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This study employs a qualitative desk-based research design grounded in Social Ecological Systems (SES) Theory to examine the role of technological innovation in bolstering climate resilience across South Africa. Recognizing the intrinsic interdependence between social dynamics and ecological stability, the research utilizes a desk-based qualitative methodology to synthesize multi regional data from Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape, and Limpopo. The findings demonstrate that technology significantly enhances adaptive capacity through improved resource management and community mobilization. In the Eastern Cape, mobile water management applications have become vital for agricultural continuity amidst protracted droughts. In Limpopo, community based digital platforms and social media have proven essential for real time knowledge sharing and emergency response coordination. A cross cutting theme is the necessity of cultural relevance. Study emphasized that for digital tools to be effective, must align with local habits and traditional leadership structures. However, the study identifies a significant risk regarding Intellectual Property (IP), recommending the establishment of legal frameworks to protect indigenous data from unauthorized exploitation during digitization. The study concludes that while high smartphone penetration and internet connectivity among youth and traditional leaders provide a fertile ground for modernization, success depends on participatory, culturally sensitive interventions that ensure technology is both accessible and community-owned.

Rural police stations in South Africa continue to operate under conditions of severe resource scarcity. This study examines the operational realities of police officers working in under-resourced rural police stations in the Eastern Cape Province, focusing on how they adapt through improvisation and coping strategies. A qualitative research approach was employed using semi-structured interviews with 15 purposively selected police officers involved in frontline and investigative duties. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings show that officers face shortages that affect patrols, response times, and investigations. To manage these constraints, officers depend on improvisation strategies such as sharing resources, adjusting work routines, using personal devices, and cooperating closely with local communities. While these strategies demonstrate resilience and commitment, they also place pressure on officers and risk normalising inadequate working conditions. This study contributes to rural policing scholarship by demonstrating how policing is sustained through everyday adaptation under conditions of chronic scarcity and highlights the implications for institutional accountability and officer wellbeing. In doing so, the study aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), through its focus on improving working conditions and supporting police officers operating in resource-constrained rural environments.

Despite growing scholarly attention to occupational stress and gender, the role of organisational design in shaping gendered stress experiences remains insufficiently theorised and empirically explored. This study addresses a critical gap by examining how organisational design, beyond individual or role-based factors, shapes gender-specific stress experiences and productivity outcomes. While existing research has explored occupational stress and gender dynamics, limited attention has been given to how organisational structures, cultures, and embedded norms sustain these disparities within specific professional contexts. Focusing on Social Auxiliary Workers in a South African public sector setting, the study provides contextually grounded insights into the organisational determinants of gendered stress. It explores how organisational arrangements generate systemic challenges experienced differently by men and women, influencing both well-being and performance. The study highlights gendered perceptions of workplace stressors, including those related to hierarchical positioning, role expectations, and unequal access to career opportunities. Data were collected from male and female Social Auxiliary Workers employed by the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development. Guided by Person–Environment Fit Theory, the study conceptualises stress as arising from the alignment or misalignment between individual characteristics and organisational environments. The findings underscore the need for gender-sensitive organisational practices, inclusive workplace cultures, and targeted wellness interventions to mitigate stress and promote equity. The study contributes to scholarship by extending theoretical and empirical understandings of gendered occupational stress within under-researched public sector contexts, while highlighting the importance of addressing organisational stressors to enhance employee well-being, sustainable productivity, and equity.

This study examines the effectiveness of police visibility in reducing crime and enhancing community trust in the police within the selected area in Tembisa township, South Africa. Guided by Rational choice theory to explain how the presence of police visibility alters cost-benefit analysis by increasing the risk of detection and apprehension.  A mixed-method approach was employed; qualitative data were collected using structured interviews with 151 participants, including police officers, community policing forum members and community residents, while quantitative data were gathered using paper-based questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics in SPSS. Thematic analysis was used to interpret qualitative responses. The findings indicate that police visibility in identified crime hot spots was frequent and unpredictable, implemented through strategies such as roadblocks, stop-and-search operations, random night patrols, and escorting commuters to taxi ranks during early morning hours. Participants reported a notable reduction in street and violent crime, accompanied by improved perceptions of safety and increased community trust in the police. However, challenges including over-policing, internal misconduct and poor professionalism, such as officers soliciting money during patrols, undermined trust in some areas. the study recommends strengthening hot-spot policing through increased personnel, improved oversight, and the use of body-worn cameras for urgent government investment in police operations. 

