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The purpose of this study is to explore the challenges and opportunities of the COVID-19 pandemic for women entrepreneurs operating in the informal food sector. An exploratory qualitative approach is used to guide the collection and analysis of data which were collected from a sample of twenty women entrepreneurs. Verbatim transcriptions of digital recordings were analyzed thematically. The findings of the study indicate that women experienced the worst economic effects of the pandemic and faced a range of challenges, such as decreased customer base and demand, loss of income, lack of government and private support, safety and security fears, disrupted supply chains, and requirement for trading permits. Whereas the opportunities encompassed usage of digital technologies, alternative markets and new product offerings, and establishment of Informal women business networks. From the study findings, it is hence vital that policies acknowledge the importance of women and informal food vendors in the nation's informal food system.

Attitudinal barriers and discriminatory practices continue to prevent the full participation of learners with disabilities in developmental learning contexts. Although disability has been on the psychological agenda for some time, there is limited empirical evidence on adopting African models to buffer prejudices. This paper addresses this critical gap by examining the experiences of disabled children subjected to prejudices in inclusive settings and the adaptation of the Afrocentric model to buffer those behaviors. The paper was guided by Allport's Social Reflection Theory, which explains why some groups may be targets of prejudice. The exploratory qualitative case study was undertaken in 4 inclusive schools in Gauteng province. Participants were 20 educators and 40 disabled learners in inclusive schools. Purposive sampling was used to choose participants in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with educators, and the researcher observed the engagement of the educators and 40 disabled learners.  Data collected were analyzed through qualitative thematic data analysis. From the themes that emerged in the findings, the following themes were discussed: advancing the truth in our praxis, fairness, harmony, and humanness. The paper, therefore, recommends that educators apply the practice of including the emerged themes in their learning content for improved grades and low dropout rates. Keywords: Prejudices, Disabled learners, Inclusive settings, Afrocentric inclusion model

Ulwaluko or Traditional Male Circumcision is an old African practice that has survived years of criticism and attenuation of Western civilization through religion and education. With the growing Western influence on the continent, there is mounting questioning of the virtues of ulwaluko in some circles even amongst Africans themselves. Proponents of ulwaluko see the ritual as a potent tool for leadership development amongst young men. By adopting a qualitative research design, the authors collected data by interviewing young men who recently performed the ritual. Adopting a phenomenological approach helped the author understand the lived experiences of the target group.  The researcher found that over time, there have been influences that sought to weaken and derail the intended objectives of ulwaluko. The researcher also found that leadership development has always been and continues to be integral to the ritual. The recommendations from the study are that the custodians of African cultural beliefs, customs, and values should reclaim their scope of influence and dominance on cultural practices. Greater awareness also needs to be created of the virtues of ulwaluko particularly amongst the younger generations. The author concludes that ulwaluko still plays a pivotal and prominent role in leadership development amongst young African males and that its benefits cannot be undermined.  

The purpose of the study was to investigate the importance of Teacher Professional Development in the implementation of online teaching as a tool for distance learning since the onset of COVID- 19. Before the outburst of the coronavirus pandemic, lecturers were used to face-to-face contact sessions, and most of the students did not have laptops. So, the distressing experience of COVID-19 has catalyzed the need for continuing professional teacher development. The study employed the theory of reasoned behavior and the theory of planned behaviour. The theory of reasoned action aims to explain the relationship between attitudes and behaviours within human action. It is used to predict how individuals will behave based on their pre-existing attitudes and behavioural intentions. The latter includes behavioural control as an additional determinant of intentions and behaviour. The study adopted qualitative methodology and employed the case study. The data was collected through interviews with four university lecturers, who were chosen through purposive sampling technique. The data revealed that most teachers perceived online teaching as a good intervention during the period of COVID- 19. However, teachers lacked training and experience when it comes to online teaching. This resulted in lot of uncertainty when it came to online teaching, and frustration for older teachers. In conclusion, the paper highlighted the need for teacher development in the form of in-service training and suggested that teachers should register for short courses on online learning, implementing mentorship programs by the tertiary institutions.

