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Africa’s labour market is undergoing rapid transformation driven by technological disruption, demographic shifts, climate-related pressures, and evolving employer expectations. For higher education institutions, this context presents both a challenge and a strategic opportunity: the need to recalibrate curricula to meet the demands of a future driven workforce to address this imperative, the study employs a structured desktop review drawing on scholarly literature, policy frameworks, labour market analytics, and regional case studies across African higher education, between the period of January 2020 and January 2026.  This methodological approach enables the systematic synthesis of cross-sector insights and supports a critical evaluation of the misalignments between current curriculum practices and the competencies required in an evolving labour market. The aim of this study is to critically examine the alignment between African higher education curricular and the evolving demands of the labour market, and to identify curriculum design principles that can support the development of adaptable, digitally fluent, and socially responsive graduates suited to a future driven African workforce. The analysis examines how African higher education can intentionally align curriculum design with emerging workplace realities to produce graduates who are adaptable, digitally fluent, and socially responsive. The findings reveal persistent limitations in traditional content-heavy programmes, which often fail to cultivate the flexible, interdisciplinary, and technology-enabled competencies demanded by contemporary employers in response, this study argues for a shift toward competency based, industry informed, and contextually grounded curriculum models. Curriculum recalibration is a critical lever for shaping a resilient, innovative, and inclusive African workforce. A future proof curriculum, it argues, must integrate technological competence, adaptability, and social responsibility to prepare graduates for fluid, technology-enabled, and socially responsive careers.

Focusing on the challenges faced by entrepreneurship educators in South Africa, we employed a qualitative research approach.  The aim was to offer valuable insights that are applicable to similar educational settings and contribute to the broader discourse on entrepreneurship education. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews from a purposive sample of seven entrepreneurship educators in South Africa. The qualitative data collected for this study was analysed using thematic analysis with the support of ATLAS.ti version 24. The research reveals that educators encounter challenges in keeping the curriculum current due to changes in technology, market trends, and the rapidly evolving business environment. The findings also indicated that one semester was insufficient for educators to cover all the theoretical and practical aspects of entrepreneurship. Additionally, student engagement posed a challenge for educators as students showed more interest in pursuing formal employment rather than starting their own businesses. Interdisciplinary collaboration, lack of local case studies, networking and industry connections, resource constraints, and short-term teaching contracts were also identified as some of the challenges faced by entrepreneurship educators in universities. The practical implications suggest a need to promote entrepreneurship by implementing initiatives such as workshops and mentorship programs with successful entrepreneurs. The research fills a gap in the existing literature, as there is a limited understanding of the specific challenges faced by entrepreneurship educators.

Parents and caregivers of children with developmental disabilities have a dual responsibility of addressing the child’s unique developmental needs while also negotiating broader societal expectations surrounding caregiving. Sustaining a balance between caregiving demands and personal well-being is often challenging, which increases their vulnerability to burnout and adverse mental health outcomes. This qualitative study used focus group discussions to explore the lived experiences of caregivers who were raising children aged 6 months to 12 years with various developmental disabilities in a rural setting. Participants were purposefully recruited from a regional hospital in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where they were accessing healthcare. Eighteen (n = 18) isiZulu-speaking caregivers participated in five focus groups. The data were analysed using a thematic approach that followed a set framework. Three overarching themes and eight subthemes emerged from the data, capturing their experiences, the intersecting challenges they encountered, and their responses to and adaptations to the undesired outcomes. The findings showed a significant gap in knowledge and access to information regarding children's conditions among families, community members, and health professionals. Psychological acceptance was foundational for coping with challenges and was perceived as essential, requiring a swift adjustment to their current reality. This study highlights the persistent and multifaceted challenges faced by caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. The primary burdens are rooted in systemic issues, specifically healthcare limitations and educational barriers. The findings show an urgent need for structured interventions that prioritise caregiver mental health.

