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The enrolment of international students continues to intellectually, culturally, and educationally enrich universities across the globe. In South Africa, international students bring vast and valuable experiences, perspectives, and skills to the host institutions. Research shows that besides the above contribution that international students make within the higher institutions of learning in South Africa, they also make significant economic contributions to the host institutions and country through enrolment. But beyond institutionalised practices of support and inclusivity, international students endure invisible academic and social issues that are not spoken about and discussed widely. Although South Africa is one of the African countries with a high number of international students enrolled within the institutions of higher learning, in certain institutions, such students are alienated based on their being considered an ‘outsider.’ This conceptual paper draws its literature from chapter one of the PhD work-in-progress and therefore, examines the tacit challenges that international students face when undergoing independent academic and social support frameworks in university in higher education institutions. The primary aim of this paper is to stimulate scholarly dialogue on best practices and strategic approaches for enhancing the well-being and academic success of international students. Grounded in a review of existing literature, this paper contends that despite the presence of institutional policies and student support initiatives, international students continue to face significant challenges in their academic journeys. These include language barriers, experiences of xenophobia and discrimination, and the complexities of immigration laws and regulations. Furthermore, the paper contributes to the broader discourse on equitable access to higher education through the development of student-centred, culturally responsive, and inclusive support systems. In conclusion, the paper proposes an inclusive support framework for international students, structured around six key components: foundational principles, structural elements, interconnected support networks, academic and career integration, outreach and information delivery, and policy and institutional commitment.

Immigrant-owned enterprises have become a significant part of South Africa’s informal and formal economic sectors, particularly within local municipalities. In Thulamela Local Municipality, located in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, immigrant entrepreneurs contribute significantly to local economic activities, especially in retail and the informal sector. Despite their visible presence and contributions, these entrepreneurs encounter a range of limitations that threaten the sustainability and scalability of their businesses. This study explores the key challenges hindering immigrant enterprise owners in Thulamela Local Municipality, to identify both structural and context-specific barriers. The study adopts a qualitative research approach, utilising in-depth interviews and purposive sampling to gather data from 12 participants, guided by a structured interview guide. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and lived experiences across cases. The findings of the study reveal several persistent challenges, including limited access to formal financial institutions, complex regulations, social exclusion, and xenophobic attitudes from local communities. These challenges not only hinder business growth but also limit the long-term integration of immigrant entrepreneurs into the broader local economy. Furthermore, the insufficient institutional support and representation in local enterprise structures amplify their vulnerability and marginalisation. The study recommends the establishment of inclusive local economic growth strategies and structured support programs that recognise the unique role immigrant entrepreneurs play in local economic resilience and inclusive development in underdeveloped municipalities.

Entrepreneurship education has been implemented at numerous higher education institutions to provide students with the skills and knowledge for pursuing entrepreneurship as a career.  Nevertheless, several problems confront entrepreneurship education, despite its recognised benefits among students.  This study sought to identify the obstacles in entrepreneurship education that impede student entrepreneurial development at the University of Venda.  The research employed a qualitative design to fulfil its purpose.  The targeted population consisted of University of Venda student-entrepreneurs engaged in entrepreneurship education programs and those enrolled in entrepreneurship courses.  A convenience sample method was employed to choose 10 participants, and data were gathered using semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews in alignment with the research objectives.  The gathered data was evaluated thematically utilising Atlas.ti version 8.4. The findings revealed the obstacles confronting entrepreneurship education, which include budgetary limits, insufficient funding, and unsuitable teaching techniques.  This research is one of the few that have recognised the obstacles of entrepreneurship education for students.  A mixed-method research strategy is advisable for a comprehensive comprehension of the topic.

