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Despite extensive legislations and child protection policies, Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) remains a persistent problem across South African rural communities. CSA remains a challenging issue globally with evidence of emotional and psychological impacts on victims, families and professionals assigned to respond to these incidents. This paper aims to examine institutional and  systemic barriers to preventing CSA in rural areas, with focus on low reporting and effective response to CSA cases focusing on Community Policing Forum (CPF), police officers and social workers. Guided by Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) the study adopted qualitative research approach to explore participants’ experiences of CSA investigation processes. Twenty-four participants: 5 CPF members, 15 police officers and 4 social workers were purposively selected. Data was collected through one-on-one semi structured interviews and analysed using Thematic Analysis (TA) informed by Braun and Clarke’s six phase approach. Three interrelated themes emerged: 1) insufficient knowledge, 2) Motivational fatigue, and 3) Dysfunctional institutional systems. Findings in this study revealed that failure to effectively respond to CSA emerges from inadequate facilities, individual capability and motivational fatigue. The study recommends clearly defined stakeholders’ roles, training, institutional support, and community-based prevention and awareness programmes. Furthermore, the study  recommends sustained intersectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration to address and eradicate barriers to CSA investigations through community-based programmes. Sustainable prevention method that can promote awareness, motivation, and effective collaboration to prevent, detect and diminish CSA are also essential to improve institutional accountability and ensure effective response to CSA in rural areas.

The current developments of geopolitical rivalry, pandemic disruptions, and techno-nationalism have led to a fundamental reconfiguration of the global economic order, creating strategic imperatives for the multinational enterprises (MNEs) that go beyond the traditional internationalization theory. This paper aims to contribute to the literature with a systematic review of the adaptation process of MNEs in the time of geopolitical fragmentation and deglobalization. We used PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology to screen 200 initial records from Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and JSTOR databases, resulting in 47 peer-reviewed articles, mostly published in the last eight years (2018–2026), and a few seminal articles from the past 30 years of international business studies. The analysis of our themes indicates that there are six main strategic response clusters: (1) reconfiguration of the supply chain, including reshoring, nearshoring, and friend-shoring; (2) geopolitical risk management via real options and diversification; (3) a renewed focus on regionalization over global integration; (4) digitalization as a strategic buffer; (5) nonmarket strategies, such as political adaptation and lobbying; and (6) de-internationalization, including staged divestment. We combine these themes into an integrative conceptual framework by integrating the EDGES themes (Economic Systems, Digital Disruptions, Geopolitical Fracture, Environmental Sustainability, and Socio-Cultural Ideology) with firm-level dynamic capability responses and performance outcomes. We find certain gaps that are of critical importance: lack of micro-level empirical evidence, lack of MNE perspectives from the emerging markets, and limited integration of artificial intelligence and geopolitics. The review contributes to the international business theory and provides practical guidelines for the management of MNEs in an increasingly fragmented world economy.

Section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa guarantees everyone the right to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being. It further requires the state to take reasonable measures to prevent environmental degradation, protect natural resources, and promote sustainable development. Despite this constitutional commitment, South Africa continues to experience increasing climate risks and environmental challenges. Small businesses, particularly those operating in informal and urban settings, are both contributors to and affected by these challenges. Their activities may contribute to environmental harm through poor waste management, inefficient energy use, and limited access to sustainable practices. At the same time, they remain vulnerable to climate impacts such as flooding, water shortages, and extreme weather events. This study examines how weaknesses in climate policy implementation undermine the practical realization of environmental rights under section 24. Using qualitative doctrinal and policy analysis, the study evaluates constitutional provisions, environmental legislation, climate policies, and governance frameworks. Literature reveal that South Africa has developed strong legal and policy frameworks, but implementation remains limited by weak enforcement, fragmented governance, inadequate institutional capacity, and poor coordination across government spheres. These challenges create a gap between constitutional commitments and the lived environmental realities of vulnerable communities and small businesses. Moreover, with appropriate support, these enterprises can adopt sustainable practices, improve resilience, and contribute to broader climate objectives. The study concludes that environmental rights under section 24 cannot be fully achieved through legislation alone. Effective implementation requires stronger accountability, coordinated governance, and practical support mechanisms. It recommends integrating small businesses into climate planning, improving access to climate education and green technologies, and providing incentives for sustainable practices. These measures can strengthen climate resilience, reduce environmental harm, and ensure that the constitutional right to a healthy environment is realized in practice.

