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The global rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has positioned digital transformation as a key strategy for improving efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness in public service delivery. In South Africa, however, persistent service delivery protests, limited institutional capacity, and resource constraints continue to undermine effective governance, raising critical questions about the readiness and effectiveness of AI and ICT adoption in the public sector. This paper, therefore, examines the impact of AI and ICT on public service transformation in South Africa, with a focus on their potential to improve service delivery and the barriers limiting their effective implementation. Methodologically, the paper adopts a qualitative research approach based on secondary data, drawing on peer-reviewed literature, government reports, and relevant case studies on digital transformation in public administration. Through thematic synthesis, the paper analyses patterns of adoption, impact, and implementation challenges across key public service domains. The findings reveal that AI and ICT have contributed to improved e-government services, enhanced administrative efficiency, and greater transparency in selected areas of public service delivery. However, these benefits remain uneven and fragmented due to persistent challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, limited financial and human resources, resistance to change, regulatory constraints, low levels of digital literacy, and outdated legacy systems. These barriers collectively slow down system-wide digital transformation and limit the scalability of technological innovations. The paper contributes by providing a consolidated and updated synthesis of fragmented evidence on AI and ICT adoption in South Africa’s public sector, offering a clearer understanding of both progress and persistent structural constraints. It further indicates that digital transformation is not solely a technological issue but also an institutional and governance challenge. The paper recommends prioritised investment in modern ICT infrastructure, strengthened digital skills development for public servants, and the establishment of a coherent national digital transformation strategy. It further recommends simplifying procurement processes, fostering an innovation-oriented public sector culture, and strengthening regulatory and ethical governance frameworks to ensure accountability, inclusivity, and sustainable digital transformation in public service delivery.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated hybrid work adoption, essentially altering line managers' roles as they navigate supervising geographically dispersed teams. Despite widespread implementation, limited qualitative research examines how managers adapt their leadership practices within this evolving work model. This study explored the perceived challenges, opportunities, and leadership adaptations amongst line managers in hybrid settings, aiming to reveal factors that enhance leadership capability, team performance, and strategic HR practices. Inadequate understanding of managerial perceptions hinders evidence-based leadership development tailored for hybrid contexts. Line managers experience increased stress managing distributed teams whilst balancing flexibility with accountability, yet empirical research focusing on their experiences remains scarce. Adopting an interpretivist paradigm, this generic qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 line managers from diverse sectors possessing at least two years of managerial experience supervising hybrid teams. Manual thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's (2006) framework identified recurring patterns. Four themes emerged: challenges characterised by a trust-visibility paradox requiring structured communication and output-based monitoring; leadership opportunities demanding trust-based, emotionally intelligent, digitally fluent approaches; transformed practices shifting from presence-based to performance-based supervision; and critical organisational support needs including emotional intelligence training and clear hybrid policies.  Organisations must implement targeted interventions including hybrid-specific leadership development programmes, formalised communication protocols, output-based performance systems, and systematic wellbeing support.

The study investigates governance challenges in South Africa’s state-owned entities (SOEs) by assessing disclosures provided in SOEs’ annual reports and financial statements regarding fraud, unauthorised expenditure, irregular expenditure, and fruitless and wasteful expenditure between 2022 and 2024, in line with section 55 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) No. 1 of 1999. Adopting an interpretivist research philosophy, the study utilizes qualitative methods through a content analysis of the annual reports and financial statements of the five sampled SOEs. The analysis revealed that, although the selected SOEs demonstrated partial compliance with Section 55 of the PFMA, significant governance and reporting shortcomings persist. While most SOEs maintained records and produced financial statements, none provided evidence of submitting these reports within the required timeframes, and one entity had not produced its 2024 reports by the cut-off date of 10 October 2025. The financial statements frequently lacked a fair and accurate reflection of each SOE’s financial position and performance. Disclosures related to financial misconduct were particularly weak and inconsistent, with irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure reported more often than cases of fraud or unauthorised expenditure, which were largely omitted. These disclosure shortcomings suggest that compliance among SOEs remains superficial and procedural rather than substantive, undermining accountability, transparency and the overall integrity of financial reporting.

