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This article explores the factors that have an impact on consumers' satisfaction and behavioural loyalty in relation to ordering and delivery applications, focusing on the emerging trend of online grocery shopping. Considering the digital revolution in retail, it is critical to comprehend consumer behaviour in this space. This study offers insights from a sample of 445 respondents in South Africa. A quantitative descriptive research methodology and a non-probability convenience sampling method were employed for the study. Structural equation modelling was utilised to validate the research measurement model and to test the study’s hypotheses. The results highlight the critical roles of design aesthetics, usefulness and confirmation and show robust positive correlations that support the linkages that the study's model postulates. Notably, design aesthetics, satisfaction and usefulness are all positively influenced by confirmation, and these factors, in turn, improve consumer satisfaction and behavioural loyalty. This study stands out because it provides a fresh viewpoint on the factors that influence customer satisfaction and behavioural loyalty, particularly when it comes to grocery shopping Apps. The distinctiveness of this study resides in its thorough analysis of important concepts and how they interact with one another, all against the backdrop of an African consumer base. The results obtained have numerous applications in the real world. Prioritising the factors that influence customer satisfaction and behavioural loyalty will help marketers and companies to improve app design and marketing tactics, which will increase user satisfaction and behavioural loyalty. Such a strategy could help close the gap between the rather different literatures on consumer behaviour and digital retailing, while also increasing sales through grocery shopping applications. Through this approach, stakeholders can obtain practical insights aimed at augmenting user engagement and loyalty within the fiercely competitive online grocery sector. All things considered, this study not only clarifies the essential elements that influence consumer satisfaction and behavioural loyalty in the online grocery industry but also lays out a roadmap for future research in this quickly developing field.

This research analyses the employment demands and resources encountered by support personnel at a mining company in Gauteng during the latter phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included 12 support staff, chosen via convenience sampling (median age = 44), who engaged in semi-structured interviews (3 women, 9 men; 3 White, 9 African). The researchers utilised an inductive technique and applied Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis to discover four themes: job pressures encountered, organisational job resources, organisational assistance, and perceived support. The findings indicate that elevated job resources may enhance work efficiency and effectiveness in individuals managing job demands. The study also revealed that perceived organisational support affects job pressure and emotional fatigue in employees. The findings underscore the imperative for employees to proactively pursue job resources and assistance to manage job demands, emphasising the significance of deliberate resource allocation in high-stress industries to bolster resilience and equip both employees and organisations for future crises. The paper fills a gap in the literature by providing a comprehensive narrative analysis of employment demands and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative interviews with support personnel enhance our understanding, supplementing prior quantitative studies that have predominated the research field. Future research should examine the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on employee well-being in relation to job demands and resources, and evaluate the function of diverse job resources in aiding employees to navigate post-pandemic issue

This article examines the necessity for implementing a more intelligent, inventive, and disruptive policing paradigm, such as intelligence-driven community policing, to address both traditional and technology-facilitated crimes. Intelligence-driven community policing is a comprehensive policing paradigm that emphasises the identification and prevention of habitual criminals, concentrating on groups that present a threat and risk to the community. It employs community intelligence alongside other intelligence-driven policing strategies and methodologies to address crime and criminal activity.  The research employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. The data for this research was gathered in three countries: Denmark, the two South African metropolitan provinces of Gauteng and Western Cape, and three Nigerian cities: Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. The findings demonstrate that community policing has been embraced and executed in the majority of jurisdictions; yet, numerous issues hinder its efficient implementation. This encompasses a deficiency in comprehending the model's conceptual framework, misinterpretations and misconceptions by those responsible for its implementation, and an incapacity among the police, stakeholders, and the general public to distinguish community policing from state and regional policing. Innovative policing has significant consequences for international law enforcement in an increasingly digitised and complicated environment. Technological advancements have obscured the distinctions between the physical and digital domains, rendering the criminal scene increasingly global and complex. National and international law enforcement authorities must use innovative approaches and remain abreast of swift digitalisation and technical progress. This study recommends shifting to intelligence-driven community policing by integrating intelligence-led police strategies, techniques, and approaches into the community policing implementation framework. Understanding the conceptual framework of community policing and contemporary implementation methods tailored to the specific demands of each jurisdiction, police agency, culture, and circumstances is essential. A comprehensive recommendation is proposed to enhance the capacity and capability development of criminal justice, law enforcement, and intelligence personnel regarding the execution of intelligence-driven community policing.