Street food plays a vital role in the informal economies of many African countries, especially South Africa. However, evidence suggests that this food poses significant public health risks due to being prepared and sold under unsanitary conditions. This paper explored food safety challenges for street food vendors in Tshilamba, a rural township in Limpopo, South Africa, within the broader Southern African Development Community (SADC) context. This paper used a triangulated method to collect data from primary and secondary sources. It collected primary data from 23 street vendors and insights from 4 key stakeholders. The results indicate that over 80% of street food vendors work in informal, high-traffic areas such as bus terminals and marketplaces that often lack basic sanitation and infrastructure. This situation reflects comparable challenges faced by countries within the SADC region, such as Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In these contexts, vendors operating under analogous conditions are often subjected to eviction because of non-compliance with food safety regulations. Despite existing initiatives, food control programs throughout various regions of Africa continue to exhibit significant weaknesses and require substantial reform. Thus, the paper recommended the incorporation of informal food vendors into established food safety frameworks, the enhancement of regulatory oversight, and the allocation of resources towards the development of infrastructure that facilitates hygienic food vending practices. These actions are vital for improving public health and supporting informal livelihoods.

Armed conflict significantly disrupts public health systems, yet the mechanisms linking violence to endemic disease outbreaks remain insufficiently understood. This study examines how violent conflict affects disease governance and health service delivery across Sudan’s conflict-affected regions between 2000 and 2024. Using a spatial panel dataset that combines geo-referenced conflict events from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), epidemiological surveillance records, environmental indicators, and subnational governance measures, the analysis evaluates the relationship between conflict intensity, governance capacity, and endemic disease incidence. The results indicate that areas experiencing higher levels of violence exhibit significantly greater incidence of malaria, cholera, and measles. These effects are particularly pronounced where health infrastructure has been damaged and administrative capacity has weakened. Regions with stronger local governance demonstrate greater resilience, maintaining partial vaccination coverage and disease surveillance despite ongoing conflict. Spatial models further reveal significant spillover effects, with outbreaks spreading along displacement corridors and border regions. The findings highlight the central role of governance capacity in mediating health outcomes during armed conflict and underscore the importance of conflict-sensitive health interventions. Strengthening decentralized health governance, protecting health infrastructure, and improving cross-regional disease surveillance are essential for mitigating endemic disease risks in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

The study examines how environmental sustainability reporting influences the performance of listed construction firms in Zimbabwe. The study responds to a notable research gap in developing economies, particularly within the construction sector, where limited qualitative evidence exists on how managers perceive the relationship between environmental corporate sustainability practices and organisational performance. While prior studies have largely focused on quantitative approaches in developed contexts, this paper adopts a qualitative perspective to generate context-specific insights. Guided by the interpretivist philosophy and informed by Signalling Theory and Legitimacy Theory, the study employed a qualitative research design using purposive sampling. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, and document analysis of sustainability reports from selected firms listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. The data were analysed through thematic and content analysis to identify recurring patterns and perceptions. The findings indicate that environmental sustainability reporting is generally perceived to enhance firm performance through improved corporate reputation, stronger stakeholder confidence, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, waste reduction, and better resource management. Key environmental practices identified include environmental management systems, recycling and reuse initiatives, pollution control measures, land rehabilitation, and water conservation strategies. However, the study also found that firms face constraints such as resource limitations, economic instability, and uneven regulatory enforcement, which may hinder the full benefits of environmental sustainability initiatives. The paper concludes that the environmental dimension of corporate sustainability reporting can contribute positively to organisational performance when supported by effective implementation and strategic commitment. It recommends that listed firms strengthen environmental governance systems, integrate sustainability into core business strategy, invest in cleaner technologies, and improve disclosure quality. Policymakers are encouraged to enhance regulatory support and industry guidance for sustainability reporting. Future research may extend this inquiry to other sectors, compare listed and non-listed firms, and explore longitudinal changes in sustainability reporting practices across emerging markets.