This study explores the challenges that impact the sustainability of family-owned businesses in Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative design was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews with ten business owners and managers from diverse sectors, including transportation, construction, poultry farming, and retail. Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) was used to interpret the data. Findings revealed that poor financial management, skills shortages, over-expansion, limited government support, and family conflicts are the most significant threats to business survival. These internal and external constraints erode financial stability and governance structures, resulting in low longevity rates. The study recommends financial literacy training, formal governance mechanisms, succession planning, and simplified government support systems tailored for rural enterprises. Strengthening these aspects can enhance both sustainability and economic development in rural areas, such as Thohoyandou.

This study explores the views of teenage mothers regarding abortions of unexpected pregnancies at the village of Elim, Makhado Municipality in Limpopo Province. The study employed a qualitative approach, which recognizes the need for an in-depth exploration of these views using semi-structured, open-ended interviews. Snowball sampling was used to recruit five female participants between the ages of 15 and 19 years old. Furthermore, the researcher utilized the ecological systems framework to evaluate the context in which these teenage mothers’ function and how their perceptions regarding abortions are constructed over time based on their systems. The data was analyzed thematically, and interpretations were made based on the themes of the collected data. The study found that teenagers shared mixed feelings associated with considering abortion. Others consider having an abortion to be bad and good, while others say they will consider abortion if they become pregnant while not ready. Regarding the influences of either having an abortion or not, they cited that they will consider abortion if their parents, especially fathers and boyfriends, do not accept the pregnancy. The study also found that financial situation and age of a teenager may compel one to consider abortion. The study also found that teenagers are aware of the consequences of abortion. They cited the risk to life during and after pregnancy, while others believe the consequences are less severe as opposed to giving birth. Finally, the study also found the following barriers to abortion, peer pressure, lack of support for raising a child, and the cost of abortion can be a barrier. The study recommends that educating society about reproductive rights and offering platforms for open discussions about abortion can help reduce the moral pressure that often leads to feelings of moral conflicts and cognitive dissonance. Furthermore, social workers should advocate for broader access to reproductive health services and collaborate with healthcare providers to ensure teenage mothers receive accurate information and emotional support. Additionally, social workers can play a role in facilitating open communications within families and communities to lessen the stigma associated with abortion

This study evaluates the nature and extent of cybercrimes prevalent within higher learning institutions of South Africa. Cyber-attacks are growing at a distressing rate and has posed a serious challenge within academia by impacting and disrupting normal learning setting. Universities data infrastructure is vulnerable to criminals, can be compromised easily while students and staff are not alien to proportion of cybercrime impact inclusive of hacking, financial loss, bullying, illegal circulation of pornography, blackmailing’s, extortion and many other crimes. This case study evaluates student views about cybercrimes prevalent, causes, interrogated views about cybersecurity channels and impact of crimes at the University of Venda (Univen). Quantitative approach is applied, where snowballing sample procedure was utilised to quantitatively sample Univen students. The focus of this section, is Univen students, therefore 200 questionnaires were circulated amongst them to collect data. The research utilised the routine activities theory and differential association theory of crime as the study problem framework. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 for quantitative data analysis is used to analyse data. The study uncovered depth of cybercrimes prevalent within Univen and extent of victimization and perpetration. It also exposes legal challenges hindering reporting or disclosure of violence suffered in online platforms. It makes recommendations that could be used to inform adoption of framework to manage cybercrimes within higher education institutions (HEI) of South Africa and to find alternatives programmes that will positively address cyber incidents within academia.

