Explore the evidence.
Understand the reach.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the roles of entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized businesses in fostering local economic development. Based on this assumption, this conceptual study attempts to investigate the function of small and medium-sized firms in LED. According to studies, the entrepreneurial spirit of the SME owner is a significant determinant of a SME's ability to surmount survival challenges and achieve sustainable growth. The article also attempts to locate and establish the purpose of the study by identifying the barriers that small and medium-sized businesses encounter in their efforts to contribute to economic growth and offering potential solutions to these barriers. Due to inadequate infrastructure development and a lack of the fundamental capabilities to control and influence local economic growth, the study concludes that exceptional measures are necessary to overcome obstacles such as finance and service. The purpose of this study is to answer the research question of whether the emphasis should be placed on creating competent entrepreneurs, particularly among previously disadvantaged individuals, if the government's goal to leverage the SMME sector is to have any significant success. It was noted that the LED is essential but has not been utilized frequently. Using a qualitative thematic analysis approach, the study accessed data on both private and public spaces primarily through secondary sources. The qualitative investigation accessed the foundational literature via a sophisticated search. According to the study, small and medium-sized enterprises play a crucial role in the promotion of LED. The study concluded, among other things, that the local level of governance in South African municipalities is incapable of providing basic services and the necessary infrastructure.

Various existing studies have established the multi-faceted nature of social inequalities in South Africa. The social inequalities also segregate schools into urban and rural schools, with adequate or lack of infrastructure influencing learners' performances in various South African schools. Hence, school principals are expected to manage the available resources to attain curriculum delivery and the whole school's performance. This qualitative study explored principals' perspectives on managing uneven school resources to achieve the goals and objectives of the education system. This study adopted an interpretive paradigm to understand the voices of 20 rural school principals in semi-structured interviews. The principals were purposively selected from 20 rural schools in King Cetshwayo district in KwaZulu-Natal. The audio-recorded interviews were thematically analysed to generate themes for findings and discussion. Findings revealed that most rural schools need more adequate school resources, and the principals need more support to attain quality curriculum delivery in schools adequately. The principals also lamented the high expectations placed on their schools for the academic excellence of their learners. Thus, the contents of each subject curriculum could not be efficiently unpacked and delivered to learners. The study, therefore, recommends improvement in resource provision to rural schools. At the same time, principals should be capacitated on effectively managing available school resources to achieve desired and efficient curriculum implementation in rural schools.

This discursive study examined the use of the learning management system (LMS) Moodle in rural South African universities. Moodle, a popular online programme, can be used to deliver learning activities, as well as online learning evaluations. The authors discuss LMS usage and adoption in higher education. LMS is a global online platform used in higher education institutions in developed countries across the globe, for decades. It has improved the education system in these developed countries by providing diverse students with learning opportunities, in their comfort zones. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, most developed nations adopted online methods, like LMS, for teaching and learning. Unfortunately, the pandemic lockdown in many developing nations, like South Africa, severely disrupted curriculum and educational activities for months. The South African Department of Higher Education and Training reviewed curriculum delivery approaches, to save academic activities due to COVID-19. Thus, it deemed online learning a higher education alternative to face-to-face curriculum instruction, during the lockdown to salvage the academic calendar, with LMS used as ideal online learning for student engagement.

The attitude that employees have towards their job is well believed to have an influence on their performance. This study investigated the influence of job satisfaction on employees’ performance. Herzberg’s two-factor hygiene and motivation theory was used to explain employees' motivation for best performance. A cross-sectional survey design in the form of a structured questionnaire was used to randomly sample one hundred (100) employees of the University of Zululand, South Africa. Descriptive and correlation analysis were used to analyze the collected data. The findings indicate that job satisfaction does not influence employees’ performance. The study concludes that UNIZULU employees enjoy their roles despite the unsatisfactory benefits attached. In spite of the unsatisfactory level of benefits, they perform their duties effortlessly. This research contributes to research-based knowledge that will assist universities’ management in identifying the factors that will enhance employees’ performance.

This study presents a systematic literature review analysing the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on higher education, focusing on its methods, results, and implications. By synthesising a diverse range of academic papers, the review explores how AI technologies influence educational standards and practices in higher education institutions. Findings reveal that AI has the potential to enhance the quality of higher education by diversifying teaching responsibilities, customising learning experiences, and employing intelligent, adaptive teaching strategies. These capabilities position AI as a transformative tool for improving educational delivery and outcomes. However, the study also highlights significant challenges associated with integrating AI into higher education. These challenges include delineating the appropriate scope of AI use, addressing inequalities in access to digital resources, and ensuring adequate training and support for educators and students. The review underscores the importance of understanding these complexities to guide the development of effective strategies and policies that optimise AI's potential while mitigating its limitations. The review offers critical insights into the dual role of AI in higher education, where it can either advance or hinder educational standards depending on how it is implemented. By examining the advantages, limitations, and broader consequences of AI-powered instructional tools, this study provides a comprehensive perspective on the intricate relationship between AI and educational quality. The findings aim to inform educators, policymakers, and stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges of adopting AI in higher education, contributing to the development of inclusive, innovative, and sustainable educational practices.