This paper examines how a purpose-driven organisation emerging from a highly volatile developing economy can build a globally competitive business process outsourcing (BPO) platform while contributing to brain-drain reversal. Using ZimWorX, a Zimbabwean-headquartered BPO enterprise, as a longitudinal case study, the study aims to develop a theoretically grounded framework explaining strategic emergence under conditions of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) for an emerging organisation. Situated within the broader transformation of global outsourcing markets and the democratisation of digital talent, the paper positions Zimbabwe not as a peripheral participant but as a credible contender in high-value global services delivery. The research adopts a qualitative single-case study design grounded in conceptual theory-building. Drawing on secondary data, organisational records, industry reports, and contextual economic analysis, the study employs abductive reasoning to synthesise four theoretical lenses: Entrepreneurial Orientation Theory, Market Entry Strategy frameworks, Chaos Theory, and Strategic Decision-Making Theory. Through cross-theoretical integration, the analysis traces how ZimWorX navigated Zimbabwe’s macroeconomic instability, currency volatility, high unemployment, and institutional constraints to construct a resilient and differentiated service platform serving clients primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. The findings reveal that ZimWorX’s success is not attributable to cost arbitrage alone, but to a distinctive combination of entrepreneurial vision, purpose-driven culture, agile niche-focused market entry, and a disruptive “insourcing” philosophy that reframes outsourcing as premium human capital partnership. The firm’s strategic posture reflects adaptive decision-making under disequilibrium conditions, where uncertainty becomes a catalyst for innovation rather than paralysis. Importantly, the organisation embeds social purpose, specifically the reversal of skilled migration and the creation of dignified employment, into its competitive strategy, thereby aligning commercial performance with developmental impact. The study culminates in the development of the ZimWorX Strategic Emergence Framework (ZSEF), a conceptual model that illustrates how emerging-economy firms can integrate entrepreneurial orientation, strategic agility, purposeful positioning, and adaptive market entry to achieve sustained global competitiveness in VUCA environments. The framework advances emerging organisation theory by demonstrating how firms operating in structurally disadvantaged contexts can convert institutional adversity into strategic differentiation. The paper concludes that purposeful strategic emergence offers a viable pathway for developing economies seeking participation in knowledge-intensive global value chains. Rather than replicating traditional offshore outsourcing models, African BPO platforms can leverage mission-driven identity, digital infrastructure, and agile governance structures to compete on quality and relational capital. The study recommends that policymakers support digital talent ecosystems, regulatory clarity, and export-oriented service platforms, while organisational leaders institutionalise adaptive strategic processes and purpose-centred cultures. Future research may test the ZSEF across multiple African BPO firms, examine performance implications quantitatively, or explore comparative applications in other emerging-market knowledge industries.

This paper examines the emergence and strategic evolution of InnBucks MicroBank Limited, a Zimbabwean Microfinance organisation that evolved from a restaurant-change management digital wallet into a licensed deposit-taking microfinance bank serving around 3 million users within 4 years. Operating in what is arguably one of the most extreme VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) environments globally, characterised by currency failures, chronic hyperinflation, regulatory unpredictability, and severe infrastructure deficits, InnBucks offers a compelling case for exploring how organisations emerge, adapt, and scale amid genuine chaos.  The analysis incorporates five theoretical frameworks: Chaos Theory, Entrepreneurial Orientation Theory, Disruptive Innovation and Frugal Innovation, the Viable System Model, and Strategic Decision-Making Theory. These are utilised to explain InnBucks' institutional pivots, its evolution to a registered deposit taking microfinance, its utilisation of Simbisa Brands' restaurant network as financial infrastructure, and its recent shift to cloud-native banking through the Mambu/AWS partnership. The paper proposes the ARISE (Agility, Resilience, Innovation, Systemic, Entrepreneurial) conceptual framework, which combines five theoretical perspectives into a practical model to steer strategic emergence in resource-limited, institutionally fragile environments. It concludes that InnBucks' trajectory challenges traditional assumptions about the prerequisites for financial innovation and provides transferable insights for emerging organisations operating within Sub-Saharan Africa's growing fintech ecosystem.

This conceptual theory-building study examines how African FinTech organisations navigate volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), using Mukuru as a paradigmatic single case. It develops the Mukuru Ambidextrous Strategic Emergence Model (MASEM) by integrating Entrepreneurial Orientation, Strategic Agility, Organisational Ambidexterity, Chaos Theory and Strategic Decision-Making Theory. Using secondary evidence, longitudinal organisational analysis and abductive cross-theoretical synthesis, the study explains how Mukuru combines exploitation of established remittance and agent-network capabilities with exploration of digital innovation. The analysis identifies multidexterity, the orchestration of multiple, potentially contradictory business models across heterogeneous regulatory settings, as a key capability linking strategic agility to sustained emergence. MASEM conceptualises VUCA pressures as external conditions, entrepreneurial and adaptive capabilities as the strategic core, responsible AI and green digital finance as enabling capabilities, and resilience, inclusion and antifragility as intended organisational outcomes. The model is conceptual rather than empirically validated; accordingly, future research should test its constructs and causal relationships across multiple African FinTech organisations. The study contributes an Africa-centred framework and practical guidance for managers seeking to align innovation, governance, sustainability and regulatory adaptability under persistent environmental turbulence.