Effective border management is fundamental to protecting national sovereignty, safeguarding citizens, and preventing the infiltration of organised criminal networks. In South Africa, the South African Police Service (SAPS) is entrusted with law enforcement at border posts. However, recurring incidents of corruption among SAPS officials often involving collusion with criminal syndicates have rendered several border posts, including Beitbridge, weak and porous. This study evaluates SAPS border officials’ corruption and its security implications at the Beitbridge border post in Limpopo Province. The objectives are to investigate the nature and forms of corruption involving SAPS officials, examine the socio-economic and security-related impacts, assess the effectiveness of current anti-corruption mechanisms, and propose evidence-based recommendations to enhance accountability and transparency. The study employs a qualitative research approach grounded in the interpretivist paradigm and adopts a case study design centred on Beitbridge. Data were gathered through in-depth document analysis, encompassing 45 key documents such as official reports, policy frameworks, and media investigations, considered sufficient for achieving qualitative rigour and thematic saturation. The Broken Windows Theory is applied to explain how tolerance of minor misconduct escalates into systemic corruption and institutional decay. Findings reveal that entrenched corruption undermines law enforcement integrity, facilitates organised criminal activity, and compromises national border security. The study concludes that strengthening institutional oversight, reinforcing accountability structures, and promoting inter-agency cooperation are vital for curbing corruption and enhancing border management effectiveness. The study’s novelty lies in its focused examination of Beitbridge and its application of the Broken Windows Theory to border corruption within the South African context.

The aim of the study is to investigate the challenges facing the SAPS in successfully investigating and prosecuting cases of ritual killings in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. The study adopted a qualitative methodology. Purposive sampling technique is used to sample, review and analyse, 30 material sources that reflected coverage on ritual murders and SAPS interventions in Vhembe District. The study applied thematic content analysis, leading to adoption of main thematic themes (legal barriers and SAPS Investigations strategies) to present results. The findings indicate that Human Tissue Act of 1983 hampers police effort to stop ritual murders as it provides for six months’ imprisonment or R2000 payable fine to those found in possession of human remains. This promotes recidivism of ritual murders as there is leniency inherent in criminal justice system. SAPS laboratory Services is unable to accurately determine cause of ritual murder victim’s death in most cases and merely attributing the death to animal predators leading to premature closure of cases. Vhembe communities do not cooperate with SAPS, thus withholding crucial information that may drive police investigations. It is therefore recommended that a special police investigations task team be established to focus specifically on ritual killings. Furthermore, SAPS should establish special community policing forum aimed at strengthening cooperation between the police and members of the community, NGO’S, faith based organisations and community leaders. Further studies should be conducted to examine the effectiveness of methods used by SAPS to investigate ritual murders.

The Republic of South Africa (RSA) adopted the move to accrual-based accounting in 1999, and the implementation of GRAP standards by the Municipalities has been affected since 2006. The expected benefits were improving transparency, accountability, quality, and efficiency of municipal financial reporting. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of GRAP standards on the quality of financial reporting in RSA municipalities during the period of Pre-GRAP (2005/06 to 2009/10) compared to Post-GRAP (2010/11 to 2015/16).   This study employed a quantitative approach wherein secondary data was sourced online from the National Treasury database. A panel dataset split into two subpanels (pre and post), drawn from a sample of 125 municipalities, was used to test the study’s hypothesis.  The data were winsorized to eliminate outliers, and a multicollinearity test was conducted to identify and eliminate variables that could have resulted in model misspecification. A Hausman Test was used to select the study’s regression model, which was estimated using the STATA 15 software. The residuals of the regression model were used as a measure of accrual quality and, hence, financial reporting quality. A larger standard deviation of residuals indicates poorer accruals quality and financial reporting quality. The findings indicated a standard deviation of 0.061 (pre-GRAP) and 0.084 (post-GRAP) for the adoption periods, which indicates higher financial reporting quality. These relatively unchanged standard deviation results suggest that GRAP did not significantly improve the quality of financial reporting by municipalities after its adoption.

