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Women entrepreneurs in South Africa continue to encounter financial, institutional, geographical, and gender constraints that hinder business growth. This research explores how these interrelated constraints affect women’s entrepreneurial perspectives and the engagement in the small- and medium-sized enterprise sector. Using an interpretivist qualitative method, data were gathered using an open-ended digital survey with 25 women entrepreneurs operating in various South African settings, reinforced by an analysis of pertinent policy and entrepreneurship-related papers. Thematic analysis identified six interconnected themes: financial exclusion and gendered power; gender norms and patriarchal expectations; geographic marginalisation; network and institutional exclusion; intersectional disadvantage; and resilience and survival-focused strategies. Findings show that women embrace adaptive practices such as personal savings, informal finance and diversification, which allow businesses survival but do not always promote sustained success. These barriers limit access to capital, markets, networks, facilities, and value chains, reducing job growth and business competitiveness. Reflecting on feminist economics, decolonial feminism, and intersectionality, the paper contends that women’s entrepreneurship needs to be regarded as a systemic and structural challenge, instead of a single resilience challenge. The research recommends coordinated, gender-responsive actions that promote accessibility to financing, markets, infrastructure, networks and supportive institutions.

Electronic public participation (EPP) is becoming more popular to enhance traditional public engagement and promote equitable municipal planning. But the degree to which digital engagement provides significant public impact in South Africa’s Integrated Development Planning (IDP) process is not well recognised. This study looks into EPP practices, application challenges, and potential for improving digital engagement in three metropolitan municipalities: Cape Town, Ekurhuleni, and Nelson Mandela Bay. A mixed-methods, multiple-case research design was used. Data were obtained from 588 participants, who included municipal officials, ward councillors, ward committee members, and residents, with 260 formal and 250 informal settlement populations. Quantitative data from local residents were evaluated using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square tests, whilst interviews and open-ended questions were thematically analysed using Dedoose and combined during interpretation. The findings show that EPP is entrenched unequally across local municipalities and IDP phases. The City of Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Bay made better use of online and blended engagement, whilst Ekurhuleni leaned more mainly on traditional meeting procedures. Across municipalities, digital engagement was focused on information exchange, consultation, analysis, and project-related phases, with less integration into strategic planning, approval, execution, and monitoring. Digital disparity, inadequate institutional capacity, and ineffective feedback systems all hampered meaningful involvement. The evidence, as explained using Arnstein’s Ladder, Smart Governance Theory, and Collaborative Governance Theory, reveals that online access has increased faster than citizen control. As such, this research offers a holistic EPP implementation framework which combines digital and in-person interaction throughout the IDP process, backed up by equitable access, institutional cooperation, feedback, accountability, and joint decision-making avenues. The framework also emphasises the opportunity of EPP to improve stakeholder collaboration and the larger municipal economic landscape.

This study investigates the effects of large class sizes on students' learning experiences at a South African university of technology. With increasing enrolment in higher education, many universities face the challenge of managing large classes, which raises concerns about the quality of teaching and learning. This study used a quantitative research design to gather and analyse data through structured questionnaires administered to third-year undergraduate students in three departments with high enrolment numbers in the Faculty of Management Sciences at one university of technology. The findings reveal that large classes have a negative impact on students' ability to engage with academic content, interact with lecturers, and receive timeous feedback. Students reported feeling disconnected, overlooked, and less motivated in overcrowded learning environments. The study highlights areas where technological tools and improved pedagogical strategies could mitigate some of the challenges associated with large-class learning. The study also investigated how academic support services offered by the Teaching and Learning Development Centre (TLDC), the Writing Centre, and the Student Counselling Centre affect students’ learning and performance. The paper concludes by recommending strategies and support systems to enhance student learning in large class contexts.