Monolingual ideologies remain alive in mainstream education, though the amount of evidence pointing to the benefits of multilingualism is increasing. Against this background, this paper aims to explore the importance of multilingual practices in multilingual classrooms, teacher input in enhancing multilingual practices in classrooms and assessment in multilingual classrooms. A systematic review of the literature was done to gather data. The findings revealed that the use of dominant national languages and/or colonial languages does not sufficiently account for the multilingual nature of the learners in the classrooms and their respective communities. Teachers need to allow any references to languages by their learners of which they have only basic knowledge or no knowledge at all. One way is to leave the role of expert to learners with home languages while taking on the role of learners of new languages. Also, in linguistically and culturally diverse classrooms, unintended bias in any assessment aspect can negatively affect learners whose home language is not the language of assessment. The study recommends that policymakers should establish official guidelines on interpreting competence aims for multilingual education, ensuring clarity and consistency across schools. Teachers should adopt collaborative teaching strategies that encourage learners to use their home languages in classroom activities. Partnerships between researchers and educators are essential for evaluating the effectiveness of multilingual pedagogies and refining teaching approaches. Assessment practices should be adapted to reflect learners’ diverse linguistic backgrounds, ensuring fair and valid evaluations of their competencies. Teacher training programmes should include modules on multilingual education, equipping educators with the necessary tools to manage linguistically diverse classrooms.

Researchers continue to conduct research within South African indigenous communities pertaining indigenous knowledge with little consideration of the existing indigenous research methodologies. This little consideration continues to exist because these indigenous research methodologies are merely taught in universities and the approach that is often used by most university researchers in conducting research on indigenous communities has elements of coloniality such as power that rests on the researchers over the communities where communities are labelled as the researched than contributors. This paper provides reflections on the participatory action research study conducted on the lenses of indigenous research paradigm in Ga-Mamabolo in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The reflections concludes that the indigenous research paradigm offers a suitable roadmap for conducting research in indigenous communities. The contradicting research language between the western and indigenous paradigm is presented to improve the practice of research in indigenous communities. Research in indigenous communities is often conducted with little or no consideration of collaboration with the indigenous people. Thus, this paper contends that the review of existing Western research ethics may lay a foundation for new ethics that are culturally sensitive and promoting collaboration on research that affects the indigenous people.

The study focused on strategies of interfacing traditional health and western in fight against Coronavirus. Experts contend that government agencies and health officials should collaborate with traditional healers rather than oppose them to successfully tackle COVID-19. Various stakeholders appear to be undermining South Africa's traditional health care system, which served as the indigenous people's major source of healthcare. The indigenous health care system and its methods are being demonized by youth and certain scientific institutions because they are linked to witchcraft and other wicked customs. The researcher noticed that, in the twenty-first century, there appeared to be an idea of interfacing Traditional Health Practices (THPs) with Western doctors. It appears that basic healthcare systems were provided by traditional medical professionals in civilizations prior to the arrival of colonialism. The objective of the study was as follows, to determine strategies of interfacing traditional health and western health in the fight against COVID-19, The study adopted an employ African healing theory and appreciative Inquiry. The study used a qualitative research design and was exploratory in nature. Data was generated using observation and semi-structured interviews as data collection instruments. The finding of the study showed that some people consult traditional healers during the night because they do not want to be seen, and some still believe that traditional healers consist of witchcraft. The study recommend that education could make our community conscious of the conventional health care system and work to make youth and scientific groups be able to know and understand the importance of traditional health care system, integration of traditional health and western healthcare system in the fight against coronavirus and Funding traditional health care system.

This study explores the effect of oil production (OP) on environmental sustainability in relation to the role of institutions in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), using annual data from 1990 to 2022. Estimates from the dynamic common correlated effects and dynamic seemingly unrelated regression indicate that oil production heightens the ecological footprint, while this devastating impact is lessened by its interaction with institutional quality. Furthermore, there is evidence that ecological footprint and oil production are causally related to economic growth in both directions. To promote a sustainable environment, oil production activities in OPEC should be incorporated into a strong institutional structure that supports the environment. OPEC should also enhance the proportion of renewable energy in its energy mix through subsidies, tax holidays and carbon pricing.

