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This paper critically examines the characteristics and challenges of small-scale farming in Wegdraai Village, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Drawing on secondary literature, comparative case studies, and thematic analysis, the paper integrates localized evidence such as reliance on family labour, fragmented plots under two hectares, and subsistence-oriented crop diversity with global perceptions from India, Kenya, and Ethiopia. The paper’s finding demonstrated that insecure land tenure, erratic rainfall, soil degradation, and limited access to irrigations and credit undermine productivity, while women and older adults disproportionately shoulder agricultural labour yet remain excluded from decision-making. Despite these constraints, informal networks and indigenous knowledge sustain resilience strategies. Thus, by situating Wegdraai Village within an agricultural ecosystem framework, the paper shows how systemic vulnerabilities disrupt farmer supplier market institution linkages. Therefore, the paper’s recommendations emphasize tenure reform, inclusive cooperations, climate-smart training, and youth focused agric-tech initiatives to strengthen resilience and ensure sustainable food security in marginalized communities.

Cultural practice Gonyalelwa lapa’ occurs when a family chooses to marry a woman, regardless of whether she has children or not, with the intention of her bearing children for their deceased son. Nevertheless, young individuals who are raised within the context of ‘Gonyalelwa lapa’ encounter certain difficulties. This manuscript asserts that, despite these challenges, there are also favorable perspectives regarding this cultural practice. The research endeavor aimed to examine and elucidate the reflections of young individuals who were raised within the framework of ‘Gonyalelwa lapa’. For this purpose, qualitative research methods were employed, specifically adopting a phenomenological approach within an exploratory, descriptive, and contextual framework. Data was gathered from a sample of twenty-three young individuals (including both males and females) utilizing purposive and snowball sampling techniques and subsequently subjected to thematic data analysis. The investigation exposed that growing up in ‘Gonyalelwa lapa’ has had an impact on the youth in diverse manners. These encounters entail mistreatment, insufficient monetary assistance resulting in starvation, gender-based prejudice, especially directed towards females who are not biologically related to their mothers' "marital family", and sensing exclusion and inhospitality within these kinships. Transdisciplinary contribution: This study contributes to the understanding of the effects of ‘Gonyalelwa lapa’ cultural practice on young people from a variety of disciplines such as cultural dimensions, psychological and socio-legal. The findings call for the need for multidisciplinary interventions and policy makers to mitigate the negative consequences of ‘Gonyalelwa lapa’ cultural practice on young people who are raised within this context.

Sustainable development aims to create a societal framework in which economic advancement transpires without undermining environmental integrity. Despite advancements in developed countries, an estimated 1.3 billion individuals worldwide continue to experience a lack of access to electricity, significantly impeding their socio-economic development. This study examined the potential strategies for Thulamela Local Municipality to augment its initiatives related to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, with a particular emphasis on the empowerment of small businesses to address energy requirements and advance sustainable development objectives. Therefore, the mixed-methods approach was employed, distributing 42 questionnaires to small enterprises at Tshilamba Rural Township and conducting semi-structured interviews with 5 key officials from the Thulamela Local Municipality. A comprehensive review of relevant literature was also conducted to guide the research process before fieldwork. The findings of this study elucidated several barriers to energy access, which included an unreliable power supply, elevated electricity costs, insufficient infrastructure, and the substantial investment necessary for the implementation of sustainable energy solutions. The literature has further underscored the inadequacies in energy production and supply infrastructure, which constrain the operational efficiency of small businesses. The results clearly indicate that although these businesses are robust and profit-generating, they do not have the necessary infrastructure and assistance to implement sustainable energy solutions. Thus, it recommended establishment of collaborations with renewable energy suppliers to provide cost-effective solar options or different energy sources ideal for small-scale businesses.

