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Human trafficking in Africa has evolved from localised criminal exploits into a complex multi- Human trafficking in Africa has transitioned from isolated criminal exploits into a complex, multi-scalar shadow business ecosystem that intersects directly with transnational organised networks, systemic corruption, and regional conflict corridors. This paper provides a strategic, interdisciplinary analysis of the enterprise dynamics of trafficking in persons (TIP) across three distinct geographical tiers: the domestic landscape of South Africa, the regional migration and supply corridors of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the overarching regulatory frameworks of the African Union (AU). Utilising a systematic policy document analysis and qualitative content analysis of peer-reviewed research, institutional reports, and statutory frameworks active between 2015 and 2026, this study interrogates the systemic friction between state-centric border-containment mechanisms and enterprise-level human-asset protections. A qualitative content analysis of 60 core documents, conducted in NVivo 14, yielded 342 distinct text codes, illustrating how regulatory conflicts, supply-chain vulnerabilities, and institutional corruption stabilise illicit operations across the African continent. The empirical findings reveal that while robust legal frameworks exist, severe execution gaps persist due to strategic intelligence failures and a lack of cross-border data synchronisation. Specifically, this paper illuminates the emerging trafficking-mercenary nexus, wherein deceptive digital human-resource recruitment practices exploit socio-economic market gaps to trap individuals into forced combat servitude or illicit cyber-scam operations. Ultimately, this study proposes a harmonised, multi-tiered response architecture that links subnational vulnerability mapping with regional supply-chain tracking, transforming anti-trafficking strategic interventions from reactive containment into proactive, structurally integrated corporate and public protection systems.

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.

This study investigated the effects of digitalisation of tax administration on tax compliance among selected small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ibadan North West Local Government Oyo State, Nigeria. The study was anchored on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which explains technology adoption through perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and external constraints. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and structured questionnaires were administered to 367 SMEs across key business sectors. Of these, 352 valid responses were analysed using SPSS through descriptive statistics and ANOVA. The study examined the level of digital technology adoption, the perceived influence of digital tax administration on compliance, the drivers of non-compliance, and preferred policy measures for improvement. Findings revealed generally low digital technology adoption among SMEs, with 42.9% reporting very low adoption and 36.6% reporting low adoption. The major barriers were poor internet connectivity, high cost of technology and digital tools, limited technical skills, and inadequate awareness. Perceptions of digital tax reforms showed limited realised compliance benefits, as 48.9% of respondents reported no noticeable improvement in compliance, 21.3% reported improved ease of compliance, while 29.8% stated that compliance had become more difficult. Non-compliance was mainly linked to limited awareness of tax obligations, weak enforcement, affordability challenges, and low digital capability. The study concludes that digitalisation can improve SME tax compliance only when foundational readiness gaps are addressed. It recommends improving broadband reliability, reducing digital access costs, strengthening taxpayer education, simplifying digital tax processes, providing practical training, and ensuring consistent and fair enforcement.

The governance of Information and Communication Technology (ICTG) has become crucial for promoting academic, strategic, and operational objectives at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The aim of this research is to assess if hybrid ICTG models that integrate global frameworks like COBIT, ITIL, and ISO/IEC 38500 with tailored institutional modifications result in enhanced academic outcomes and administrative effectiveness in comparison to higher education institutions that depend exclusively on universal governance standards. A qualitative, desk-oriented research methodology was utilised, relying solely on secondary data sourced from peer-reviewed articles, academic research findings, and recorded higher education institution case studies published from 2016 to 2024. Thematic content analysis was performed to discern governance mechanisms, persistent difficulties, and contextual elements affecting ICTG efficacy across different nations and institutional categories. The results suggest that hybrid ICTG models provide a more robust alignment between ICT operations and institutional objectives, increased governance sophistication, and superior service quality. The dedication of leadership, clear organisational structure, and relational governance tools like communication and stakeholder involvement are vital facilitators of ICTG performance, especially in resource-limited higher education institutions. The analysed evidence indicates that inflexible, foreign governance models may be inappropriate unless they are contextually modified to fit the institutional culture, capabilities, and governance development. The research enhances ICTG scholarship by promoting a conceptual comprehension of hybrid governance frameworks that reconcile global norms with local significance. Despite being constrained by its dependence on secondary data, the study uncovers significant ramifications for institutional policy, ICT leadership advancement, and governance transformation. Subsequent research ought to integrate empirical evidence and comparative analyses across several institutions to substantiate the suggested conceptual framework and evaluate its wider relevance.