This paper examines the ambivalent relationship between community–police relations and informal guardianship systems in rural crime prevention in uMlalazi Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Rural communities continue to experience persistent crime alongside low levels of trust in formal policing structures, raising questions about the effectiveness of institutional crime prevention strategies. The study explores how trust and distrust shape crime-reporting behaviour, evaluates the effectiveness of Community Policing Forums (CPFs) in rural contexts, and examines how informal guardianship systems interact with traditional and municipal governance institutions. A qualitative research design was adopted, using semi-structured interviews with 15 purposively selected participants, including SAPS officers, CPF members, traditional leaders, municipal officials, and community members. Data were analysed thematically to identify patterns of cooperation, conflict, fear, and silence in everyday crime prevention practices. The findings reveal that CPFs are often weakened by criminal infiltration and fragile community–police partnerships. Traditional leaders emerge as primary informal guardians, enjoying strong cultural legitimacy but operating without a clear legal framework. In geographically isolated communities, residents have developed advanced digital surveillance and first-response systems to compensate for delayed police response; however, these initiatives remain unrecognised and unsupported by formal policing institutions. The study concludes that rural crime prevention failures are driven less by resource constraints than by deep-rooted mistrust, highlighting the need for relationship-oriented policy interventions rather than infrastructure-focused solutions.

The Foundation Phase is a crucial stage of learning, where learners gain a basic understanding of number sense. The mathematics curriculum for the Foundation Phase includes five content areas, and the content area, numbers, operations, and relationships covers more than half of the curriculum. Pre-service teachers receive training on content to have a thorough conceptual understanding of basic mathematical concepts, as well as pedagogical content knowledge specific to this phase. The purpose of this study was to enhance pre-service teachers’ understanding of number sense and how to teach it. The study employed a constructivist-based framework because such a framework integrates pedagogical content knowledge and mathematical knowledge for teaching. Such a framework supports exploration of how student teachers build their understanding of teaching through experience, reflection and social interaction. The instrument used for data collection was the document analysis, where a sample of 20 scripts was used. Data was collected from a rural university situated in the Eastern Cape, and a case study design was utilized. The researcher chose the method of content analysis to interpret data because this method entails dividing the content into themes, which are then classified into categories and then codes. The findings reveal that pre-service teachers could not define some mathematics concepts correctly. The study thus recommends encouraging student teachers to develop their ability to explain mathematical concepts using proper mathematical language. Additionally, integrating technology into their teaching practice is advised to support more effective instruction of number sense to young learners.

This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on a historically disadvantaged university in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, focusing on challenges faced by staff and students during the transition to online learning. Using a qualitative case study approach within an interpretivist paradigm, data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 20 purposively selected participants. Thematic analysis was applied. The shift to online learning amplified existing inequalities, with limited infrastructure, low digital literacy, and poor connectivity hindering access, especially in rural areas. The study calls for inclusive quality assurance frameworks that address technological and socio-emotional needs. The study offers empirical insight into digital learning challenges at disadvantaged institutions and informs policy on building equitable, student-centred post-pandemic higher education systems rooted in social justice. The study recommends improved digital infrastructure, equitable access to devices and connectivity, and enhanced support for staff and students. It urges institutions to adopt flexible, inclusive teaching models to ensure resilience and equity in digital education.