Three decades after the advent of democracy in South Africa, and with only five years remaining towards 2030 of attaining sustainable development, youth unemployment remains alarmingly high. The national unemployment rate currently stands at approximately 34%, with youth unemployment exceeding 60%. This persists despite the United Nations’ Agenda 2030, which outlines 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at eradicating poverty, fostering development, and stimulating inclusive economic growth. Specifically, SDG 8 seeks to “promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all”. Yet South Africa continues to grapple with entrenched unemployment, particularly among its youth, aggravating related social and economic challenges such as poverty, inequality, and crime. Achieving SDG 8 appears increasingly elusive for developing economies like South Africa, where political, social and economic realities often misalign with global development aspirations. This paper critically examines the embedded intricacies towards achieving SDG 8, focusing on the structural drivers of youth unemployment in South Africa. Guided by the Broken Window Theory, the study employs a qualitative, desktop-based research approach with systematic data analysis. Findings reveal that weak policy implementation, especially of pro-poor policies, remains a critical barrier, compounded by stagnant economic growth, high poverty rates, limited state capacity, corruption, policy uncertainty, and overreliance on the private sector for job creation. The paper concludes with recommendations for strengthening policy execution, expanding government capacity, and creating pathways for meaningful youth participation in the economy to realise the aspirations of SDG 8.

This article explores accountability and strategies to improve water service delivery in South African local municipalities, focusing on Bushbuckridge Local Municipality. Public officials often struggle to implement effective measures to ensure adequate water provision. Accountability in water delivery remains weak, with municipalities widely underperforming due to unqualified personnel, lack of technical expertise, corruption, and limited financial resources. These factors hinder municipalities’ ability to uphold Section 27 of the 1996 Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to clean water. Using a qualitative approach, the study reviews scholarly literature, government reports, and policy documents to assess performance and challenges. Findings reveal that mismanagement of municipal funds and employment of unqualified technical staff are key causes of poor water service delivery. The study also highlights that increasing water boreholes could reduce waterborne diseases and lower living costs for local residents. However, successful investment in borehole infrastructure requires parallel efforts to develop managerial and financial skills among community members and leaders of community-based organisations (CBOs). Strengthening collaboration between municipalities, CBOs, and communities is vital to enhance participation, promote accountability, and achieve sustainable water service delivery in Bushbuckridge and other South African municipalities.

This paper interrogates the intersections between race, class and ethnicity in contemporary South African society, highlighting how economic exclusion, unequal access to opportunities and ethnic tensions undermine democratic ideals. Since the advent of democracy in 1994, South Africa has grappled with the enduring legacies of apartheid and colonialism where racial and class divisions continue to shape social, political and economic life. While democracy promised inclusivity and equality, the persistence of racism and classism reveals deep structural inequalities that complicate nation-building and social cohesion. By examining the lived experiences of marginalised groups and the privileges retained by elites the paper demonstrates how class stratification intersects with racial identity to reproduce old hierarchies in new forms. Ultimately, the paper concludes that addressing these dilemmas requires transformative policies that move beyond symbolic reconciliation towards substantive equality, economic justice and the dismantling of systemic barriers that sustain exclusion.

The online media remains one of the most influential societal institutions, largely contributing to shaping public perceptions on female criminality, this is often reinforced or challenged by the existing societal norms and stereotypes. Following the non-empirical research design (systematic review), the objective of this study was to explore the representation of different types of crimes committed by South African female offenders through News24 and YouTube online media platforms, heavily relying on ‘eNews Channel Africa (eNCA), Newzroom Afrika, South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) News, and Crime Watch, restricted to 2018 and 2024. This study was qualitative in nature the reviewed studies were purposively selected, this data collection method was supported by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework and analysed using the inductive Thematic Content Analysis (TCA). ). A total of 41 News24 articles and 7 YouTube videos were included. The study findings selectively indicate that five (5) crime categories were represented by News24 and YouTube online media platforms regarding the representation of different types of crimes [commonly] committed by South African female offenders, namely: 1) Murder, 2) Fraud, 3) Theft, 4) Drug trafficking, and; 5) Child abuse and neglect. It was also established that the South African online media platforms tend to sensationalise stories of female offenders often committing violent crimes and crimes against children, while representations of financial and drug-related crimes generally remain neutral in their portrayal. For recommendations the online media platforms should adopt more balanced reporting practices; while ensuring that the Journalists should adhere to the ethical editorial guidelines promoting fair and accurate portrayals of female offenders, inclusive to the male offenders.   

