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The global rise in life expectancy has spurred interest in healthy ageing and preventing age-related chronic diseases. Indigenous diets and recreational activities are recognised for promoting longevity and mitigating conditions like cardiovascular disease and dementia. This scoping review, guided by PRISMA-Scr, examined the impact of indigenous dietary practices and recreational activities on healthy ageing and managing age-related diseases. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and CINAHL Central for peer-reviewed English-language articles (2015–2025), identifying 36,984 records and including 34 studies. Findings show that indigenous diets, rich in plant-based foods, lean proteins, and minimal processed foods, are associated with lower chronic disease prevalence. Recreational activities, such as farming, hunting, and communal dancing, enhance physical fitness, social cohesion, and mental well-being, which are crucial for healthy ageing. Integrating diet and activity in indigenous communities fosters a lifestyle that supports long-term health. These practices offer valuable insights for global ageing strategies. Public health initiatives should adopt culturally sensitive approaches, incorporating traditional diets and activities to improve outcomes. Future research should explore adapting these practices for diverse populations, particularly in urban settings, to enhance their scalability and impact. 

Breastfeeding women in academic environments often feel disadvantaged due to a lack of clear policies and supportive facilities; thus, their well-being is negatively impacted. The South African Constitution mandates non-discrimination against breastfeeding and pregnant women in the workplace. However, most literature focuses on maternity leave policies without addressing breastfeeding in the workplace. This study explored the policy framework that regulates breastfeeding for women academics. A policy document analysis was conducted on three universities across three provinces in South Africa to assess the extent of breastfeeding regulation in higher education. The study is guided by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), which proposes that mothers who believe breastfeeding will result in positive results are more likely to breastfeed their babies. This study shows that breastfeeding is encouraged in the three universities' policies that were examined. However, proper orientations for women on their right to have two 30-minute breaks a day to express or breastfeed their babies for the first six months of their life. The study recommends that breastfeeding-friendly spaces should be created by university management to enable mothers to feel at home when at work. This research contributes to the discourse on breastfeeding policies in higher education that will enhance the well-being of women in academic settings.

The Adaptive Market Hypothesis (AMH) allows for a re-evaluation of the relationship between macroeconomic variables and stock market returns, acknowledging that this relationship is time-varying and asymmetrical. This study investigates the impact of macroeconomic factors on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) sector returns under varying market conditions from January 2008 to December 2024. Using a Markov regime-switching model, the findings show that macroeconomic effects on sectoral returns are regime-dependent and time-sensitive. In bullish markets, inflation growth has a significant negative impact on Industrial sector returns, but no significant effect during bearish regimes. For the Financial sector, inflation and money supply growth negatively affect returns, while the real effective exchange rate growth has a positive impact. In the Resource sector, all macroeconomic variables significantly influence returns during bearish conditions, with inflation growth showing a notable negative effect. Overall, JSE sector returns exhibit bull and bear market dynamics, and the influence of macroeconomic variables is neither uniform nor static aligning with the AMH framework.

The movement to decolonize education in Africa has gained significant momentum as scholars, policymakers, and communities critically assess the legacy of colonial education systems. This research explores the imperative for curriculum reform, the re-evaluation of language policy, and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems as key strategies for advancing decolonization. The paper investigates how colonial epistemologies persist within educational structures, hindering efforts to cultivate culturally relevant and locally grounded pedagogies. By analyzing the implications of current policies and practices in various African countries, the study sheds light on the tensions and opportunities in transforming educational content and delivery. The research draws on qualitative data from case studies, policy documents, and academic literature to assess the readiness of African institutions to embrace a decolonized framework. Emphasis is placed on the significance of language as a vehicle of cultural identity and the crucial role of community knowledge holders in shaping curricula. Furthermore, the study considers how early childhood, primary, and higher education systems can benefit from inclusive and pluralistic approaches that validate African worldviews. The findings illustrate that while there are ongoing challenges, such as institutional resistance and resource limitations, there are also promising initiatives that reflect a commitment to epistemic justice. Ultimately, this paper proposes a strategic, context-sensitive approach to decolonizing education that acknowledges historical injustices while laying the foundation for a more equitable and empowering learning environment across the continent.

This paper aims to examine the challenges faced by uMsunduzi local municipality in supporting SMMEs and identify programmes offered by the municipality to stimulate the SMME sector. The study adopted a qualitative research method to collect data. A sample of 7 municipal workers was selected using the purposive sampling technique. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, and thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data. The results revealed that the business support programmes that the municipality offers to support SMMEs are insufficient to meet the demands of these enterprises in the region. The results further revealed that the lack of suitable business infrastructure, mainly due to deteriorating buildings in the city centre serving as the main business hub, poses a significant challenge for the municipality. Lastly, the insufficient allocation of resources and the lack of communication to raise awareness about business support programmes aimed at SMMEs also emerged as one of the challenges for the municipality. The study recommended that better policy reformations and better resource allocation be made by the municipality. Improvement in communication efforts to raise awareness of readily available business support programmes offered to SMMEs was also recommended. Lastly, municipal engagement with the upper government spheres was also recommended so that the municipality could obtain funding to refurbish the decaying infrastructure with the potential to house SMMEs for business use and improve business incubation and training centres that support SMMEs.

