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As access to healthcare has come under increasing scrutiny, patient waiting times have become crucial. Qualitative research provides an in-depth understanding and reflections of the nurses at Nthabiseng Clinic in Capricorn region, Limpopo Province, South Africa.This article is based on an investigation of patient waiting, which used in-depth semi-structured interviews with five strategically selected healthcare professionals to disentangle the web of different elements that can affect the length of time a patient might wait at the hospital. We identified two superordinate themes that emerged from our thematic analysis. The data analysis identified two key themes that influenced how patient waiting time was related to patients and operational matters during clinic visits: 1) Determinants of patient waiting time at a clinic visit: (i.e. a lack of definitions of patient waiting time; patient waiting time contributing factors; patient waiting time seen through patients; operational challenges regarding patient waiting time); as well as 2) Patient waiting time policy position (i.e. South Africa’s patient waiting time specific policy/ies and/or legislative framework; A clinic’s specific development plan; DOH’s assistance to a clinic). As healthcare systems strive to enhance accessibility and patient experience, this study offers invaluable insights into the multifaceted nature of patient waiting times, paving the way for evidence-based strategies to address this critical issue.

Agricultural farms play a crucial role in providing food security in South Africa and other parts of the world. These agricultural farms are faced with challenges such as stock theft, equipment theft and armed robberies. This paper aimed to explore the use of technological innovations on agricultural farms to detect and prevent crime. Complexity theory was adopted to achieve the aim of the paper. Qualitative research was adopted to achieve the research objective and in-depth interviews were conducted with farm managers in South Africa. Content analysis was used with the aid of Atlas.ti version 8 to analyse the primary data. The findings uncovered that technological innovation devices such as motion sensors, monitoring surveillance camera devices and drones are used on agricultural farms. Despite these devices' use, agricultural farms face security budget constraints. This paper makes a significant contribution by offering recommendations to key stakeholders and directions for future research on the topic.

The study sought to establish the primary determinants of social media usage among mobile network users in Zimbabwe, and how do these determinants vary across different demographic characteristics, including age, gender, education, income, and occupation. A descriptive research design was used in this study. A self-administered face-to-face personal survey was used to collect data from the consumers. The population in this study was made up of mobile consumers of the mobile network providers, Econet, NetOne, and Telecel in Harare Province, aged between 18 and 64 years. Convenience sampling technique, was used to select the mobile network consumers to participate in the study drawn from the three mobile operators. A sample of 384 respondents was chosen for the study. The result indicated that male respondents demonstrated a stronger perception of the effects of social media engagement on social media usage and truthfulness as a determinant of social media usage among the 18 to 25 age group and the 34 to 41 age group was different. Respondents with secondary education only demonstrated stronger perceptions of the effect of perceived usefulness on social media usage than degree holders’ respondents. Formally employed respondents had a stronger perception of the effects of social media influence on social media usage compared to students. The analysis of the study results further indicated that respondents who earned less than $2000 was significantly less than the mean score for the group which earned between $3001- 4000. The study concluded that male consumers have a stronger perception of the effects of social media engagement on social media usage, the consumers in the 18 to 25 age group have stronger perceptions of truthfulness of information, holders of certificates have a stronger perception of the effects of cost effectiveness on social media usage and formally employed consumers have a stronger perception of the effects of social media influence on social media usage compared to students. Creation of social media content helps the mobile network operators to adapt, design and develop social media content specifically targeted to specific ages, gender, occupations, and income levels on social media sites.  Mobile network operators can use the results of the study to choose a social media channel that speak to the right demographic consumers who visit their platforms.

This study examined the accountability practices of South African school governing bodies (SGBs), specifically focusing on the decision-making process regarding the submission of financial records and statements for either audit or examination purposes. This flexibility has led to inconsistencies and a lack of comparability in the financial reporting of Section 21 schools. The study adopted a qualitative research approach using document analysis and supplemented by face-to-face interviews. Provincial guidelines and selected schools’ financial statements were analysed. Schools’ principals, finance officers, auditors, school governing body treasurers, as well as districts officials were also interviewed. Twenty-nine participants were selected using a purposive sampling method while semi-structured interviews were adopted. Findings reveal that there is a lack of accountability by the SGBs regarding the auditing of financial records and financial statements. The study further revealed that the SGBs opt to submit the financial records and financial statements for examination instead of an audit. The study recommended mandating all schools’ audits by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), akin to other public entities, possibly requiring amendments to the South African Schools Act (SASA). Alternatively, including audit expenses in the annual budget or allocation for schools may discourage opting for examination, thereby improving accountability.