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.

Training and development are globally acclaimed determinants of employee performance and organizational success, particularly for service sectors such as banking. Despite the prominence of T&D in the banking sector, empirical studies attempting to quantify the influence of  training and development on  service quality  have yielded mixed results .This research aims to reconcile these conflicting findings in the literature by redressing the existing knowledge gap and the limited body of literature by examining the effect of Training and Development programs on communication and service assurance as the specific service quality dimensions at Indo-Zambia Bank. The Quantitative study was grounded by a positivism paradigm with a descriptive research design. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken using a structured questionnaire administered to 100 Indo-Zambia Bank employees who were chosen using stratified random sampling. Descriptive and Pearson correlation coefficient using SPSS were conducted to establish the statistically significant relationship between T&D and communication and assurance. Results reflect a statistically significant relationship between the T&D and communication (p < .002) and assurance (p < .001). The most implemented T&D programmes included KYC Training, Induction/Onboarding, Ethics & Confidentiality, Customer Service Excellence, Service Recovery/Complaint Handling, Digital Systems & IT Training, Communication & Interpersonal Skills, and Leadership/Coaching. The study concluded that T&D improves communication (r=.279) and assurance (r=.271). The study concludes that T&D programs at Indo-Zambia Bank significantly and positively influence communication and service assurance. At a policy level, the findings inform regulatory emphasis on continuous professional development as a mechanism for sustaining competitive service standards in Zambia’s financial sector.

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.

National symbols are strongly connected with nation-building and national identity. However, despite their prevalence, national symbols role in nation-building and national identities formation remains an under-researched area. To fill the gap, this study set out to understand the contribution of national symbols to nation-building and national identity formation. Four vital national symbols: the coat of arms, the national flag, the constitution, and the national anthem were analysed using both the semantic and syntactic structure of the symbols to provide a comprehensive analysis of the national symbols. This study reveals that the national symbols have not been accepted widely by all groups as is often assumed. The sampled symbols revealed that South Africans were drawn to the constitution's principles of equality, human rights, and citizenship-related benefits, which strengthened their pride in their country and contribute to nation-building. The study confirms that national symbols contribute to nation-building and also provides an essential lens for understanding of splitting (cultural and national) and identification processes. This study contributes to the theories of symbolism in general by highlighting the important role fulfilled by national symbols in nation-building and national identity formation. Generally, the study of national symbols, combined with national and cultural identity, appears to be a significant area of research that merits additional focus.

This study examines whether digital transformation is associated with higher labour productivity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and whether the relationship strengthens with human capital. A fully open panel is constructed from World Development Indicators and Penn World Table 11.0 for 13 SADC economies over 2005-2023. Digitalisation is measured by the first principal component of internet use, mobile subscriptions and fixed broadband. The empirical strategy combines country fixed effects with Driscoll-Kraay covariance and a pooled dynamic common correlated effects error-correction model. Country-cluster bootstrap inference, an equal-weight digital index, sequential country deletion and threshold estimation provide robustness checks. The long-run digital coefficient is positive (0.239; 95% bootstrap interval [0.033, 0.425]), while the error-correction coefficient indicates stable annual adjustment (-0.566; interval [-0.820, -0.208]). The digitalisation-human-capital interaction is not supported (-0.041; interval [-0.102, 0.015]), and the threshold slope difference also includes zero. H2 is rejected for the aggregate PWT human-capital index, not for skills in general. The findings identify a durable average digital productivity premium without evidence that national education stocks automatically magnify it. Policy should combine reliable connectivity with targeted, use-specific capabilities and business-ecosystem coordination.

