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This study investigates opportunistic behaviour in Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) within South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services, with a focus on its implications for governance and project performance. While PPPs are used to support infrastructure delivery in the correctional sector, concerns persist regarding the conduct of partnering actors and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms. A qualitative research design was employed, using semi-structured interviews with officials involved in PPP management. The data were analysed thematically to identify key patterns and institutional challenges. The findings indicate that opportunistic behaviour is driven by information asymmetry, weak transparency practices, and unequal power relations between partners. In addition, gaps in monitoring and accountability systems enable contractual non-compliance and reduce project efficiency. These factors collectively weaken governance and undermine the long-term sustainability of PPP arrangements. The study contributes to the limited empirical literature on PPP governance in correctional services and recommends strengthening institutional oversight, improving transparency, and addressing power imbalances to enhance partnership performance

Sustainability has emerged as a strategic imperative for small manufacturing enterprises, particularly in light of increasing expectations to operate responsibly across economic, social, and environmental domains. This study investigates the interconnectedness of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) elements and their collective influence on sustainable business practices. Rather than examining these dimensions in isolation, the research adopts a holistic lens to explore how their interplay shapes organisational behaviour and long-term viability within the small manufacturing sector in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Drawing on both theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence, the study offers insights into how enterprises can integrate TBL principles into their strategic orientation to foster resilience and sustained growth. The findings reveal that a balanced and synergistic approach to economic performance, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship enhances the capacity of firms to adapt, innovate, and thrive in complex operating environments. A structured questionnaire was administered to a stratified sample of 450 small manufacturing enterprises, and the resulting data were analysed using correlation techniques to uncover patterns and relationships among key variables. The study contributes practical guidance for business leaders and policymakers seeking to leverage the TBL framework not merely as a reporting mechanism, but as a transformative tool for embedding sustainability into core organisational processes.

The ever-evolving and often higher education system, full of internal and external turbulences within the context of South Africa in the Western Cape provinces, necessitates a strategic leadership process that has resilience, agility and adaptive improvisation in navigating demanding socio-economic, geo-political, and institutional challenges. This study examines the influence of strategic leadership on expediting the executive problem-solving impetus and concomitant decision-making within the pedagogical and academic fraternity, within the higher education institution as a unit of analysis. The study is inspired by the increasing complexities confronting the critical role of higher educational institutions in the broader higher learning ecosystem and stakeholder situational analysis with inclusion, legitimacy, and relevance while navigating through transformation, transition and a paradigmatic shift within the era of breathless speed of technological advancement, innovation, and sustainability. The study is to explore how strategic leadership influences the speed, integrity, and efficiency of organisational decision-making processes. A qualitative semi-structured and open interview utilising a purposive sampling was pursued. Thematic analysis was used to categorize main and sub-themes in the study. The findings illuminate the significance of strategic leadership application within the broader consultative decision-making that is inclusive and participatory, as the key attribute for staff performance and organisational productivity.  

E-learning tools and LMSs, such as Moodle, have been in existence for decades. However, there has been an accelerated use of such platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Higher Education Providers responded to ensure that education was accessible via online platforms to allow lecturers to continue their daily job functions during the pandemic. This study explores these aspects from a lecturer perspective during COVID-19, using constructs from the Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework and Unified Theory of Use and Acceptance of Technology (UTAUT-3) theory. This study is based on the pragmatist paradigm. This methodology was deemed appropriate as this study uses a mixed methodology for collecting and analysing qualitative and quantitative data. The objective of the study was to understand the experiences of lecturers using Moodle for e-learning in a learning journey at a Private Distance Higher Education Institution during the pandemic. The results revealed that several lecturers appeared to have adaptation challenges when using Moodle, but thereafter the system performed as expected. Overall lecturers found that Moodle promoted accessibility and performed as expected. The research further revealed that that there was insufficient training and support provided by the institution. Recommendations arising from the findings included, amongst others, upgrading internet packages and investing in backup power supplies to enhance the experience of lecturers in this learning journey. Recommendations for the institution included enhancing support and communication to lecturers especially part-time lecturers as they are not part of the formal institutional structure on a day-to-day basis.  More comprehensive training to lecturers is required to ensure lecturers are adequately equipped to improve online learning and student engagement.