Artificial Intelligence has generated much scholarly and practical attention from researchers in integrating it into job roles that humans traditionally handled. This has inspired an explosion in research activity dedicated to the topic. This study uses a systematic bibliometric method to investigate research progress on individuals' perceptions of AI in jobs. Using a large dataset from the "Web of Science," this research investigates changing patterns, institutional affiliations, geographic distributions, and keyword connections. We retrieved 2228 manuscripts published between 2021 and 2023 from the Web of Science. The researchers used the power of specialized software, Bibliometrix, and VOSviewer, to navigate the intricate web of AI's integration into human-dominated professions. The findings indicate the importance of AI's impact on human job roles. The increased amount of research dedicated to the topic highlights its rising significance within society. This research significantly contributes to the ongoing discourse regarding AI adoption by offering a solid foundation for future enquiries and policy development, particularly as technology and society evolve.  

The international community faces numerous sustainability challenges. In response, firms tackle these difficulties by adopting and implementing Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) techniques. However, there has been minimal discourse in the literature concerning the institutionalisation of GSCM. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the institutionalisation of Green Supply Chain Management, specifically concerning South African cement businesses. The study specifically examines institutionalisation from the standpoint of organisational culture. In addition to examining existing literature, the researcher intentionally selected 23 supply chain practitioners from six prominent cement companies, environmental law officials, and academics to provide their insights and perspectives on the influence of organisational culture in institutionalising Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) within the cement industry. Thematic analysis was employed to examine primary data. The study findings indicated that the organisational culture obstructing the institutionalisation of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) factors comprised resistance to green policy implementation, insufficient top management support, and misalignment between green strategy and corporate goals. Conversely, the organisational culture promoting GSCM institutionalisation included human development and investment, effective communication, incentives, and a strong green culture as primary drivers. The study will inform supply chain professionals, cement company managers, environmental regulatory agencies, and NGOs about the significant influence of organisational culture on the institutionalisation of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM). The influence of culture on the institutionalisation of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM).

This study sought to identify significant barriers to market access and marketing connections for small-scale rural farmers, evaluating the impact of demographic factors (gender, education level) and operational factors (years in farming, distance from home, type of commodity) on these constraints. The research employed a cross-sectional descriptive and inferential quantitative approach to examine the barriers to market access and marketing connections among small-scale rural farmers in Ghana's Volta area. The conceptual framework is based on a multi-theory approach. The contingency theory elucidates the significance of farm size, resource availability, and geographic location; the human capital theory delineates the impact of education level and years of farming experience; and the logistics and spatial analysis framework examines how transportation infrastructure, geographic location, and commodity type affect market access and connections. The investigation indicated that inadequate road infrastructure and elevated transportation expenses were the primary obstacles for small-scale rural farmers in accessing markets, with notable disparities based on gender and educational attainment. The commodity kind, years of cultivation, and distance from home substantially influenced limitations. The study concentrated on the Volta region, however the results are probably relevant to other regions in Ghana because of comparable agro-ecological zones and rural socio-economic traits. The rigorous research design, data collection techniques, and comprehensive analysis guarantee dependable and valid outcomes. Notwithstanding possible constraints in generalisability, the research provides comprehensive insights into the distinct issues encountered by small-scale farmers. It emphasises socio-economic factors affecting market access, illustrates the impact of farm-level contingencies on market access and linkages, identifies both diversity and uniformity among small-scale farmers, and addresses a gap in the literature by offering empirical evidence on market access constraints specific to the Volta region that may have global relevance. These contributions are significant for both academic comprehension and practical initiatives aimed at assisting small-scale rural farmers in Ghana and analogous environments worldwide.

Inadequately secured national and international borders enable the influx of illicit weaponry and ammunition, as well as the transit of illegal immigrants over South African frontiers. Organised criminal factions have executed armed robberies, vehicle theft, hijacking, cash-in-transit heists, as well as human and drug trafficking throughout many places, towns, and cities in South Africa. The enlistment of security agencies and other stakeholders is essential in combating crime.  This study examines the evaluation of the South African Border Management Authority, security networks, and evidence-based policing as comprehensive strategies for addressing border crime and improving safety and security in South Africa. A hybrid methodology was employed for data collecting. The porous borders facilitate the undetected entry of illegal immigrants, and certain security personnel have undermined the system. Evidence-based policing employs scientific evidence for decision-making, grounded in the principle that research should identify areas requiring law enforcement intervention. The Border Management Authority is tasked with the enforcement of South African immigration laws, as well as the protection, control, and management of borders. Recommendations include adopting evidence-based policing and security networks as comprehensive strategies for addressing illegal transnational trade, drug and human trafficking, organised crime, and terrorism; designing and implementing a multi-agency approach; and utilising criminal justice technology and security engineering to improve border security.