Domestic violence remains one of the most widespread social crises that not only imposes silence on the survivors but also hides the transformational potential inherent in their accounts of perseverance, spirituality, and emotional healing. The purpose of this enquiry is to critique a method for examining how survivors map along these pathways and how spiritual resources, emotional strength, and personal narrative reconfiguration are pertinent to their recovery, using the desktop method.  The study entailed an in-depth review of the existing academic literature, policy manuals, and theoretical frameworks on the problems of trauma, spirituality, and healing of victims of domestic violence.  According to the results, the healing process experienced by most survivors is a multidimensional phenomenon that is based on the synthesis of spiritual practices, emotional strength, and identity restoration. Supportive communities, faith traditions, and cultural settings have also been noted in the available literature as service-oriented in assisting survivors to communicate their unpleasant pasts.  The lessons teach that healing is not an individual process but rather a shared one that takes place within a collective, and that it is shaped by the resources of social and spiritual support that survivors possess.  The importance of this study is that it can help appreciate the role of survivors' spiritual and emotional journeys in influencing the practitioner's actions at the policymaking level. The research would be useful in providing practical advice to the academia, religious leaders, and policymakers who can guide their actions in establishing a mechanism of adequate provision to address the holistic needs of victims of domestic violence.

South Africa has faced consistently elevated unemployment levels despite numerous macroeconomic reforms, prompting worries regarding the effectiveness of key economic indicators in promoting labour absorption. This study analyses the influence of economic growth (GDP), inflation (CPI), and foreign direct investment (FDI) on unemployment in South Africa, employing quarterly data from the first quarter of 2010 to the fourth quarter of 2023. The analysis utilises a quantitative design, implementing the Augmented Dickey-Fuller unit root test, the Johansen cointegration method, and a Vector Error Correction Model to evaluate the long- and short-term dynamics among the variables. The findings indicate that all variables are integrated of order one and possess a long-term equilibrium connection. Long-term estimates demonstrate substantial negative correlations, suggesting that increased GDP, CPI, and FDI are associated with a decrease in unemployment over time. In the near term, GDP elevates unemployment, indicating the prevalence of capital-intensive growth, whereas FDI persistently reduces unemployment and CPI remains negligible. These findings underscore the structural characteristics of unemployment in South Africa and the constraints of macroeconomic factors in facilitating short-term labour absorption. The report emphasises the significance of policies that promote labour-absorbing growth, improve the investment environment, and prioritise skills development to tackle ongoing unemployment.The report advocates for prioritising labour-intensive growth methods, enhancing the investment environment, and fortifying skills development systems to improve employment outcomes. These initiatives are essential for tackling persistent unemployment and fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

The incorporation of digital technology has become a crucial emphasis in the pursuit of efficiency, quality, and sustainability in contemporary healthcare operations. This study offers a theory-driven comparative analysis of digital technology integration in hospitals throughout the United States and chosen African nations: Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, utilising the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory as the principal analytical framework. This review synthesises evidence from secondary data, including peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, and institutional reports, regarding the influence of policy environments, infrastructural readiness, workforce capability, and governance structures on the adoption and integration of digital health technologies in various contexts. The results indicate that U.S. hospitals possess a sophisticated and developed digital ecosystem characterised by extensive utilisation of electronic health records, artificial intelligence-driven diagnostics, telehealth, and interoperable systems, primarily attributable to robust regulatory mandates and continuous investment. Conversely, hospitals in the chosen African nations exhibit inconsistent and fragmented integration, hampered by infrastructural deficiencies, restricted digital competencies, and regulatory inconsistencies, yet supported by adaptable mobile-first and open-source innovations. Utilising the principles of prominent diffusion theories relevant to drive contexts, the constructs of DOI (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability) delineate varied adoption trajectories and opportunities for contextualised policy learning. The study finds that the digital divide in healthcare must be reduced through measures that integrate technical methods with institutional capacity, governance frameworks, and workforce development to ensure equitable and sustainable implementation in healthcare.

