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Digital marketing has profoundly altered the marketing techniques utilised by merchants. Although a growing number of rural retail enterprises in South Africa are starting to implement these techniques, the comprehensive effect of digital marketing on their sustainability is still inadequately examined. This study seeks to investigate the impact of internet marketing on retail operations in the rural community of Flagstaff. A quantitative research methodology was utilised, distributing questionnaires to all 52 major merchants via a census technique, yielding 45 replies and an 87% response rate. The results demonstrate that merchants employ several digital marketing strategies, such as social media marketing, email marketing, and mobile marketing, to engage with customers and present sales propositions. This engagement is constrained by the minimal acceptance of digital marketing among consumers, restricted e-commerce utilisation, and inadequate digital literacy, preventing both sides from fully leveraging its advantages. The report advises businesses to persist in using digital marketing methods, including social media and email marketing, into their promotional efforts. This strategy will enable them to engage the niche population that prefers these platforms and maintain alignment with market trends, so assuring competitiveness. Furthermore, it is essential to assist rural areas in improving their digital marketing adoption to sustain retail enterprises and maintain relevance in the contemporary digital environment.

This study examines the tax incentives and challenges faced by Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) in South Africa, with a focus on those registered as Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs). NPOs play a vital role in addressing socio-economic issues, and serving vulnerable communities. While these organizations operate for non-profit purposes, the tax incentives provided by the government are crucial for their financial sustainability. Therefore, establishing a supportive tax framework is essential to promote their growth and operational capacity. A scoping review methodology was employed, analyzing literature on tax incentives and compliance challenges faced by South African NPOs from 2010 to 2023. Key provisions include income tax exemptions under Section 10(1)(cN), capital gains tax exclusions, and Section 18A tax-deductible donations. The study also explored the legal framework governing tax-exempt status and trading activities. Findings show that while tax incentives provide significant benefits, NPOs face challenges in maintaining compliance, such as complex regulations, limited financial resources, and a lack of expertise. Many struggle with differentiating between exempt and taxable activities. Strategies to address these issues include simplifying tax processes, enhancing financial management education, and improving communication between SARS and NPOs. Introducing user-friendly tax reporting systems and tailored support could further boost compliance and ensure NPOs maximize available benefits. These insights are valuable for policymakers and tax authorities seeking to strengthen the regulatory framework and support the growth of NPOs in South Africa.

In South Africa, there is a pressing need to produce teachers who can integrate technology in teaching and learning. Therefore, this qualitative study explores business studies student teachers’ experiences of integrating technology during teaching practice. This study is located within the interpretive paradigm and an exploratory case study is adopted as its research design. TPACK framework serves as the lens used to understand the experiences of six student teachers who were sampled purposefully. Data collected through focus group interviews were analysed thematically.  The study revealed that student teachers found technology integration to be useful in their instructional practices. However, the study revealed that there was a lack of support from mentor teachers when student teachers were integrating technology. Despite this, they showed determination towards technology integration in their classrooms. Based on the findings, it is concluded that student teachers were determined to integrate technology during teaching practice.

This study explored the role of ICT in preserving proverbs among Vhavenda communities. From time immemorial, proverbs were valuable cultural practices of oral tradition, which were used to empower the young generation on morals, norms, behaviour, education, and other African values. It has been noticed that due to modernisation and lack of preservation, proverbs have been abounded by the majority of Vhaven?a youths, which seems to be resulting in moral degeneration because youth no longer acquire moral knowledge and skills through proverbs. This study grounded by diffusion of innovation theory. This study intended to adopt a qualitative research design. Therefore, participants were selected through purposive sampling. Furthermore, semi-structured was used to collect data. Thematic data analysis was used to analyse data. The envisioned findings of the study could be convenient in preserving the Vhaven?a proverbs.

Reports indicate that the South African government is failing to maintain its infrastructure adequately. This has been a persistent issue, especially considering the state of the roads in regions like King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality (KSDLM). The study aimed to elucidate the challenges of road infrastructure in KSDLM and propose strategies for the Municipality to address the identified issues. The research utilised a mixed methods technique to examine the obstacles related to road infrastructure in Mqanduli hamlet. The primary findings indicate that (i) the roads in Mganduli village have deteriorated due to a lack of maintenance, leading to an escalation of community protests, (ii) neglecting road maintenance poses a danger to public safety, as many individuals have been adversely affected by the substandard road conditions, and (iii) KSDLM is failing to adhere to the principles of open system theory in utilising public-private partnerships to address pressing service delivery requirements that the Municipality cannot fulfil effectively and efficiently due to financial limitations.