In developing countries, the challenge of managing solid waste is significant, but local knowledge can offer useful solutions, even if underutilised. This paper provides an overview of Solid Waste Management Strategies in the village of Thalahane in the Limpopo Province of South Africa to highlight these alternative practices. The aim was to examine Solid Waste Management Strategies in the community and the significance of culture, environment, and efficiency using data collected and thematic analysis from qualitative research approaches. We used a combination of non-structured and semi-structured interviews with 65 randomly selected participants to explore the overarching challenges of solid waste management in this rural community. The primary findings indicate that separation, disposal, composting, incineration, recycling, reuse, reduction, and prevention are the most common domestic Solid Waste Management Strategies in Thalahane. Each of the applicable strategies was viewed as culturally important and transferred from generation to generation and had value as a potential solution to the community's growing concerns regarding public health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. The findings suggest considerable potential for integrating indigenous practices into municipal Solid Waste Management Strategies. Overall, they offer an avenue for more sustainable, environmentally, and culturally acceptable solutions to solid waste management in rural contexts.

Childhood obesity is a growing global public health concern, particularly in rural settings, where socio-cultural factors contribute to the prevalence of bullying. Obese learners often face severe psychosocial challenges due to bullying, which negatively impacts their academic performance, self-esteem, and mental well-being. Despite the increasing awareness of bullying, limited research focuses on its educational and psychosocial effects on obese learners in rural secondary schools. This study explores the experiences of obese learners subjected to bullying and examines how these experiences affect their educational outcomes and emotional health. Grounded in Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, which emphasizes how behaviours such as bullying are learned through observation and reinforcement, the study adopts an interpretive paradigm to gain in-depth insights into the lived experiences of affected learners. A qualitative research design was employed, using in-depth interviews, discussions, and observations to collect data from five public rural secondary schools. Participants included ten obese learners in grades 10 and 11 who had experienced bullying and four teachers who interacted with these learners. Purposive sampling ensured the selection of participants with relevant experiences, while thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns emerging from the data. Findings indicate that bullying has significant negative psychological effects, leading to anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, and diminished self-esteem. Academic performance is also affected, as many bullied obese learners experience absenteeism, lack of concentration, and reduced motivation to engage in learning. To address these challenges, schools should implement anti-bullying policies that specifically target weight-based discrimination and foster an inclusive school culture. Psychoeducational support programs should be introduced to provide counselling and resilience training for obese learners. This study highlights the severe academic and psychosocial consequences of bullying among obese learners in rural secondary schools. Addressing these issues requires targeted interventions that promote a supportive learning environment, empower affected learners, and discourage bullying behaviours.

This study explores how assessment feedback influences the resilience of student teachers during their teaching practice. While assessment feedback is widely acknowledged as essential in teacher education, its specific contribution to building resilience has not been fully investigated. The research focuses on how constructive feedback helps student teachers cope with the challenges they face in real classroom environments. The study is guided by Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory, which highlights the importance of feedback in learning, and Resilience Theory, which explains how individuals adapt to adversity. A qualitative approach was used, employing a phenomenological design to understand student teachers’ lived experiences. Data were collected from 30 purposively selected student teachers from Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews and reflective journals were used to gather detailed insights, and thematic analysis helped identify key themes related to feedback and resilience. The study was limited to one academic year and focused only on participants from the two provinces. To ensure trustworthiness, credibility was supported through member checking and triangulation, while audit trails enhanced dependability. Ethical standards such as informed consent, confidentiality, and voluntary participation were strictly followed. Findings reveal that clear, supportive, and development-focused feedback significantly enhances student teachers’ confidence and resilience. In contrast, feedback that is vague or overly critical tends to increase stress and reduce motivation. The study recommends that teacher education programs promote a culture of supportive, formative feedback. Training for mentors and supervisors is also advised to ensure feedback practices that foster resilience and support professional growth in future teachers.

This study  explored the use of traditional medicine in the treatment of fibroids by Indigenous people of Vhavenda in Khubvi village in Limpopo. Through an explanatory case study approach, the study  documented and describe the various traditional knowledge, remedies and plants used, as well as cultural significance attached to these practices. by conducting interviews with local healers and community members, the research gathered valuable insights into the historical context, preparation method, and perceived effectiveness of traditional treatment. This exploratory study contributed to the preservation of Vhavenda traditional knowledge and served as basic for future research and potential integration of traditional medicine into modern healthcare practices. The objective of the study was as follows, To explore the use of traditional medicine in the treatment of fibroids. The study anchored from the theoretical support of health belief model approach. This study used qualitative design. Data collection methods utilized was semi structured interview. The sampling methods include purposive sampling. The analysis indicated that most of people are not aware of the use of traditional medicine for fibroids treatment. This study recommended that the elderly people, the traditional healers as well as traditional birth attendant to educate our young generation on the use of traditional plants for medicinal purposes.