Alien invasive plant species that invade natural habitats end up altering the ecosystem services and the socio-economic conditions. The current study, conducted in Zimbabwe, focused on assessing the food values of herbaceous invasive alien plant species. An extensive literature review resulted in identification of 21 herbaceous invasive alien plant species that are used as food plants in Zimbabwe. This comparative analysis of historical accounts of use from 1955 and subsequent publications revealed subtle changes in food, culinary and medicinal uses, as well as other socio-ecological aspects associated with the species. The most popular use category of edible, herbaceous invasive alien plant species in Zimbabwe are the leaves, followed by the fruits and underground storage organs. Documented species belong to 13 genera and 7 families, with more than three quarters of the species (18 species = 85.7%) being members of the Amaranthaceae family with six species, followed Brassicaceae (five species), Solanaceae (four species) and Asteraceae (three species). About half of the species (13 species = 61.9%) are native to the Americas with the Asian region contributing seven species (33.3%), Europe (five species = 23.8%) and Africa (four = 19.0%). The region with the highest number of edible herbaceous invasive alien species in Zimbabwe is Eastern (18 species = 85.7%), followed by Central (16 species = 76.2%), Western (13 species = 61.9%), Northern and Southern with 11 species each (52.4%). Therefore, this data on edible, herbaceous invasive alien plant species in Zimbabwe contribute to the global efforts of trying to understand plant invasions as their spread and socio-ecological impacts are exacerbated by the globalization of the world economies.

There has been a global recognition of the importance of the Ubuntu philosophy to decolonizing education in Africa and beyond. This recognition is a result of the usefulness of Ubuntu in decolonizing education and addressing the critical areas of value orientation among indigenous people, particularly in Africa. The call for integrating the principles of Ubuntu into the curriculum will facilitate behavioral modification and embed indigenous values and spirituality into the education system in Africa. However, this study aims to investigate the extent of research conducted on Ubuntu philosophy and the Decolonization of Education in Africa. The researchers performed a bibliometric analysis using Biblioshiny, a component of the bibliometric package in RStudio designed for text mining analysis, to collect data from the WoS database, the largest database. Data selection followed certain criteria, including that articles must be peer-reviewed, published between 2010 and 2024, and in English. The authors used the PRISMA flow model for data collection, which was analyzed with the RStudio statistical package to identify the most cited institutions and countries, production trends, and the most productive country. Results show South Africa as the most productive and cited country on Ubuntu philosophy and Decolonization. The findings also indicate the majority of the productions are single-country collaborations. The review also reveals authors like Metz (2010), Gade (2012), Letseka (2012), and Le Grange (2012) as the most influential authors emphasizing integration of Ubuntu philosophy in education theory and practice.

A responsible parent-child relationship and parental support for learning early in life are crucial to promoting ECD. Many families live in neglected childcare areas, and even when programmes are available, quality is not regulated or supported, which is beyond the reach of most families. There is substantial evidence linking ECD staff training and qualifications with programme quality and children’s cognitive results. Research activities included a case study of three selected rural ECD centres based in the Eastern Cape. Direct observations and additional data were used in individual interviews to obtain data from practitioners. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. The following themes emanated from the results; namely, lack of communication; lack of government involvement; lack of parental involvement; lack of resources; lack of relevant practitioner qualifications; and the absence of an adequate curriculum were conceded. All of these have had their fair share of influence on the negative implementation of quality ECD education and the cognitive development of children. In conclusion, the study established that the ECD sector needs to become urgently professionalized if children's right to a good foundational education is to be preserved and supported. The findings of the study highlighted the importance of broadening perspectives on transitions that children will experience to develop integrated and contextualized classrooms that are child focused.

This study investigates the role of traditional medicine in addressing reproductive health needs in Allandale Village, Mpumalanga Province, through the lens of social justice. The research explores how indigenous healing practices intersect with principles of equity, cultural relevance, and access to reproductive healthcare in a context marked by structural inequality and limited biomedical services. In many rural South African communities, traditional medicine remains the primary source of reproductive health support due to its accessibility, affordability, and alignment with cultural values. Therefore, by investigating how indigenous healing practices interact with the concepts of equity, cultural relevance, and access to reproductive healthcare in a setting that is socially and economically marginalized, this study fills a crucial need. Guided by an ethnomedical framework, the study adopts a qualitative approach to assess whether traditional medicine enhances or constrains women's reproductive autonomy and health outcomes. Participants included local women aged 18 to 50 who actively use or engage with traditional reproductive health practices. The findings reveal that traditional healers play a crucial role in preventive care, fertility regulation, and postpartum support, with many women expressing confidence in the efficacy and cultural resonance of indigenous treatments. However, the study also highlights tensions between traditional and biomedical systems, including gaps in regulation, safety assurance, and gender dynamics. From a social justice perspective, the research argues for a pluralistic health policy that recognises and supports indigenous knowledge systems, promotes collaboration between biomedical professionals and traditional healers, and ensures that all women, especially those in marginalised rural areas, have access to safe, effective, and culturally appropriate reproductive healthcare. The study findings underscore traditional medicine’s role and further contribute to broader discussions on health equity globally by underscoring the importance of integrating culturally grounded, community driven healthcare approaches into national and international health systems to address persistent disparities and promote inclusive, context sensitive reproductive health solutions to women reproductive health. The study concludes with a call for the strengthened implementation of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act 22 of 2007 and the development of community-led, rights-based models of health integration.