Internal migration significantly influences South Africa's urbanisation path, affecting urban planning, service delivery, and governance mechanisms. This research investigates the impact of migration-related elements on civic engagement and urban development approaches within municipal administrations. Utilising a comprehensive examination of existing academic literature and governmental documents, the research examines the limitations of conventional participatory methods in the context of rapid urban growth and demographic changes. The findings indicate that internal migration challenges static population assumptions, contributes to the growth of informal settlements, and places pressure on urban amenities, services, and municipal resources. Traditional participation frameworks, typically established within stable, geographically bounded communities, may marginalise mobile and underprivileged groups, therefore limiting inclusive government. Consequently, the research advocates for flexible public engagement by highlighting ongoing involvement, institutional learning, adaptation, and multilevel collaboration. Adaptive engagement could bolster municipal resilience by improving responsiveness, inclusivity, and preparedness to modify planning and governance practices in accordance with changing demographic circumstances. The study enhances the understanding of local governance by connecting internal migration to adaptive governance and demonstrating how participation can be customised to demographic shifts. It additionally presents pragmatic approaches for towns to integrate migration into their planning, budgeting, data-driven governance, and intergovernmental cooperation.

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted traditional Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) practices in South African Universities of Technology (UoTs), necessitating rapid adaptation to virtual, hybrid, and project-based learning models. This study investigates post-COVID WIL practices, stakeholder perceptions, curriculum impacts, and the effectiveness of newly implemented strategies. Situated within an interpretivist paradigm, a qualitative approach was adopted to explore the meanings participants ascribe to WIL experiences. An exploratory multiple case-study design enabled in-depth insights across six UoTs. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 27 participants; including lecturers, WIL coordinators, and document analysis to capture diverse perspectives and institutional artefacts. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and managed in NVivo; thematic analysis combining deductive and inductive coding was applied to generate categories, subthemes, and overarching themes aligned to the research objectives. Thematic analysis revealed four overarching dimensions: (1) current WIL practices, including communication strategy development, traditional placements, project-based learning, and collaborative mentorship; (2) stakeholders’ perceptions, highlighting opportunities and constraints in transitioning to online and hybrid modalities; (3) curriculum impacts, reflecting both enhanced work-readiness and systemic limitations such as misaligned placements, insufficient exposure, and financial inequities; and (4) a balanced assessment of WIL strategies, emphasizing the integration of virtual approaches, simulation technologies, traditional placements, and industry partnerships. The main findings demonstrate that hybrid, adaptive WIL models supported by structured mentorship, formalised industry collaboration, and reflective practices optimally cultivate employable, competent, and resilient graduates. The study underscores the need for strategic planning, institutional capacity building, and equity-focused interventions to sustain WIL effectiveness in post-pandemic higher education

