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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 adoption and use of ICT have increased drastically in developed countries, but it cannot be said that it lags in developing countries. ICT evolution has introduced e-commerce services for users, but these services fail because of low user acceptance and user attitude, especially in developing nations. The security and trustworthiness of e-commerce are known to be of the most significant concern to people intending to use e-commerce services.  The study looked at the role of individual characteristics on how cyber-security and trust issues affect non-users of e-commerce systems' intention to use e-commerce systems in South Africa.  The effect of cyber security on consumers’ intentions and actual use of e-commerce systems was examined. This study used a quantitative research approach. The findings revealed that perceived security and perceived trust was the primary concern for non-users of e-commerce intentions. It was shown that e-commerce system users are still concerned about security, even though they intend to continue using e-commerce systems. For the success of e-commerce in rural communities, the government needs to join with retailers and SMEs to start awareness campaigns that will clarify how e-commerce systems work and eradicate negative perceptions of e-commerce systems.

The sociotechnical challenges primarily faced by students with disabilities are significantly hindering their active participation in academic programs. This study, therefore, holds immense importance as it aims to examine these challenges and evaluate the factors influencing the introduction of Assistive Technology in response to these issues. The researchers have used a to delve deep into these challenges and establish potential mitigation strategies for fostering inclusive education and a supportive learning environment. This study uses quantitative and qualitative data to understand factors influencing the integration of ATs in inclusive education. As a result, the study's findings, particularly the absence of a framework in the university disability unit, which is responsible for guiding the use and integration of AT, are crucial for understanding the current state of affairs. The delays in acquiring and delivering ATs result in students missing out on learning how to use the technologies. The use of ATs in the university was affected by the lack of training of lecturers who taught the students living with disabilities. Although there are ATs in the disability unit, they seem to be used by students who need urgent support and who need it in a limited time. Due to these factors, the study concluded that several factors influenced the integration of ATs in inclusive education at the university, and these need to be addressed urgently. This paper recommends that training should be conducted with lecturers and students to use ATs for learning and teaching purposes.

Gender inequality is a concept of much relevance and is continuously gaining momentum. The diversification of different genders is pivotal to be able to address the effects of gender inequality. Globally, gender inequality has attracted a lot of interest and has huge effects on the social, academic and psychological. Although there is a nurturing environment for gender inequality, it is important to neutralize the playing fields for all genders to avoid negative effects on the victims of this phenomenon. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of gender inequality on South Africa’s higher education Students. It further seeks to challenge the perception contributing to gender inequality. Gender inequality is a universal problem affecting students throughout institutions of higher learning. The study used the qualitative research approach with exploratory research design adopted for the paper. The paper explored the effects of gender inequality on students from higher education institutions in South Africa. A sample of 15 students from institutions of higher learning who have been exposed to gender inequality was chosen for data collection process. A semi-structured face to face interviews was used during the data collection process with purposive sampling used to select participants to the study. The study used thematic content analysis to analyze data. The study applied feminist theoretical framework to understand the effects of gender inequality.

Enrolling students in accounting programs based on their proficiency in English, Mathematics, and Accounting is a prevalent practice in many South African institutions of higher learning. However, certain institutions admit students into accounting programs based solely on their proficiency in English and Mathematics. This study posits that such students encounter challenges in acclimating to the accounting science milieu, consequently impeding their academic success. The research draws from the assessment of 112 first-year BCom (Bachelor of Commerce) Accounting Sciences students during the 2023 academic year. The findings affirm that students enrolled based on competency in Accounting, English, and Mathematics outperform those enrolled solely based on English and Mathematics competency. This underscores the necessity for further investigation into the determinants of success among students in accounting programs. Nonetheless, the study corroborates that self-determination and proactivity are significant contributors to success, notwithstanding students' lack of prior exposure to accounting principles.

As access to healthcare has come under increasing scrutiny, patient waiting times have become crucial. Qualitative research provides an in-depth understanding and reflections of the nurses at Nthabiseng Clinic in Capricorn region, Limpopo Province, South Africa.This article is based on an investigation of patient waiting, which used in-depth semi-structured interviews with five strategically selected healthcare professionals to disentangle the web of different elements that can affect the length of time a patient might wait at the hospital. We identified two superordinate themes that emerged from our thematic analysis. The data analysis identified two key themes that influenced how patient waiting time was related to patients and operational matters during clinic visits: 1) Determinants of patient waiting time at a clinic visit: (i.e. a lack of definitions of patient waiting time; patient waiting time contributing factors; patient waiting time seen through patients; operational challenges regarding patient waiting time); as well as 2) Patient waiting time policy position (i.e. South Africa’s patient waiting time specific policy/ies and/or legislative framework; A clinic’s specific development plan; DOH’s assistance to a clinic). As healthcare systems strive to enhance accessibility and patient experience, this study offers invaluable insights into the multifaceted nature of patient waiting times, paving the way for evidence-based strategies to address this critical issue.

