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Several official dating institutions viz: SARB, NBER, OECD, CEPR, and others, provide Business Cycle (BC) chronologies with lags ranging from three months to several years. This is problematic for the various oppressed as it poses limits to the usefulness of BC indicators in terms of forecasting and policy implementation at large. In this article, we propose the construction of composite indicators as accurate measures of business cycles in South Africa. We use this composite index to facilitate comparison of both a non-parametric Bry and Boschan dating algorithm and a parametric Markov Switching dating method, in terms of performance and accuracy of dating business cycle turning points in South Africa. Utilising data spanning the period 2000M1 – 2018M12, empirical evidence obtained is such that, composite indices are better than single indicators due to information rich. Further, while the parametric and non-parametric methods’ performances are matched in terms of the number of turning points identified, however, the non-parametric method is more accurate in identifying these turning points. Due to its accuracy the non-parametric method proved to be a promising method of dating business cycle turning points in South Africa and alleviate the problems which are currently facing the South African Reserve Bank, the private sector and the economy at large.

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.

The study explores contributory factors that make a fundamental contribution within the built environment pertaining to the management of the cognitive perceptions and attitude of risk with its concomitant insights, contributions and expectations. The built environment infrastructure is a fundamental component of economic prosperity as the research focuses on the construction of national roads and the associated risks, both internal and external, to primary and secondary stakeholders. The research purpose is to illuminate those factors within the risk management discipline which are critical from the prism of the employees and other indirect contracting personnel who are the main contributors within the high-risk environment of the built environment. The study employed the interpretivist philosophy, which is synonymous with the inductive approach of the qualitative methodology. The purposive sampling technique was adopted to solicit the expertise, insights, and experiences of approximately twenty respondents who held management and supervisory portfolios in the organisation. The interview channel was the preferred research instrument used to collect and contribute towards the extrapolation of data from the study respondents. The findings in the study illuminate the significance of the prioritisation of the culture, behaviour and actionable tendencies that seek to eliminate and mitigate the risk permutations in these perilous and often life-threatening safety and hazardous construction sites. The study concluded by acknowledging the organization-wide responsibility and compliance with the manageable risk appetite and also illuminated the significance of monitoring and evaluating the perceptions and attitudes of personnel involved in these precarious and yet fundamental contributors of economic prosperity pertaining to infrastructure improvement, development and modernisation.

Human resource management (HRM) is a crucial component of an organization’s management and aims to enhance employee efficiency and an organization’s competitiveness. As organizations advance and grow, recruitment and selection decisions become more critical. The thinking of human resources practitioners and experts must be transformed to accommodate the current workplace. Practitioners and experts must ensure that qualified candidates are attracted to the organization at the right time to fill open positions. Traditional HRM methods are insufficient for the progressively more complicated HRM challenges. Recruitment and selection, as one HRM component, is a process with numerous challenges. This study examines how the use of AI technologies can assist in mitigating recruitment and selection challenges. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and soliciting data from databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Science Direct, a systematic literature review analysis was conducted to investigate the human resources challenges in recruitment and selection and explore how AI can moderate these challenges. The analysis indicated several challenges, including high costs, bribery and corruption, political interference, inadequate job descriptions, nepotism and favoritism, and lengthy recruitment and selection processes. Recommendations of the study suggest that the accuracy and efficiency of recruitment and selection can be enhanced by involving AI technologies, which can assist in lowering the risks and expenses associated with recruitment and selection.

The purpose of the study was to examine small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and tax practitioners’ perspectives on the effect of the cost of tax compliance on the functioning of SMEs.The study uses both the opinions of SMEs and tax practitioners to extend information on the tax compliance burden and its effect on the functioning of SMEs.The study adopted a quantitative approach using a self-administered questionnaire which was e-mailed to a sample of SMEs and tax practitioners by using a link to QuestionPro. Tax compliance was viewed as a burden by SMEs, with the majority opting to outsource their tax matters to tax practitioners. SMEs and tax practitioners supported the recommendation that if SMEs attend frequent tax training, this may assist in reducing the tax compliance burden of SMEs. The study recommends that SARS conducts frequent tax training aimed at SMEs. The study contributes to the body of knowledge by using both the opinions of SMEs and tax practitioners to extend information on the tax compliance burden and its effect on the functioning of SMEs.

