that firm size and financial performance are key drivers of the lifespan of SMEs, especially in more stable industries.

The escalating use of substances, leading to substance use disorders with numerous culminating health implications and other related consequences is an ever-growing problem in Nigeria. Also, as new psychoactive substances emerge, there seems to be a shift in what is known as the pattern of substance use among Nigerian youngsters. This study investigated the trends in substance use and the predictive impact of irrational thought patterns on substance use among undergraduates in Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Participants comprised 300 undergraduates (64% male) selected across three universities in Nigeria, using a purposive sampling technique. They responded to drug abuse screening tests and shortened the general attitude and belief scale. The study hypotheses were tested with a multiple linear regression analysis. Tramadol, cannabis, and alcohol were ranked as the top three substances of first use. Most of the respondents identified that their monthly expenses on drugs outweigh their income. Sexual performance boost, peer influence, and euphoria were reported as the major reasons for the continued use of substances. Also, the results showed that dimensions of thought patterns (rationality, self-downing, need for achievement, need for approval, need for comfort, demand for fairness, and other downing) significantly predict substance use disorder among males (F (7, 283) = 24.19, p < .001, R2 = .846) and female poly-substance users (F (7, 283) = 22.48, p < .001, R2 = .611). It was recommended that more attention should be paid to the cognitive dimensions of young individuals in both preventive and curative interventions for substance use.