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation represents a significant occupational hazard for outdoor workers, contributing to various health outcomes including dermatological conditions, ocular diseases, immune system impairment, and decreased productivity. Workers engaged in industries such as construction, agriculture, and transportation are frequently exposed to UVR levels exceeding recommended safety thresholds, thereby increasing their risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), pterygium, cataracts, and immunosuppression. Despite widespread awareness of these risks, current preventive measures and occupational regulations are often insufficient. This systematic review aims to compile and analyze current evidence regarding the health impacts of occupational solar UVR exposure among outdoor workers. Additionally, it seeks to identify existing gaps in knowledge and policy to support the development of effective preventive strategies and guide future research efforts. A comprehensive, systematic search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Keywords and MeSH terms related to UVR exposure, outdoor occupations, skin and eye health, and preventive interventions were utilized. Studies selected for inclusion focused on adult outdoor workers and addressed UVR-related health outcomes or exposure assessments. Due to heterogeneity in study designs, findings were synthesized thematically. Research consistently indicates that outdoor workers experience UVR exposure levels two to three times higher than indoor workers, often exceeding safety limits established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). There is strong evidence linking chronic UVR exposure to increased risks of NMSC (relative risk 1.43–2.42), pterygium, and cataracts, with biomarker studies corroborating UV-induced immunosuppression. Additionally, UVR exposure has been associated with cognitive performance, productivity, and absenteeism, leading to considerable economic impacts. While preventive measures such as sunscreen use, protective clothing, and educational programs have improved protective behaviors by approximately 20–40%, adherence to these practices remains limited. Currently, global regulatory frameworks are inadequate, with only about one-third of countries implementing comprehensive occupational UVR guidelines.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into human resource management (HRM) processes has significantly enhanced organisational operations by optimising efficiency in talent acquisition, performance assessment, and employee engagement initiatives. Nonetheless, this integration introduces ethical challenges, including algorithmic bias, data privacy concerns, and the reduction of human decision-making autonomy. The purpose of the review is to systematically examine the ethical considerations associated with AI deployment in HRM, explicitly addressing issues related to bias, transparency, privacy breaches, and job displacement. Additionally, it evaluates strategies for deploying AI responsibly to uphold principles of fairness, accountability, and stakeholder trust. Considering the purpose of the review, a comprehensive systematic review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted, sourcing data from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The review targeted publications relevant to the aims of the study, utilising search keywords such as "ethical consideration," "algorithmic bias," and "data privacy." Data synthesis was conducted via narrative methods complemented by thematic analysis to identify prevailing patterns, research gaps, and emergent themes. Findings revealed that AI enhances HRM functions through automation, predictive analytics, and the delivery of individualised employee experiences, contributing to cost reductions and improved decision-making efficacy. However, potential negative implications include reinforcement of existing biases, violations of privacy, lack of transparency in decision-making processes, and threats to employment stability. Empirical evidence indicates disproportionate impacts on marginalised populations and underscores the necessity for ethical frameworks, including the development and implementation of explainable AI (XAI) and hybrid human-AI systems. Finally, it is affirmed that although AI offers transformative operational benefits within HRM, the associated ethical risks necessitate the implementation of comprehensive governance structures, bias mitigation protocols, and active stakeholder participation. Approaches such as hybrid human-AI systems, targeted workforce training, and adherence to regulatory standards are essential to ensuring sustainable and ethical AI integration. Future research should prioritise investigating employee perceptions and conducting cross-cultural analyses to enhance ethical AI governance in HRM contexts.

In the context of rapid technological advancement and evolving financial ecosystems, this study investigates the interplay between financial literacy, digital finance, and financial behaviour among high school teachers in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Structural equation modelling (SEM) approach was used to describe intricate relationships between latent constructs, namely, financial literacy, financial Behaviour and, digital finance Knowledge as well as observed variables (B7 to B22, C23 to C44, D45 to D56, demographics). Demographic variables include Gender, Age Category, Qualification Type, Teaching Duration, Financial Literacy Course and Field Employed. The model defined each construct as a linear combination of its observed variables as well as demographic variables under its measurement component, and hypothetical relationships among three latent variables under its structural component. We used Python software and machine learning code to create and estimate the model using observed data. The missing values in each observed variable were imputed with averages of the variables’ data. The tests of normality assumption for SEM were performed using histogram and q-q plots, Shapiro-Wilk test D'Agostino and Pearson's test.  Most data vectors violated the normality assumption. Diagonally Weighted Least Squares (DWLS) was used for parameter estimation as a suitable method that can provide better estimation for more complex models with many parameters. This method has an additional advantage of being less sensitive to outliers. The DWLS parameter estimation results, based on p-values, suggest that financial literacy and financial behaviour have a negative association which means that lacking financial behaviour results in financial literacy. A positive association between has been identified between financial behaviour and digital finance knowledge. Financial literacy and digital finance knowledge have a weak or no relationship. Thus, having or not having digital finance knowledge does not necessarily determine the possibility of experiencing financial literacy. Furthermore, among demographic variables, the financial literacy Course is the only demographic variable that has a significant impact, and only on Financial Behaviour and Financial literacy. The rest of the variables do not significantly influence the latent constructs. This study uniquely applies SEM using the DWLS estimator to explore personal finance dynamics in an emerging economy, offering concise insights into key relationships.