As the 3D printing industry continues to gain momentum in South Africa's SME sector, issues about their financing and financial management need to be investigated. This is due to the capital-intensive nature of the business as well as the financing challenges encountered by 3D printing SMMEs. This study aimed to contribute to research on financial management practices and sources of finance as predictors of performance for 3D printing small and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in terms of profitability and increase in client base. The study adopted the interpretivist research paradigm, exploratory research design, inductive research approach and qualitative research method to achieve the objectives of the study. A total of twenty (20) 3D printing firms participated in the study. Employees and managers were purposefully selected to participate in the study. The participants comprised finance managers, senior managers and managers of the twenty (20) 3D printing firms that participated in the study. Structured interviews served as the instrument for data collection based on the objectives of the study. Data gathered from interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that effective working capital management practices boost the profitability of 3D printing SMMEs, particularly through adopting no-credit policies and hiring competent finance officers. These practices also help expand the client base by ensuring timely delivery of products and services, with customer relationship management being a strategic approach. The study also revealed that liquidity management practices significantly boost the profitability of 3D printing firms by ensuring sufficient cash flow to meet financial obligations, managing financial risks, and ensuring timely product delivery, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and contributing to growth in the customer base. The study recommends the need for 3D printing SMMEs to prioritise cash flow management and develop robust systems to monitor and control working capital components, including inventory, receivables, and payables.  

This study explores the professional identity perceptions of teachers responsible for instructing number concepts in the foundation phase, focusing on their roles and responsibilities within elementary mathematics education. Using qualitative methods, including interviews and observations, the research examines the multifaceted dimensions of teachers' professional identities, highlighting both positive and negative perspectives. Twelve foundation phase teachers from the Johannesburg East District were purposively selected for in-depth semi-structured interviews and observations. Thematic analysis was employed to uncover and present detailed findings. Results indicated that teachers perceive their professional identity as either positive or negative. Positive identities include viewing themselves as specialists in pedagogical content knowledge and as in loco parentis, displaying enthusiasm, self-motivation, friendliness, competence, and commitment. Negative identities involve seeing themselves primarily as administrators or social workers. The study identified a misalignment between teachers' self-perceptions and their classroom practices in teaching number concepts. Teachers' self-perception as instructors of number concepts significantly influences their teaching approaches in the foundation phase. The study suggests that investing in teacher development programs can help construct and reconstruct a positive professional identity, thereby enhancing the teaching of number concepts in the foundation phase. This research underscores the importance of aligning teachers' self-image with their pedagogical practices to foster effective mathematics education at the elementary level.

There is significant rivalry among South African banks as a result of the banking sector's being oversaturated. Banks can make use of financial resources, robust organisational cultures, human resources, and productive employee collaboration in light of resource-based theory. The implications of strategy implementations in the banking sector are also looked at. An in-depth interview was created to collect data from twenty-five bank employees. Altas Ti was used for data analysis. The relationship between organisational sustainability and strategy implementation drivers was investigated in this study through the use of qualitative research methods. The results indicate that technology, social capital, organisational culture, and support from upper management all significantly influence how much a strategy is put into implementation. The findings also demonstrate a clear connection between the drivers of strategy implementation and achieving favourable financial and customer outcomes in addition to obtaining a competitive advantage. This study also clarifies the variables that affect strategy implementation and how it could enhance this sector's growth and competitiveness prospects. According to the current study's findings, in order to enhance organisational effectiveness, the banking industry needs to pay special attention to strategy implementation drivers.

This study aims to investigate the impact of green empowering leadership (GEL) on organisational citizenship behaviour toward the environment (OCBE) of employees in hospitality firms. Green empowering leadership is a newly conceptualized leadership style that combines traditional empowering leadership with a focus on environmental sustainability. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine how GEL can improve OCBE in hospitality firms. To test hypotheses and accomplish study goals, the social exchange theory (SET) theory was combined with a quantitative research strategy. Data was collected from hotel employees in a cross-sectional survey and the study adopted the convenience and purposive sampling method, and the survey participants were middle level managers of hotels. The study used the Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) for data analysis. The findings indicate a positive effect of green empowering leadership and OCBE. The findings of the study have important implications for policy and practice in the hospitality industry. There is the need for hotel to adopt green practices and incorporate ecological concerns in their strategy and operation.