This paper tests whether government effectiveness and regulatory quality amplify the productivity return to digitalisation in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). A fully unrestricted panel combines World Development Indicators, the 2025 Worldwide Governance Indicators revision and Penn World Table 11.0 for 15 economies over 2005–2023. Digitalisation is a principal-component index of internet use, mobile subscriptions and fixed broadband. Separate governance equations avoid mechanical multicollinearity. Country fixed effects with Driscoll–Kraay covariance are compared with pooled dynamic common correlated effects error-correction models. Digitalisation has a positive short-run association in the government-effectiveness equation (0.056; 95% country-cluster interval: 0.008–0.155), while regulatory quality has a positive direct short-run coefficient (0.208; 0.064–0.309). Neither governance measure positively magnifies digital returns. Long-run interaction intervals include zero; the regulatory-quality short-run interaction is negative (−0.069; −0.123 to −0.004), and threshold slope differences are unsupported. Error correction is stable in both equations, and country deletion preserves positive digital coefficients. Institutions remain important direct capabilities, but broad governance scores should not be presumed automatic digital multipliers. Policy should connect specific regulatory and implementation reforms to identifiable adoption constraints rather than relying on general institutional upgrading alone.

This study examines whether movement out of agriculture accelerates productivity convergence in West Africa. We assemble an annual country panel for 16 West African economies over 2000–2023 from the World Development Indicators, Penn World Table 11.0 and Worldwide Governance Indicators. The estimable dynamic specification contains 237 country-year observations for 11 economies because the Penn World Table human-capital series determines the common complete-case sample. A pre-specified two-step System GMM model is rejected because second-order serial correlation is significant and the Hansen test is uninformative. Inference therefore rests on a dynamic country-and-year fixed-effects model with Driscoll–Kraay standard errors, supplemented by a first-order Nickell-bias assessment and a three-sector shift-share decomposition. Labour productivity is conditionally convergent: the lag coefficient is 0.841, implying a four-year half-life, or about 9.7 years under the conservative bias approximation. Capital deepening is positive and statistically precise, while manufacturing, services and agricultural-employment shares are not separately significant. This absence of statistical precision does not imply that structural transformation is irrelevant: employment reallocation contributes positively in all 16 economies. Regionally, within-sector gains account for 75.2% of observed productivity change, reallocation for 29.3%, and the interaction term for −4.5%. Policy should combine labour mobility with capital formation and productivity upgrading inside agriculture, manufacturing and services rather than pursue sector-share targets alone.

This paper investigates whether government consumption becomes more growth-enhancing after institutional capacity crosses a minimum level in North Africa. Government consumption is a narrower measure than total public expenditure and excludes some capital spending and transfers. A panel of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia for 2003–2024 is assembled from the World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators. The empirical design profiles candidate threshold values separately for government effectiveness and control of corruption in a dynamic common-factor panel model. It enforces a 15% minimum regime share and uses all 128 country-level Rademacher sign assignments for wild-cluster threshold tests. Candidate breakpoints occur at −1.336 for government effectiveness and −1.267 for corruption control. Conditional spending-growth slopes are larger above both candidates, but the threshold tests do not reject linearity (p = 0.217 and p = 0.388). Cutoffs and regime slopes also move substantially when Libya or Sudan is excluded, when the five-country core is used, and across alternative time windows. H1–H3 are therefore not supported: the evidence does not identify a stable institutional minimum at which public consumption reliably changes its growth effect. Policy should improve specific expenditure-conversion mechanisms rather than treat sample-specific governance breakpoints as targets.

School safety remains a significant challenge in South Africa, particularly in remote rural schools where inadequate infrastructure and limited support systems continue to compromise learners’ and educators’ rights to safe and conducive learning environments. This study investigates the impact of physical infrastructure neglect and inadequate safety measures on rural schools through a qualitative desktop review of scholarly literature, policy documents, government reports, and legal frameworks. Data were analyzed thematically to identify key challenges affecting school safety and educational equity. The findings highlight five major concerns: dilapidated school infrastructure, inadequate emergency preparedness, shortages in maintenance and support services, overcrowded and under-resourced classrooms, and limited accessibility for learners with disabilities. These challenges expose learners and educators to physical risks, reduce the quality of teaching and learning, and reinforce inequalities between rural and urban schools. The study further reveals gaps in policy implementation, monitoring, and accountability within the school safety framework. The study concludes that addressing rural school safety requires targeted investment in infrastructure development, regular maintenance, effective emergency preparedness, inclusive school design, and stronger accountability mechanisms. Improving the safety and accessibility of rural schools is essential for advancing educational equity, protecting learner rights, and creating sustainable learning environments in South Africa.