This study aimed to investigate how accounting teachers use current technological apps to modernize accounting instruction and guarantee that students acquire critical 21st-century skills. The researcher used a case study research design in conjunction with a qualitative approach to achieve this goal. The authors employed semi-structured interviews to collect data from accounting instructors, using a sample of six educators who were conveniently and purposefully chosen. The results showed that, despite the availability of programs to support accounting instruction, accounting teachers do not use technology to teach accounting. The study also shows that some educators are eager to learn about and make use of the various technological tools at their disposal to better assist their students. The study also found that the secret to modernizing accounting education is forming alliances with networking corporations and academic institutions. To teach accounting, it is imperative that teachers receive retraining and that infrastructure be provided.  The authors recommend that, higher education institutions, such as universities, must provide teachers with comprehensive training on all facets of technology use. Teachers who are currently employed by the education department should get training from ICT specialists in the basic education department on pedagogical topic knowledge that may be utilized to update accounting instruction.    

This study provides an empirical assessment of financial prudence among South African individuals, focusing on savings and investment behaviour. Prior research highlights a positive correlation between national savings rates and economic growth, with countries exhibiting high saving rates often experiencing stronger economic prosperity. However, as of 2023, South Africa's gross saving rate remains around 17%, ranking the lowest among BRICS nations. In contrast, countries like China and India boast saving rates above 40% and 30% respectively, underscoring South Africa's persistent challenge in fostering a robust savings culture. Despite various initiatives aimed at increasing the national savings rate, these efforts have yet to yield significant improvements. This research explores whether financial prudence characterised by conservative spending and careful planning in the face of future income uncertainty—could contribute to higher personal savings rates. To investigate this, an experimental design was employed where participants were presented with a hypothetical lottery payout scenario to gauge their prudence and its effect on saving behaviour. Analysis of the data indicated that while individuals generally displayed a lack of prudence, prudence itself has a notable influence on savings. Based on these findings, the study recommends that financial products and services in South Africa be designed to be affordable, accessible, and suited to the needs of the population. Additionally, it advocates for government investment in small businesses, job creation, and efforts to attract foreign investment to support a more robust savings culture.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the importance of Teacher Professional Development in the implementation of online teaching as a tool for distance learning since the onset of COVID- 19. Before the outburst of the coronavirus pandemic, lecturers were used to face-to-face contact sessions, and most of the students did not have laptops. So, the distressing experience of COVID-19 has catalyzed the need for continuing professional teacher development. The study employed the theory of reasoned behavior and the theory of planned behaviour. The theory of reasoned action aims to explain the relationship between attitudes and behaviours within human action. It is used to predict how individuals will behave based on their pre-existing attitudes and behavioural intentions. The latter includes behavioural control as an additional determinant of intentions and behaviour. The study adopted qualitative methodology and employed the case study. The data was collected through interviews with four university lecturers, who were chosen through purposive sampling technique. The data revealed that most teachers perceived online teaching as a good intervention during the period of COVID- 19. However, teachers lacked training and experience when it comes to online teaching. This resulted in lot of uncertainty when it came to online teaching, and frustration for older teachers. In conclusion, the paper highlighted the need for teacher development in the form of in-service training and suggested that teachers should register for short courses on online learning, implementing mentorship programs by the tertiary institutions.