The article reports on the complementarity and substitutability of Macroprudential and Monetary policies in South Africa, based on the interactions of both Business and Financial cycles. To this end, a Dynamic Conditional Correlations and the Asymmetric Dynamic Conditional Correlations MGARCH models together with the Granger Causality model, the Artificial Neural Network VAR model, and the Structural VAR model, were adopted for the analyses of synchronization, causality, and the analysis of shocks to cycles, respectively. Empirical evidence obtained is such that, under conditions of financial and real economic stress in South Africa, there exists high synchronicity and bidirectional causality between CBCI and CFCI. Hence, Macroprudential and Monetary policies become complements, there exists interdependence between the two policies and actions of one policy contributes to the improvement of the other. However, under normal times there exist no synchronicity and a unidirectional causality relationship running from CBCI to CFCI, was observed. Under such conditions, Macroprudential and Monetary policies become substitutes, therefore, the two policies become independent of each other, hence, only one policy can achieve the desired outcome. Overall, a shock to one cycle is a major determinant of the fluctuations of the other cycle.

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.

Livestock theft is a critical issue in South Africa. The existing research on livestock theft in South Africa remains fragmented and lacks a comprehensive synthesis. This study is a systematic review, and aims to fill this gap by compiling, analysing and synthesizing the existing research on livestock theft in South Africa. The study addresses four key research questions: (1) Theories and models applied to livestock theft research; (2) Methods used in studying livestock theft; (3) Primary dimensions influencing livestock theft; and (4) Gaps in the literature and future research directions. Findings reveal a range of theoretical perspectives applied to the study of livestock theft, including criminological theories like Routine Activity Theory, Crime Pattern Theory, and Rational Choice Theory. These theories offer frameworks for understanding various aspects of livestock theft, such as motives, patterns, and prevention strategies. Methodological diversity is evident, with interviews being the most common approach, alongside literature reviews, secondary data analysis, and focus groups. Gaps in the literature suggest areas for future research, including the integration of theoretical frameworks, adoption of mixed-methods, Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM), and enhanced triangulation of data. There is a call for practical use case studies demonstrating successful implementation of prevention strategies and technologies. Furthermore, understanding the roles of various structures and institutions, including community forums and traditional leaders is crucial for developing effective interventions. In conclusion, the research contributes by consolidating fragmented knowledge on livestock theft and identifying areas for further investigations.

The spate of failures and scandals in the basic materials sector in South Africa and globally bring into question not only the ethics of business leaders but primarily corporate governance and the role of boards in safeguarding the shareholders' wealth. The aim of the study was to ascertain the relationship between corporate governance and firm profitability of firms in the basic materials sector listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Five corporate governance characteristics are observed on two profitability measures, return on assets and return on equity and Tobin’s Q as the market indicator using a cross-sectional time-series panel data method of 54 firms in the basic materials sector listed on the JSE from 2017 to 2021. A regression analysis model is used to ascertain whether and to what degree a relationship exists between corporate governance and firm profitability within JSE-listed basic materials sector firms. The results show that corporate governance characteristics have a mixed impact on firm profitability, with some indicating a negative or no significant relationship, highlighting the complexity of this association. This study proves that if a firm chooses suitable corporate governance characteristics, the profitability of a firm can be enhanced. The outcome of this study should have implications for academic thoughts for further research on this subject and calls for a more concerted effort for boards to implement more prudent corporate governance mechanisms to future-proof the business of the basic materials sector.

Financial literacy is a critical factor that significantly impacts the success and achievement of small and medium enterprises' (SMEs) objectives. Unfortunately, many SMEs struggle with inadequate financial literacy, which hinders their ability to make informed decisions, manage resources effectively and drive growth. This knowledge gap can lead to poor financial planning, inefficient resource allocation and a lack of resilience, ultimately threatening the long-term sustainability of these businesses. By prioritising financial literacy, SMEs can enhance their capacity to develop realistic financial projections and budgets. This study investigated the level of financial literacy among small and medium enterprises (SMEs), examining both their knowledge and practical applications of financial concepts. Additionally, the research explored the correlation between SMEs' financial literacy and their socio-demographic characteristics, such as business size, industry, owner's age, education, and experience. A quantitative research approach was employed to achieve the study's objectives and primary data was collected through a questionnaire survey administered to a sample of 105 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) located in the uMgungundlovu District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23, leveraging both descriptive and inferential statistics to extract insights and meaning from the data. The findings of this study indicate that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the uMgungundlovu District exhibit low levels of financial knowledge and practice. Notably, the research revealed significant positive correlations between financial knowledge and various factors, including: age, qualifications, number of employees and annual turnover. A positive relationship was also established between financial practice and annual turnover. This study recommends that stakeholders, for instance, government agencies and banks should organise financial education programmes that invest in improving financial practices of small and medium enterprises. It is also recommended that small and medium enterprises pursue short courses in basic accounting to improve their knowledge base.