Research studies have proven that leadership styles and communication are positively and significantly related to effective change management. This implies that the influence of leadership on effective communication is integral to the success of any organizational performance. These leadership styles include transformational and transactional leadership. The study was based on two different theories; the leadership theory and the communication theory. The study was descriptive in nature considering a sample size of 300 employees in the selected dealership organisations operating in the eThekwini, South-Africa. Data collection was achieved by handing out questionnaires to 300 employees, out of which 170 were returned completed. The study was analysed by means of correlational and regression analysis ascertained through the structural equation model (SEM). The study found that leadership styles and communication were positively and significantly related and are major determinant to the success of an effective organisational change management. The study further concluded that leadership styles and communication were positively and significantly related to effective change. Conclusively, it was indicated that the transformational leadership style stands out as the most effective leadership style for successful change management. It was also agreed that integrated communications which involves the application of more than one communication strategy to pass important information especially regarding change management was vital. The study recommended the adoption of transformational leadership style in the various departments of the organization. Also, it considers the application of integrated communication which includes verbal, non-verbal, written, assertive and electronic means of communication.

This article presents a comparative analysis of selected political party manifestos in South Africa, examining both convergences and differences in their approaches to service delivery. With a focus on understanding the underlying principles and priorities outlined in these manifestos, the study aims to shed light on the potential implications for governance and public service effectiveness. Drawing upon a comprehensive review of political party manifestos and policy documents, the analysis identifies common themes such as access to basic services, infrastructure development, and socio-economic empowerment. However, significant variations emerge in terms of the strategies proposed to address these challenges, reflecting diverse ideological orientations and policy priorities among political parties. By employing a qualitative content analysis approach, the study highlights the nuanced differences in the proposed policy frameworks and implementation mechanisms, as well as the underlying assumptions and values embedded within each manifesto. Furthermore, the analysis explores the potential implications of these variations for public administration practices, governance structures, and service delivery outcomes. Through this comparative lens, the article contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities and dynamics shaping public administration in South Africa's multi-party democracy. Moreover, it offers insights into the challenges and opportunities for enhancing service delivery effectiveness, fostering accountability, and promoting inclusive development. Ultimately, the findings underscore the importance of informed policy debates and evidence-based decision-making in addressing the diverse needs and aspirations of South Africa's citizens, while also emphasizing the critical role of public administration in translating political commitments into tangible outcomes on the ground.

The main purpose of the study was to uncover the hidden dynamics of HRM's role in supporting the health and safety of healthcare workers in the current world of work. It specifically focuses on an integrative review conducted in Durban, Republic of South Africa. In terms of design, that study approaches an integrative review conducted on 26 research articles and journals from reputable sources such as Google Scholar and Ebsco-host. The focus of the review was on the impact of human resource management on the well-being of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 200 results were collected and categorised based on specific inclusion criteria, with a focus on the intersection of HRM, COVID-19, and healthcare workers. The inclusion criteria are premised on the fact that articles that did not directly address how HRM can improve the performance and safety of healthcare workers were excluded. The authors carefully reviewed the abstracts and titles of the articles to ensure they met the inclusion criteria. After removing duplicate entries, 26 articles were identified as relevant to the study and were analysed alongside other pertinent literature. The findings of this study highlight the significant impact of human resource management in effectively addressing challenges related to the healthcare workforce during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The originality of the study is grounded on the significance of HRM as a key stakeholder in workforce operations. Therefore organisational management must acknowledge this role. This is evident in the recommendation of the 6Cs of HRM as a pathway to effectively manage the health and safety of healthcare workers. For Future Research the fact that the  study highlights the significance of HRM in organisations during times of crisis, such as a pandemic. It is important to recognise the necessity for further research employing quantitative or mixed methods to obtain a comprehensive understanding of how HRM plays a crucial role in effectively addressing and managing healthcare workers amidst challenging situations.