South African state universities provide aspiring professionals with pertinent undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications that enable youth to follow particular career paths. The obstacle for public colleges lies in their need to sustain financial viability amidst restricted public financing. There exists proof of enduring structural disparities between historically disadvantaged institutions (HDIs) and historically advantaged institutions (HAIs). These disparities have not been investigated in existing research through longitudinal studies. This research evaluates the fiscal viability of two Higher Degree Institutions and two Higher Education Institutions by analysing audited financial reports from 2019 to 2023. Financial ratios assessing liquidity, solvency, efficiency, and operational sustainability were computed and analysed via Resource Dependence Theory (RDT). The findings indicate persistent discrepancies between HDIs and HAIs. HDIs had diminished liquidity standings, increased borrowing, and constrained capacity to produce operating surpluses. Healthcare-associated infections typically possess more robust financial statements due to their varied revenue sources and increased reserves. Nevertheless, all institutions are experiencing heightened financial strain, accompanied by diminished surpluses over the duration. The results suggest a reliance on a limited number of financing sources. This intense dependence on restricted funding sources correlates with diminished financial robustness and increased vulnerability to operational risk. The research indicates that enhancing financial sustainability requires an evaluation of institutional regulations and a novel strategy for generating revenue streams. Universities are advised to enhance their financial governance and diversify their income streams beyond a limited number of sources. If structural reforms are not implemented, financial disparities among these universities are expected to continue, threatening the long-term stability of the higher education industry. These results indicate that in the absence of a significant alteration in income allocation, the inherent financial disparity between HDIs and HAIs would intensify, jeopardising the enduring institutional stability of South Africa's higher education system.

This study investigates the effects of toxic masculinity on female traders operating in proximity to taxi ranks. Toxic masculinity, characterised by rigid adherence to traditional male roles and the devaluation of traits perceived as feminine, has pervasive effects on various aspects of society. In the context of female traders at taxi ranks in Thohoyandou, Vhembe District, the impact are significant and multifaceted. Using qualitative methods, including interviews and observations, this research examines the experiences of female traders in environments where toxic masculinity is prevalent. Non-probability will be employed in this study and purposive sampling will be unsterilized. Exploratory research design will be used. Findings suggest that toxic masculinity contributes to discomfort, intimidation, and safety concerns among female traders, hindering their ability to conduct business effectively. The study highlights the need for interventions to address toxic masculinity and create safer, more inclusive environments at taxi ranks. Recommendations include the implementation of policies regulating music played in public spaces and the provision of support mechanisms for those affected by harassment or intimidation. By promoting respect and inclusivity, efforts can be made to mitigate the adverse effects of toxic masculinity on female traders and enhance their participation in economic activities at taxi ranks.

The study examined whether male and female South African accounting and tax practitioners differed in their self-reported ethical attitudes, reported professional experiences, reported categories of unethical client requests and stated intended responses to a tax-related ethical scenario. The study was motivated by mixed research observations on gender perceptions of ethical behaviour and the high number of previous accounting scandals in South Africa. These scandals have led many to question the ethics of the accounting profession, and whether accountants are upholding public trust. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was employed. A total of 245 usable questionnaires were analysed. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to examine gender differences across 12 ethical-attitude items, while chi-square and exact tests were used to evaluate associations involving the categorical professional indicators, reported client-request categories and stated scenario responses. No statistically significant gender differences were detected across the 12 ethical-attitude items, and no professional ethical indicator remained statistically significant after adjustment for multiple testing. Although female respondents selected the understate-income category more frequently than males, this exploratory comparison did not remain statistically significant after adjustment for multiple testing. Approximately 90% of both groups stated that they would notify both the client and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) when responding to the understated-income scenario, and no statistically significant gender association was detected. Findings indicate limited gender-related variation in the reported ethical attitudes and stated professional intentions of practitioners in this predominantly young, early-career sample. They also highlight the importance of practitioners’ reported exposure to external client pressure and their stated intended professional responses. The findings should not be interpreted as demonstrating actual ethical behaviour or as establishing that professional education, regulation or occupational socialisation caused the observed similarity.