Cybersecurity threats pose a growing challenge for organizations in digitally dependent economies, with South African organizations facing increasing incidents of data breaches and ransomware, among other threats. This study investigates how organizations can enhance cybersecurity resilience by aligning data privacy regulations with business resilience strategies. A quantitative survey of 201 professionals across multiple industries in South Africa was conducted, guided by Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DIT), and Resilience Theory. Analysis revealed that while organizations perceive the severity of cyber threats, internal threat perception alone does not drive innovation. Instead, external regulatory and institutional pressures emerged strong driver of cybersecurity innovation, which in turn strengthens cybersecurity resilience. Based on these insights, a Cybersecurity Resilience Model was developed as a defence mechanism against cybersecurity threats and attacks.

This study investigates how managerial employees perceive workplace practices as conditions that enhance organisational performance using a qualitative approach. Although organisational performance has been analysed through quantifiable managerial and structural factors, there has been insufficient focus on the relational dynamics that influence how managers perceive daily workplace practices as either facilitating or hindering performance. The study adopted an exploratory research design to provide an in-depth understanding of workplace practices as conditions that enhance performance. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select 10 participants from a population of approximately 1200 employees. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with managerial employees to obtain a comprehensive understanding of their perceptions of how workplace practices influence the ability and willingness of employees to perform. Through a thematic analysis, four key themes were uncovered from the dataset: clarity in communication, perceived fairness in remuneration and working conditions, feeling supported within the working environment, and feeling valued through appreciation and recognition. The results indicate that these practices function as relational signals within the organisational ecosystem, influencing managerial perceptions of clarity, fairness, support, and value. These perceptions serve as mediating factors that facilitate the conversion of workplace practices into performance results. This research enhances the literature on organisational performance by redirecting focus from static organisational factors to the relational and perceptual processes that facilitate performance in practice. From a strategic viewpoint, the results emphasise the significance of aligning workplace practices with organisational objectives through Human Resource governance frameworks that promote equity, support, and recognition.

Entrepreneurship policy occupies a significant role in the economic and social development policies of BRICS Plus states, but its efficacy is still debated. This study seeks to analyse the congruence between entrepreneurship policy frameworks, institutional conditions, and the realities of entrepreneurial ecosystems in situations where entrepreneurship is extensively advocated as a catalyst for job creation, poverty alleviation, and inclusive growth. This study employs a systematic literature review framework based on PRISMA principles, utilising peer-reviewed research from entrepreneurship, public policy, and development studies to examine the influence of policy instruments and institutional arrangements on entrepreneurial activity and development outcomes. The analysis indicates a continual disparity between policy intentions and actual implementation, marked by the prevalence of formal, organization-focused, and growth-driven policy assumptions that insufficiently address the informal, hybrid, and collective entrepreneurial practices common in BRICS Plus environments. Key findings (i) reveal inadequate integration of community-level ecosystems, (ii) institutional complexity hindering policy implementation, and (iii) misalignment between entrepreneurship policy objectives and inclusive development as well as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) outcomes. The study proposes a policy-ecosystem alignment framework that redefines entrepreneurship policy as an adaptive, multi-tiered process situated within intricate institutional contexts. The research proposes a Policy–Ecosystem Alignment Framework that synthesises policy orientation, institutional conditions, ecosystem dynamics, and development results to elucidate disparities in entrepreneurial policy efficacy among BRICS Plus nations. The study suggests that achieving more inclusive and context-sensitive entrepreneurship outcomes in BRICS Plus nations necessitates policy frameworks that acknowledge entrepreneurial variety, institutional diversity, and ecosystem dynamics.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) significantly contribute to South Africa's economic growth and job creation; nevertheless, their sustainability is hindered by ongoing structural issues. The article analyses how digital platforms—such as fintech, digital payments, and e-commerce—can facilitate the growth and economic resilience of SMEs. The research employs a rigorous desk review process to synthesise information from academic literature, policy reports, and case studies published from 2015 to 2025. The analysis utilises thematic synthesis, uncovering four principal themes: (1) Barriers to SME Growth, (2) Digital Platforms as Solutions, (3) Obstacles to Digital Adoption, and (4) Theoretical Perspectives on Digital Adoption. Critical findings indicate that although digital platforms have substantial prospects, their adoption is constrained by infrastructural deficiencies, digital illiteracy, regulatory challenges, and perceived risks. Utilising the Technology Acceptance Model and Diffusion of Innovation Theory, the research illustrates that perceived utility and ease of use depend on structural and ecological preparedness. The document advocates for a comprehensive, contextually tailored support system that amalgamates infrastructure enhancement, digital skills education, regulatory reform, and the cultivation of institutional trust. The paper's contribution is the reclassification of contextual restrictions as primary factors influencing digital adoption in SMEs within emerging markets.