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

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

Attitudinal barriers and discriminatory practices continue to prevent the full participation of learners with disabilities in developmental learning contexts. Although disability has been on the psychological agenda for some time, there is limited empirical evidence on adopting African models to buffer prejudices. This paper addresses this critical gap by examining the experiences of disabled children subjected to prejudices in inclusive settings and the adaptation of the Afrocentric model to buffer those behaviors. The paper was guided by Allport's Social Reflection Theory, which explains why some groups may be targets of prejudice. The exploratory qualitative case study was undertaken in 4 inclusive schools in Gauteng province. Participants were 20 educators and 40 disabled learners in inclusive schools. Purposive sampling was used to choose participants in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with educators, and the researcher observed the engagement of the educators and 40 disabled learners.  Data collected were analyzed through qualitative thematic data analysis. From the themes that emerged in the findings, the following themes were discussed: advancing the truth in our praxis, fairness, harmony, and humanness. The paper, therefore, recommends that educators apply the practice of including the emerged themes in their learning content for improved grades and low dropout rates. Keywords: Prejudices, Disabled learners, Inclusive settings, Afrocentric inclusion model

The purpose of this study is to explore the challenges and opportunities of the COVID-19 pandemic for women entrepreneurs operating in the informal food sector. An exploratory qualitative approach is used to guide the collection and analysis of data which were collected from a sample of twenty women entrepreneurs. Verbatim transcriptions of digital recordings were analyzed thematically. The findings of the study indicate that women experienced the worst economic effects of the pandemic and faced a range of challenges, such as decreased customer base and demand, loss of income, lack of government and private support, safety and security fears, disrupted supply chains, and requirement for trading permits. Whereas the opportunities encompassed usage of digital technologies, alternative markets and new product offerings, and establishment of Informal women business networks. From the study findings, it is hence vital that policies acknowledge the importance of women and informal food vendors in the nation's informal food system.

The South African government attaches high priority on education hence a bigger share of the country’s budget is allocated to education. Literature presents a growing concern that South African public schools are not performing well with a number of contributing factors for learner poor performance. However, despite poor learner performance in some schools, there remain a number of schools who continuously produce pleasing results. It against this background that this paper sought to determine whether school culture has a contribution to Grade12 learners’ academic performance in selected secondary schools in the Eastern Cape Province. This paper used the Social Interactionist Theory (Mead, 1934) as it lenses, which seeks to understand events and circumstances around us and influence behaviour. This paper is located in the interpretivist paradigm and employed qualitative approach to gain experiences and opinions of participants on the influence of school culture 5 schools were sampled with 40 participants who responded through semi-structured interviews. Among the findings that emerged from the study was the critical participation of the stakeholders in school programmes, the vision and mission of the school to ensure learner success and maintenance of proud legacy of the school.  The paper therefore, recommends cascading focus to the lower grades to continuously sustain school culture that enhances good learner performance.

Sustainability of the rice production and farmers’ income in Nigeria raises a serious concern due to the rising costs of production inputs and other factors beyond farmers’ control. As a result, the study compared the cost and returns of rice production in North central, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 387 rice farmers in the study area. Descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and seeming unrelated regression were used to analyze the dataset collected. The findings revealed that most of the rice farmers were male, averagely young and have at least 9 family members in their respectively households. Results from Kwara State showed that total cost is higher among the upland rice farmers compared to their lowland counterparts, but reverse was the case in term of net profit, as this favoured the lowland rice farmers. For Niger State and pooled data, the lowland rice farmers had higher net profit than the upland rice farmers. Seemingly unrelated regression estimates indicated that costs associated with fertilizer, herbicide, seed, pesticide and labour used were significant and influencing factors affecting the revenue of rice farmers in the study area. While inaccessibility to cheap farm inputs was the major constraint affecting the rice farmers, other challenges include lack of storage, inadequate rainfall and inadequate credit facilities.  The study recommended seamless access to improved rice varieties by the farmers as this can scale up adoption of improved technologies, boost production and ultimately the net revenue of rice farmers. Farmers are also advised to join and/or form a registered occupational groups through which credit facilities can easily be accessed, to expand the farming operations because of the positive and complementary role of social group and access to credit.