The objectives of this paper are, first, to explore factors influencing customers' satisfaction with private healthcare services, and second, to investigate the relationship between patient attributes and the factors influencing customer satisfaction. The SERVQUAL model was employed to assess the quality of healthcare services from the patients’ perspective, offering valuable insights for private healthcare providers in Limpopo, South Africa. The study surveyed 242 patients from the Thulamela District Municipality using a self-administered questionnaire. A quantitative research approach and stratified random sampling were used to collect the data. The results indicate that factors influencing customer satisfaction in private medical services include the physical environment of the practice, the competence of reception staff, and the professionalism of medical doctors. Additionally, the study found a significant relationship between patient attributes and these key factors. The study underscores the importance of aligning healthcare service delivery with patient needs and expectations to enhance competitiveness and ensure long-term sustainability. To enhance customer satisfaction, the medical doctors are encouraged to focus on tangible aspects of their facilities and human resources, operational and structural enhancements, accessibility and pricing.

Despite National and International commitments for gender equality and victims or survivours of sexual encounters, the envisaged protections, gaps in legislative frameworks, and institutional policies implementation exist, coupled with underreporting and inadequate institutional response. The student sexual victimisations in South African universities remain a persistent challenge, necessitating comprehensive legislative and institutional policies to ensure student safety and security for potential victims. Objectively, this study describes the effectiveness of existing legislative frameworks and institutional policies to address sexual victimisation in the selected South African rural and urban universities. This qualitative study used the descriptive research design to follow the predetermined steps of a documentary study, focusing on documentary sources and the electronic databases; the reviewed data was subjected to the non-probability: Purposive sampling for selections, the keywords/phrases were used to filter info relevant to the study objective, using the Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA), the collected data was restricted to 1979-2024 (not in sequence), with the six (6) phases of inductive Textual Content Analysis (TCA) employed for data analysis and identification of three (3) study themes. This study showcases key challenges, including staff-student power dynamics, lack of independent oversight and inconsistencies in legislative frameworks and institutional policies enforcement. The witnessed disparities between the selected South African universities and international best practices are shared, emphasising the need for victim/survivor-centred approaches, enhanced reporting mechanisms, and mandatory training programmes. The study concludes by proposing effective legislative frameworks and institutional policies as recommendations for strengthening institutional accountability, promoting awareness, and ensuring holistic support for victims.

The aim of this paper was to analyse social entrepreneurs as the proponents towards achieving LED and ensuring the reduction of poverty and community empowerment. The emergence of social entrepreneurship in South Africa could improve LED, addressing imperative conundrums such as poverty, unemployment and inequality. The argument of this paper is that social entrepreneurs through their unique business models may play a critical role in ensuring a comprehensive LED, which could be sustainable to alleviate poverty and ensure community empowerment. The significance of social entrepreneurship cannot be circumvented in a country characterized by socio-economic ills, wherein people’s living standards continue to deteriorate. Thus, the capacity of both government and private sector remains questionable because of the perpetual challenges that ordinary people endure on the ground. Social entrepreneurs may help to rejuvenate underserved communities, especially in rural and township regions. The paper emphasized on how social enterprises foster inclusive development by generating employment, improving access to education, healthcare and financial services and uplifting historically marginalized groups like women and youth. This is a conceptual paper that adopted a literature-based methodology to fulfil its aim. It relied on secondary data sources to critique social entrepreneurship as a proponent for LED. The paper revealed that social entrepreneurs continue to play a significant role in improving the lives of the destitute both in rural and township areas. This paper underscored the need to have a proliferation of social entrepreneurs to resuscitate local economic hubs in South African rural and township areas. It concludes that for a comprehensive LED to take place, social entrepreneurs should be the paragons of LED.

