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The study examined the critical approach adopted by entrepreneurship and policy development in promoting socio-economic development. In this review. It also looked at the difficulties small, micro, and medium-sized businesses in South Africa face. The conceptual research looked at the influence of small, micro, and medium-sized companies (SMMEs) on South African development. The study's objective was to evaluate how small, medium-sized businesses (SMMEs) are now driving economic growth and solving social issues in a setting where big businesses and governments appear to be doing very little. As a result, the study examines how SMMEs might help the nation solve persistent societal evils, including poverty, inequality, and social isolation. A desktop literature review research design was adopted to collect data on the role of entrepreneurship in South Africa. The study further looks at policies and practices of big business and government that exacerbate social issues in communities and impede socio-economic development, as well as the specific roles that SMMEs play in achieving socio-economic development goals. The findings reveal that, among various developmental outcomes, SMMEs are at the forefront of generating employment and promoting social and political justice within the nation. Future empirical studies should account for and evaluate the importance of SMME contributions to constructing economic, social, and political justice in the nation.

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

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

This study focuses on the governance challenges in enhancing Local Economic Development (LED) in Vhembe District Municipality (VDM). Good governance is a critical factor in enhancing LED, as it ensures transparency, accountability, inclusivity, and efficient resource management. However, the municipality faces a multiplicity of local economic challenges, including poorly maintained infrastructure, a lack of an LED strategy, limited capacity, and low community participation. The article employed a mixed-method approach that comprised quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Data were collected through a closed-ended questionnaire and structured interviews. For data analysis, the article adopted statistical methods for quantitative data and thematic content analysis for qualitative data. The article found that a lack of accountability, ineffective policy implementation, poor communication, and insufficient financial management practices are challenges VDM faces in enhancing LED. To address these challenges, the municipality should implement stronger accountability measures for officials to ensure transparency and improve the effectiveness of LED efforts. Community engagement should be enhanced by creating more inclusive platforms for participation. The municipality must implement regular, targeted training initiatives to enhance officials’ skills, knowledge, and capacity to drive effective governance and sustainable economic growth. Training programs for municipal officials will improve governance and support economic development.

This study explores the effectiveness of government support structures and programs (GSSPs) for some Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) of Gauteng Province in South Africa through the lived experiences of seven respondents representing the SMMEs that received support. With thematic content analysis (TCA), the research exposes recurrent themes in the perceived effectiveness of the assistance provided by the GSSPs. The study highlights both successes and critical gaps. The findings suggest that the SMMEs appreciate the material support from the GSSPs. However, they indicate that the one-approach-fits-all used was deficient. The approach generally lacks holistic, customized intervention and limits the overall impact. They particularly would have preferred additional support in business management skills and funding. The study recommends a comprehensive and customized approach that represents responsive government support frameworks.

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

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

The Township Innovation Hub was established by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development to promote economic development and competitiveness in Gauteng by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. However, upon adopting the Gauteng Township Economic Revitalization Strategy in 2014, the services offered by TIH were expected to be disbursed in different townships to support small businesses involved with innovation; hence, the eKasiLabs were established. As a result, eKasiLabs have been promoting entrepreneurship in different townships through various programs. This study, therefore, assesses the socio-economic impact of the eKasiLabs programs in Gauteng. To achieve this objective, a mixture of qualitative (key informant interviews) and quantitative (propensity score matching (PSM) and textual analysis) approaches were adopted. The analysis shows that the eKasiLabs programme has significantly improved entrepreneurial development and innovation among the beneficiaries in the township despite notable challenges. The impacts of the improved growth could thus be observed in business growth, innovation, productivity improvement, and job creation.

Despite the stigma surrounding cannabis, discourse has evolved, and it is now recognised as a viable economic commodity, reflecting a substantial transformation in societal attitudes. Several African countries have been exploring the industrial possibilities of medicinal hemp as a facet of economic development. This study aimed to examine the potential advantages of cannabis commercialisation in Limpopo province, South Africa. The study utilised a descriptive design and qualitative technique, focussing on cannabis enterprises. Snowball sampling was utilised to acquire a sample of 20 individuals. The sample size was determined by data saturation. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews and thematically analysed using ATLAS.ti 23 software. The results indicate that the creation of cannabis cultivation and processing businesses may produce job opportunities, stimulate economic expansion, and promote community development. Furthermore, the cannabis industry presents substantial income generation prospects, especially for rural agriculturists, and has the capacity to augment tax revenue for local authorities. The research indicates that cannabis commercialisation could yield advantageous socio-economic results, such as poverty reduction, provided that stringent regulations and extensive community engagement are established. The research emphasises the importance of addressing legal and social equity challenges to ensure the sustainability of these benefits.