This study examines how Mahosi (traditional leaders) in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province use social media to address gender-based violence (GBV) within their communities. A qualitative design was employed, drawing on semi-structured interviews with ten Mahosi selected through purposive sampling. The findings show that platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp are used to share anti-GBV messages, mobilise community meetings, and open discussions around violence, extending the reach and immediacy of community-based interventions. In doing so, digital engagement has contributed to increased openness around GBV and greater participation, particularly among younger community members. At the same time, the study identifies key challenges, including digital literacy gaps, unequal access to technology, confidentiality risks, and ethical concerns linked to the public nature of online communication. By foregrounding Mahosi as digital actors within community governance, the study highlights both the potential and limitations of integrating social media into GBV prevention. It concludes by emphasising the need for context-sensitive digital literacy initiatives and clear ethical guidelines to support responsible and inclusive community-based responses to GBV in rural South Africa.

There has been a remarkable shift from paper-based portfolios to e-portfolios. E-portfolios enable pre-service teachers to compile and formulate digital presentations that can be updated over time. Therefore, this study explores the adoption of e-portfolios to enhance self-directed learning among pre-service teachers. This study is located within the interpretive paradigm, and an exploratory case study was adopted as its research design. Social Cognitive theory serves as its theoretical lens. A sample of fourteen third-year business studies pre-service teachers from an open distance education institution in South Africa was selected. An online open-ended questionnaire was sent electronically to the sampled pre-service teachers. Thematic analysis was used to analysed data. The study found that e-portfolios encourage pre-service teachers to be self-motivated, manage time, and complete the learning activities independently. The recommendation from the study is that teacher educators should increase their use of e-portfolios to assess pre-service teachers during teaching practice.

Digital transformation (DT) is becoming essential for the competitiveness and sustainability of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), and yet many South African (SA) retailers have to overcome inhibitors that hinder them from digitally transforming. Therefore, this study explores these inhibitors to DT within the retail SMMEs sector in Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces in South Africa using an exploratory multiple-case study design. Data from 23 in-depth semi-structured purposively sampled interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed on Atlas.ti 25 using the Braun and Clarke six-step framework to produce qualitative themes. The results reveal patterns of digital infrastructure constraints, a lack of digital literacy, financial and cost barriers, technical and operational challenges, psychological and attitudinal resistance, a lack of trust, safety concerns, and cyber risk, as well as business survival and strategic pressures, including the negative impact of the location where the business is located. Phased implementation, partnership with external stakeholders, and other strategic responses to these inhibitors requires targeted and strategic leadership and managerial interventions. This is the first study to combine Limits to Success Architype (LSA) and Adaptive Structuration (AST) in exploring the inhibitors to DT in retail SMMEs in South Africa.

Dynamic and competitive labour markets provide challenges for the higher education sector, necessitating the production of graduates capable of adaptation and proficient in self-directed learning and critical thinking. As a result, conventional teaching approaches are deemed insufficient for this objective. Learner-centred methodologies that promote a framework suitable for the application of practical knowledge, autonomy, adult education requirements, and experiential learning are essential. The educational philosophy at Durban University of Technology (DUT) was formulated within the framework of the Envision 2030 strategy, which seeks to harmonise contemporary educational methodologies with flexibility, social effect, and innovation, particularly concerning Andragogy and Heutagogy. This study seeks to examine the functions of andragogy and heutagogy in the critical shift from conventional pedagogy, via the lens of DUT's Philosophy of Education, and to evaluate how these methodologies might improve employability, lifelong learning, and student engagement. This will also analyse the implementation of DUT's Philosophy of Education within the institution and within the broader higher education sector. A conceptual review was done to examine modern pedagogical frameworks, their theoretical basis, and their implementations in higher education. Nevertheless, student engagement and autonomy are constrained in conventional instruction. Integrated heutagogy and andragogy foster self-directed education, problem-solving, and self-determined experiential learning. The DUT Philosophy of Education promotes creativity via design thinking and project-based learning to facilitate lifelong education, linked with labour market demands and educational priorities, therefore yielding proficient and adaptable graduates.

