Explore the evidence.
Understand the reach.

The amalgamation of traditional and modern governance systems represents a transformative advancement in contemporary African government. This study examines the concept of "hybridity governance" within the African context, providing a comprehensive theoretical framework that integrates modern institutional procedures with traditional governance systems. The paper examines the evolution of African governance from pre-colonial to post-colonial eras, illustrating the emergence of hybrid governance as a response to internal dynamics and external influences. It accomplishes this by utilising historical studies. The philosophical underpinnings are investigated, highlighting organisational and social concepts that elucidate the acceptance of hybrid models. The paper elucidates the applications, accomplishments, and challenges of hybrid government in several African nations through various empirical case studies. A critical examination examines the consequences of these governance paradigms for public administration in Africa. It underscores opportunities for innovation and enhanced flexibility, while also emphasising intrinsic challenges such as job ambiguity and conflict. The report concludes with forecasts regarding the future trajectory of hybrid governance in Africa, considering the interplay of local socio-political dynamics, global interconnectedness, and technological advancements. This article serves as a vital resource for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders interested in the evolving governance paradigm in Africa, providing valuable applications and recommendations.  

Indigenous communities possess rich traditions of conflict resolution rooted in their cultural values, collective decision-making, and community involvement. However, the imposition of Western legal frameworks and colonial histories has often disrupted these practices, leading to increased tensions and unresolved conflicts. This study explored conflict resolution within Indigenous communities, emphasizing the role of social work in facilitating culturally appropriate processes. The study employed a qualitative approach, incorporating interviews with Indigenous leaders, social workers, and community members, alongside a review of relevant literature on traditional practices and social work interventions. Social workers play a crucial role as facilitators, helping to navigate tensions and bridging gaps between traditional practices and contemporary needs. Challenges include a lack of cultural competency and the need for ongoing community engagement. The integration of Indigenous knowledge systems into conflict resolution practices enhance outcomes and foster healing. Social workers prioritize cultural humility and active listening, ensuring that Indigenous voices lead the resolution process. By supporting the reclamation of traditional conflict resolution methods and advocating for culturally sensitive practices, social workers empowered Indigenous communities, promote resilience, and facilitate more effective conflict resolution. This perspective underscores the necessity of collaboration, respect, and recognition of Indigenous sovereignty in all social work interventions.

The educational institutions in South Africa face challenges in integrating crucial 21st-century skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation into their academic programs. Project-based learning (PBL) has emerged as a valuable approach to enhancing entrepreneurial education by developing these essential competencies through real-world applications. PBL effectively bridges the gap between theoretical concepts and practical problem-solving in real-life situations by involving students in practical, hands-on learning. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Project-Based Learning (PBL) in fostering entrepreneurial skills among first-year science students at a rural university. Using a mixed-methods approach, participants created and presented organic soaps, simulating authentic business processes. The study used purposive sampling, and student performance was evaluated by a panel based on specific criteria. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and One-Way ANOVA, with data visualisation using Python's Matplotlib. The paper investigated whether the implementation of PBL significantly enhances students' entrepreneurial skills compared to traditional teaching methods. The study revealed that 210 students, mainly from schools with limited resources, faced challenges in practical chemistry despite prior instruction in Physical Sciences. The implementation of project-based learning proved to be an effective method for nurturing entrepreneurial skills, highlighting the importance of experiential learning. It is essential for higher education institutions to integrate entrepreneurship into their curricula, collaborate with industry, improve group dynamics, and prioritise quality control. These strategies have the potential to foster innovation and better prepare students for self-employment opportunities.

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. 

This study explored the role of ICT in preserving proverbs among Vhavenda communities. From time immemorial, proverbs were valuable cultural practices of oral tradition, which were used to empower the young generation on morals, norms, behaviour, education, and other African values. It has been noticed that due to modernisation and lack of preservation, proverbs have been abounded by the majority of Vhaven?a youths, which seems to be resulting in moral degeneration because youth no longer acquire moral knowledge and skills through proverbs. This study grounded by diffusion of innovation theory. This study intended to adopt a qualitative research design. Therefore, participants were selected through purposive sampling. Furthermore, semi-structured was used to collect data. Thematic data analysis was used to analyse data. The envisioned findings of the study could be convenient in preserving the Vhaven?a proverbs.

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 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.

This study examines the role of women in power, politics, and decision-making, focusing on the factors that influence political representation, the effect of women's participation on governance, and the efficacy of gender quotas and affirmative action policies. Guided by Feminist Political Theory, the study examines how patriarchal structures, socio-cultural norms, gender stereotypes, political violence, and structural inequalities continue to shape women's political experiences and opportunities. Using a desktop-based methodology, the study systematically reviews scholarly literature, policy documents, and institutional reports. Data were analysedthematically to identify recurring patterns and key issues relating to women’s political participation. The findings revealed persistent underrepresentation of women in political leadership, socio-cultural norms and gender stereotypes, the positive impact of women’s participation on policy and governance, the prevalence of political violence and discrimination against women and the important role played by civil society and feminist movements in promoting gender equality. The study concludes that while progress has been made, achieving substantive gender representation requires comprehensive structural reforms, inclusive political institutions, and continued advocacy for gender justice in governance.

Public sector institutions are often characterised by service delivery delays, time management challenges, paper-based activities, and limited application of digital technologies. Digital transformation has become a crucial tool for enhancing institutional efficacy for the purposes of achieving set goals and objectives, and ultimately improved service delivery. This article explores the significance of digital transformation in enhancing institutional efficacy in public sector institutions. The Department of Home Affairs, Vhembe District served as a reference. Structured questionnaires were used to gather data from 120 officials of the Department of Home Affairs using a quantitative research method. The findings indicate that digital transformation improves service quality and speed, supports informed decision-making, enhances collaboration and communication and increases administrative efficiency and accuracy. The article highlights digital transformation as a strategic enabler of institutional performance that promotes responsive, accountable and citizen centred government. The study recommends strengthening digital infrastructure, investing in continuous staff training, integrating communication platforms and promoting citizen centred digital services.