This study investigated the instructional methods used in the correctional school and during rehabilitation programmes at the Johannesburg Female Correctional Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. It further explored how those instructional methods influence offenders' learning experiences. Anchored in 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, yielding a response rate of 70.40%. A Kolb Learning Style Inventory was used to collect data. Version 26.0.0 of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed as part of data analysis. The results show that during classes and during rehabilitation programmes, classroom discussion was the most common instructional method, and this was found to be appropriate to the participants’ learning experiences. Lecturing was the second most used instructional method for both the Correctional Centre school and the rehabilitation programmes. It was also found to be relevant to the participants’ learning experiences. It is recommended that the Johannesburg Female Correctional Centre formulate and implement a strategy that seeks to deliberately provide variations of instructional methods to accommodate different learning styles if these do not compromise the security within the facility. Teachers/facilitators can use varied techniques to stimulate offenders’ enthusiasm and participation during the sessions. It is further recommended that the Department of Correctional Services should offer professional development opportunities for educators to develop capacity to utilise diverse teaching techniques and create feedback mechanisms to assess instructional effectiveness for offenders. The Department of Correctional Service must further consider developing a framework for monitoring instructional effectiveness or guidelines for integrating new teaching techniques.

SME liquor retailers operate in complex, strictly regulated, and competitive environments yet unlicensed liquor retailers are active in meeting demands of consumers, while large retail chain organizations with financial resources continue to enter the market posing a challenge for the SME liquor retailers to sustain themselves. This study uses competitive theory to investigate the effect of innovation management practices in enhancing competitiveness of SME liquor retailers in South Africa. A qualitative exploratory design was used with thematic analysis to analyze 21 empirical data collected through semi-structure interviews. Findings highlight that by practicing innovation management, specifically non-technological, incremental, and service innovations, liquor retailers were able to attract, keep, and maintain their customer base. The respondents collaborated with suppliers to deploy a reward system to encourage customer loyalty and repeat purchases. SME liquor retailers are encouraged to deploy different forms of innovation management to enhance their ability to attract, keep, and maintain customers and thereby enhance their competitiveness.

This study presents a systematic literature review analysing the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on higher education, focusing on its methods, results, and implications. By synthesising a diverse range of academic papers, the review explores how AI technologies influence educational standards and practices in higher education institutions. Findings reveal that AI has the potential to enhance the quality of higher education by diversifying teaching responsibilities, customising learning experiences, and employing intelligent, adaptive teaching strategies. These capabilities position AI as a transformative tool for improving educational delivery and outcomes. However, the study also highlights significant challenges associated with integrating AI into higher education. These challenges include delineating the appropriate scope of AI use, addressing inequalities in access to digital resources, and ensuring adequate training and support for educators and students. The review underscores the importance of understanding these complexities to guide the development of effective strategies and policies that optimise AI's potential while mitigating its limitations. The review offers critical insights into the dual role of AI in higher education, where it can either advance or hinder educational standards depending on how it is implemented. By examining the advantages, limitations, and broader consequences of AI-powered instructional tools, this study provides a comprehensive perspective on the intricate relationship between AI and educational quality. The findings aim to inform educators, policymakers, and stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges of adopting AI in higher education, contributing to the development of inclusive, innovative, and sustainable educational practices.

This study reflects on the researchers’ experiences who conducted research in an open distance and eLearning (ODeL) institution with external supervisors of mathematics education pre-service teachers teaching practice. Despite the value placed on research in an open distance and eLearning environment, some researchers still have trouble accessing data when using the online web-based survey approach to conduct research, especially among supervisors of Mathematics education pre-service teachers' teaching practice (TP) exercise at a typical ODeL institution in South Africa. This insider research is born out of the fact that there is less research conducted in South Africa, that ascertains the experiences of researchers themselves on a project. In light of the foregoing, this study attempts to reflect on the experiences and challenges faced by researchers at the University of South Africa while working on a project that was centered on the supervision of pre-service teachers' teaching practice in a mathematics classroom context titled ODL-RSP Project. The study used a reflective method involving the observations and experiences kept by researchers to record detailed notes during initiation, data collection (interview process) and workshop attendance by the researchers. The reflection involved research team members focusing on the Quality of Mathematics Teaching Practice Supervision in the ODeL Environment. The analysis of the data was derived from the reflections. The study used a reflective method involving the observations and experiences kept by researchers to record detailed notes during initiation, data collection (interview process) and workshop attendance by the researchers. The reflection involved research team members focusing on the Quality of Mathematics Teaching Practice Supervision in the ODeL Environment. The analysis of the data was derived from the reflections.