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

As technology becomes increasingly integrated into policing, with social media particularly contributing to smart policing, understanding frontline officers’ attitudes in this regard remains pivotal towards the successful implementation of social media usage in policing in South Africa. This study explores how detectives in Edenvale perceive WhatsApp and Facebook for reducing house robberies, anchored in the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) Theory. Employing a qualitative, exploratory design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with purposively selected detectives and were analysed thematically. The findings reveal cautious optimism among the officers as they view social media as offering a clear relative advantage in terms of speed, real-time, and enhanced community engagement. Nonetheless, concerns regarding complexity (digital literacy gaps), compatibility (fit within existing investigative protocols), and organisational readiness, including institutional support and policy clarity not only undermine optimism but also pose some challenge to full and effective adoption. Limited opportunities for trialability and the mixed observability of successful outcomes further temper enthusiasm. The study concludes that targeted digital literacy training, structured pilot projects, and clear organisational policies could enhance the diffusion and sustained use of social media for house robbery prevention. This research contributes to understanding the dynamics of innovation adoption within policing contexts in South Africa, highlighting the nuanced role of technological integration in community safety.

This study examined behavioural risks associated with internal restructuring in the South African banking industry. The study was motivated by the increasing frequency of restructuring as banks respond to digital transformation, branch rationalisation, technological disruption and growing competition from fintech institutions. A qualitative exploratory research approach was adopted, using semi-structured interviews conducted with 13 employees from five major South African banks who had experienced internal restructuring. The interview data were analysed using thematic analysis. Five recurring behavioural risk themes were identified: workload pressures and performance strain; pressure to prove organisational value and internal competition; declining morale and workplace culture; job insecurity and talent loss; and organisational clarity and communication breakdowns. Participants described how increased workloads, uncertainty and anxiety could affect concentration and perceived work performance, indicating that behavioural risks associated with restructuring may also have operational consequences. A particularly important finding was the pressure employees experienced to continually demonstrate their organisational value during restructuring. This pressure sometimes encouraged increased effort and visibility, but could also contribute to stress, unhealthy internal competition and strained workplace relationships. The findings underscore the importance of transparent communication, clearly defined roles, visible leadership, employee involvement and psychological support during restructuring. The study contributes context-specific evidence on behavioural risks associated with internal restructuring in the South African banking industry and draws attention to the need to consider their implications for employee wellbeing, organisational culture and operational effectiveness.

Climate change and agricultural transformation are increasingly affecting cocoa production in Sub-Saharan Africa, where smallholder farmers face growing environmental and socioeconomic constraints. This study investigates their effects on cocoa productivity in the Mvila Division of South Cameroon, with particular attention to agricultural modernization, rainfall variability, cooperative membership, fertilizer use, and farm-level characteristics. The study combines qualitative evidence from administrative and policy documents with quantitative data from cocoa farmers and secondary sources, including MINADER, IRAD, FAOSTAT, ICCO, CHIRPS, and the National Cocoa and Coffee Board. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multiple regression, robustness tests, and scenario projections were used to assess productivity across five subdivisions. The results show that cooperative membership, favourable rainfall conditions, farmer education, fertilizer use, and farm size significantly increase cocoa productivity, while ageing plantations reduce yields. Agricultural transformation has also strengthened farmer organizations, extension services, and adoption of improved practices, although mechanization remains constrained by inadequate infrastructure, limited finance, and uneven institutional support. Ebolowa I and Ebolowa II consistently record higher productivity, associated with stronger institutional support and greater adoption of improved practices. The study contributes empirical evidence on the interaction between climate variability and agricultural transformation in cocoa-producing smallholder systems and highlights the importance of combining climate-smart practices, plantation rehabilitation, producer organizations, extension services, and appropriate mechanization to improve productivity and strengthen farmers' resilience in Cameroon.