The digital divide (DD), which refers to the gap resulting from unequal access to digital technology hardware, software and ideological-ware resources, arises from disparities in accessing, material and physical resources that enable internet access. In the contemporary world, this divide extends beyond internet access to include the ability to manipulate educational technologies in the knowledge building process. Therefore, the installation of the internet infrastructure in communities should not be considered as the sole facility to access. In attempting to curb the DD, blended learning is seen to be a possible viable option. It is against this backdrop that this article sought to explore the role of blended learning in neutralising DD. This qualitative case study employed the resources and appropriation theory as a lens to analyse DD as a result of societal inequalities and unequal distribution of resources. The community of Inquiry (COI) framework was also used as a theoretical lens to guide the implementation of social and cognitive knowledge-building in a blended learning context. The reported study employed purposive sampling involving 26 participants who were the recipients of blended learning in one institution of higher learning (HEI) in Lesotho. Data were generated through reflective journals and one-on-one semi-structured interviews, and guided analysis was used to interpret the generated data. The findings established that blended learning has the capacity to neutralise DD, as it affords students the flexibility to design and engage in individualised learning experiences through both offline and online modes of teaching and learning, thereby meeting their access needs. The recommendation proposed in this article, thus, is for HEIs to adopt blended learning to eliminate categorical inequalities and social divisions in education, ideally promoting equilibrated inclusion of individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds in the teaching and learning process.

African Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKS) are values that were passed among African generations by word of mouth. Despite the Fourth Industrial Revolution's (4IR) facilitation of rapid communication for every aspect of society, many Africans have not embraced it to store AIKS, mainly due to concerns over biases and prejudices embedded in aspects like information and communication technologies (ICTs). Using decoloniality theory, this paper aims to show the importance of AIKS, which faces extinction due to the combined effects of the deaths of members of the old generation and acculturation. In the methodology section, Afrocentricity, which celebrates rootedness in African culture and history, was used together with storytelling as a means to examine the perceptions of Afrocentric scholars as revealed in their folktale works that were analyzed qualitatively. Results revealed that lack of exposure to ICTs is one of the main reasons for the scant AIKS virtual literature. Many African people do not have access to other needs like food, education, clothing, electricity, and shelter, which effectively renders ICTs ‘secondary, yet access to information and participation are fundamental rights. We urge stakeholders to implement policies that promote the preservation of AIKS in electronic repositories. Memory devices and other ICT accessories should be responsive to African cultures. Investment in ICT infrastructure and training, reliable electricity, and addressing all the basics are critical.

“Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” is a bestselling memoir that was written by Trevor Noah, a South African-born comedian of global acclaim. In the book, Noah relives his upbringing in South Africa, when apartheid policies and legislation were designed and harshly implemented to keep the country’s citizens apart based on race and ethnicity. Yet, in relieving this oppressive and traumatic period and proceeding to the 1994 democratic era, Noah applies humor as a storytelling strategy to downplay this harsh period. Hence, this paper adopts the incongruity theory to present the juxtaposition that is evident in the form of surprises and tensions in the narrative, which the readers may find humorous. In addition, the paper draws on Apartheid Studies and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as theoretical frameworks to conduct this qualitative study. CDA is used as a research tool to indicate how a text authored by a comedian from the global south is used to humorously resist political and social power relations. It is found that Noah manages to criticize the segregation that was there in a subtle manner and to educate the audience through humor about socio-economic challenges in the country. Even though his writing is mainly in a language of the global north for possible economic reasons, he draws from the languages of the global south to correctly represent the culture of the South African people he is part of.

The South African taxi industry has a negative image that is associated with violence and disrespect for its clients. This has led to it losing many of its clients to other industry players leading to more violence as taxi owners lose profits. The issue of communication as a possible solution to the challenges the taxi industry experiences, from the perspectives of the taxi drivers, has not been explored. Hence, this paper sought to gather the views of drivers on the role of improved communication to bringing about peace and good relations with passengers. A qualitative approach was adopted as a form of data collection in which 12 participants were interviewed in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa. The participants were selected among the taxi drivers who were asked to share their communication challenges and strategies. The findings revealed that poor communication skills and language can be a barrier to communication between drivers and passengers and between taxi associations. Effective communication strategies can contribute to economic freedom and peace. A further finding from the study is that taxi drivers, acting on their own agency, can tackle communication challenges in the eThekwini taxi industry and contribute to change.