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence has emerged as a significant challenge within South African basic education institutions, posing risks to learner welfare, professional conduct of educators, and the integrity of a secure digital learning environment. Increased access to mobile devices and social media platforms has amplified incidents of cyberbullying, online harassment, and gendered digital abuse among both educators and students. This paper examines how the organisational culture, policies, and leadership within schools influence institutional responses to technology-facilitated gender-based violence in South Africa. Through a bibliometric analysis of scholarly literature sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, this paper identified citation trends, thematic developments, and existing research gaps. The findings indicate that the dimensions of organisational culture and leadership remain insufficiently explored, particularly in rural African contexts, while studies conducted in South Africa tend to be predominantly descriptive. This paper recommends enhancing digital safety policies, leadership development programs, accountability mechanisms, and organisational cultures that foster reporting, protection, gender equality, and individuals' psychosocial well-being in educational settings.

Social entrepreneurship has arisen as a pivotal mechanism for tackling intricate societal issues while fostering sustainable growth. This study examines the crucial function of social entrepreneurs in promoting inclusive growth, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment. Social businesses merge creative business models with social objectives, effectively reconciling profit and purpose while providing scalable solutions to challenges like poverty, inequality, and climate change. The research investigates the processes by which social entrepreneurship advances social development in South Africa, emphasising case studies from various industries and locations. It also examines the facilitating environments—policy frameworks, financial tools, and educational initiatives—that promote the development of social companies. The findings highlight the capacity of social entrepreneurship to initiate systemic change, underscoring its importance in fostering resilient and equitable communities. This research enhances the dialogue on sustainable development by framing social entrepreneurship as not only a corporate strategy but also a crucial catalyst for enduring social impact.    

This study investigates the role of policy support in addressing barriers to effective small-scale cooperative farming in South African municipality, with a focus on identifying potential solutions to improve the success rate of agricultural co-operatives in the uMhlathuze local municipality. Despite their potential, agricultural co-operatives face significant challenges, with studies indicating an alarming failure of 88% in the country. This high failure rate underscores the need to understand how policy support can address the shortcomings hindering the success of agricultural co-operatives. The high failure rate of agricultural co-operatives in South Africa highlights a critical gap in policy support, necessitating an exploration of how policy interventions can mitigate challenges and enhance the viability of co-operative small-scale farming. The research adopts a secondary data collection method and thematic data analysis. Findings indicate that a combination of lack of member commitment, insufficient training and capacity building and financial constraints are a result of inadequate policy support; policies are not effectively addressing co-ops needs. The study recommends that policymakers should revise and tailor existing policies to better address the unique needs and challenges of small-scale farming co-operatives, enhancing their viability and sustainability.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly transforming teaching and learning in accounting education. While AI technologies offer opportunities to enhance learning outcomes, academic performance is also influenced by broader educational factors such as teacher competence, institutional support, curriculum design, and student engagement. This study investigates the role of AI and educational factors in shaping academic performance in accounting education through a systematic literature review of studies published between 2020 and 2025. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a structured search of major academic databases yielded 168 initial records. After screening and eligibility assessment, 28 studies were retained for final analysis. The review synthesizes empirical evidence on AI applications in accounting education and identifies key factors influencing student performance. The study is grounded in Human Capital Theory and Social Cognitive Theory, which provide insights into how technological and educational investments influence learning outcomes. The findings reveal that AI technologies such as intelligent tutoring systems, generative AI tools, predictive analytics, and automated assessment platforms enhance academic performance through personalized learning and data-driven feedback. However, the effectiveness of these technologies depends on teacher digital competence, student motivation, curriculum alignment, and institutional support. The study proposes an integrated conceptual framework linking AI adoption and educational factors to academic performance in accounting education. The findings provide implications for educators, policymakers, and curriculum developers seeking to improve accounting education in the digital era.

The study evaluating social entrepreneurial activity as a strategy to enhance sustainable rural Economies in South Africa, using the uMhlathuze community. Sustainable local economic development is a paramount concern in South Africa, as ongoing inequality, unemployment, and spatial underdevelopment persistently hinder inclusive progress. This research assesses social entrepreneurial activity as a strategic approach to improving sustainable local economies, especially in marginalised and resource-limited areas. The research used a qualitative approach with original interview from selected participant to examine the ability of social businesses to foster grassroots creativity, create job opportunities, and enhance community resilience. Research demonstrates that social entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in local economic diversification, promotes social cohesiveness, and improves access to important services. Nonetheless, its influence is frequently restricted by insufficient legislative backing, inadequate financial frameworks, and institutional obstacles that impede scalability. The study presents a framework for incorporating social entrepreneurship into local development plans, highlighting collaborative governance, capacity building, and conducive regulatory frameworks. The research positions social entrepreneurship as a catalyst for sustainable development, highlighting its capacity to foster transformational and inclusive economic results in South Africa.