Diaspora remittances constitute a major source of external finance for Zimbabwe, reflecting sustained outward migration driven by economic instability and limited domestic opportunities. Despite their growing macroeconomic significance, remittance inflows have not translated into meaningful increases in gross capital formation or sustained rural development. This study examines this apparent contradiction, conceptualised as the migration paradox, by analysing the structural, institutional, and policy constraints that limit the conversion of remittances into productive investment in rural Zimbabwe. Using a Delphi methodology, the study draws on expert consensus from policymakers, academics, development practitioners, financial sector professionals, and diaspora engagement specialists through three iterative rounds. The findings reveal strong agreement that remittances are predominantly channelled toward household consumption, social reproduction, and risk mitigation, rather than capital accumulation. Weak financial intermediation, policy inconsistency, insecure property rights, high rural investment risk, and the absence of credible diaspora investment instruments emerge as key binding constraints to gross capital formation. While remittances contribute positively to household welfare, that is, enhancing food security, education, health, and housing, their impact on productive investment and rural structural transformation remains limited. The study concludes that the remittance–capital formation gap reflects institutional and governance failures rather than migrant preferences. It argues for repositioning diaspora remittances as a complementary source of development finance through credible policy reforms, improved investment climates, and financial innovations that mobilise remittances into gross capital formation and rural development.

The study investigated the cultural and economic significance of the savha (Sansevieria Pearsonii) among the residents of the Pfumembe Village of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The main objective was to explore possibilities of domesticating and commercialising the plant by developing a farm. An interdisciplinary approach was used to design a mixed method study developed with data collected from purposively selected and interviewed primary participants (n=11), key informants (n=8). Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) and transect walk in the village. The plant had both cultural and economic significance. The results furthermore revealed that it was domesticable and that it could be commercialised. Developing a farm from this plant was achievable. 

Marriage is one of the most important social institutions, as it greatly influences the stability of families, population, and socio-economic well-being. The changing trends of marriages and divorces in South Africa confirm the importance of predictive analysis on the stability of marriages. Marriage duration prediction is a challenging task, as it is affected by a number of factors. Recent developments in machine learning techniques provide new opportunities to model this problem. This experiment used the following seven different classifications: Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, XGBoost, Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, K Nearest Neighbours, and Decision Tree, which aimed to forecast the categories of marriage length (short, medium, and long). The models used the following metrics: accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, macro ROC-AUC, and the ROC curve. The results showed that ensemble-based approaches performed better than conventional classifiers. Gradient Boosting had the best performance in macro ROC AUC and was best at discriminating classes, especially for long and medium-length marriages. Random Forest had the best overall accuracy and was best at balancing classes. XGBoost had a similar performance to that of Random Forest in predicting. SVM had a high precision value but a lower recall value. Decision Trees and KNN had poor performance. Gradient Boosting was found to be the best-performing method for multi-class prediction of duration of marriage and achieved a balance between sensitivity and specificity. The results obtained from these studies prove that ensemble learning methods can be effectively utilized for modelling complex societal events.

South Africa continues to experience a prevalent predisposition to using diversity to over-emphasise difference to justify exclusion at the expense of a constitutionally inspired social cohesion. However, research has yet to highlight essentialist diversity discourse that undermines the aim of social cohesion in South Africa. Accordingly, this study examines the constructs of essentialist diversity discourse that undermine the aim of social cohesion in Post-Apartheid South Africa. This study utilised an inductive qualitative content analysis approach. Data, in particular, secondary text collected from court judgements, was analysed using qualitative inductive content analysis. The inductive qualitative content analysis highlights that linguicism, historicentrism, cultural and heritage purism and racial supremacy constitute key essentialist diversity discourse, manifest exclusion and divisions. The constructs of the essentialist discourse of diversity fragment the South African society and undermine the inclusivity as the aims of social cohesion. The findings indicate that the government needs to focus on promoting multiculturalism through celebrating differences and highlighting an inclusive narrative to make communities comfortable with being different together in order to make progress towards social cohesion in South Africa