This qualitative research investigates the influence of servant leadership on the execution of strategic government initiatives, with a particular emphasis on the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) in Kwa-Thema. The project outcomes were investigated by collecting data from 10 participants using convenience sampling to investigate the impact of servant leadership traits, including empathy, commitment, empowerment, humility, ethical stewardship, long-term vision, and resilience. Thematic analysis was implemented to pinpoint critical themes and insights that were pertinent to the success and obstacles of the project. The research tackles a critical issue: project failures frequently result from inadequate leadership, which impedes team cohesion, collaboration, and overall performance (Swart et al., 2022). Additionally, the results suggest that servant leadership significantly improves project delivery by ensuring transparency, promoting collaboration, and aligning projects with community requirements. The impact of leadership on project achievement was discovered to be mediated by employee motivation and engagement. The study's limitations include its emphasis on a particular region and project type, which implies the necessity of conducting more extensive research. There are two recommendations: the integration of servant leadership principles into project management practices and the provision of targeted training for leaders to improve team dynamics and project outcomes.

The focus of this paper is on public administration as a discipline and a distinct body of knowledge concerned with the ontological and epistemological realities of monitoring and evaluation. This study will provide a brief account of the evolution of the field of Public Administration in connection to the ontological realities of M&E policy processes in order to provide context for the current thesis on M&E policy processes. As a precursor to the current study's methodological approach and emphasis on the need for M&E policy practice in South Africa, the paper provides the historical epistemological and ontological foundations of the discipline of Public Administration. In this light, the paper will seek to unveil the historical trends in the epistemological and ontological philosophical aspects of the discipline of Public Administration thus offering a scholarly anchor for the paper. Against this setback, this conceptual paper seeks to explore the prospects and challenges of monitoring and evaluations contribution to Public Administration discourse.

The main aim was to determine how the supply chains of the FMCG industry may enhance their resilience through the adoption of digital technologies. Additionally, enhancing visibility and transparency through the augmentation of operational efficiency to elevate overall performance. This analysis utilised the Uncertainty Framework theory, which provides a systematic approach for identifying, categorising, and managing uncertainties within the supply chain. Organisations can formulate strategies to effectively manage and mitigate risks by understanding the many dimensions of uncertainty within the supply chain and their interrelations. The research utilised a qualitative methodology, gathering data via semi-structured interviews with 25 supply chain specialists and senior executives possessing extensive experience in the FMCG sector. The study's findings indicate that digital transformation enhances agility, transparency, and data-driven decision-making, which is crucial for bolstering the resilience of the FMCG supply chain. Six themes emerged from the findings: data-driven decision-making, supply chain visibility and transparency, automation and robots, collaborative platforms and ecosystems, predictive analytics and forecasting, and traceability and sustainability. The research will enhance our understanding of the implementation of digital transformation initiatives throughout FMCG supply chains. This involves analysing the application of digital technologies in supply chain operations. The study may ascertain the impact of these technologies on various resilience criteria, including flexibility, agility, visibility, and responsiveness, by analysing the role of digital transformation in FMCG supply chains. The research findings can assist supply chain managers in making educated decisions on investments and strategic planning for digital transformation initiatives.Research on digital transformation in the FMCG sector is limited, particularly on these unprecedented upheavals. Moreover, there is little study connecting digital transformation with sustainability and resilience in FMCG supply chains, which is essential for comprehending how these projects might collaboratively enhance robust supply systems.

The Township Innovation Hub was established by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development to promote economic development and competitiveness in Gauteng by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. However, upon adopting the Gauteng Township Economic Revitalization Strategy in 2014, the services offered by TIH were expected to be disbursed in different townships to support small businesses involved with innovation; hence, the eKasiLabs were established. As a result, eKasiLabs have been promoting entrepreneurship in different townships through various programs. This study, therefore, assesses the socio-economic impact of the eKasiLabs programs in Gauteng. To achieve this objective, a mixture of qualitative (key informant interviews) and quantitative (propensity score matching (PSM) and textual analysis) approaches were adopted. The analysis shows that the eKasiLabs programme has significantly improved entrepreneurial development and innovation among the beneficiaries in the township despite notable challenges. The impacts of the improved growth could thus be observed in business growth, innovation, productivity improvement, and job creation.