General trends indicate an increase in the adoption and use of mobile shopping applications (apps) as well as shopping online. However, the trend seems not to be similar with township millennials in an emerging economy such as South Africa. Township millennial consumers seemingly prefer going in-store to buy products than via available mobile shopping apps. This novel study explored the reasons for resistance by township millennial customers to the adoption and use of mobile shopping apps during the COVID-19 pandemic to purchase products. The applicable and adopted research design for this study was explorative. A qualitative research approach was adopted and data was collected using online interviews. A sample size of ten township millennial consumers from four (Tembisa, Soweto, Katlehong, and Diepkloof) townships in South Africa participated in the interview process. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the collected data and determine the findings of the study. The main findings indicated that participants perceived some concerns related to security and privacy in using retail mobile shopping apps. There was a lack of knowledge and awareness regarding mobile shopping apps and how they function which further resulted in the resistance of usage. Township millennial consumers are stuck with the habit of buying in-store and cost is another factor that was highlighted as a cause for resistance, as they do not want to pay for delivery fees and hidden costs that arise from using retail mobile apps. The paper further provides valuable contributions, limitations and future study avenues. This study addressed the dearth in research about resistance factors in using advanced technology in townships. The findings provided insights into what mobile app shopping retailers should address to attract the adoption of app technologies and could mitigate further spread of future pandemics such as that of COVID-19.

The purpose of this study was to identify and assess the specific challenges faced by incarcerated students in a distance learning environment and to explore effective strategies for managing their academic endeavors. The study intentionally selected twelve incarcerated inmates who were currently enrolled in various educational programs. The data were acquired through the process of conducting audio-recorded interviews, which were then transcribed verbatim by a proficient transcriber. The author employed an interpretive paradigm to examine the data and derive significant conclusions. The findings demonstrated that the amalgamation of resilience and determination had a crucial role in empowering students to overcome the barriers impeding their education. In addition, students have employed controlled internet access in prisons and the incorporation of technology-enhanced learning alongside traditional classroom teaching as essential methods to properly manage their academic studies. These strategies prioritize the need to enhance the accessibility of educational resources and support networks within prisons in order to enhance the educational accomplishments of incarcerated individuals. The study's findings suggest that it is crucial to make practical and policy changes in order to effectively meet the specific needs of incarcerated students engaged in remote learning programs.  Typical barriers include (i) restricted technology access, (ii) limited finances, and (iii) the challenge of staying focused in a distracting setting. Notwithstanding these challenges, the participants shown exceptional tenacity and resolve, utilizing diverse tactics to effectively handle their academic pursuits. The success of these individuals was influenced by several key variables, such as the assistance provided by prison education officers, the capacity to effectively employ restricted technical tools, and the self-discipline to establish organized study routines.

This article seeks to give an overview of public participation in local government, with a focus on the City of Ekurhuleni. City of Ekurhuleni “place of peace” is one of the biggest (8) eight Metropolitan municipalities in South Africa which is located within Gauteng Province which is also known as GCR (Gauteng City Region). It is on record that there are more studies that has been done on public participation in different categories of municipalities in South Africa, including the public participation to the broader citizens within different spheres of government. Therefore, this paper’s aim is to outline, analysis and review some of the critical factors which the municipalities must consider towards its initiatives on public participation practices and forums. Some of the key aspects which gives an impactful view are the communication methods used by municipalities, including other spheres of government to reach community members. This paper will also assist in making an impactful assessment on the current trends and best practices within municipalities on how public participation processes are done, whether there is a gap identified which needs both academic and experiential attention thereon. The desktop-based research methods were used in conducting the research by reviewing secondary data which is available from journals. The aforesaid above was done with a view to outline what has been published in terms of the public participation literature, furthermore; there are few published articles which were consulted to get a deeper understanding around public participation achievements and the gaps thereon.