This study examines the causes of marketing performance stagnation in a mature and highly competitive industry context and investigates how segmentation, targeting, and positioning (STP) decisions can be reconfigured to support performance recovery. Using empirical analysis of customer transaction and behavioral patterns, the findings reveal that market value is highly concentrated within core segments characterized by stable and repeated purchasing behavior. However, these behavioral insights have not been systematically translated into coordinated STP decisions, resulting in unfocused targeting and generic positioning.  To address this gap, the study proposes a behavior-driven STP approach that reconceptualizes STP as an adaptive decision system rather than a static market planning framework. Under this approach, segmentation serves to identify value structures based on observed customer behavior, targeting functions as a strategic resource allocation decision derived from behavioral intensity and stability, and positioning reflects the consumption context and behavioral motives of core segments.  The study contributes to the industrial marketing management literature by demonstrating how behavior-driven STP operates as an adaptive marketing capability that enables firms to restore strategic coherence and improve marketing effectiveness following organizational and environmental disruptions. Managerially, the findings suggest that firms should institutionalize the use of behavioral customer data, narrow strategic focus toward high-value core segments, and align value propositions with actual usage contexts to enhance performance sustainability in dynamic market environments.

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.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming digital marketing by enabling advanced analytics, automation, and personalised customer engagement. Despite growing adoption, qualitative insights into how small retail enterprises in emerging economies adopt AI remain limited. This study examines AI adoption in digital marketing among small retailers in Cape Town using an interpretivist qualitative case study design. Grounded in an integrated Technology–Organisation–Environment (TOE) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 participants identified via snowball sampling. Thematic analysis shows that AI adoption is driven by competitive pressure, customer expectations, and perceived performance benefits, but is constrained by skills gaps, cost concerns, and data-related challenges. The study extends TOE–UTAUT theory by demonstrating how platform-based AI tools reduce technological barriers while amplifying organisational and capability-related constraints in emerging market contexts. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to support sustainable digital transformation in small business ecosystems.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) altered how institutions and people interact and operate in various contexts. Technological advancements through e-government have resulted in more responsible, transparent, effective, and efficient governance and service delivery in Lesotho. The adoption of e-government and its influence on service delivery in Lesotho are examined in this study using a systematic scoping review process guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as its theoretical lens, the study argues that citizen adoption is dependent on perceived usefulness and ease of use, both of which are significantly hindered by local constraints. The evaluation acknowledges gains made through programmes such as the 2013 e-Government Infrastructure Project, which has increased efficiency and transparency, particularly in metropolitan areas such as Maseru. Nevertheless, it also draws attention to a notable implementation gap, with a sizable urban-rural digital divide that marginalises rural residents due to inadequate infrastructure, expensive ICT, and restricted coverage. Serious accessibility issues are also exacerbated by inadequate digital literacy and the predominance of English over Sesotho on government websites. According to the study, resolving these problems calls for a multifaceted strategy. Investing in rural digital infrastructure, lowering access fees, requiring multilingual and accessible digital content, and starting national digital literacy initiatives are all part of this strategy to transform e-government into a tool for equitable service delivery and inclusive development for all Basotho.

Globally, female entrepreneurship is increasing in developing countries, although women-owned businesses typically operate on a smaller scale and generate lower profits than their male counterparts. In South Africa, youth face significant challenges of poverty, inequality, and unemployment, exacerbated by unequal income distribution, which locks many into poverty and worsens psychosocial issues. The South African Ministry of Social Development identifies these factors as reasons to encourage young female entrepreneurship to combat these adversities. A study within the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality (KSDLM) utilised a questionnaire to gather insights from female youth entrepreneurs, revealing high perceptions of their contributions to economic growth and employment creation in the region, with mean values of 4.24 and 4.21, respectively. These findings underscore the crucial role of female youth entrepreneurship in driving local development and promoting confidence in women's economic contributions. The study underscores the importance of supporting women's entrepreneurship through policies and educational programs to stimulate social transformation and economic growth, ultimately contributing to a more equitable society. Addressing the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs is crucial to realizing their full potential and enhancing the nation's economy.