This study investigates wearable activity tracker (WAT) adoption intention among South African Generation Y university students by extending the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to include brand name as a predictor. A cross-sectional survey of 462 Generation Y students from three South African institutions was analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling to test relationships between attitude, subjective norm, brand name, and adoption intention. Results indicate that attitude, subjective norm, and brand name significantly influence WAT adoption intention, with attitude as the strongest predictor, followed by brand name. The extended TRA model demonstrated acceptable fit, reliability, and validity, highlighting brand reputation's critical role in reducing perceived risk in emerging markets. The study is limited by its non-probability sample from three campuses in one province, suggesting future research should employ longitudinal designs, expand geographic scope, and incorporate additional constructs. Findings provide practical guidance for WAT manufacturers to prioritize building trustworthy brands and emphasizing health benefits, while marketing strategies leveraging peer influence and affordable pricing can enhance adoption among cost-conscious students. Promoting WAT adoption among youth can advance health awareness and public health goals in developing countries where proactive health monitoring technologies remain underutilized. This study offers one of the first empirical examinations of WAT adoption intention among South African Generation Y students using an extended TRA model. Unlike prior research focused on medical settings or limited samples, this study incorporates brand name as a novel construct, demonstrating its pivotal role in wearable tech adoption. This research contributes original empirical evidence from a developing market context, advancing theoretical and practical understanding of wearable technology adoption.

This research explores the technological factors that influence the adoption of mobile commerce by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Polokwane Municipality. Using a quantitative approach, data were gathered from 146 SME owners, randomly selected from a total population of 261. The study applied descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and regression techniques to examine the relationships between variables. ANOVA was used to evaluate the sub-hypotheses, while regression analysis tested the primary hypotheses. The instruments used in the study demonstrated strong internal consistency, with all Cronbach’s alpha values exceeding 0.7. Additionally, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test confirmed that the data met the assumption of normality. The results showed that perceived cost, perceived benefit, and perceived compatibility each play a significant role in influencing m-commerce adoption. These findings offer valuable insights into the internal technological considerations that impact digital uptake in SMEs. The study provides both academic value by contributing to the theoretical understanding of technology adoption, and practical guidance for enhancing m-commerce use within the SME sector, particularly in similar socio-economic environments.

This study evaluates the effects and challenges faced by South African state-owned insurance enterprises in adopting International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 17, mainly the effects on financial reporting and contract transparency. Research purpose: The study analyses IFRS 17’s effect on the financial reporting practices and the transparency of insurance contracts within these enterprises. This is the first study to explore IFRS 17’s effects on South African state-owned non-life insurance enterprises from a finance management and executive perspective. It aims to identify key challenges and benefits of implementation while assessing its impact on accounting information quality. A qualitative approach was used, with semi-structured virtual interviews conducted among finance executives and management. Data was analysed using ATLAS.ti software to identify themes and patterns related to IFRS 17 adoption. The study found that IFRS 17 adoption has significantly improved transparency and comparability in financial statements, enhancing clarity in presenting insurance contracts. However, challenges such as the complexity of the standard, increased demand for technical expertise and resource allocation issues were identified. It is recommended that finance executives receive additional training and support to navigate IFRS 17 complexities. Strengthening regulatory frameworks will help maximise transparency and financial reporting improvements while mitigating implementation challenges. This study provides valuable insights into IFRS 17 adoption within state-owned insurers, highlighting its benefits and challenges to support informed decision-making in the adoption and implementation of the international accounting standard.

This study investigates the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve operational performance in Zimbabwean road haulage enterprises, with a focus on driver training as a moderator. As the logistics industry faces new difficulties, AI technologies have great promise for increasing efficiency and decision making. However, the usefulness of these technologies is determined by the skill levels of the drivers using them. This study demonstrated how extensive driver training improves the capacity to comprehend AI-generated insights, resulting in better route management, lower operating costs, and increased safety. This study examines how AI affects key performance variables such as cost savings, productivity, customer happiness, and environmental sustainability, using real data from road haulage companies. Key findings demonstrate how AI is transforming decision-making, improving operational effectiveness, and optimizing routes. The research highlights several noteworthy obstacles in addition to their obvious advantages, such as budgetary limitations, difficulty in obtaining pertinent data, and the need for more regionalized AI solutions. The findings, which are based on case studies and performance data from diverse enterprises, indicate that (i) organizations that invest in both AI and driver training benefit from a synergistic impact, resulting in higher operational outcomes, (ii) there is need to combine technical improvements with human experience to achieve maximum performance in Zimbabwe's competitive road-haulage market and finally (iii) this study offers helpful recommendations for successfully integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into haulage processes, along with insights into best practices and alternative approaches to overcome current obstacles. This study emphasizes the importance of context-specific solutions in emerging regions, enhancing the expanding corpus of knowledge on AI applications, particularly in logistics.

The Adaptive Market Hypothesis (AMH) allows for a re-evaluation of the relationship between macroeconomic variables and stock market returns, acknowledging that this relationship is time-varying and asymmetrical. This study investigates the impact of macroeconomic factors on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) sector returns under varying market conditions from January 2008 to December 2024. Using a Markov regime-switching model, the findings show that macroeconomic effects on sectoral returns are regime-dependent and time-sensitive. In bullish markets, inflation growth has a significant negative impact on Industrial sector returns, but no significant effect during bearish regimes. For the Financial sector, inflation and money supply growth negatively affect returns, while the real effective exchange rate growth has a positive impact. In the Resource sector, all macroeconomic variables significantly influence returns during bearish conditions, with inflation growth showing a notable negative effect. Overall, JSE sector returns exhibit bull and bear market dynamics, and the influence of macroeconomic variables is neither uniform nor static aligning with the AMH framework.