This qualitative study intentionally gathered insights from 12 educators of varying seniority across three schools in the Nkangala Education District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, regarding their experiences with mobile learning (facilitated through Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp Messenger) as a professional development and knowledge retention tool during the Covid-19 pandemic. The findings, derived from semi-structured interviews and document analysis, indicated that young educators positively embraced the implementation of Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp Messenger. Senior educators deemed WhatsApp Messenger less intimidating than Microsoft Teams, thereby endorsing it as the preferred medium for professional growth and knowledge retention. This led to a lack of incentive among senior educators to participate in the professional learning events facilitated by Microsoft Teams. Thus, they depended on the supplemental learning information disseminated via WhatsApp Messenger as the principal method for professional development and knowledge retention activities. The research identified multiple obstacles to utilising mobile learning for professional development and knowledge retention, specifically: insufficient ICT skills among senior educators, ineffective content facilitation by subject advisors, and inadequate communication and scheduling of professional development programs. The study advocated for a systematic coordination of: 1) a series of ICT skills training for underqualified educators; 2) peer teaching among novice, mid-career, and senior educators to address internal skills deficiencies; 3) effective communication among the district, circuits, and schools; and 4) skills audits for subject advisors to enhance competency in areas of deficiency. By presenting these recommendations, the report alerts schools, circuits, and districts to the likelihood that the Covid-19-induced adoption of hybrid professional development will become the standard practice.

The war between Russia and Ukraine pitted two major agricultural countries and threatened the African continent with food insecurity and hunger. The war came at a time when the world was emerging from another global challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant effects of distorted food prices and disruptions of the food supply chain. Informed by the analysis of the literature available on the Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar databases and grey literature from United Nations (UN) agencies, this study explores the challenges that emanated from the global problem of conflict and its implications on food security and the fight against hunger in Africa. The study found that the Russo-Ukrainian war exposed the lack of progress in Africa towards the fight to eliminate hunger. The consequences of the war have been aggravated by this lack of progress towards achieving zero hunger in many African countries. The war disrupted the global supply chain and threatened Africa with hunger as the continent experienced food shortages, food inflation and general commodity price volatility.

Organisations in the public sector are faced with challenges in the delivery of high-quality services to clients. This research paper reports on a study conducted to determine clients’ perceptions of service quality at licensing service centres (LCSs) in the City of Tshwane (CoT) Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. The research adopted a quantitative approach to realise the research objective. A convenience sampling method was used to collect primary data. 262 respondents participated in the research. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from respondents. The research used the SERVPERF instrument to measure service quality. Respondents were asked to rate the level of service at LSCs. The descriptive data analysis method was used to analyse the primary data with the aid of a statistical software package, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Cronbach's alpha values were used to measure the internal consistency and reliability of the measurement scales. The results revealed that all rated service quality dimensions were average, which means that respondents neither agreed nor disagreed with statements about the level of service offered by LSCs. The research paper includes recommendations on the continuous improvement of service quality at LSCs and on future research directions.

Research on students as consumers has garnered significant attention from researchers. This interest stems from the growing budgets allocated to students by both government and private families. Consequently, students engage in purchasing products and services from retailers both large and small (SMEs). To attract, satisfy and retain student customers, retailers must explore effective strategies. Hedonic values play a crucial role in retail marketing, especially when targeting students. This study aimed to assess the impact of perceived hedonic values on students’ satisfaction and repurchase intentions. Additionally, it investigated whether student satisfaction mediates the relationship between  hedonic values an repurchase intentions. The survey was conducted among TVET college students in Lephalale, South Africa (SA). The findings could not exclusively confirm the effect of perceived hedonic values on students’ satisfaction and repurchase intentions. Similarly, the findings could not confirm the mediation effect of students’ satisfaction on the link between perceived hedonic values and repurchase intentions. The results are useful to SME retailers targeting student clientele.

The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape has continuously adapted to technological advancement, consumer behaviour and ecosystem trends. The 21st century marketplace needs traditional marketing practices, and digital platforms to ensure the actualisation of their growth and development in the ecosystem. The study examined how different digital marketing platforms can influence SMEs' operations and performance (Online marketing, and ICT initiatives). The study employed a quantitative design with primary data collection via a questionnaire designed based on 5-Likert’s Scale to answer the research questions; if there is a significant relationship between Online Marketing and SMEs' Business Competitiveness, and if ICT initiative has a positive relationship with SMEs' Business Growth. Two (2) hypotheses were formulated and tested using a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). To ascertain the hypotheses formulated, both descriptive and regression analyses were carried out, and the output clearly showed a significant influence of digital marketing on the performance of SMEs. The result shows a positive impact of online marketing on SME business competitiveness. However, this study concluded that in the technology-driven environment, 21st-century SMEs will always see the usefulness and relevance of digital marketing because of its role in improving their performance. This study recommends that SMEs incorporate intensive digital platforms and engage in time-to-time updates of their online marketing channels.