The progress and sustainability of a nation's economy are attributed to its human capital, and a country lacking competent, knowledgeable, and productive manpower will struggle to thrive due to a dearth of talented individuals in the job market. To enhance the quality of skilled manpower in industries, the South African government is promoting digital literacy among its youth. This research aims to investigate the use of ICTs skills and competencies as an enabler for promoting sustainable advancement of youth employability in South Africa, as the country's youth unemployment rate for the 15-34 age group was 55.2% in the 1st quarter of 2019. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) era has exacerbated job scarcity and inequality due to the scarcity of advanced ICT skills. As a result, South Africa has chosen to increase ICT usage to enhance economic activity and job creation. A critical literature review was conducted to support the research inquiry through a systematic literature review (SLR) as the research methodology since the contents are based on existing literature studies in identifying research needs and gaps, collecting or gathering lines of thoughts Memon et al. (2020) and views in relation to ICT skills and competences as an enabler for sustainable advancement of youth employability in South Africa. The approach was supported using the Sustainable Livelihood Theory as the research framework to support the findings.

The constantly evolving technology landscape inevitably calls for technological integration in learning and education. It is essential in the world we live in today for every learning method to include the use of new technologies. The study's primary goal is to examine strategies to integrate modern technologies into teaching in South Africa. The paper strives to understand the state of education in South Africa; the government’s contribution to education so far; teachers’ attitudes and competencies; as well as, and the benefits that new technologies can offer the education system in South Africa. A systematic review of literature that relates to the infusion of conventional technologies into educational settings has been adopted. The research conducted in this paper demonstrated that integrating technology into the teaching-learning process can be a useful strategy for training educators and learners for improved learning and educational outcomes in South Africa. Furthermore, the study's findings revealed that many South African instructors have a negative attitude regarding the usage of modern technologies for teaching. The paper recommended that the government should prioritizes funding for education; and concluded that blended learning is best used as the instructional strategy in South African classes.

This paper examines the narrative about gender influence in students' career choices and professions is something that needs to be reconsidered to remain relevant in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and a society that is always evolving. The 4IR has resulted in disruptive innovation globally, wherefore, the technological innovation that includes artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. These disruptions, however, may be creative in that as some jobs are lost due to the development of artificial intelligence, new ones are created. Hence, a positive impact on key industries and sectors, like business, health, and education as the globe rapidly moves toward a more digital economy, many low- and middle-income countries face difficulties finding competent workers to fill crucial Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professions in growing markets. The fourth industrial revolution, which involves more than just technological transformation, is drawing attention around the globe. This shortfall is made worse by the underrepresentation of women in ICT-related fields. The demand for ICT professionals/ workers and the supply of job seekers with the necessary technical skills threaten the ability of the country (South Africa) to take part in a powerful driver of growth in the fourth industrial revolution. This paper is a systematic literature review supported by the theory of social cognitive career theory (SCCT) and expectancy-value theory (EVT). The findings revealed that gender disparity, inadequate career guidance, and educational career ambition play an enormous role amongst male and female students when choosing ICT as a career choice.

Over the last decade, both inflation and societal pressures have increased. The COVID-19 outbreak exacerbated these problems, resulting in a decrease in people's earning ability and contributing to an increase in the unemployment rate in developing countries. Equally tricky for businesses is satisfying price-sensitive customers in the face of unpredictability. Thus, price- and value-obsessed customers are often less committed to a company since they seek fabulous discounts. Therefore, this study examined perceptions of customer satisfaction and brand loyalty amongst millennials in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from respondents were gathered using a descriptive quantitative research methodology, and a simple random sampling procedure was employed to select 142 respondents. Additionally, the research's driving principle was positivism. A self-administered questionnaire was given to the participants to complete. This study's findings suggest a strong and positive relationship between brand loyalty and customer satisfaction. The survey results were thus crucial for learning about the factors that affected customers, such as their shopping preferences and whether or not they would remain loyal to the brand. The results also show that the COVID-19 pandemic has, in some way or other, altered millennials' shopping habits. This research might be helpful to the management of the company in developing comprehensive and in-depth data about a target market so that they can plan and execute the most successful strategies.