The current research investigates the effect of Corporate Social Investment (CSI) on the Human Development Index in South Africa. A quantitative longitudinal study conducted over 10 years reviewed the relationship between CSI and HDI in South Africa. The survey results confirmed a negative statistical relationship between CSI and HDI in South Africa. With a 1% increase in CSI, leading to a marginal decrease in human development. An implication of the study is that CSI spending is not reaching the citizens of South Africa, possibly due to systemic corruption in South Africa. The results of the study thus have significant policy implications for the implementation and administration of CSI projects in South Africa.

The adoption of plausible strategic marketing deliverables within the sustainable agricultural ecosystem remains a challenge for small-scale growers due to scarce resources and constraint capabilities.  The prospects of expediting access to markets and points of sale, which properly established and capacitated enterprises dominate, contain the ability for small-scale growers to commercialise their hard-earned crops and produce. This study unpacks the strategic marketing techniques and tools that small-scale growers could utilize to mitigate their active participation in the complex agricultural business ecosystem. The body of literature explicated various considerations that could be integrated into an attempt to demystify the common challenges and constraints that conform the small growers from the marking mix context and perspective. A positivism-oriented philosophy of the quantitative methodology was utilized in the study to solicit the description of the variables that constitute the elucidation of the strategic phenomenon in the study. The findings revealed that various marketing tools could provide constructive and beneficial advantages for small growers if applied efficaciously and correctly. The findings further indicated that packaging the marketing mixes intervention such as channels, segmenting positioning, channel, target market, and promotion could accelerate the small growers' attainment of sustainable competitive advantage within the broader scope of commercializing their enterprises.

During the COVID-19 pandemic countries all over the world underwent hard lockdowns that limited face-to-face contact in everyday aspects of our lives. Higher Education Providers responded to ensure that education was accessible via online platforms to allow students to continue their studies during the pandemic. Due to this Learning Management Systems (LMSs) were no longer merely used for uploading or downloading content and instead was used for completing online courses including submitting assignments, conducting examinations and lectures. Thus, using an LMS became the only means of survival for many educational intuitions during the pandemic. The study used the qualitative method for collecting and analyzing data by conducting one on one interviews via MS Teams. The objective of the study was to explore which functionalities of Moodle were used for e-learning in a learning journey at a Private Distance Higher Education Institution in a COVID-19 environment and why. Based on this objective, the following research question was posed: Which functionalities of Moodle do lecturers and students use when using Moodle for e-learning in a learning journey and what are the reasons for their choice? The results revealed that despite having multiple functionalities available only limited functionalities were used by both lecturers and students. It was identified that usage on Moodle was motivated by UTAUT-3 constructs such as Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Hedonic Motivation and Facilitating Conditions. The research further revealed that students and lecturers may not have understood how to use all the functionalities available hence usage was limited.

In this study, the authors contribute to the existing literature by examining the impacts of military expenditure and corruption on inclusive growth in emerging countries. The focus is on Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) countries as a case study covering the period 1960 to 2018. The study uses using Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) estimation technique subdivided under two distinct phrases of Cold war and post-Cold war eras. Data used in this study are yearly data, covering 1960 – 2018 period and further subdivided into cold war and Post war era. Using ARDL, the results indicate military expenditure has negative effect on inclusive growth during cold war period. Even during the post-cold war period, which represents a phrase of low external threats to BRICS countries, military expenditure is found to have a negative impact on inclusive growth, and the result is statistically insignificant. The study contributes to the understanding of influence of Inclusive growth on military expenditure for emerging and developed bloc economies like BRICS. This study innovates by using ARDL to find out the impact of military expenditure in attaining an apex inclusive growth in developing economies like BRICS countries.