This study focused on improving the diagnosis of African swine fever (ASF) by improving accuracy, reliability and precision using various machine learning algorithms. Data from the European Union Reference Laboratory for ASF and the EU Animal Disease Information System (ADIS) containing clinical information on wild and domestic pigs were processed and converted into numerical and categorical formats for analysis. Various machine learning models were tested as part of the study, including linear regression, Bayesian regression, support vector machines (SVM), decision trees, random forest classifiers, artificial neural networks (ANNs) and logistic regression. The models were evaluated using metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score and root mean square error (RMSE). The results showed that the SVM achieved the lowest performance with 44.4% accuracy, followed by the logistic regression model with 61.5%. The neural network model achieved 69% accuracy, closely followed by the decision tree model with 70%. The linear regression model performed slightly better with 74% accuracy. Bayesian regression achieved a higher accuracy of 80%, while the Random Forest model outperformed all others, achieving the highest accuracy of 88.9%. These results make an important contribution to economic efficiency and innovative applications in veterinary medicine and improve disease management through advanced machine learning techniques.

The paper explored the digital capabilities required by the private utility environment to participate and remain competitive in Society 5.0. The development of a digital infrastructure for power utilities within a smart society, utilizing renewable energy and integrating traditional and renewable sources, presents challenges in identifying the specific skills required for effective operation within Society 5.0. While technologies like virtual power plants, smart grids, and microgrids offer potential for enhanced energy management, there is a significant gap in understanding the workforce capabilities needed to support, maintain, and sustain these advanced systems. Therefore, a thorough assessment of the proposed technological structures and requisite skills is essential to ensure successful implementation and operation in this evolving energy landscape. It investigated the type of skills would the workforce require for a private utility to support a super-smart society. A non-probability sampling strategy was utilised to access the entire interest set. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were performed, with the participants featuring a private utility company’s management, administrative, and technical staff. All interviews conducted were recorded after obtaining consent from the participants. Probing questions were asked until the participants supplied the information needed to address the study questions. The findings and the implications are that management and technical staff responsible for managing and coordinating the activities of utilities (water and electricity) and the technical staff responsible for the implementation and maintenance of energy solutions, in a private utility company were interviewed to establish and ascertain their digital capabilities and preparedness for the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions (Society 5.0).

Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) as the transformation agenda of the world driven by digital technologies has heralded a significant and drastic shift from normal societal ways of doing things to a more advanced well-knit society. In a bid to enhance efficient service delivery and good governance South African municipalities should also join the bandwagon and adopt 4IR technologies in its operations. The study therefore unpacks the challenges and opportunities for adopting 4IR technologies in South African municipalities. The study being qualitative relied on purposively written records to gather data which was then analysed using thematic and content analysis techniques. The study established that South African local authorities are still lagging behind in terms of investing in 4IR technologies and they also face 4IR capacity building challenges. Similarly, SA municipalities should therefore embrace the conspicuous opportunities heralded by 4IR to address the attendant challenges and enhance efficient service delivery in its localities. 

This research examines the correlation between human capital and economic growth in South Africa. Human capital is represented by Government Expenditure on Health (GEH), Government Expenditure on Education (GEE), and Secondary School Enrolment (SER). Notwithstanding substantial investments in these domains, South Africa has enduring economic difficulties, prompting apprehensions regarding the efficacy of existing human capital policies. This research aims to evaluate the influence of differences in GEH, GEE, and SER on economic productivity, consequently guiding policy decisions. We utilised a quantitative methodology employing annual time series data obtained from the World Bank and the South African Reserve Bank. The analysis incorporated unit root tests (ADF) to determine data stationarity and Johansen cointegration tests to examine long-term correlations among the variables. The data indicate that GEH positively influences economic productivity, suggesting a correlation between increased health spending and elevated GDP. Conversely, SER exhibits a negative correlation with economic growth, indicating that merely augmenting enrolment numbers does not yield enhanced economic results. While Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has a favourable correlation with economic growth, it is statistically insignificant. The report advocates for South Africa to prioritise educational quality over enrolment figures and to ensure continuous investment in healthcare services. Furthermore, subsequent research ought to investigate the ramifications of human capital within particular sectors, such as tourism, to yield focused policy recommendations for fostering economic growth.

