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The study sought to investigate the factors influencing environmental reporting in developing countries. This has been necessited by the inconsistances and non compliant to regulations and laws of environmental reporting among the developing countries. Through examining the factors that influence environmental reporting the study hope to establish context based solutions to the challenge of environmental reporting. The study used a quantitative research method and factor analysis to establish the factors influencing environmental reporting. It was discovered that there are seven key factors influencing environmental reporting among Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. These factors are: regulatory drivers, risk management drivers, market drivers, management influence drivers, strategic communication drivers, value creation drivers and legitimacy drivers. The study also revealed that there are several sub-factors that influencing environmental reporting under each key factor identified. The study concluded that environmental reporting influenced by the seven key factors. The study recommends that SADC sought for in-depth understanding of factors influencing environmental reporting. This is because understanding of the factors affecting environmental reporting is essential for the formulation and reporting that that satisfies stakeholders' requirements.

This study examines the most significant challenges facing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa, drawing on firm-level data from the 2022 World Bank Enterprise Survey. Using probit regression analysis, it explores how firm size, sector, geographic location, and female ownership influence the severity of perceived business constraints—namely, access to finance, infrastructure, regulation, workforce skills, crime, and the informal sector. The results indicate that sectoral differences are the strongest predictors of obstacle severity. Due to their capital and logistics needs, sectors such as Fabricated Metal Products, Construction, and Retail face heightened financial and transport challenges. Regionally, firms outside Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape report more severe infrastructure issues, particularly electricity, while those within these provinces face greater skills shortages. Medium-sized firms generally report fewer constraints than smaller firms. Female ownership is not a consistent determinant of obstacle severity; however, firms without female ownership perceive corruption and crime as slightly less severe. These findings underscore the need for targeted, sector- and region-specific policy responses, particularly in enhancing financial access for capital-intensive industries and addressing regional disparities in infrastructure and workforce development.

Cyberbullying is the most common form of violence and aggression that affects the wellbeing of learners during their schooling days. Globally, cyberbullying is increasingly gaining recognition among the social scientists. It is locally becoming a phenomenon that is problematic threatening the mental health of learners. The phenomenon of cyberbullying violates the human rights of learners as outlined in the Constitution of South Africa. Bullying is a phenomenon that is destructive in nature and brings out the culture of violence in learning environment. Cyberbullying is a complex social issue and has close association with mental health illness/problems. It has consequence which includes, trauma, drop in school performance, school dropout and suicide. Cyberbullying is not a new concept among social workers because of their involvement with the phenomenon daily. Cyberbullying involves the use of social media, technology and texts to inflict harm on the victims. The study adopted the qualitative research approach, and this approach was used to provide the knowledge about the destructive nature of cyberbullying on learners in schools. The primary goal of this study was to develop an in-depth knowledge on the destruction or learners in schools. Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews was used in the study with the adoption of purposive technique of sampling. The Interview guide was utilized as a data collection instrument exploratory research designs was employed. The researcher obtained permission from the participants prior to data collection and sought permission for the audio-recording of the participants. The study applied the thematic content as a method of data analysis. The study employed two theoretical framework which were ecological approach and the strength-based approach. The study found that emotional, psychological and educational effects are some of the destructive effects of bullying which puts too much pressure on learners.

This study was undertaken with the purpose of investigating the impact of corporate social responsibility of small and medium enterprise owners on community upliftment in the eThekwini Municipality. The study sought to reinforce understanding of CSR and its economic, social and environment impact on communities by small and medium enterprises. This study`s target population was 5000 registered SMEs, with a sample of 250 determined through random sampling method and the questionnaire used to collect data. Data collected was analysed through the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and cross-tabulation analyses as well as several multivariate statistical techniques to assist in answering key research questions of this study.  Validity for this study was ensured through face and content techniques to ensure that items being presented in the questionnaire were clear and that measures included a representative set of items that measure concepts being addressed. The findings revealed the SMs were aware of the impact of corporate social responsibility on community upliftment and that the relationship between community involvement and community upliftment exist to some extent. This study recommended that SMEs be empowered with issues relating to CSR and these issues be implemented in other municipalities in Kwazulu-Natal. The findings of this study are envisaged to assist SMEs to better understand CSR activities and to successfully implement them in communities.