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

  South Africa is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the African continent, with timeshares—vacation properties shared by multiple owners—being an important feature of the tourism industry as it contributes significant growth and sustainability of tourist destinations. After its introduction in the 1960s, timeshare gained popularity through its capability to provide luxury holiday affordability and security in South Africa. Since then, timeshare businesses have used traditional public relations, marketing, advertising strategies and tactics to increase brand awareness and reach sales targets. During the difficult COVID-19 period, global tourism declined drastically due to travel restrictions, extreme lockdowns and tight regulations, forcing businesses to adapt their marketing strategies to cope with unprecedented challenges and the loss of customers. Before the pandemic’s culmination, travel agencies and timeshares thus utilized digital marketing and social media to effectively strategise and publicly engage with their audiences online. Drawing upon McGuire’s (1969) theory of information processing, and Echtner and Ritchie’s (1993) destination image branding, a content and thematic analysis of two South African timeshare companies and their Facebook page content was studied to investigate the public relations tactics and marketing strategies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings reveal that timeshares engaged publicly with customers through posts which stimulated online participation, which included the sharing of images, information, updates, competitions and discounts, thus maximising the potential of social media to engage with stakeholders on a short to long term basis.

Strategic management assists organizations in formulating, implementing, and evaluating decisions to set objectives. Energy management should consider top management commitment, risk management, corporate social responsibility, and knowledge and awareness of energy strategies as criteria for implementation. The research aimed to evaluate the four criteria in terms of energy management strategy implementation. A quantitative, non-experimental research design was followed using a structured questionnaire. The most important criterion identified is top management commitment. The results indicate a strong positive correlation between top management commitment and energy management strategies and the importance of risk management. Corporate Social Responsibility and limited knowledge and awareness showed a lower correlation but also contributed to the implementation of energy management strategies. It showed that a lack of knowledge and awareness influences the implementation; organizations can do internal awareness campaigns and appoint a dedicated energy team that can assist management in educating and communicating energy strategies. Further findings included that energy management strategies are essential to the overall business strategy of organizations and that organizations can increase their public reputation by positively contributing to corporate social responsibility and top management commitment. Management needs to lead from the front and provide training, resources and leadership in energy practices. It is recommended that organizations set energy plans, have a dedicated energy team and increase their internal awareness and communication. 

This study examines Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and brand loyalty within South African consumer marketplaces. This study investigates the relationship between CSR activities and customer behaviour, focussing on the influence of CSR on trust, satisfaction, and loyalty. The socio-economic and historical context of South Africa influences consumer attitudes towards corporate social responsibility, distinguishing it from other global markets. This study advocates for ongoing impact evaluations and stakeholder engagement to enhance the effectiveness of corporate social responsibility initiatives in both business and governmental contexts.

The liberalization of higher education in Cameroon has significantly reshaped the educational landscape, leading to a proliferation of private institutions. While this expansion aims to meet the high demand for higher education and diversify educational offerings, it has been accompanied by systemic issues that undermine educational quality. This study explores the impact of these issues, including corruption, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient laboratory equipment, lack of qualified lecturers, poor academic programs, and inadequate evaluation of the quality and relevance of these institutions. Motivated by the urgent need to address these challenges and enhance educational outcomes, this study investigates the primary infrastructure and equipment deficiencies in private institutions and examines how these deficiencies impact the quality of education. It also examines the impact of corruption and maladministration, highlighting the challenges posed by the employment of underqualified instructors in student training, which further compromises educational quality and student outcomes. The findings reveal significant deficiencies that severely limit the capacity of private institutions to provide quality education. The study highlights the need for comprehensive reforms, including stricter regulatory oversight, increased investment in infrastructure, and measures to combat corruption. Additionally, addressing the use of unqualified lecturers and improving the evaluation processes of academic programs are crucial steps. Addressing these challenges is essential to ensure that private higher education institutions can effectively complement public universities and contribute to national development. The findings and recommendations of this study aim to inform policy changes and educational reforms, providing a pathway to improving the quality of higher education in Cameroon. By implementing these reforms, Cameroon can create a more robust and equitable higher education system that meets the needs of its growing student population and supports the country's broader developmental goals.

While African big businesses are increasingly utilising big data analytics to enhance their competitiveness, many small to medium enterprises (SMEs) across the continent remain hesitant to adopt these tools. Although SMEs could also gain significant benefits from big data analytics, the factors driving their potential adoption for information security management are not yet well understood. This paper presents a qualitative grounded theory study, focusing on SMEs in South Africa. Through in-depth analysis, this research generated a theory that reveals key factors influencing the adoption of big data analytics amongst these SMEs. Using semi-structured interviews, data were collected from 28 owner-managers of SMEs, then transcribed and systematically coded using the grounded theory approach. The resulting substantive theory provides valuable insights into the core aspects driving big data adoption for information security management among South African SMEs – specifically, ability, opportunity, and motivation. The study implies that by understanding the impact of these three factors, SMEs can make more informed decisions to enhance information security performance.