This study examines the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices on corporate financial performance in Zimbabwe's mining sector using a case study of Zimplats Holdings Limited. The main aim was to determine whether and to what extent ESG practices contribute to financial outcomes at the firm level. The objective of the study was to examine the overall ESG and financial performance relationship, to analyse the effects of individual ESG dimensions on financial performance, and to assess the moderating role of firm-specific factors on ESG practices. Informed by the stakeholder theory, the resource-based view, and legitimacy theory, a quantitative approach was adopted, using secondary data extracted from Zimplats' Integrated Annual Reports (2023–2025) through a structured data extraction template aligned with GRI standards. Key findings reveal a positive but lagged ESG and financial performance relationship. Governance emerged as the most stable and financially material ESG pillar, while environmental and social investments showed transitional efficiency deterioration before expected long-term gains. Firm-specific factors such as asset expansion, capital structure, production volume, and multinational ownership, significantly moderated the timing and magnitude of financial returns, compressing short-term profitability indicators such as return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). The study contributes firm-level empirical evidence on unlisted Zimbabwean mining firms, extending ESG theory to emerging market contexts. Recommendations include targeting governance enhancements for immediate financial returns, allowing longer investment horizons for environmental and social initiatives, and maintaining conservative capital structures to sustain ESG investment during earnings volatility.

This study examines the role of the Economic Activation Office (EAO) in advancing entrepreneurship within a rural higher education institution in South Africa. The study is informed by Entrepreneurial University Theory, the Triple Helix Model, and the Resource-Based View (RBV), which are integrated to explain how institutional orientation, ecosystem collaboration, and resource mobilisation jointly shape entrepreneurship support. A qualitative exploratory design was adopted within an interpretivist paradigm. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 purposively selected participants comprising EAO staff, university entrepreneurship practitioners, and student entrepreneurs. Thematic analysis identified four interconnected roles of the EAO: entrepreneurship awareness creation, capacity and skills development, stakeholder collaboration and ecosystem coordination, and institutional support and resource mobilisation. The findings show that the EAO operates not only as an administrative support office but also as a boundary-spanning mechanism that connects students and university resources with external entrepreneurial opportunities. However, limited funding, incubation infrastructure, long-term mentorship, and uneven cross-faculty participation constrain its ability to translate awareness and capability development into sustained entrepreneurial outcomes. The study contributes a rural EAO ecosystem perspective in which awareness and capability development are strengthened by institutional resources and external ecosystem relationships, while rural structural conditions moderate the effectiveness of these mechanisms. The study recommends dedicated institutional funding, cross-faculty integration, formalised ecosystem partnerships, structured incubation and post-training support, and targeted policy measures for rural universities.

The transition from informal to formal economy represents a fundamental transformation in how organisations manage their human resources, especially regarding employee training and development. This study explores how formalisation reshapes training and development practices in Zimbabwean business enterprises, focusing on the link between enhanced employee capabilities and perceived career growth opportunities. Drawing on an interpretive phenomenological study of 25 participants, including employees, HR managers, business owners/executives and policymakers from organisations that have formalised their operations within the past five years, the research captures lived experiences of training transformation across manufacturing, retail, hospitality, construction, mining and transport sectors. The findings reveal a significant shift from unstructured, experiential learning characterised by “trial and error” and peer observation to systematic, structured training programmes including formal induction, technical upskilling, safety compliance workshops, customer service training and regular refresher courses. Crucially, formalisation has made it possible for long-term career advancement through employer-funded external certifications, nationally recognised qualifications, leadership development and clear progression pathways. However, challenges persist including uneven access to training across departments, resource constraints affecting training frequency and difficulty balancing productivity with development activities. With implications for practice and policy in transitioning economies, the study provides empirical data on how formalisation changes human capital development from a survival mechanism to a strategic career-enabling function.

The importance of mental health among women and girls cannot be overemphasised. However, mental health remains a phenomenon that is not adequately addressed within social, public, and community health. Women and girls fundamentally experience huge pressure emanating from pressure that affects their mental health. Various risk factors affect the well-being and mental health of women and girls. Globally, mental health is considered a public health concern and has been increasing at an unsustainable rate. Mental health is important to the well-being and health of women and girls. Social and environmental risk factors such as family hardships/dynamics, dysfunctionality, health risk behaviours, social risks, and poor mental health behaviour have a close association with mental health. Mental health is also associated with stigmatisation and discrimination. The primary focus of this study is the mental health of women and girls, and the risk factors associated with the phenomenon. It further focused on the programs aimed at promoting the mental health of women and girls. The paper used comprehensive electronic desktop research to collect data. The resilience theory was the theoretical framework adopted to provide a foundation and background for the study. The promotion of coping mechanisms, resilience of women and girls, and empowerment programs were fundamental in the study. Prevention of the risk factors that affect the mental health of women and girls was significantly considered. In addressing resilience, empowerment, and the prevention of mental health problems, the paper will provide guidelines for the well-being of women and girls. Examined strategies may be used to improve the mental health of women and girls.