The study seeks to examine the determinants affecting warehouse performance, emphasising the impact of warehouse management systems on improving the worldwide competitiveness of South African steel manufacturing firms. It aims to underscore the difficulties in existing procedures and the strategic significance of proficient warehouse management. The study utilised a qualitative methodology to examine warehouse management methods in South African steel manufacturing firms. Data was gathered via structured interviews and questionnaires to ascertain current management system frameworks, picking methodologies, and the incorporation of automated solutions. The results indicate that the majority of South African steel manufacturers employ non-automated and non-integrated warehouse management systems. A notable deficiency in formal picking systems and zone picking was seen, leading to inefficient operations, excessive moves, and a failure to attain a competitive advantage in the worldwide market. The report emphasises a widespread undervaluation of warehouse management's strategic importance by senior management in enhancing manufacturing competitiveness. This report emphasises the necessity for South African steel manufacturing firms to implement integrated and automated warehouse management systems to optimise processes and improve global competitiveness. The enhancement of warehouse operations, particularly through the adoption of formal picking methods, could markedly diminish operational inefficiencies and elevate consumer satisfaction. This study offers significant insights into the constraints of existing warehouse management procedures in South Africa's steel manufacturing industry. By pinpointing particular obstacles and opportunities for enhancement, it provides actionable recommendations for utilising warehouse management as a competitive edge in the global marketplace.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Eswatini play a crucial role in employment creation and economic development. However, research on their resilience is limited. The objective of this conceptual paper is to review extant literature to identify dimensions of resilience and propose a framework for SME resilience in Eswatini. In pursuit of this objective, extant models and frameworks of resilience were reviewed to identify key developments in the evolution of resilience and dimensions, revealing what constitutes resilience in different existing models in the scholarly work. First, the results reveal that while six dimensions of resilience are commonly identified in generic frameworks, seven others are less widely shared. The six dimensions are resilience capacity triangle, anticipation, coping or impact resistance, sense-making, planning, and learning and innovation. Seven constitutive dimensions not commonly shared in generic models of resilience are impact resistance, recovery, restoration, rapidity of recovery, cognitive resilience, and contextual resilience. Second, four constitutive dimensions identified in the SME context of resilience are strategic agility, culture of support, resource utilisation, and exploration of opportunities. Based on these findings, a framework of SME dynamic resilience is proposed, which owner-managers may adopt to foster organisational and entrepreneurial resilience and address the high SME mortality rate in Eswatini. The study shows that developing SME resilience requires building integrated resilience capabilities, improving processes, and adopting foresight with an entrepreneurial orientation. Future research is necessary to validate or refine this conceptual framework of SME resilience.

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.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) plays a vital role in any organization, facilitating trade both globally and locally. An organization with a robust SCM can easily meet demands, ensuring that goods or services are readily available and delivered promptly. However, poor structuring and management of SCM can lead to significant challenges, including service delivery failures. This study aims to analyze supply chain practices in the public sector in Limpopo Province, specifically focusing on public entities. The study seeks to identify weaknesses within the supply chain practices of public entities in Limpopo, highlighting issues such as lack of strategic alignment, inadequate policy implementation, and poor enforcement of SCM rules and regulations. A qualitative research approach was employed, collecting data through interviews with various experts from different public sectors to address the identified flaws in SCM practices. The findings reveal that there is a significant misalignment between supply chain and organizational strategies, which has led to service delivery backlogs, high levels of corruption, and continuous strikes across the province for better services. The study also finds that top-level management, including provincial leaders, do not perceive SCM as vital enough to warrant their attention, resulting in limited support for SCM practitioners. The lack of strategic focus and governance failures in SCM contribute to financial inefficiencies and poor service delivery, underscoring the need for provincial leaders to adopt a more strategic approach to SCM as a tool for improving public service delivery. This study provides insights into the critical role of SCM in the public sector, highlighting the urgent need for effective strategies, policy enforcement, and managerial support to mitigate governance and compliance failures. The research underscores the necessity for public entities in Limpopo to realign SCM strategies with organizational goals to enhance service delivery and combat corruption.