This study investigates the application of planning theory frameworks to enhance the effectiveness of employment policies in South Africa. This study seeks to develop a conceptual framework that integrates core principles from planning theories with the formulation and implementation of employment policies. This framework is constructed through a critical assessment of planning theories and employment policies. The concept is subsequently applied to South Africa, a nation facing significant unemployment rates and inequality, despite the efforts of policymakers. This study emphasises the potential benefits of utilising planning theory frameworks in the formulation of employment policy. The benefits encompass increased stakeholder engagement, efficient policy execution, and improved policy outcomes. This study adds to the existing literature on labour market planning theory and employment policy. This document offers practical insights that may assist policymakers and practitioners in improving the effectiveness of employment policies in South Africa.

Traditionally, the business landscape has been male-dominated; however, recent trends indicate a notable rise in female entrepreneurs within rural regions of South Africa. Women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality encounter various challenges, including issues with financing, access to education and training, gender bias, business skills development, and maintaining a work-life balance. Women entrepreneurs frequently encounter challenges in balancing their professional and family obligations due to numerous domestic duties and responsibilities. Their long-term business success may be jeopardised by these challenges.  This study seeks to examine the challenges encountered by women-owned SMEs, focussing on the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality as the area of investigation. The investigation employed a qualitative approach to gather and examine the data. The investigation employed a semi-structured interview guide for data collection and utilised a thematic content analysis method to examine both empirical and secondary data. A snowball sampling technique was employed to identify appropriate participants, resulting in the successful sampling of forty (N=40) individuals in 2024. The findings indicated that the majority of participants had achieved their matriculation (grade 12) qualifications; however, they conveyed a desire for further skills and training in entrepreneurship to enhance their business management and growth. A significant number of women reported encountering various forms of discrimination, including being advised to stay at home and care for their husbands and children due to their gender. Women-owned businesses encounter barriers in obtaining resources, networks, and opportunities when compared to their male counterparts. The analysis suggests that businesses owned by women ought to receive equal opportunities as those owned by men. It is essential to enhance the capabilities of women-owned businesses by providing resources including technology, financial support, and training in sustainable business development. In conclusion, the study emphasises the importance of the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality acknowledging the contributions of women-owned SMEs and offering the essential support needed to address unemployment in the region. In the process of awarding tenders, it is essential for municipalities to guarantee the inclusion of women on the board of directors, in accordance with the stipulations set forth by the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act Amendment 42 of 2013.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the ability of Integrated Development Plan in achieving socio-economic development of communities in South Africa. The triumph of Integrated Development Plan is considered vital in improving the socio-economic development of communities in South Africa. South Africa has a reasonably new democratic arrangement that focuses on promoting an enhancement of communities,  over  projects  which  should  be  affiliated with the Integrated Development Plans of local municipalities. Nevertheless, local municipalities continue to perform inadequately which results in local communities’ unhappiness with the poor quality of services provided  to  them. The paper gathers information in respect of various scholars’ notions on IDP and achieving socio-economic development in integrated development planning from related articles, journals, and books. The paper is based on the literature review. The Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is a cornerstone of local governance in South Africa, designed to foster socio-economic development and enhance service delivery across municipalities. The IDP aligns municipal planning with national development priorities, offering a comprehensive framework to address local needs through participatory planning and decision-making. However, despite its objectives, the effectiveness of the IDP in achieving socio-economic development has been questioned, with implementation challenges hindering its success in many areas. A high number of populations in the upcoming years will be in developing countries, whose schemes are  ill-prepared  to  deliver  services  to  their local  communities,  and  therefore  more  emphasis  needs  to  be  placed  on  municipal  development  projects .The study recommends that local governments shift towards a commercial line, to smooth socio-economic development. This is because the contemporary commercial tactic has moved from  concentration on generating  revenue to a concentration on making of worth and reimbursements for diverse sponsors, and, as such, administrative lineups  and  ventures  must  be  established  to  accomplish  this  objective.