The advent of democracy in South Africa ushered in a new wave of the provision of accelerated service delivery to communities. At the centre of acceleration, democracy was addressing the historical imbalances in the provision of services that were created by the apartheid regime, which mainly benefited the minority. Despite the government’s commitment to accelerate service delivery, South Africa has witnessed a proliferation of service delivery protests characterised by the destruction of valuable assets like road infrastructure, government fleet, and buildings as well as loss of life in some instances. Service delivery protests happen whilst the government has put in place mechanisms such as the Batho Pele principles to enhance how it interacts with its people. This paper is conceptual in nature and relies profoundly on literature to fortify its argument. It deploys a qualitative research technique to answer its principal question, which seeks to understand the relationship between service delivery protests and the failure of the government to implement Batho Pele principles. Moreover, through this approach, the study will respond to its ancillary question, which seeks to understand how the government can use Batho Pele principles as a strategic tool to interact with its communities, thus reducing service delivery protests in South Africa. The study will contribute to the ongoing discourse on how the government can use its existing mechanisms to address service delivery protests in South Africa. Moreover, the study will shape the policy direction and be a springboard for emerging scholars.

The reduction in rural marginalization of infrastructure in Africa has been achieved through the wide diffusion of the so-called fiscal deviation. According to New Institutional Economics, the provision of public resourcing at the local level is more economic since it meets the geographic specificity of infrastructure provisions. However, when intergovernmental fiscal transfers are towards rural road provision, it is majorly because of several structural impediments, that the corrected road will not be realized. This systematic review of literature with regards to devolution and infra-structure provision has laid emphasis on going beyond overly simplistic input-output models to explore the multiple filters regulating decentralized public works. The focus here is on institutional capacity as a crucial explanatory factor and the way deficits in technical engineering, equipment maintenance, and procurement governance conspire to undermine the potency of devolved funding. Moreover, the study discusses the moderating effects in the face of instability in the broader economy, illustrating how hyper-inflation and currency depreciation can deplete real infrastructure funds purchasing power and result in the erosion of the contractor attrition as observed. Finally, the review has identified systemic barriers, such as climate vulnerability and ministerial red-tape friction. The synthesis of empirical literature from 2010 to 2024 suggests that fiscal decentralisation without a built institutional capacity and insulated mechanisms against macroeconomic turbulence cannot deliver in the long run.

Human trafficking in Africa has evolved from localised criminal exploits into a complex multi- Human trafficking in Africa has transitioned from isolated criminal exploits into a complex, multi-scalar shadow business ecosystem that intersects directly with transnational organised networks, systemic corruption, and regional conflict corridors. This paper provides a strategic, interdisciplinary analysis of the enterprise dynamics of trafficking in persons (TIP) across three distinct geographical tiers: the domestic landscape of South Africa, the regional migration and supply corridors of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the overarching regulatory frameworks of the African Union (AU). Utilising a systematic policy document analysis and qualitative content analysis of peer-reviewed research, institutional reports, and statutory frameworks active between 2015 and 2026, this study interrogates the systemic friction between state-centric border-containment mechanisms and enterprise-level human-asset protections. A qualitative content analysis of 60 core documents, conducted in NVivo 14, yielded 342 distinct text codes, illustrating how regulatory conflicts, supply-chain vulnerabilities, and institutional corruption stabilise illicit operations across the African continent. The empirical findings reveal that while robust legal frameworks exist, severe execution gaps persist due to strategic intelligence failures and a lack of cross-border data synchronisation. Specifically, this paper illuminates the emerging trafficking-mercenary nexus, wherein deceptive digital human-resource recruitment practices exploit socio-economic market gaps to trap individuals into forced combat servitude or illicit cyber-scam operations. Ultimately, this study proposes a harmonised, multi-tiered response architecture that links subnational vulnerability mapping with regional supply-chain tracking, transforming anti-trafficking strategic interventions from reactive containment into proactive, structurally integrated corporate and public protection systems.