This paper seeks to explore the realities of gender-based violence (GBV) within the African context with a special focus on how traditions, cultural norms, and values are perceived at the dawn of the recognition of human rights. Culture, human rights, and GBV are deeply interconnected and have significant implications for individuals, communities, and societies at large. It must be noted that the paper does not seek to condone patriarchy or harmful practices that promote gender-based violence; rather, it aims to create a balance between these cultural practices and responses to gender-based violence. The dawn of human rights and legislative frameworks, which to some extent challenge the existence of some practices as not being in line with human rights, has led to some power struggles and imbalances within the relationships. The introduction of human rights and equality, which resulted in most programs focusing on empowering women, such as the 50/50 principle, without necessarily preparing men to live with empowered women, may be perceived by men as challenging their authority. These developments may create frustrated men who see empowered women as a challenge to their leadership, culture, and tradition, and in defense, most men resort to violence as a way of trying to maintain their authority within the family structure. This paper will expand on how patriarchal social structures, cultural norms and traditional practices, colonialism, economic marginalization, resistance, and resilience impact efforts to address GBV. The author conducted desktop research and realized that efforts to prevent GBV should recognize the psychological realities and frustrations of culturally inclined men.

This paper delves into structural and affective determinants of women's persistence in violent relationships within the overarching theme of "Invisible Chains." The research, informed by a qualitative research design based on phenomenology, aimed to discover the lived experiences of women exposed to intimate partner violence (abusive relationships). Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with self-identified female abuse victims. Thematic analysis was applied to analyze the data and derive repetitive patterns and meanings. The significant findings indicate that economic reliance was a common factor, as the majority of participants did not have the economic means or the means to obtain resources to escape violent relationships. Fears as emotional constraints, like fear of new beginnings, loss of self-worth, and worry about children's lives, also trap them. Social norms regarding marriage and gendered roles worked to render abuse normal. Institutional failure, including the inaction of social workers, the police, and other professionals, isolated and disempowered women. These results highlight the need for multifaceted interventions incorporating individual empowerment, systemic change, and cultural change. The research identifies economic support, trauma-informed care, and institutional responsibility in eradicating the invisible forces that keep women locked in abusive relationships.

The retail industry has seen a significant transformation since augmented reality (AR) technology was introduced into online shopping. However, several barriers continue to hinder the global adoption of online AR shopping, particularly for high-involvement products. This study investigates these barriers in the South African context, adopting a quantitative research approach. Data were collected through online self-administered questionnaires from a sample of 664 South African consumers. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to achieve the research objectives. The findings revealed that image barrier strongly inhibits AR adoption. Although insecurity and tradition barrier were not statistically significant, their negative effect suggests they may act as barriers to adoption. Surprisingly, discomfort and risk barrier yielded positive but non-significant results, leading to the rejection of these hypotheses. This research provides insights that are vital for retailers, technology developers, and policymakers striving to leverage AR technology effectively in online retail. The study offers practical strategies to address these barriers and facilitate wider adoption of AR technology. Additionally, it contributes to the broader discourse on the intersection of technology adoption, consumer behavior, and retail marketing strategies, particularly within the socio-economic and cultural complexities of South Africa.