Globally, financial inclusion is regarded as being crucial for balancing an economy's financial system. However, despite the significance of financial inclusion, it still needs to be clarified to what extent it is practiced. In this study, the assessment of the performance of the 49 Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) countries as regards financial inclusion was carried out through the construction of a single composite Financial Inclusion Index (FII) to capture the four dimensions of financial inclusion. Z-sum score and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was deployed to analyse the secondary data spanning from 1999 to 2023. The decision rule deployed was that if a value for Financial Inclusion Index (FII) from zero to forty-nine (0-49) this shows that there is low financial inclusion; medium financial inclusion from fifty to sixty-nine (50-69) while, a value from seventy and above (70- above) denotes the high financial inclusion) for the study period. The result revealed that all SSA countries are low that is they fall into between zero (0) to forty-nine (49) in the composite financial inclusion index in line with the decision rule. Also, the result indicated that Sao-Tome and Principe was the best performing SSA country with the highest financial inclusion penetration per thousand considered during the period of the study.

This study explores the nexus between population growth and unemployment in South Africa from 2000 to 2023, a period marked by significant demographic changes and economic challenges. South Africa has experienced rising unemployment alongside rapid population growth, which has led to concerns about the country’s ability to absorb its expanding labour force. The aim of this research is to examine how population growth influences unemployment, considering additional factors like foreign direct investment (FDI), gross domestic product (GDP), and inflation. Using time series data from the World Bank, Statistics South Africa, and the South African Reserve Bank, the study employs the Augmented Dickey-Fuller unit root test for stationarity, Johansen cointegration for long-term relationships, and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression to estimate the impact of population growth on unemployment. Key findings indicate that population growth has a positive and statistically significant relationship with unemployment, meaning higher population growth increases unemployment levels. Foreign direct investment also shows a positive effect on unemployment, while GDP and inflation exhibit negative but statistically insignificant relationships. Based on these findings, the study recommends strategic urban planning, family planning initiatives, and targeted policies to attract labour-intensive FDI. Additionally, the government should focus on economic diversification, supporting SMEs, and investing in skill development to create sustainable jobs. This research contributes to understanding the dynamics between population growth and unemployment in South Africa and offers insights for more effective policy interventions.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of e-learning platforms globally, particularly Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Moodle, which became essential tools for facilitating online learning in higher education. This study explores the experiences of MBA students using Moodle at a Private Distance Higher Education Institution in a developing country during the pandemic. Drawing on the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT-3), the study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative data from questionnaires and qualitative data from interviews. Findings revealed that while students faced initial adaptation challenges, Moodle was perceived as a user-friendly, flexible, and cost-effective platform that facilitated their learning experience. However, students encountered significant challenges, including internet connectivity issues and power outages, which impacted their ability to engage fully with the platform. Recommendations include improving internet infrastructure, providing uninterrupted power supplies, and offering enhanced technical support to ensure seamless learning experiences. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on e-learning in developing countries, offering insights into the effectiveness of LMS platforms in distance education and highlighting areas for improvement in future e-learning implementations.

This study aimed to identify the financial management techniques of waste pickers and their perspectives on entrepreneurship.  The research concentrates on the Durban metropolitan region and employs a sample of 100 rubbish pickers from three suburbs adjacent to significant informal populations. A quantitative methodology is utilised, employing a questionnaire as the data gathering instrument. The questionnaire was translated into IsiZulu to accommodate non-English speaking individuals. The questionnaire comprised three sections: biographical information, financial management techniques, and attitudes towards entrepreneurship. The results indicate that most waste pickers originate from single-parent households and receive a government payment for an average of two children.  Several respondents, predominantly female, reported that they often utilise 'omatshonisa' (informal moneylenders) while anticipating revenue from the sale of their goods. The majority of respondents said that, despite opening bank accounts, these accounts had remained inactive for at least one year due to minimal revenues. Women possess the majority of bank accounts. Waste pickers earn an average of R607 monthly, with a minimum of R200 and a maximum of R2,000. The waste pickers do not save the earnings from the sale of salvaged goods, as the funds are allocated for purchasing meals for children. The study additionally reveals that age has a positive correlation with both waste picking experience and the frequency of days worked per week. These associations exhibit statistical significance.  The majority of waste pickers expressed a willingness to initiate cooperatives and small businesses, contingent upon the availability of mentoring and money. This study influences entrepreneurship, environmental, and health policies for municipal, provincial, and central governments. This research will direct scholars to pursue other investigations on the topic

Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) is an investment strategy developed to minimize the negative socio-economic and environmental impacts of each financial investment. Inconsistent results are presented during the analysis of the absolute risk-adjusted returns of SRI funds in comparison to conventional funds, and this negatively impacts investor awareness on adopting SRI funds as a viable substitute to conventional funds during economic crises. This research paper aims to improve SRI in South Africa by increasing the awareness of investors on viable investment substitutes, considering the amendments made to regulation 28 of the Pension Fund Act of 1956. These regulatory changes have made provisions to include principles of SRI into South African retirement fund investments and will increase the demand for SRI products in South Africa. The research objective is to provide empirical evidence on the absolute risk-adjusted performance of SRI funds relative to the performance of a matched set of conventional funds, before and during an economic crisis. The results are obtained by comparing the Sharpe ratio and Coefficient of Variation (CV) of each SRI fund to each matched conventional fund. The comparative analysis using the Sharpe ratio reveals that more sampled SRI funds (60%) outperform the sampled matched conventional funds (40%) before the COVID-19 pandemic. More Sample SRI funds (70%) outperform the sampled matched conventional funds (30%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. On an absolute RA basis, using the CV to compare SRI fund performance to conventional fund performance, the sampled SRI funds (50%) and the sampled matched conventional funds (50%) equally outperform one another before the COVID-19 pandemic however, more sampled SRI funds (60%) outperform the sampled matched conventional funds (40%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicate that SRI funds can match and outperform conventional funds both before and during an economic crisis period and should be considered as a viable investment substitute.

Owing to women past lived experiences of gender discrimination and marginalization, public policy is among the strategies that are prioritized by the government towards the creation of gender balances in the post 1994 era. To this effect, Section 7 (1) of the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides that the bill of rights is the cornerstone for affirming democratic rights, human dignity, equality and freedom of all citizens. Despite this constitutional imperative, the literature and empirical evidence in the South African local government sphere points to challenges of women exclusion and lack of empowerment opportunities. Therefore, this article seeks to examine the prohibiting factors that impedes effective implementation of the WEGEP in local government with specific reference to iMpendle Local Municipality in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. It also sought to develop strategies to assist the government to improve WEGEP implementation.  The study used qualitative methodology in which structured interviews were used to collect data from the municipal officials. A total of 30 participants were purposively identified and clustered for data collection, and 27 were available for interviews. In terms of data analysis, a mixture of content and thematic analyses were used. The study was underpinned by 5C protocol as a conceptual framework. The findings of the study indicated a slow pace of implementation of WEGEP in the municipality. This was attributed to the lack of human and financial resources. The findings also pointed to challenges in relation to the monitoring and evaluation for gender and women empowerment programmes. Furthermore, there was a lack of change management in dealing with the issues pertaining to women empowerment and gender equality in the municipality. The study contributes to the outlook of public policy, effectiveness of government programs, and strengthens the body of knowledge in the area of public policy.