Patient satisfaction is an important indicator used to assess the quality and effectiveness of healthcare systems. This is especially significant for public hospitals that serve large communities by providing primary care services. High levels of patient satisfaction typically reflect positively on the quality of healthcare services offered by these institutions. This paper aims to integrate a review that combines various research methods to provide a comprehensive view of patient satisfaction with healthcare quality in state-operated hospitals. A comprehensive search was carried out using electronic databases like PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar to compile and synthesise studies from 2015 to 2025. The PRISMA flowchart was utilized to refine the screening process for relevance and potential inclusion. Main findings of the study demonstrate that (i) the factors determining patient satisfaction include the physical, human, and systemic aspects of healthcare delivery that affect patients' experiences; (ii)factors related to the process impacting patient satisfaction include the method of care delivery and the quality of interactions between healthcare professionals and patients; and (iii) outcomes and perceptions centered around the patient reflect the outcomes of care and the way patients view the efficacy and equity of the healthcare system. Patient satisfaction serves as a multifaceted measure of the quality of healthcare services provided in public hospitals. To enhance satisfaction and health outcomes, public health systems ought to prioritize patient-centered strategies, allocate resources towards infrastructure and human capital, and develop avenues for patient feedback. These initiatives will augment satisfaction, trust, equity, and the overall efficacy of public healthcare.

Firearm evidence plays a critical role in criminal investigations, yet gaps in understanding its forensic principles and applications can compromise evidentiary integrity and case outcomes. This study addresses the problem of limited conceptual clarity and operational knowledge among investigative personnel regarding identification, individualisation, and the use of firearm evidence in murder investigations. The study aimed to assess current knowledge, awareness of emerging forensic technologies, and challenges affecting evidence handling. This study employed a qualitative research approach, utilising semi-structured interviews with 39 participants, including detectives, Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) officials, and ballistics experts within the South African Police Service. Data were analysed thematically to identify patterns and gaps in practice. The findings revealed significant variation across roles. Detectives and LCRC officials often conflated identification and individualisation or interpreted them narrowly, while ballistics experts demonstrated greater familiarity with comparative analysis and advanced applications. Although participants recognised the role of firearm evidence in linking weapons to crime scenes and suspects, few mentioned critical aspects such as firearm operability testing or trigger-pressure assessment. Awareness of emerging technologies, including IBIS and digital imaging, was limited outside ballistic units, and participants reported persistent challenges such as damaged bullets, environmental degradation, and lack of reference firearms. The study concludes that structured training programmes, the integration of modern forensic technologies, and standardised protocols are essential for improving investigative accuracy and evidentiary reliability. These measures will align local practices with international standards and strengthen the role of firearm evidence in achieving successful prosecutions. Future research should evaluate the impact of training interventions and explore strategies for incorporating automated ballistic systems into routine workflows.

This article seeks to empirically examine the dynamic relationship between government expenditure and private sector investment in South Africa. The research employed a Vector Autoregression (VAR) methodology to experimentally investigate the crowding impacts of government spending on private sector investment, utilising time series data from 1960 to 2021. The study evaluates single equation methods, including Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares, Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares, and Canonical Cointegrating Regression, to analyse the long-term cointegrating relationship between government expenditure and private sector investment. The results offer robust empirical evidence of a beneficial relationship between government expenditure and private sector investment, suggesting that an increase in government spending stimulates private sector investment in South Africa's economy. The impulse response function (IRF) indicated that private sector investment reacts favourably to unexpected fluctuations in government expenditure and GDP growth. The study's findings indicate that governments should allocate substantial funds to productive sectors to stimulate economic activities, encourage private sector investment through robust public-sector collaboration, and ultimately promote job creation and economic growth.