Eskom's electricity generation can't satisfy rising demand. Eskom's installed capacity of 52,000 MW surpasses production of 47,000 MW, a large discrepancy. Eskom uses voluntary load shedding to address this gap and protect the national grid. A desk review study on power outages' socio-economic effects on South African agriculture and food security is presented in the paper. The study also assessed electricity supply and load shedding legislation. Power outages have disrupted farming activities, from irrigation to food processing, and farmers' capacity to maintain production levels. This has caused crop losses, livestock production reductions, and food distribution delays. Thus, food costs have risen, worsening food insecurity, especially for disadvantaged groups. Focussing on agricultural production and energy supply, the study proposed evidence-based solutions and suggestions to lessen load shedding's detrimental effects on South Africa's food systems and improve food security for all.

Academic probation serves as a formal intervention for underperforming students in higher education, yet little is known about how students themselves experience this status. This qualitative study explores the personal, academic, and emotional dimensions of being placed on academic probation from the perspectives of affected university students. Drawing on in-depth interviews with undergraduate students at a public university, the research identifies key themes including isolation, withdrawal, institutional support, and self-perception. Findings suggest that while academic probation often triggers stress and shame, it can also act as a catalyst for growth and re-engagement, depending largely on the support systems available. This qualitative study employed a phenomenological design, supported by a contextual, descriptive, and explorative design aimed at obtaining an in-depth understanding of the psychosocial experiences of such students. The study population included students on academic probation. The researcher used non-probability, purposive sampling to draw a sample from the larger population. The data was analysed thematically. The study was ethically approved by the University of South Africa with Ref No 41454928_CREC_CHS_2023.

The Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly transformed the competitive intelligence (CI) landscape across various businesses. The research examines the swift trend of competitive intelligence by bibliometric analysis. A total of 356 documents were picked from the Scopus database, covering the years 2020 to 2024, to delineate the domain of competitive intelligence and its research horizons.  Findings indicate a substantial shift towards digital transformation, improved data analytics, and an increased focus on agility and resilience in competitive intelligence initiatives. These findings illustrate the dynamic influence of CI and delineate the developmental trends, themes, and patterns for academic practitioners and policymakers, who must adopt these emerging trends to enhance, promote, and sustain CI longevity, operational efficiency, and capability within the swiftly evolving business ecosystem. Prevalent topics encompass digital transformation, agility, resilience, collaboration, networking, ethics, and compliance. Geographically, Asia, North America, and Europe dominate research production in CI during and after Covid-19, although emerging economies exhibit interest. Citation analysis identified prominent authors, providing direction for subsequent research. Nonetheless, research deficiencies and obstacles remain, particularly the necessity for additional empirical investigations, the amalgamation of competitive intelligence with big data, comprehensive competitive intelligence frameworks for small enterprises, innovation, and the Internet of Things (IoT). This bibliometric literature study seeks to analyse and synthesise the fast developments in CI during and subsequent to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyses major topics, approaches, and changes in CI practices through the examination of several academic articles. The study offers significant insights and underscores the transformative potential of CI techniques.