The needs of the customers residing in townships are generally met by informal retailers operating spaza and tuck shops. These retailers sell personal and household products such as cooking oil, sugar, maize flour, snacks, soap, paraffin, candles, matches, disinfectants, cigarettes, and prepaid airtime for mobile phones. However, several factors determine the success and marketing of these products to townships by retailers. Therefore, this study sought to analyse the factors determining the marketing of products to townships amongst Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the retail sector. Thus, a literature review was conducted to collect information to identify factors determining the marketing of products to townships amongst SMEs within the retail sector using several databases. The year 2012 signaled the commencement of an organised search for publications that were pertinent to the topic. The researcher searched for journals published on township retail and marketing using buzzwords relevant to the current study. The findings of this study show that the following are marketing factors: product quality, product price, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, and customer service. Non-marketing factors encompass competition, the transport system, road infrastructure, security, licensing and regulatory requirements, and business location. Therefore, retailers are asked to pay particular attention to these factors because they are crucial to marketing and achieving a competitive advantage.

This paper examined South African politicians' (re)presentation in Tony Leon’s regular column, On the contrary, which appeared in The Times newspaper from 2012 to 2017. This period in South African politics is made interesting by the fact that it coincides with the time when there was mounting pressure for the then president, Jacob Zuma, of the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), to step down, especially between 7 January 2015 and 21 March 2017. Tony Leon, who also once served as a councilor for the Democratic Party (DA), one of the major opposition parties in South Africa is the columnist who at the time authors the on the contrary column. This creates interesting research on how the columnist and the newspaper are able or not to maintain ethical journalism. In conducting the study, this article employs the framing theory and critical discourse analysis (CDA) as research tools to assess the columnists’ objectivity and bias in his depiction of the then president and several prominent politicians during the examined period. Data analysis constitutes six newspaper articles which were purposively selected to obtain a representative sample. The results indicated that these articles were well-researched in respect of the information they presented. At the same time, biased tendencies were noted in favor of the political party aligned to the columnist.

Entrepreneurship is crucial for both growing the economy and decreasing the crushing effects of poverty and unemployment. Consequently, higher education institutions have a critical role to play in inculcating entrepreneurial skills in students who may find it challenging to gain employment. This research examined the impact of socio-demographic variables (age, gender, level of study, academic discipline, race and nationality) on entrepreneurship intention. A descriptive quantitative research design was adopted to collect data from a simple random sample of 332 higher education students. This study's findings show no significant difference amongst the respondents in terms of gender, age, race and entrepreneurial intention. On the other hand, the results revealed a statistically significant difference between the respondents' nationality, academic discipline, level of study and entrepreneurship intention. Therefore, higher education institutions should pay attention to the demographics of students to avoid prejudices and to have targeted interventions that will arouse their interest in entrepreneurship. The findings of this study could assist institutional managers and policy-makers in putting in place strategies that could help higher education students actively participate in entrepreneurial activities on campus and treat entrepreneurship as an alternative career.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the impact of foreign portfolio investment on economic growth in Africa.  The motivation to explore the effects of portfolio investment and growth stemmed from the fact that Africa has recorded large capital inflows since the global financial crisis. These capital flows can have positive or negative consequences. The effects of foreign portfolio investment on the African economy is an area of interest because very little has been done on the subject area. The study used quarterly panel from 1995 to 2014. The study used only five African countries; South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Mauritius and Nigeria. These countries were chosen because they are in the top five of the African financial markets index. A GMM model was adopted to test the effects of portfolio flows on economic growth in the selected African states. Results showed that there is a weak relationship between portfolio investment and economic growth and that there is a positive relationship between INT and GDP. Results also show a positive relationship between EXCH and GDP in the long run.  A depreciation in the rand exchange rate is seen to be depressing economic growth. The study recommended that the Central Banks in African countries develop better strategies to enhance capital flows' benefits. This can be done by establishing and improving financial institutions which are still developing.