Gender-based violence remains a critical concern affecting female students in higher education institutions, with significant implications for their academic success, psychological well-being, and overall safety. This protocol outlines a qualitative study designed to explore the experiences of undergraduate female students regarding GBV within HEIs and to develop contextually relevant preventive strategies. The study adopts an interpretive qualitative approach using a phenomenological and exploratory research design to gain an in-depth understanding of participants lived experiences. Purposive sampling will be employed to recruit approximately 15 undergraduate female students aged 18–24 years and four student counsellors as key informants. Data will be collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews and analysed using thematic content analysis guided by Tesch’s framework. The study is informed by Afrocentricity, African feminism, and empowerment theory, which provide a culturally grounded and intersectional lens for understanding GBV and informing prevention strategies. Trustworthiness will be ensured through credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Ethical principles, including informed consent, voluntary participation, confidentiality, and anonymity, will be strictly upheld. The findings are expected to generate rich insights into the nature and impact of GBV on female students and to inform the development of evidence-based prevention strategies, including awareness programmes, improved reporting systems, and strengthened institutional support mechanisms.

Proverbs form a vital component of African indigenous knowledge systems, embedding moral guidance, social norms, and intergenerational wisdom. This article offers a contemporary reinterpretation of the Setswana proverb “Monna ke selepe, wa adingwa” (“a man is an axe; he is borrowed”) within the context of gender-based violence (GBV), intimate partner violence, and father absenteeism in South Africa. Traditionally linked to male mobility within extended family networks, the proverb is reframed as a metaphor for the transmission of positive masculine values, ethical guidance, and communal mentorship rather than the physical presence or ownership of men. Drawing on an integrative literature review that synthesises scholarship on Indigenous Knowledge Systems, critical and positive masculinity theories, and strengths-based social work approaches, the article demonstrates how culturally resonant symbols can bridge tradition and contemporary practice. Findings highlight the underutilisation of indigenous narratives in GBV prevention, the enduring influence of hegemonic masculinities, and the interconnectedness of father absence with cycles of violence and relational instability. The discussion advances practical implications for social work, proposing the integration of proverb-based dialogues into community interventions, fatherhood programmes, and mentorship initiatives. By positioning the “axe” as a transferable resource of wisdom and responsibility, the article contributes to the decolonisation of social work practice and offers a culturally grounded pathway toward non-violent, accountable, and relational masculinities that support GBV prevention and strengthen communal care.

This article systematically reviews literature on the challenges affecting the delivery of low-income housing in Cape Town, South Africa. A systematic method, informed by PRISMA, was employed to identify, evaluate, and select relevant scholarly works, official documents, policy papers, and governmental publications. The identified sources were subjected to a thematic analysis with the objective to pinpoint recurrent issues that impact the provision of low-income housing. The review found that low-income housing delivery in Cape Town is affected by interconnected challenges, including land availability, spatial inequality, funding constraints, infrastructure limitations, administrative delays, weak institutional coordination, limited stakeholder participation and transparency concerns. The results demonstrate that low-income housing delivery should be viewed as a major governance, planning, and service-delivery issue in addition to the building of housing units. This paper suggests that integrated human settlements, better financial planning, more transparent approval processes, more intergovernmental cooperation, significant stakeholder participation, and open communication should be given top priority when it comes to Cape Town's low-income housing delivery. Through summarizing previous research and emphasizing the necessity of an integrated strategy to address Cape Town's low-income housing issues, the article adds to the conversation regarding housing delivery.

The significance of SMMEs in local government is closely associated with job creation and income generation; SMMEs subscribe to the stimulation of socioeconomics in South Africa. The main aim of the study was to investigate the challenges affecting the implementation of renewable energy on Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises in South African Local Government. The study was conducted at Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality in Alice and municipal officials and SMME owners taking part as participants within the same area. The study followed an interpretive philosophy with a case study research design. The sample size was 12 participants, using a non-probability sampling method and purposive sampling technique. The study's target population included SMME owners and municipal officials from the Directorate of Engineering and Services from Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality. The study collected primary data using semi-structured interviews. Thematic Data Analysis was used to analyze the data. The study findings revealed financial barriers, lack of technical expertise, and the challenge of permits and approvals to connect renewable energy systems to the grid as the main challenges affecting the implementation of renewable energy for SMMEs.  The study's recommendations include financial incentives through grants, capacity-building workshops, collaboration with various stakeholders, and community solar projects. The contribution of this study will be significant since most SMMEs struggle with electricity supply during load shedding, which negatively affects business production and operations.