This paper aims to analyse the challenges and outcomes of “selling-to-finish” by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. “Selling-to-finish” is a global problem that threatens SMEs everywhere. It entails an unconventional business strategy that deviates from the main goal of most businesses, which is to make profit. In South Africa, “selling-to-finish” in SMEs has a detrimental effect on the country’s economic development, growth, and efforts to combat poverty. The misunderstanding of “selling-to-finish” hinders the growth of SMEs. This is because SME owenrs mistakenly believe that having more clients who buy products and service equates to selling for a profit without doing the necessary calculations. “Selling-to-finish” puts at risk not only the expansion and advancement of SMEs but also the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1, which is to eradicate poverty and National Development Plan (NDP) vision 2030, which is to build a good economy and provides employment to all citizens. This chapter employed a desktop-based qualitative research. The paper argues that improper application of selling-to-finish causes major downfall of SMEs in South Africa. It found that the achievement of economic growth, development, and poverty reduction is seriously jeopardized by “selling-to-finish” in SMEs. As a result of “selling-to-finish”, SMEs face difficulties such as financial unsustainability, cash flow problems, decreased investment capacity, and competitive disadvantage. It recommends that SME owners should prepare well-informed monthly, quarterly, or annual cash flow statements. It goes on to advise SMEs to contract with outside firms to ensure that their cash flow figures are accurately prepared.

The purpose of this paper to discuss the impacts of diversity in the educational setting, it seems necessary ?rst to de?ne some key terms, including culture and cultural diversity. The paper purely theoretical, therefore, information will solicited through literature review to present arguments. Teaching culturally diverse classrooms starts from embracing beliefs that recognise the strengths of cultural diversity. Beliefs are seen as individual cognitive conceptions in constant relation to behaviour and the external environment. Bidirectional relationships exist between personal beliefs, behaviour, and the external environment, but their influence and reciprocal effects vary for different activities and under different circumstances. Diversity has become an increasingly important part of lecturers’ lives beyond school, and even within the classroom it can also help increase their understanding of complex issues of diversity students are confronted with. Similar all social behaviour, teaching and learning is shaped through acculturation and different cultural backgrounds. Most people expect a learning and teaching environment that they are used to from their own educational experience as a student. Teaching in intercultural educational environments should be sensitive to different cultural styles of learning and teaching. This sensitivity is essential, regardless of the subject, whether it is a universal scientific phenomena or not. Paper argues that although cultural groups share commonalties in perspectives, behaviours, and ways of being in the world, they are rarely homogenous. The paper concludes that inclusion of diversity especially when dealing with different cultures is important because it helps with systematic and organized process of applying which strategies and theories to improve the quality of education.

As the 3D printing industry continues to gain momentum in South Africa's SME sector, issues about their financing and financial management need to be investigated. This is due to the capital-intensive nature of the business as well as the financing challenges encountered by 3D printing SMMEs. This study aimed to contribute to research on financial management practices and sources of finance as predictors of performance for 3D printing small and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in terms of profitability and increase in client base. The study adopted the interpretivist research paradigm, exploratory research design, inductive research approach and qualitative research method to achieve the objectives of the study. A total of twenty (20) 3D printing firms participated in the study. Employees and managers were purposefully selected to participate in the study. The participants comprised finance managers, senior managers and managers of the twenty (20) 3D printing firms that participated in the study. Structured interviews served as the instrument for data collection based on the objectives of the study. Data gathered from interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that effective working capital management practices boost the profitability of 3D printing SMMEs, particularly through adopting no-credit policies and hiring competent finance officers. These practices also help expand the client base by ensuring timely delivery of products and services, with customer relationship management being a strategic approach. The study also revealed that liquidity management practices significantly boost the profitability of 3D printing firms by ensuring sufficient cash flow to meet financial obligations, managing financial risks, and ensuring timely product delivery, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and contributing to growth in the customer base. The study recommends the need for 3D printing SMMEs to prioritise cash flow management and develop robust systems to monitor and control working capital components, including inventory, receivables, and payables.  