Currently, South African government departments is inundated with common dire predicaments prominently manifested in the form of lack of punctuality, frequent leave requests, lack of engagement and poor management of employee wellbeing, resulting in high absenteeism rates. Flexible working schedules ameliorate the level of contentment and performance, which has been discovered to benefit both the employer and employee. There are limited previous studies done in the South African Public Sector on the subject of adopting flexibility conditions in the workplace. The empirical evidence on the subject is still sparse for the transitional economy like South Africa. Hence, this study sought to investigate the flexible work arrangements in the public organisation. The study adopted an exploratory design and a qualitative approach. A qualitative research approach was chosen for the study because it provided an opportunity to explore the research objectives in greater detail. The sample size and strategy used comprised organising focus group interviews as well as individual interviews, using a sample of 10 participants from different levels of the organisation. The findings of the study revealed that offering flexibility could help and support the emotional health of the employees. The study also found that a call for a flexible work strategy is of interest to most employees as it provides work-life balance. The organisation should consider implementing and making provision for flexible working arrangements which in turn improve job fulfilment, increase work and life, motivate employees, reduce absenteeism and increasing the quality of service delivery at all organisational levels.

This study examines the tax incentives and challenges faced by Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) in South Africa, with a focus on those registered as Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs). NPOs play a vital role in addressing socio-economic issues, and serving vulnerable communities. While these organizations operate for non-profit purposes, the tax incentives provided by the government are crucial for their financial sustainability. Therefore, establishing a supportive tax framework is essential to promote their growth and operational capacity. A scoping review methodology was employed, analyzing literature on tax incentives and compliance challenges faced by South African NPOs from 2010 to 2023. Key provisions include income tax exemptions under Section 10(1)(cN), capital gains tax exclusions, and Section 18A tax-deductible donations. The study also explored the legal framework governing tax-exempt status and trading activities. Findings show that while tax incentives provide significant benefits, NPOs face challenges in maintaining compliance, such as complex regulations, limited financial resources, and a lack of expertise. Many struggle with differentiating between exempt and taxable activities. Strategies to address these issues include simplifying tax processes, enhancing financial management education, and improving communication between SARS and NPOs. Introducing user-friendly tax reporting systems and tailored support could further boost compliance and ensure NPOs maximize available benefits. These insights are valuable for policymakers and tax authorities seeking to strengthen the regulatory framework and support the growth of NPOs in South Africa.

Despite anecdotal evidence indicating that a lack of management support towards internal audits (IAs) affects their efficacy, only a few studies have been conducted on the topic in a provincial government (PG) context. Besides, studies on the lack of management support towards IA efficacy lack theoretical grounding. This research aims to address this knowledge gap. The paper applied principal–agent theory to identify barriers to efficient management support towards the IA role within PGs, using the case of the Western Cape Government (WCG). Initially, questionnaires were sent to 260 WCG participants. The results revealed that management has a bad perception of IA as adding value to the organisation and does not take timely corrective actions based on audit findings and recommendations. The study adds to the limited knowledge about management and the IA relationship within PGs.

Financial knowledge and behaviour in millennials and Gen Z's turbulent and volatile environment are fundamental behavioural traits for a desirable work-life balance. They could contribute to work motivation and a comfortable social life. However, the financial knowledge, financial literacy and financial behaviour viewed from an organizational context are still far from homogeneity and linearity as Gen Y and Z have to navigate through challenging settings while thriving to enjoy financial and investment-balanced decision-making and problem-solving albeit limited disposable income against a plethora of spending pressures. This study explores the synergy between financial knowledge contribution and financial behaviour that culminates in sound investment prioritisation amongst Gen Y and Z professionals in the employment of public entities. The study used the qualitative research approach to unpack the challenges facing Gen Y and Z from fifteen professionals in navigating a prosperous financial future. The findings revealed that the existential restrictive nature of the economic climate and the sluggish economic growth, characterised by the heightened cost of living and inflationary pressure, have not exempted Gen Y and Z, while the broader society is experiencing the worst unemployment. The findings also revealed that even though the participants are in relatively well-remunerating positions from their respective positions, their financial knowledge and commensurate financial literacy could be superseded by actual financial behaviour, which is symptomatic with the current era of rampant price increases on almost every product, assets and purchases which are meant to improve their standard of living and stable quality of life.