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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of cultural forces that shape social influence with a look at Hofstede’s cultural dimensions of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and individualism. The direct effect of these cultural dimensions on social influence is investigated. To measure social influence, this paper relies on the dimensions of Hofstede. A multiple regression analysis is applied to answer the hypotheses. The research design adopted for the research was quantitative, and the method used to collect data was an online survey. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and distributed to the targeted respondents for obtaining primary data.The respondents involved were 340 SMEs in the urban area of Harare province in Zimbabwe. A nonprobability convenience sampling method was used for the study. Hofstede’s cultural factors of power distance, individualism, and uncertainty avoidance were used as the independent variables that moderate social influence.

The last mile of logistics, representing the final stage of product delivery to consumers, is critical for supply chain efficiency and sustainability. Infrastructure inadequacies, urbanisation, and environmental concerns pose challenges to this period in South Africa. This study conducts a systematic evaluation of the literature to investigate the ability of last-mile logistics in South Africa to withstand and maintain throughout time. The PRISMA method and Atlas-ti software are used for thematic analysis. The review highlights important topics such as the development of supply chain management, obstacles in last-mile distribution, the significance of technology, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure improvement, cooperative activities, and the economic and social effects. The findings emphasise the significance of incorporating resilience and sustainability into last-mile logistics in order to enhance operational efficiency, mitigate environmental consequences, and promote socio-economic advancement. The assessment highlights the necessity of joint endeavours, technical advancement, and supporting policies to tackle the distinct issues encountered by South Africa in this field. This study enhances the comprehension of sustainable logistics in South Africa and offers valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers to enhance last-mile logistics operations.

The family, in all communities, is the primary and most basic unit. However, as a result of modernisation and urbanisation, there has been a shift in the perception that biological parents should raise their children and that they both have responsibilities. The teenagers without fathers are reported to be facing more challenges compared to their counterparts with fathers. These difficulties are most apparent in the areas around the development of the body, mind, personality, social skills, and morality. To investigate the effects of fathers’ absenteeism on teenage boys, this study conducted an in-depth review of past studies. This study reveals teenage boys experience feelings of sadness, loneliness, and rage when their fathers are absent from their lives. More so, the likelihood that these teenage boys will get involved in criminal activity will decrease if their fathers are involved in their lives and provide them with financial support. This study suggests that more social workers be assigned to schools in order to recognise and address cases where teenage boys are reported to be experiencing father absenteeism.

This study investigated the causal interactions between macroprudential policy, measured by the Macroprudential Policy Index (MPI), and financial cycles represented by the Aggregate Financial Cycle (AFC) and the Credit and Asset Prices Financial Cycle (CAFC) in South Africa from 1970q1 to 2023q2. Additionally, the study explored the effects of macroprudential policy during different phases of financial cycles. Using the time-varying Granger-causality model, the study found that the MPI Granger-caused financial cycles during the 2003/07 credit boom in South Africa, while the AFC and CAFC Granger-caused macroprudential policy during the Covid-19-induced collapse of financial markets. The results suggest that macroprudential policy is employed more proactively during financial booms and more reactively during financial busts in South Africa. The Markov switching dynamic regression model used to assess the MPI's effects revealed that macroprudential policy's effectiveness is stronger during financial busts and weaker during financial booms in South Africa. This is because financial institutions in South Africa tend to resist stricter regulations during boom phases due to heightened optimism about future prospects. Conversely, they are more receptive to stimulatory interventions during bust phases. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the South African Reserve Bank and the Prudential Authority use macroprudential policy more assertively during financial booms to enhance its effectiveness. This could involve setting more stringent parameters upon activating macroprudential policy tools or complementing macroprudential policy with monetary policy during financial booms.

The fashion sector stands as one of the leading contributors to both the global economy and South Africa. In South Africa, the footwear segment alone commands a value exceeding R50 billion and continues to see steady expansion. Particularly notable is the surge in sales within the South African sneaker market, outpacing other footwear categories. This trend has prompted numerous brands to enter the fray, presenting consumers with abundant choices but also fostering intense competition among sneaker manufacturers. To stay competitive, these manufacturers consistently innovate by developing enhanced sneaker models and integrating cutting-edge technologies into their production processes. The study aimed to identify the determinants influencing the purchasing intentions of Generation Y consumers regarding sneakers. A survey, administered via self-report questionnaires, gathered data from a convenience sample of 400 Generation Y consumers aged 18 to 24. These individuals were selected from two public Higher Education Institutions located in Gauteng, South Africa. Data analysis encompassed various methods including reliability and construct validity assessment, factor analysis, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, collinearity diagnostics, regression analysis, and independent samples t-tests. Findings reveal that brand image, the desire for uniqueness, and product features significantly and positively impact the purchasing intentions of Generation Y consumers concerning sneakers. Conversely, the study indicates that price exerts an insignificant influence on the purchasing intentions of Generation Y consumers regarding sneakers. In addition, the findings suggest that males tend to place greater importance on brand image when making sneaker purchases compared to their female counterparts. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the nuanced preferences and behaviors of Generation Y consumers in the sneaker market and adapting business strategies accordingly to capitalize on opportunities for growth and differentiation.