Language plays a critical role in isiXhosa poetry. Through the play and interplay of morphemes, words, phrases and lines, poets carry their messages to the intended audience. In investigating five (5) isiXhosa poems, we discovered that poets do use language that denigrates women. This language manifest itself in isiXhosa poetry by words, phrases, and lines that paint women as gold diggers, robbers, lacking intellect, promiscuous, properties of men. The discovery was made through the use of qualitative research approach and critical discourse analysis design. The selected data was analysed through the lenses of African feminism, which examines the experiences of women in literature, such as oppression of women, traces of gender inequality, role of women, as well as representation of women. Main findings of the study demonstrate that language used in isiXhosa poetry upholds the ideals patriarchal ideology and logic. It uses language that is gender bias, sexist and anti-feminism. This form of language contributes to gender-based violence, as it represents women as objects of men, lacking intellect, promiscuous. In this paper, we recommend that poets find alternative language in criticising women; using language that uphold dignity of women will not compromise their message. Furthermore, poems that uses language that denigrate women must not be selected to be studied in basic education.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the importance of Teacher Professional Development in the implementation of online teaching as a tool for distance learning since the onset of COVID- 19. Before the outburst of the coronavirus pandemic, lecturers were used to face-to-face contact sessions, and most of the students did not have laptops. So, the distressing experience of COVID-19 has catalyzed the need for continuing professional teacher development. The study employed the theory of reasoned behavior and the theory of planned behaviour. The theory of reasoned action aims to explain the relationship between attitudes and behaviours within human action. It is used to predict how individuals will behave based on their pre-existing attitudes and behavioural intentions. The latter includes behavioural control as an additional determinant of intentions and behaviour. The study adopted qualitative methodology and employed the case study. The data was collected through interviews with four university lecturers, who were chosen through purposive sampling technique. The data revealed that most teachers perceived online teaching as a good intervention during the period of COVID- 19. However, teachers lacked training and experience when it comes to online teaching. This resulted in lot of uncertainty when it came to online teaching, and frustration for older teachers. In conclusion, the paper highlighted the need for teacher development in the form of in-service training and suggested that teachers should register for short courses on online learning, implementing mentorship programs by the tertiary institutions.

Ulwaluko or Traditional Male Circumcision is an old African practice that has survived years of criticism and attenuation of Western civilization through religion and education. With the growing Western influence on the continent, there is mounting questioning of the virtues of ulwaluko in some circles even amongst Africans themselves. Proponents of ulwaluko see the ritual as a potent tool for leadership development amongst young men. By adopting a qualitative research design, the authors collected data by interviewing young men who recently performed the ritual. Adopting a phenomenological approach helped the author understand the lived experiences of the target group.  The researcher found that over time, there have been influences that sought to weaken and derail the intended objectives of ulwaluko. The researcher also found that leadership development has always been and continues to be integral to the ritual. The recommendations from the study are that the custodians of African cultural beliefs, customs, and values should reclaim their scope of influence and dominance on cultural practices. Greater awareness also needs to be created of the virtues of ulwaluko particularly amongst the younger generations. The author concludes that ulwaluko still plays a pivotal and prominent role in leadership development amongst young African males and that its benefits cannot be undermined.  

Language plays a critical role in isiXhosa poetry. Through the play and interplay of morphemes, words, phrases and lines, poets carry their messages to the intended audience. In investigating five (5) isiXhosa poems, we discovered that poets do use language that denigrates women. This language manifest itself in isiXhosa poetry by words, phrases, and lines that paint women as gold diggers, robbers, lacking intellect, promiscuous, properties of men. The discovery was made through the use of qualitative research approach and critical discourse analysis design. The selected data was analysed through the lenses of African feminism, which examines the experiences of women in literature, such as oppression of women, traces of gender inequality, role of women, as well as representation of women. Main findings of the study demonstrate that language used in isiXhosa poetry upholds the ideals patriarchal ideology and logic. It uses language that is gender bias, sexist and anti-feminism. This form of language contributes to gender-based violence, as it represents women as objects of men, lacking intellect, promiscuous. In this paper, we recommend that poets find alternative language in criticising women; using language that uphold dignity of women will not compromise their message. Furthermore, poems that uses language that denigrate women must not be selected to be studied in basic education.

Attitudinal barriers and discriminatory practices continue to prevent the full participation of learners with disabilities in developmental learning contexts. Although disability has been on the psychological agenda for some time, there is limited empirical evidence on adopting African models to buffer prejudices. This paper addresses this critical gap by examining the experiences of disabled children subjected to prejudices in inclusive settings and the adaptation of the Afrocentric model to buffer those behaviors. The paper was guided by Allport's Social Reflection Theory, which explains why some groups may be targets of prejudice. The exploratory qualitative case study was undertaken in 4 inclusive schools in Gauteng province. Participants were 20 educators and 40 disabled learners in inclusive schools. Purposive sampling was used to choose participants in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with educators, and the researcher observed the engagement of the educators and 40 disabled learners.  Data collected were analyzed through qualitative thematic data analysis. From the themes that emerged in the findings, the following themes were discussed: advancing the truth in our praxis, fairness, harmony, and humanness. The paper, therefore, recommends that educators apply the practice of including the emerged themes in their learning content for improved grades and low dropout rates. Keywords: Prejudices, Disabled learners, Inclusive settings, Afrocentric inclusion model

The purpose of this study is to explore the challenges and opportunities of the COVID-19 pandemic for women entrepreneurs operating in the informal food sector. An exploratory qualitative approach is used to guide the collection and analysis of data which were collected from a sample of twenty women entrepreneurs. Verbatim transcriptions of digital recordings were analyzed thematically. The findings of the study indicate that women experienced the worst economic effects of the pandemic and faced a range of challenges, such as decreased customer base and demand, loss of income, lack of government and private support, safety and security fears, disrupted supply chains, and requirement for trading permits. Whereas the opportunities encompassed usage of digital technologies, alternative markets and new product offerings, and establishment of Informal women business networks. From the study findings, it is hence vital that policies acknowledge the importance of women and informal food vendors in the nation's informal food system.