The South African retail sector encounters fierce competition, escalating operational expenses, and swiftly evolving consumer behaviour. In this context, cost efficiency is crucial for maintaining profitability and competitiveness. Notwithstanding these challenges, numerous merchants persist in employing conventional costing systems that depend on generalised allocation bases, such as direct manpower or machine hours, frequently leading to cost distortions and erroneous price decisions. Activity-Based Costing (ABC) presents a more accurate option by elucidating cost drivers and resource utilisation. This study evaluates the efficacy of ABC in improving cost efficiency within South African retail firms by analysing its impact on cost allocation precision, operational performance, and financial decision-making. A mixed-methods research strategy was utilised, integrating quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews to produce a thorough knowledge of ABC implementation. Structured questionnaires distributed to financial managers and cost analysts yielded quantifiable information regarding the correlation between ABC adoption and cost efficiency. Qualitative interviews examined managerial attitudes, implementation obstacles, employee opposition, and organisational preparedness. The research is grounded in a post-positivist framework, emphasising both statistical correlations and practitioner insights to comprehend the operation of ABC within intricate retail contexts. Research demonstrates that ABC enhances cost transparency, pricing precision, and the capacity to attribute costs to certain activities. Retailers employing ABC exhibited enhanced resource alignment and successfully identified and eradicated non-value-adding processes. Nonetheless, considerable obstacles, such as implementation expenses, data intricacy, technological constraints, and reluctance to adapt, were observed, especially among small and medium-sized shops deficient in sophisticated information systems and analytical capabilities. The research underscores the significance of organisational capabilities, digital readiness, and ongoing training for effective ABC implementation. This article analyses how Activity-Based Costing (ABC) might improve cost efficiency in publicly traded South African retail enterprises. The study was theoretically grounded in Cost Behaviour Analysis, the Theory of Constraints, and the Resource-Based View. By integrating cost behaviour, operational bottlenecks, and organisational capabilities into the assessment of Activity-Based Costing (ABC), it contributes to the theoretical framework. The explanatory mixed-method sequential design utilised both survey data (n = 100) and interviews (n = 12). Research demonstrates that Activity-Based Costing significantly impacts cost allocation precision, operational efficacy, and financial outcomes. Regression analysis demonstrates a strong positive link between the adoption of ABC and cost efficiency (b = 0.62, p < 0.01). However, there are difficulties to adoption, including technological limitations, high expenses, and staff resistance. The research will contribute to the strategic cost management literature and provide practical guidance to retail enterprises in emerging economies.

This research investigates how the overall mood of investors influences the profits of the major commercial banks traded on the JSE. Although behavioural factors are increasingly acknowledged in financial markets, there is very little empirical evidence that investor sentiment has any impact on the South African banking sector, despite this sector being the main driver of financial stability and economic growth. This study investigated whether investor sentiment has a significant impact on bank stock returns in both the short and long term. The research period ranged from September 2008 to March 2025 and used monthly return data. The paper implements the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach to illustrate immediate and long-term relationships between sentiment, macroeconomic variables, and bank performance. The findings demonstrate that investor sentiment is one of the significant factors influencing bank stock returns, but the effect varies between different banks. Sentiment, on average, tends to have a negative effect on the majority of banks in the long run, which means that in times of extreme optimistimism  are followed by those of overvaluation and subsequent correction. However, one bank revealed a positive return-sentiment relationship which suggests that characteristics unique to a specific bank can have a moderating effect on behavioural factors. The short-run outcomes indicate that bank stock returns are very reactive to changes in sentiment and macroeconomic shocks and at the same time, diagnostic tests for model reliability support these results. The paper contributes to behavioural finance literature by delivering fresh data derived from an emerging market and providing an answer to the problem of bank-level disaggregated analysis that has been neglected. In addition to the theoretical contributions, the results can be turned into actionable insights by investors, policymakers, and portfolio managers who will be reminded of the importance of including sentiment indicators in their bank performance assessment and risk management activities in the South African financial sector.

HIV/AIDS remains a critical public health challenge in South Africa, particularly among young women who are disproportionately affected. Comprehensive knowledge and appropriate behavioural responses are essential for preventing transmission and managing the disease. To determine comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS, STI’s as well as the sexual behaviour among young women aged 18 – 24 years in Tshwane Sub district 1, Gauteng province, South Africa. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted in Tshwane District, Gauteng province. The self-administered questionnaire was completed by 400 young women from four health care facilities rendering youth-friendly services. They indicated high knowledge scores for HIV/AIDS, STI’s and sexual behaviour, although most young people had risky sexual practices towards HIV/AIDS and that there were misconceptions about prevention and transmission methods of HIV. Despite high knowledge on STI’s, 27% of the participants self-reported to have had STIs. While most young women in Tshwane possess good knowledge of HIV/AIDS, a considerable proportion still engage in behaviours that increase their risk of infection. This disconnects between knowledge and practice highlights the need for more targeted interventions that not only educate but also empower young women to make safer sexual health choices. Comprehensive strategies addressing both knowledge and socioeconomic barriers are essential for reducing HIV transmission in this vulnerable population.