Following the 2007-2009 global financial crisis, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) prioritised financial stability. This study assesses the impact of financial stability on South Africa's output and price stability, which is crucial for framing its monetary policy. Utilising a Structural Vector Autoregression (SVAR) approach, the influence of the Financial Conditions Index (FCI) on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) between 1960Q1 and 2022Q4 was analysed. Results revealed a strong connection between these objectives. GDP drops after an FCI disturbance, whereas the CPI trends upwards when the SARB counters financial imbalances. This vital finding indicates a positive relation between enhanced financial conditions and output stabilisation but reveals a trade-off between price and financial stability. After a GDP shock, financial conditions improve, but they deteriorate following a CPI shock. If the SARB reacts by "mopping up" post-crisis, the policy rate typically drops, pointing to potential financial vulnerabilities. Both GDP and CPI react positively to FCI disturbances when SARB is passive. The evidence suggests that while financial stability bolsters output stability, it might endanger price stability. Thus, amongst other recommendations, South Africa's monetary policy authorities must lean against financial imbalances instead of mopping after a crisis

Social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube continue to provide higher education lecturers with the opportunity to share personal and academic resources. They use these platforms to communicate with colleagues and students for educational purposes. This study was motivated by the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has made online learning a priority for higher education institutions, and lecturers in South Africa have had to rethink the adoption of social media platforms as learning tools. Although social media platforms were used before the COVID-19 pandemic, on a small scale, this study investigated the readiness and challenges of lecturers in adopting social media platforms as a teaching and learning tool during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. This study collected qualitative data from individual lecturers using a purposeful sampling technique. The findings of the study indicate that lecturers are ready to adopt social media as a teaching and learning tool during the covid 19 pandemic. WhatsApp is the most used social media platform for teaching and learning. This study also identified some benefits and challenges in adopting social media platforms for teaching and learning in higher education institutions (HEIs), however, in practicality these challenges should be explored and addressed before rolling out social media usage in HEI’s. Based on the findings, the study provides recommendations on the use of social media platforms in teaching and learning in HEI’s during pandemics, as well as future research on social media use to assist in teaching and learning in HEI’s.

This paper examines the challenges facing the provision of low-cost housing conundrum, with specific reference to the Eastern Cape Province. The paper will further explore policy alternatives to the idea of low-cost housing scheme delivery over time with a view to improving delivery of low-cost housing inquest for integrated sustainable communities in the province. Against the above stated background, the aim of this paper is to investigate challenges facing the provision of low-cost housing on the people of Eastern Cape Province.  The guiding research question of this paper is: what is the efficacy way of implementing integrated low-cost housing strategy in addressing the problem of affordable housing shortage for the poor in the Province through the Integrated Human Settlement Plan? This papers setting is in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A mixed method approach is employed to explore and describe the complexities at play in the policy tensions conundrum in the Eastern Cape Province. The findings of this paper suggest that the goal and vision of Integrated Human Settlement Plan should be consistently communicated in clear simple terms to all affected, especially the rural poor communities as they are most affected by the provision of low-cost housing provision. This article contributes to the scholarship of Public Administration and Development Management of resources surrounding the ongoing debate on the implementation of Integrated Human Settlement programme’s and government interventions that are targeted at low income and poor communities in South Africa with regard to transformation, development and policy implementation. The main argument of this paper is that with an adequate policy execution of the government’s development agenda we can improve service delivery as well as integrated human settlement that brings human dignity to the province of the Eastern Cape.

Teenage pregnancy is a pressing issue in South Africa, particularly in high schools, with one reporting 19 pregnancies in the first half of the 2024 academic year. This article explores the complex factors contributing to high rates of teenage pregnancy, including poverty, the child grant system, parental influence, promiscuity, and the exploitation of young girls by adult predators. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of local data, the article highlights the socio-economic, cultural, and environmental drivers of teenage pregnancy. Findings indicate that economic hardship compels young girls into transactional sex or relationships with older men, while the child grant may inadvertently incentivize early pregnancies. Furthermore, cultural norms and a culture of impunity exacerbate the issue, with many pregnancies fathered by adult men who exploit vulnerable girls.The article calls for a multimodal approach to address teenage pregnancy, emphasizing poverty alleviation, parental education, community engagement, and access to comprehensive sex education and reproductive health services. By addressing these root causes, it is possible to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancies and support the empowerment and future success of young girls in South Africa. The findings highlight the urgency of coordinated efforts to provide sustainable solutions that can interrupt the cycle of poverty and early pregnancy, ensuring a healthier and a brighter future for South African youth.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of cultural forces that shape social influence with a look at Hofstede’s cultural dimensions of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and individualism. The direct effect of these cultural dimensions on social influence is investigated. To measure social influence, this paper relies on the dimensions of Hofstede. A multiple regression analysis is applied to answer the hypotheses. The research design adopted for the research was quantitative, and the method used to collect data was an online survey. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and distributed to the targeted respondents for obtaining primary data.The respondents involved were 340 SMEs in the urban area of Harare province in Zimbabwe. A nonprobability convenience sampling method was used for the study. Hofstede’s cultural factors of power distance, individualism, and uncertainty avoidance were used as the independent variables that moderate social influence.