This study aims to investigate the impact of green empowering leadership (GEL) on organisational citizenship behaviour toward the environment (OCBE) of employees in hospitality firms. Green empowering leadership is a newly conceptualized leadership style that combines traditional empowering leadership with a focus on environmental sustainability. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine how GEL can improve OCBE in hospitality firms. To test hypotheses and accomplish study goals, the social exchange theory (SET) theory was combined with a quantitative research strategy. Data was collected from hotel employees in a cross-sectional survey and the study adopted the convenience and purposive sampling method, and the survey participants were middle level managers of hotels. The study used the Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) for data analysis. The findings indicate a positive effect of green empowering leadership and OCBE. The findings of the study have important implications for policy and practice in the hospitality industry. There is the need for hotel to adopt green practices and incorporate ecological concerns in their strategy and operation.

This article presents a comparative analysis of selected political party manifestos in South Africa, examining both convergences and differences in their approaches to service delivery. With a focus on understanding the underlying principles and priorities outlined in these manifestos, the study aims to shed light on the potential implications for governance and public service effectiveness. Drawing upon a comprehensive review of political party manifestos and policy documents, the analysis identifies common themes such as access to basic services, infrastructure development, and socio-economic empowerment. However, significant variations emerge in terms of the strategies proposed to address these challenges, reflecting diverse ideological orientations and policy priorities among political parties. By employing a qualitative content analysis approach, the study highlights the nuanced differences in the proposed policy frameworks and implementation mechanisms, as well as the underlying assumptions and values embedded within each manifesto. Furthermore, the analysis explores the potential implications of these variations for public administration practices, governance structures, and service delivery outcomes. Through this comparative lens, the article contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities and dynamics shaping public administration in South Africa's multi-party democracy. Moreover, it offers insights into the challenges and opportunities for enhancing service delivery effectiveness, fostering accountability, and promoting inclusive development. Ultimately, the findings underscore the importance of informed policy debates and evidence-based decision-making in addressing the diverse needs and aspirations of South Africa's citizens, while also emphasizing the critical role of public administration in translating political commitments into tangible outcomes on the ground.

This paper examines the critical role of youth participation in planning and implementation with the purpose of improving the Integrated Development Plan (IDP). Local governments in South Africa are legally mandated to foster participatory development through IDP, which aim to address imbalances from the predemocratic era and improve socioeconomic conditions. Despite the democratic foundation of these policies, youth participation in IDP formulation remains markedly low. This discrepancy is particularly troubling given the substantial role that youth played in achieving democracy and the proverb that today's youth are tomorrow's leaders. The paper argues that the absence of effective mechanisms for youth participation has led to significant social deficiencies. The paper is conceptual and is grounded in social capital theory. The study uses a qualitative desktop research method, relying on existing literature. The findings reveal that the lack of youth participation in IDP contributes to various problems, including inadequate service delivery, violent protests, substance abuse, and social delinquency. It recommends the establishment of practical and inclusive mechanisms to better engage young people in the IDP process, thus addressing the current gaps and promoting more equitable development outcomes.  Young people's ignorance and the lack of efficient and inclusive mechanisms to promote participation of youth have produced numerous social deficiencies. These problems hinder community development and social transformation. Therefore, this paper concludes that training programs, youth dialogues, and political education should be developed to improve youth understanding of local government processes.

The purpose of the study is to examine the factors and physiognomies that perpetuate unequal allocation and distribution of land between men and women in rural areas. Land is regarded as an instrument towards poverty reduction, increased economic growth and economic development. Gender inequality on allocation of resources such as land continues to manifest not only in African countries but throughout the globe. Moreover, the criteria in which the land is allocated plays a pivotal role in the lives of the people. The resources are still allocated based on the role played by men and women within the society. Although, the post-apartheid South African government formulated laws and policies that aimed to redress the inequalities that still exist in many communities. Cultural roles and beliefs still define how men and women should conduct themselves within the households and communities at large. The study argues that there is a continued limitation of access to and ownership of land by women. Cultural and gender stereotype still influences how land is allocated among men and women. The study concludes that due to culture, men are given the privilege to have access to land and take over their family’s inheritances while women are expected to get married and live with their husband’s family. As a result, women continue to suffer the hardest with limited access to land.