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Despite the pervasiveness of Food Insecurity (FI) in Higher Education Institutions (HEI), its effects on student success are still not well understood. It is evidenced from studies conducted in HEIs that students report FI as negatively impacting their ability to learn; however, limited studies have objectively explored the nexus between FI and student academic success, and worse still, the scant literature lacks consensus. The extent of FI in HEIs is unknown, which makes this study important, and this will help policymakers set plans to better support students in all areas of their well-being. Using systematic literature review methods, the study assesses research conducted on the relationship between FI and academic success to consolidate the knowledge, demarcate the research gap, and make recommendations for further inquiry and/or policy. The study found that FI is in different forms and is rampant among higher education students, disproportionately affecting those from lower-income households even when receiving financial aid. The results have implications on practice, in that they indicate the need to complement financial aid with advisement and training on financial literacy, as well as food and nutrition workshops, to enhance student purchasing choices and food preparation skills.

This paper examines the intersection of political activism and transgender advocacy within Lee Mokobe's poetry, utilising a multidisciplinary methodology that combines thematic literary analysis, socio-political critique, and biographical context. Mokobe, a Cape Town-born transgender poet now based in the United States, employs vivid imagery, narrative voice, and poetic devices to explore themes of identity, societal expectations, resilience, religious conflict, and the quest for acceptance. His poem "What It’s Like to Be Transgender" serves as a case study to demonstrate how personal experience becomes a powerful vehicle for activism and education, highlighting the ongoing struggles faced by transgender individuals both in South Africa and globally. The analysis situates Mokobe’s work within broader socio-political environments, contrasting South Africa’s progressive legal frameworks with persistent societal stigma, violence, and discrimination. The main contribution of this research is to underscore the transformative potential of poetry as a tool for advocacy, emphasising its role in fostering empathy, raising awareness, and influencing educational curricula and public discourse. Through detailed thematic and stylistic analysis, the paper reveals how Mokobe’s poetry not only articulates personal narratives but also challenges systemic injustices, making a compelling case for art as a catalyst for social change and a platform for marginalised voices

This paper focuses on autobiographical memory. The focus of this paper is to encourage African learners to use autobiographical memory in a classroom setting to write stories and short autobiographies that contribute to their own development, the development of IsiXhosa writing, and revival of the stories of Xhosa learners. This paper also depicts that creative work of African learners could emerge from one’s autobiographical memory work. Encouraging ‘autobiographical memory’ enable remembering the histories of African people in South Africa. This study uses the qualitative research design to explore the potential of autobiographical memory in enhancing teaching and learning in African contexts. The sample is made up of three Xhosa literature books from renowned authors such as Peter Tshobiso Mtuze, Sindiwe Magona, Archibald Campbell Mzolisa Jordan. Key findings from the study show that autobiographical memory helps in preserving culture, challenges colonial histories, and enhances education. The research confirms that the integration of memory-based storytelling into African classrooms will strengthen learning, self-awareness, and cultural knowledge.

This study provides an empirical assessment of financial prudence among South African individuals, focusing on savings and investment behaviour. Prior research highlights a positive correlation between national savings rates and economic growth, with countries exhibiting high saving rates often experiencing stronger economic prosperity. However, as of 2023, South Africa's gross saving rate remains around 17%, ranking the lowest among BRICS nations. In contrast, countries like China and India boast saving rates above 40% and 30% respectively, underscoring South Africa's persistent challenge in fostering a robust savings culture. Despite various initiatives aimed at increasing the national savings rate, these efforts have yet to yield significant improvements. This research explores whether financial prudence characterised by conservative spending and careful planning in the face of future income uncertainty—could contribute to higher personal savings rates. To investigate this, an experimental design was employed where participants were presented with a hypothetical lottery payout scenario to gauge their prudence and its effect on saving behaviour. Analysis of the data indicated that while individuals generally displayed a lack of prudence, prudence itself has a notable influence on savings. Based on these findings, the study recommends that financial products and services in South Africa be designed to be affordable, accessible, and suited to the needs of the population. Additionally, it advocates for government investment in small businesses, job creation, and efforts to attract foreign investment to support a more robust savings culture.

The overarching aim of this study is to shed light on the effects of the competitive dynamics between local and international enterprises in townships and rural regions of the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM), Eastern Cape province, South Africa. To achieve this aim, our study compares the effects of these selected strategies between local and foreign businesses owned by local and foreign traders in townships and rural areas in the CHDM. We employed a quantitative research approach using questionnaires to gather data. In the complete model, the indirect effect of product diversification (PD) on competition dynamics (CD) through pricing strategy (PS) is minimal and non-significant. Similarly, for foreign businesses and local businesses, the mediation effect remains negligible. These findings suggest that while PD influences CD directly in some contexts, PS does not play a significant intermediary role. Overall, the results highlight the direct impact of PD on CD, particularly for foreign businesses. The mediating role of PS is negligible, and the importance of diversification for competition differs significantly between foreign and local businesses. These findings suggest the need for tailored diversification strategies based on the business context to enhance competitive positioning