This study provides a comprehensive review of recent academic literature (from 2017 onwards) that investigates the essential connection between workforce management and strategic business objectives. The review integrates a diverse array of studies that emphasise the complex nature of human capital, which includes employee skills, knowledge, motivation, and engagement, and their influence on organisational performance. A key focus of the discussion is the importance of leadership in establishing a clear strategic vision, nurturing a culture of communication, and encouraging employee participation in decision-making processes. Additionally, the study examines the transformative potential of data-driven human resource practices, such as people analytics, in identifying skill deficiencies, enhancing talent management, and facilitating evidence-based workforce planning. Despite these advancements, challenges like organizational silos, misaligned incentives, and resistance to change continue to pose significant barriers. The findings indicate that effective alignment necessitates a holistic approach that merges strategic HR leadership, continuous professional development, cultural flexibility, and transparent performance management systems. Practical recommendations are provided to assist business leaders and HR professionals in crafting and executing strategies that ensure employees' efforts are intentionally aligned with organisational priorities. The study highlights deficiencies in existing research, especially regarding the variations in alignment strategies across different industries and geographical areas, and advocates for additional empirical investigations to enhance comprehension. In summary, this review underscores that strategically aligned human capital can act as a significant catalyst for innovation, competitiveness, and organisational resilience in today's business environment.

The Indigenous knowledge continues to play a vital role in the lives of Indigenous communities; however, much of the knowledge is at risk of becoming extinct. This is due to the oral nature of the knowledge.  With consideration for the safeguarding of the knowledge, digital content creation is a valuable tool for promoting indigenous knowledge. This raises the question: How can digital content creation be utilised as a tool to safeguard and promote indigenous knowledge? Thus, this paper explores the latter. The paper presents qualitative data generated from secondary sources between 2015 and 2025, utilising the Directory of Open Access Journals, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar as search engines. The generated data was analysed using key themes emerging from the Qualitative Document Analysis (QDA). The findings show that digital content creation enables Indigenous communities to sustainably safeguard Indigenous knowledge while allowing easier access to the knowledge in the upcoming generations. The findings further show that the use of the use of digital content creation has not been a smooth process; therefore, bias, misrepresentation, digital divide, and intellectual property rights have emerged as the key considerations for safeguarding and promoting IK. Therefore, this paper concludes that digital content creation plays a vital role in reviving, preserving, and promoting the IK; therefore, these contestations may need to be mitigated for sustainable safeguarding of the IK.

This study evaluates the effects and challenges faced by South African state-owned insurance enterprises in adopting International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 17, mainly the effects on financial reporting and contract transparency. Research purpose: The study analyses IFRS 17’s effect on the financial reporting practices and the transparency of insurance contracts within these enterprises. This is the first study to explore IFRS 17’s effects on South African state-owned non-life insurance enterprises from a finance management and executive perspective. It aims to identify key challenges and benefits of implementation while assessing its impact on accounting information quality. A qualitative approach was used, with semi-structured virtual interviews conducted among finance executives and management. Data was analysed using ATLAS.ti software to identify themes and patterns related to IFRS 17 adoption. The study found that IFRS 17 adoption has significantly improved transparency and comparability in financial statements, enhancing clarity in presenting insurance contracts. However, challenges such as the complexity of the standard, increased demand for technical expertise and resource allocation issues were identified. It is recommended that finance executives receive additional training and support to navigate IFRS 17 complexities. Strengthening regulatory frameworks will help maximise transparency and financial reporting improvements while mitigating implementation challenges. This study provides valuable insights into IFRS 17 adoption within state-owned insurers, highlighting its benefits and challenges to support informed decision-making in the adoption and implementation of the international accounting standard.