In an era of compounding crises, skills training is increasingly critical for building resilience in social enterprises (SEs), particularly in marginalized contexts. This study investigates the role of skills training in fostering resilience among township-based social enterprises in Johannesburg, South Africa. Operating within a legacy of spatial apartheid, chronic unemployment, and systemic inequality, these SEs face multidimensional skills gaps that constrain their scalability and sustainability. Through a qualitative, interpretive research design involving 15 SEs in Soweto, this study explores the key skills gaps, the contributions of training to resilience, and the systemic barriers to effective skills development. The findings reveal that skills gaps span financial literacy, technical competencies, digital skills, leadership, and psychosocial preparedness. Skills training, delivered through formal programs, private incubators, and informal peer networks, contributes to resilience by enhancing financial legitimacy, ensuring operational continuity, building social capital, and fostering psychological empowerment. However, significant barriers, including cost, geographic inaccessibility, communication gaps, and cultural mistrust, limit the inclusivity and impact of training initiatives. The study concludes that for skills training to be truly transformative, it must be reconceptualized towards co-designed, context-sensitive, and holistic models that integrate technical, managerial, and psychosocial capabilities. The insights contribute to the discourse on sustainable development and inclusive entrepreneurship in the Global South, offering implications for policymakers, development agencies, and social entrepreneurs seeking to build resilient ecosystems

The aim of this study was to determine the adoption level, barriers, and opportunities related to the digital transformation of tax administration in food-processing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Harare, Zimbabwe. In particular, the research focused extent of adoption of digital tax systems, challenges faced in using them and how the digitalisation could be used to enhance the level of tax compliance. The research design adopted a quantitative approach involving the use of a structured questionnaire as the data collection method on a sample of 65 randomly selected SMEs. The data was analysed using SPSS with descriptive statistics, correlation and multiple regression analysis. Findings showed that digital tax tools, such as e-filing and e-payment were moderately adopted while significant barriers including poor internet connectivity, high ICT cost, limited digital skills, usability challenges, and system downtimes were identified to have a negative impact on adoption. Although SMEs were aware of the benefits of digital tax systems in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and transparency, the lack of infrastructural and capacity-based factors restricted the adoption of the system. The study recommended that policymakers and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) reinforce digital infrastructure, lower the cost of access to technologies, improve the usability of digital platforms, and offer ongoing training in digital skills to facilitate the successful and extensive adoption of digital tax administration systems in Zimbabwe. The research is important as it offers a better understanding of the major barriers and opportunities associated with the adoption of digital tax administration among food-processing SMEs in Zimbabwe adding to the local and regional knowledge of e-tax systems. Practically, the findings inform policymakers and tax authorities on critical areas needing attention, including infrastructural improvement, capacity building, and system reliability to improve SME compliance.

Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) play a vital role in economic development by creating jobs, driving innovation, and alleviating poverty. Despite their significance, many SMMEs experience high failure rates due to limited resources, inadequate managerial practices, and insufficient innovation capacity. This study examines the combined effect of transformational leadership and human resource systems in driving innovation within SMMEs. The study is grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV), which emphasises the importance of internal organisational resources such as leadership capability and human capital development in achieving competitive advantage. A qualitative exploratory research design was adopted within the interpretive paradigm to understand the experiences of SMME owners and managers in the Vhembe District of South Africa. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 participants across various sectors, including information technology, construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and insights related to leadership practices, human resource development, and innovation activities. The findings indicate that transformational leadership behaviours, particularly intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, and individualised consideration, play a significant role in encouraging creative thinking and problem-solving among employees. Furthermore, effective human resource systems, including training, learning orientation, and human capital development, enhance employee skills and facilitate knowledge sharing, which supports innovative practices. The study concludes that the synergy between transformational leadership and strategic human resource systems fosters an environment that promotes product, process, and organisational innovation in SMMEs. These findings provide valuable insights for entrepreneurs and policymakers seeking to strengthen innovation-driven growth and sustainability in the SMME sector.

Tax administrations around the world rely heavily on digital processes for compliance and workflows. This has escalated the need for an effective digital transformation strategy in tax administrations. The study explores the impact of digital technology on efficiency and compliance within South Africa’s tax administration, focusing primarily on the experiences of tax professionals using the South African Revenue Services (SARS) digital platforms. A qualitative research approach was followed, with data obtained from semi-structured interviews and open-ended questionnaires with registered tax practitioners. The qualitative research approach followed a thematic analysis, which revealed benefits including improved information accuracy, quicker response times, and enhanced compliance. The drawbacks of digitalisation include online security concerns and system downtime. The study concludes that while digitalisation offers many benefits, a major contributor to its success and sustainability is the development of digital infrastructure as well as user training.