This research sought to find out how South African Pentecostalism impacted on the spiritual and overall health of MSM. With reference to this social context, it explores the ways that religious beliefs, sexual orientation and general healthy status interact. Twenty-five MSM participants of the Pentecostal faith from South Africa were interviewed for this study, and all interviews were conducted pursuant to ethics approval as afforded by their respective institutions. The research lies in the respondents’ religious inclusion and their levels of happiness, self-acceptance and self-esteem. A number of participants indicated that they had never been accepted in the Pentecostal church for who they are regarding their sexual orientation leading to low self-esteem and internalized homosexuality. These conflicts between faith and the sexual domain were the leading cause of conditions such as depression, anxiety, and social isolation. The research presented positive changes a s Regards spiritual health and overall health in MSM persons in SA Pentecostal environments. Additionally, findings underscored the importance of fostering inclusive faith-based interventions and support networks to improve MSM individuals’ spiritual and psychological well-being. The study emphasizes the need for inclusion of MSM individual within the religious South African Pentecostal assemblies in order to improve the religious and general health status of these people. Recommendations derived from the research include the use of religious rhetoric in motivational discussions with key opinion leaders, the provision of culturally appropriate psychological interventions, and increased access to health care for MSM. Furthermore, practical strategies such as structured peer support groups and faith-driven mental health initiatives are essential in fostering acceptance and reducing stigma. Thus, the present research aligns with the provisions of the Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 10 to stress the need to pay more attention to the role of spirituality and sexuality in African societies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role of access to information in determining socioeconomic outcomes, especially in the context of poverty alleviation. This study explores the nexus between access to information and poverty in South Africa, emphasizing the role of digital connectivity in socio-economic development using data from the General Household Survey (GHS) 2023 collected by STATSSA. Through logistic regression analysis, the study examines the impact of internet access and other information channels on poverty levels, with a particular focus on marginalized groups, including female-headed households. Using regression analysis and descriptive statistics, the findings reveal that access to internet services significantly influences household poverty levels. Households with access to mobile internet, Wi-Fi, and other forms of digital connectivity are less likely to experience poverty, highlighting the critical role of technology in improving access to education, employment, and government services. However, significant disparities persist, with approximately 29% of households lacking mobile internet and over 93% without access to public Wi-Fi, exacerbating the digital divide, particularly in rural and low-income communities. The results further indicate that socio-demographic factors, including age, gender, race, and household size, intersect with digital access to shape poverty outcomes. Female-headed and black households are disproportionately affected by poverty, reflecting broader structural inequalities. Limited access to technology among these groups amplifies their vulnerability, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted interventions. The results underscore the importance of addressing information disparities to promote financial inclusion and drive sustainable development in the post-pandemic era. This paper provides evidence-based insights for policymakers to develop targeted interventions that bridge the digital divide and support vulnerable populations in South Africa. The study concludes that improving digital inclusion is essential for addressing poverty, fostering economic mobility, and reducing inequality in the post-COVID-19 era. It calls for policy efforts to enhance internet accessibility and bridge the digital divide, particularly for marginalized populations.  

Pandemics result in significant devastation, leaving considerable destruction in their wake. Numerous researchers contend that the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic exceeded prior pandemics in various aspects. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted global economies, businesses, and societies, resulting in substantial damage and lasting effects. The aviation industry experienced a significant near-collapse for the first time since the advent of aeroplanes, attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was initiated to synthesise existing studies on the strategies utilised by Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to sustain operations during disasters such as COVID-19 in South Africa. This systematic literature review analyses the survival strategies and failures of SMMEs in Africa in response to the economic disruptions induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixteen accredited journals were incorporated into the data analysis. The thematic analysis identified several themes from the original data: Networking and Accessing Financial Support, Response to Crisis Conditions, Digital Technology, Disruption of Supply Chains, and Inadequate and Insufficient Government Support. This study synthesises existing research to identify factors that supported SMMEs in sustaining operations and recovering from challenges induced by the pandemic. This study offers significant insights into the survival strategies and challenges faced by SMMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. African leaders should supervise the execution of digital transformation initiatives, focused financial assistance, and strategies for long-term business continuity.

This study explored the instructional media used in the correctional school and during rehabilitation programmes at the Johannesburg Female Correctional Centre and the preferences of offenders. Underpinned by the positivism paradigm, a quantitative approach was followed, and a cross-sectional survey design was used. The enumeration sampling technique was used due to the small size of the population (n = 571). Data were collected from 402 participants who were sentenced offenders, thus yielding a response rate of 70.40%. A Kolb Learning Style Questionnaire was used to collect data. Version 26.0.0 of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed as part of data analysis. The findings of this study revealed that offenders at the Johannesburg Female Correctional Centre rely on teachers and chalkboard as the dominant media for instruction and that these have been used in the educational or schooling environment for many years. The Johannesburg Female Correctional Centre prefers using teacher and chalkboard instructional mediums, possibly to maintain security in the facility. Based on the findings it is recommended that Johannesburg Female Correctional Centre formulates and implements a strategy that seeks to deliberately provide variations of instructional media/mediums to accommodate different learning styles during the school lessons and rehabilitation programmes, as long as these do not affect the security within the facility.