This study investigates the contradictory role of missionary educators in the preservation of Tshivenda and other Indigenous languages in South Africa's Vhembe District from 1870 to 1950. This research utilises a decolonial theoretical framework, employing archival document analysis, historical textual analysis, and an examination of contemporary stakeholder perspectives to explore how missionary educators, operating within colonial systems for evangelical objectives, inadvertently established foundational resources for the preservation of Indigenous languages. The findings indicate that missionary educators functioned within a dual paradigm: advancing colonial linguistic dominance via assimilationist education while concurrently documenting, standardising, and safeguarding local languages through translation efforts, grammar formulation, and bilingual instructional methods. This preservation was inherently selective, emphasising religious material while sidelining traditional spiritual knowledge and dialectical diversity. The research illustrates that comprehending this intricate legacy is essential for modern language revitalisation efforts in post-apartheid South Africa, providing insights on leveraging historical linguistic foundations while mitigating their shortcomings through community-driven preservation initiatives that prioritise Indigenous cultural objectives over external interests.

This study investigates the extent of local government involvement in crime prevention within the MDM district. A total of 338 questionnaires were distributed to community members, and 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted with municipal officials, SAPS social crime prevention personnel, and the District Coordinator from the Department of Transport and Community Safety. A mixed-method research design was adopted to integrate both qualitative and quantitative approaches, thereby addressing the limitations of each and enhancing the overall depth and reliability of the findings. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were employed to ensure a representative and targeted participant selection. The research explores existing crime prevention strategies, the challenges faced, and the nature of collaboration between the SAPS and local government. Ethical principles, including informed consent, confidentiality, and anonymity, were strictly observed. In addition to its empirical contributions, this study serves as a practical reference for students seeking to understand the application of mixed-method research in local government and crime prevention.

Mopane worms are part of indigenous biodiversity and are indispensable in food security and livelihood in South African indigenous communities. However, the existence of the conservation areas prohibits the indigenous communities from harvesting mopane worms. Thus, this study explores Vhavenda’s indigenous people's perceived challenges towards harvesting mopane worms in conservation areas. A qualitative approach was used in this study; therefore, purposive sampling was used to sample 13 participants from Ha-Gumbu, Matiyani, and Bokmakieries from the Vhembe District in the Limpopo Province. The sampled participants were mopane worm traders, rural householders, and indigenous knowledge holders. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed through thematic data analysis. The study findings reveal that legal and regulatory barriers, accessibility and transportation, economic pressures and market dynamics, and environmental and climatic factors are the key challenges that hinder the indigenous communities from effectively harvesting mopane worms in conservation areas.

The Traditional and Western Healthcare systems are the recognized health systems in South Africa. The two healthcare systems continue to provide healthcare for South African Indigenous communities; therefore, the government’s imbalanced support of the healthcare systems has resulted in Western healthcare receiving extensive support while traditional healthcare receives little to no support despite being regarded as the primary healthcare for most Indigenous communities in the country. In light of this, understanding the strategies for integrating the two healthcare systems may establish an effective and balanced healthcare system that supports the health needs of the indigenous communities. However, there is little research regarding the potential strategies for integration from the indigenous people’s perspective. Therefore, this qualitative study explores strategies for integrating the South African Western and Traditional healthcare systems of the Ndebele indigenous people in the Vezubuhle indigenous community under the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality. The study employed purposive and snowball sampling techniques to sample 17 participants: five traditional health practitioners, 5 elderly Indigenous custodians, and 7 Indigenous community members. The qualitative data was generated using one-on-one semi-structured interviews and analysed using the thematic data analysis technique.