This study examines the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in supply chain management (SCM) during the transition from Industry 4.0 to Industry 6.0. The focus is on improving operational efficiency, encouraging human-centric collaboration, and promoting sustainability across supply chains. As industries evolve, the integration of AI to improve decision-making and strengthen operational resilience, while upholding sustainable practices, becomes increasingly vital. Following the PRISMA framework, a systematic review was conducted to collect and analyse relevant literature published between 2010 and 2023. A thorough search was performed across multiple databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. The review involved rigorous eligibility screening and thematic analysis using Atlas-ti software to extract key themes and trends related to AI integration in SCM. The review reveals that AI integration markedly improves SCM by improving demand forecasting, inventory management, and overall decision-making capabilities. As industries shift towards Industry 5.0, a greater emphasis on human-AI collaboration emerges, encouraging improved customisation and innovative problem-solving. However, AI technologies contribute to sustainability by optimising resource utilisation and minimising environmental impacts. Nonetheless, challenges such as cybersecurity vulnerabilities and gaps in workforce skills must be addressed to fully harness AI’s potential. The integration of AI in SCM not only drives operational efficiency and sustainability but also strengthens resilience against disruptions. The insights from this systematic review provide valuable guidance for both academics and practitioners seeking to optimise supply chain operations through AI across the transition from Industry 4.0 to Industry 6.0. The study emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that combines technological advancements with human-centric and sustainable practices.

Immigrant entrepreneurship is a crucial driver of economic growth in host countries since it promotes innovation, creates jobs, and enhances economic dynamism. Immigrant entrepreneurs significantly enhance the local economy of Thulamela Local Municipality, located in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, especially within the retail and informal sectors. This study examines the paramount socioeconomic contributions of immigrant entrepreneurs in the Thulamela Local Municipality. The research used a qualitative methodology, employing in-depth interviews and purposeful sampling to collect data from 12 individuals, following a structured interview guide. The data were examined through thematic analysis to discern repeating patterns and lived experiences across instances. The research indicates that immigrant businesses substantially bolster the local economy through job creation, community support, skills enhancement, and economic stimulation. The study advocates for targeted initiatives aimed at formalising and enhancing job creation, potentially via entrepreneurship programs that assist immigrant business proprietors through funding and mentorship. Additionally, it suggests the establishment of a systematic framework or platform to link these enterprises with local projects and non-governmental organisations, thereby augmenting existing community sponsorship and donations, streamlining their philanthropic efforts, and maximising their impact. Policies that prioritise local sourcing and supply chain integration for these firms should be emphasised, potentially through local business directories and procurement preferences, due to their significance in training, skill development, and local economic stimulation.

This study examines the impact of trade openness on human capital formation in Sub-Saharan Africa, distinguishing short-run dynamics from long-run effects. Using panel data for 35 countries from 1996 to 2023, a Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag model estimated via the Pooled Mean Group approach is applied. The framework incorporates institutional quality, financial development, foreign direct investment, and income levels to capture the broader structural environment. The findings reveal a positive and statistically significant long-run relationship between trade openness and human capital, while short-run effects are mixed and occasionally negative due to adjustment costs. Importantly, the impact of trade openness depends on domestic absorptive capacity. Strong institutions and developed financial systems enhance the translation of external integration into human capital gains by supporting technology diffusion and investment in skills. Overall, trade openness acts as a long-term driver of human capital formation, highlighting the need to align trade policies with institutional, educational, and financial reforms to achieve sustainable and inclusive development.

The widespread adoption of emerging digital technologies including artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and blockchain is transforming Human Resource Management (HRM) by facilitating data-driven and evidence-based decision-making. Within this landscape, the Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a key enabler due to its ability to support real-time data collection, connectivity, and system integration. Despite its growing importance, the specific mediating role of IoT in advancing Evidence-Based Human Resource Management (EBHRM) has received limited scholarly attention. This research investigates how IoT contributes to the integration of emerging technologies to improve EBHRM practices and strategic HR functions. Using a comprehensive literature review methodology, the study synthesizes findings from peer-reviewed academic articles, case studies, and industry reports from reputable sources. Results reveal that IoT enhances various HR processes, including workforce monitoring, recruitment, training, and employee engagement, by providing precise, real-time, and predictive insights that underpin objective decision-making. Additionally, IoT supports sustainable HR practices by promoting employee well-being, operational efficiency, and environmental responsibility. The analysis is grounded in the Resource-Based View and the Technology Acceptance Model, which elucidates IoT’s strategic value and adoption factors within HR contexts. While offering significant benefits, challenges related to data privacy, security, skill gaps, and organizational resistance remain. The study concludes that IoT plays a crucial mediating role in implementing EBHRM and provides actionable insights for HR professionals aiming to leverage digital innovations responsibly and strategically.