This study examines the effects of poverty and crime in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) context. Specifically, it seeks to explore how technological advancements influence the dynamics between poverty and crime in the region. We employed a qualitative research approach, utilising data from comprehensive academic literature reviews, policy documents, and relevant statistics. Additionally, we gathered insights from 20 participants chosen to represent diverse perspectives, including policymakers, academics, community leaders, technology experts, and individuals from impoverished communities. Through in-depth interviews and focus groups, the study provided a holistic view of the nuanced impacts of the 4IR on poverty and crime. The main findings of the study demonstrate that (i) the 4IR offers considerable opportunities for poverty alleviation through job creation and economic empowerment, (ii) there are significant risks, such as digital exclusion and the emergence of new, technology-driven forms of crime, and finally, (iii) structural factors, including governance and access to education influence the effects of 4IR. The study recommends targeted policies to harness the benefits of the 4IR, focusing on strengthening education, promoting inclusive governance, and fostering social inclusion to mitigate adverse consequences.

Based on three cases drawn from the consultation with Zimbabwean migrants whose Business Exemption Permits were terminated by the South African Government without following due process, this paper disallows the economic reasons advanced for such a decision. To this effect, this paper argues that ZEP business permit holders cannot be said to be taking jobs away from nationals.  On the contrary, this paper argues that ZEP business permit holders, while contributing to economic growth, also employ South Africans, thereby reducing the unemployment rate. It is on this basis that this paper argues that the termination of the ZEP dispensation is a populist measure to fit the anti-migrant sentiment in the country. It is an electoral engineering mechanism fuelled by xenophobic sentiments to tap into the electoral base of some political parties and a device to demonstrate that the government is tackling the migration issue. If that was not the case, ZEP business permit holders’ waiver application should be readily granted. On this note, this paper recommends that ZEP business permit holders should be exempted from the requirements of a business visa application because they are non-negligible contributors to the economic growth of the country.

The study covers AD practitioners' definitions of trust, levels of trust, and responsibilities in developing trust with university academics. It also studies how culture affects trust and how AD practitioners might build trust amongst university lecturers and institutions. Thematic and content analysis were performed on six AD practitioners selected for sampling. The findings show that trust can mean self-confidence, being respected, and doing professional work. AD professionals express self-confidence in their competence and trust in their colleagues. Having one's contributions recognised and appreciated fosters trust and belonging. Professional obligations require trust in the system and the conviction that everyone is contributing to similar aims. The survey also finds scepticism, with some practitioners perceiving academic progress as a burden. The report emphasises the repercussions of broken trust in collaborative efforts and recommends university workshops to establish trust, meaningful participation, and community among AD practitioners and university academics. To boost student learning, AD practitioners must create trust, according to the report. It suggests studying trust-building tactics to create collaborative connections and overcome faculty resistance to academic advancement.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires not only national budgetary revenues but also the private sector and other funding sources. A significant number of development actors consider the private sector to be an essential partner and advocate for development cooperation. International development places a special emphasis on formalised private philanthropic organizations. This study examines how the Sustainable Development Goals affect the flow of private philanthropic aid to developing countries. The study also wants to know if private development funding is utilised for development alone or other purposes. Secondary sources of information from credible books, journals, and official reports from various development organizations were used in the study. Thus, a desktop qualitative analysis was used to examine the data. The paper bases its argument on the dual interest model, which contends that recipient needs and donor interests influence private-sector giving. The study finds that corporate philanthropists have made SDG targets a major theme in their programmatic and financial work. The results show that corporate philanthropists' involvement in SDG initiatives is often driven by a variety of factors, including both the business and development aspects of the SDGs. The study also shows that although private philanthropy is crucial to achieving the SDGs, it struggles to maintain its transparency and impact. To achieve the SDG targets, the study suggests that the private sector increase its involvement and improve cooperation with other stakeholders. The study also concludes that to improve policymaking and create a more effective development finance spectrum, more research on the relationship between business and development financing is needed.  This paper contributes to the larger conversation concerning the function and effects of private sector support for the SDGs in developing nations.