The small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa were found to be failing at exceedingly high rates. Some government support programmes were established in certain institutions of government to improve the SMME situation. Discrepancies seemed to show that while support programmes offered aid to the SMMEs, SMMEs showed no significant improvement. The support structures claimed that their aid was effective, and the SMMEs were saying they were not being enhanced. The aim of this paper was to analyze and understand the reasons behind any differences in responses or actions between SMMEs and the support programmes meant to aid them. A qualitative study was conducted, where both parties were interviewed, and their results compared. The study showed that the support programmes were not empowered to extend their services beyond offering aid, so they could not even monitor and evaluate their programmes’ effectiveness. When they said they were effective, it meant up to their scope. On the other hand, SMMEs expected the support institutions to visit and support them. Hence, the problem was mainly a misunderstanding. For the success of the support programmes, however, the study recommended that policies of the support structures should be extended, and activities extended to satisfy the SMMEs.

The adoption of digital technologies in external auditing has become increasingly common and significant in the digital era, revolutionizing audit practices and offering several opportunities. This study explores whether the application of digital technologies in external auditing presents a double-edged sword, with the ability to transform and disrupt the audit profession. Through a comprehensive examination of the likely opportunities and challenges of the digital transformation of the external audit function, this study sought to provide an insightful discussion of the dual nature of the implications of digital technologies. The aim of this study is to not only provide a balanced assessment of the application of digital technologies in external auditing but also to recommend possible ways for auditors, auditee companies, and other stakeholders to reap maximum benefits from the use of digital technologies, including how these various stakeholders can navigate the associated challenges effectively. Opportunities stemming from the application of digital technologies include the enhancement of audit quality, improved accuracy in audit procedures, increased efficiency and effectiveness, heightened comprehensiveness and extensiveness in risk assessment, and an increased degree of confidence in the audited financial statements by stakeholders (reduction in the audit expectation gap). On the downside, challenges and risks concern the lack of or the need for new skills and competencies for auditors, technological complexities linked to digital technologies, cybersecurity risks, overdependence on technology affecting audit quality, audit evidence, professional skepticism, and the widening of the audit expectation gap. To maximize the possible benefits and minimize risks, this study recommends continuous professional development, capacity building through education, training and collaboration, better technology and data governance initiatives, and continuous assessment of risks.

This paper examines the current international taxation framework and its implications for African economies. The analysis highlights the economic consequences of the existing allocation of taxing rights, which often results in reduced revenue generation and exacerbated economic inequalities. The paper underscores the critical roles played by the African Union (AU) and the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) in advocating for fairer taxing rights for African countries. It also delves into potential technological and administrative solutions to enhance tax collection efficiency and effectiveness. A qualitative systematic literature review approach was adopted in the study. The findings reveal that the current allocation of taxing rights disproportionately favours residence countries, hindering African nation's ability to generate adequate tax revenues. This, in turn, impedes investments in essential public services and infrastructure. The paper emphasises the importance of equitable tax reforms, advocating for a reallocation of taxing rights that ensures a fairer distribution of tax revenues. Strengthening the capacities of tax administrations and investing in advanced technology for tax collection are also identified as crucial steps to improve the efficiency and fairness of the tax system. Key recommendations for policymakers include actively participating in international tax reform initiatives, advocating for source-based taxation, and fostering regional co-operation to enhance tax governance. Specific policy reforms suggested include implementing digital services taxes, enforcing anti-avoidance rules, and improving transfer pricing regulations. The paper concludes by calling for further research on the impact of specific tax policy reforms, the effectiveness of technological solutions, and the role of regional bodies in promoting equitable tax practices. These insights aim to contribute to the ongoing discourse on international taxation and support sustainable economic development in Africa.