Myriad research studies across the spectrum continue to emphasize one common goal, namely, sustained desired performance/results. Such an outcome is dependent on employees’ commitment and engagement among others and is a function of astute leadership. This study aimed to contribute empirically to an understanding of and determine the effect of leadership on organizational commitment and engagement among the workforce, especially during and post-crisis. The study adopted a deductive i.e., quantitative research approach, that is descriptive in nature. It used a cross-sectional survey research design in a five-point Likert scale to randomly collect data from 220 dispatched questionnaires to participants across various sectors of the economy in the Free State Province. A total of 181 questionnaires were collected for data analysis, yielding a response rate of 82%. The standard multiple regression analysis (MRA) and interpretation were conducted to assess the relationship between independent and dependent variables. The MRA results reveal that both leadership (?= 0.332) and ownership/accountability (?= 0.346) have a positive and statistically significant (p-values <0.05) impact on organisational commitment/engagement. Leadership and ownership/accountability reflect a significant power of predictability towards organisational commitment/engagement (F = 44.106; R2= 0.361; p<0.05) of the respondents. To ensure sustained exceptional performance, advocating for a servant-leadership culture, and being fearless of being led, will most likely inspire confidence, engagement and commitment among the workforce. The study provides empirical evidence of the positive effect of leadership on commitment and engagement, confirming that these independent variables are predictors of the dependent variables namely, employee commitment and engagement.     

Advancements in science and technology has resulted in substantial transformations inside society. The telecommunications sector has established cyberspace, a virtual domain for online communication, data exchange, and digital interactions. This platform enables individuals to interact and cultivate relationships worldwide, fostering a sense of proximity despite geographical separation. Nonetheless, these improvements provide concerns, since there has been an increase in cyber victimisation via cyberspace, the internet, computer networks, and online systems. Criminals are progressively utilising these technologies to perpetrate illicit actions, endangering individuals, governments, organisations, and institutions.This study analyses the evaluation of cyber policies for regulating, monitoring, and supervising cyberspace activities, along with the implementation of cybersecurity measures to address technologically advanced crime. A mixed methods strategy, including qualitative and quantitative methodologies, was employed for data collecting. The research revealed that although cyberspace provides avenues for social contact, idea exchange, information dissemination, commercial transactions, and additional activities, it remains susceptible to cyber threats including ransomware, fraud, warfare, terrorism, trafficking, and breaches of privacy. Formulating cyber regulations to regulate actions in cyberspace is crucial for efficient law enforcement, alongside the establishment of a cybersecurity framework to safeguard critical cyber systems and bolster security protocols across several sectors. To safeguard both the public and private sectors against cybersecurity risks, it is essential to create and execute plans. These tactics encompass the regular evaluation and auditing of security systems, investment in cybersecurity training programs, maintenance of current systems, formulation and rehearsal of incident response plans, and dissemination of information among experts and professionals.

In Higher Education, intellectual stimulation as a key aspect of transformational leadership, plays a vital role in fostering creativity and critical thinking among students. Several efforts have been made to improve students’ creativity in teaching and learning. Intellectual stimulation in Higher Education plays a significant role in fostering keen interest for learning and preparing students for future challenges. It creates a dynamic educational experience that benefits both the educators and students. However, there are still many institutions that have not optimized their students’ capacity development. For this reason, intellectual stimulation is considered as a strategic means for the improvement of creativity in education. All over the world, educational institutions encourage transformative teaching and learning skills design so as to implement a shift from the traditional pedagogy and be more creative with their teaching activities. Nevertheless, teaching and learning accomplishments in Higher Education are often faced with the challenge of resistance to change which slows down the improvement of students’ creativity improvement. This study comprises a systematic literature review using PRISMA approach to track related researches on the role of intellectual for the improvement of creativity in teaching and learning in Higher Education. The study defines the concept of intellectual stimulation and creativity in teaching and learning. The significance of intellectual stimulation in Higher Education is to enhance teaching strategies, influence policies and guide future research  by providing a clear and impactful contribution through the promotion of active learning, encouraging student feedback on their thinking processes, directing funding towards innovative teaching methods and technologies that enhance intellectual stimulation in order to build supportive learning environments and finally, policy makers can use findings on intellectual stimulation to advocate for curricula that emphasizes problem solving, creativity and real world application .Results obtained indicate that intellectual stimulation plays a crucial role in improving students’ creativity. Findings from the study can be linked to potential policy changes for enhancing educational practices and improving education policies serving as advocates for inquiry-based learning and critical thinking skills. The potential contribution of this review study will prompt educators to encourage questioning, introduce diverse learning activities such as group projects and case studies, critical thinking exercises, foster a growth mindset in students, connect to real world issues.