This study investigates the experiences of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates in rural ecology with work-based education (WBE), commonly known as work-integrated learning (WIL). The study was conducted at two campuses of Umfolozi TVET colleges in northern KwaZulu-Natal, focusing on post-graduation experiences. The National Certificate Vocational (NCV) qualification, introduced in January 2007, was the focal point, offered at Levels 2, 3, and 4 of the National Qualifications Framework, equivalent to Grades 10, 11, and 12. NCV graduates were selected as participants to explore their encounters with work-integrated learning during employment. Employing a qualitative case study design, the study utilized purposive sampling to identify six participants. Findings revealed systemic challenges faced by NCV graduates, particularly concerning the alignment of the curriculum with the needs of TVET students from rural areas. Additionally, it was noted that college management appeared unaware of the severity of the challenges encountered by students in securing in-service training opportunities. These findings underscore the need for educational institutions and policymakers to address curriculum alignment issues and enhance support mechanisms for TVET students, particularly those from rural backgrounds, to ensure the effectiveness of work-integrated learning initiatives.

Bullying is a significant concern for learners in South African educational institutions, and it requires immediate attention and intervention from interested parties, such as social workers. This form of violence is prevalent during the school years and involves aggressive behaviour towards victims. The phenomenon of bullying attracts local and global interest from social scientists, who use it as a term to describe its social and emotional effects. The concept is associated with mental health problems, a decline in school performance, school dropout, contemplation of suicide, suicide, and other complex social problems. Social workers are well-versed in the concept of bullying due to their involvement with the issue. The study utilized qualitative research, employing purposive sampling, and thematic analysis to analyze data from a sample of 21 social workers linked to schools. The research design employed was exploratory in nature. The study utilized face-to-face, semi-structured interviews as a means of data collection, with an interview guide serving as the instrument. Prior to collecting data, the researcher obtained permission from participants and sought their consent for audio-recording. Ethical considerations, such as informed consent, debriefing, beneficence, confidentiality, and avoiding harm, were closely followed. The study drew on two theoretical frameworks, namely the ecological and strength-based approaches.   Keywork: Bullying, effects, emotional, learning, social, social workers.

There is a scarcity of research on the analysis of thresholds of official development assistance (ODA), foreign direct investment (FDI), and economic growth in Africa. Most of the studies focused on analysing the correlation between official development assistance (ODA) or foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic growth. This study stands out from others by adopting a comprehensive approach to analyse the threshold analysis of ODA, FDI, and economic growth in many countries on a continental scale. We examine the threshold for ODA, FDI, and economic growth by analysing annual data from 1980 to 2018 in 30 African countries. The primary method used for the estimation was the panel threshold regression approach. The threshold analysis test assessed the impact of ODA, FDI, and economic growth. The current study utilised threshold analysis and found a positive coefficient of 0.0620, indicating a favourable correlation between FDI and economic growth. On the contrary, the negative coefficient of 0.0683 shows a detrimental correlation between ODA and economic growth. Therefore, officials must enforce the level of ODA that is necessary to stimulate FDI and foster economic growth in Africa. Furthermore, it is crucial for authorities to implement a monitoring system to closely monitor these thresholds and adjust the policy accordingly in response to changing economic situations. The findings of this study will not only contribute to academic discourse, but will also provide vital perspectives for politicians, practitioners, enterprises, and foreign investors on how to effectively implement policies that stimulate economic growth and attract foreign investment in Africa. Furthermore, this study offers recommendations for further research in the domain of international capital flows.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the adoption of responsible business practices concerning economic, environmental and social principles, is a tool to develop market value for various stakeholder groups. CSR can create several competitive advantages and should not be seen as a cost, but as a strategic initiative to aid organisations in competing in the market. Effective internal CSR communication to employees enhances an organisation’s corporate identity (CI) – ultimately affecting employees’ attitudes and behaviour. This paper aims to explore South African retail employees’ perceptions of internal CSR communication methods used by their organisations. A dataset of 229 employees participated by completing a computer-aided self-administered survey, which was distributed via LinkedIn. The main findings of the study indicate that employees perceived their organisations to make use of e-mail communication, internal newsletters, web and social media platforms to communicate with them regarding CSR, indicating that other internal communication platforms such as intranet or internal meetings can be utilised more to communicate with employees.