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Digitalisation is increasingly promoted as a catalyst for agricultural productivity, climate resilience, and market integration. However, there is limited systematic analysis of how digital agricultural transformation unfolds within South Africa’s institutional and socio-economic context. This study examines the trajectory, drivers, and governance implications of digitalisation in South African agriculture. Anchored in an integrated Socio-Technical Systems and Digital Agriculture Ecosystem framework, the study applies a structured qualitative document analysis of 82 academic and policy documents published between 2013 and 2025. The findings reveal highly uneven digital adoption patterns that reflect a structural dualism between capital-intensive commercial agriculture and resource-constrained smallholder systems. While South Africa has developed a relatively advanced digital policy architecture, implementation fragmentation, infrastructure constraints, and limited capacity for extension impede inclusive digital outcomes. The study contributes by integrating socio-technical and ecosystem perspectives to analyse digital transitions in emerging economies and by providing a transparent analytical protocol for document-based research. Policy implications highlight the need for coordinated governance, investment in rural connectivity, and targeted support mechanisms to ensure equitable digital transformation.

This study investigated the effects of internal Corporate Social Responsibility (iCSR) practices on employee job satisfaction among commercial banks in Lusaka, Zambia. The research examined two key dimensions of iCSR: education & training, and pay & benefits. The investigation was motivated by the need to understand how specific iCSR practices influence employee satisfaction in the Zambian banking context, where limited empirical research has been conducted despite the growing importance of human capital management in competitive banking environments. The study employed a descriptive research design utilizing a quantitative research approach. The study was grounded in the positivist research paradigm. Data was collected from 146 employees across 15 commercial banks operating in Lusaka through digital self-administered structured questionnaires, representing a 71.2% response rate from the target sample of 205 respondents. Stratified sampling technique was employed to ensure representative selection across management levels (senior, middle, and lower management). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS Version 29.0, employing descriptive statistics (frequencies, means, standard deviations), Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05 level. The study revealed exceptionally strong positive relationships between pay & benefits and education & training iCSR dimensions and job satisfaction.  Pay and Benefits had a variance of (r = 0.9271, 85.96%. Education and Training demonstrated strong effects (r = 0.8935, 79.84% variance. A conceptual framework was developed that successfully integrated the two iCRS dimensions and their relationship with job satisfaction

This quantitative study assesses the effects of T&D programs on service quality at Indo-Zambia Bank. Few empirical studies have been conducted to assess the impact of T&D on service quality levels in banks in Southern African developing countries, including Zambia. This research tries to redress the existing knowledge gap and the limited body of literature by focusing on the Zambian bank. The study was grounded in a positivist paradigm with a descriptive research design. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire administered to 102 Indo-Zambia Bank employees selected through stratified random sampling. Descriptive and Pearson correlation analyses were conducted in SPSS to establish the statistically significant relationship between T&D and reliability and responsiveness. The results reflect a statistically significant relationship between T&D and reliability (p < .001) and responsiveness (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 programs at Indo-Zambia Bank significantly and positively influence both SERVQUAL dimensions, with responsiveness most strongly enhanced by Induction/Onboarding and assurance most strongly driven by Ethics & Confidentiality training.  At the industry level, the study offers a contextually validated framework that regulators and training institutions may use to align professional development standards with measurable service quality outcomes in Zambia’s banking sector. Further research can be conducted in other sectors to verify whether the results will be the same

This study aims to identify the factors that influence the use of digital finance by SMEs. The study is mixed method in nature where literature review was used as a source of information in identifying variables to be tested in the questionnaire. Data was collected from different parts of the eThekwini metropolitan area. The sample consisted of 400 SMEs owners/managers who are operating in Inanda, KwaMashu and uMlazi. A non-probability convenience sampling technique was used, and data was collected through a 5-point Likert scale closed-ended questionnaire. The analysis was conducted using SPSS (Version 29.0). The main findings of this study were 87 percent indicated financial support as the challenge for the use of digital finance by their businesses. While in the qualitative response, the majority indicated that government policies are lacking in regards to the use of digital finance in these industries. It has to be noted that this study is confined in the eThekwini Metropolitan areas in KwaZulu-Natal, Therefore, the generalisation of these results needs to be made with care.

Amidst the strategic priorities of any government is the strengthening of public service delivery to citizens, the developmental state to more effectively serve the needs of the people and act as a driving force for socio-economic transformation and upliftment. The key priority in this regard is the strengthening of healthcare service delivery for a healthy citizenry, ensuring more efficient and caring service delivery. The purpose of this research report is to outline the challenges faced by the Eastern Cape Province in delivering quality services to the people of the Eastern Cape in the Health department. The objectives of the study were to provide and ensure accessible comprehensive integrated quality health services in the Eastern Cape, emphasis is on the primary health care approach, optimally utilizing all resources to enable all its present and future generations to enjoy health and quality of life. Although the Eastern Cape delivery of health is facing a myriad of challenges it is however pleasing to note that it’s in line with the implementation of the National Development Plan, the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (2014-2019), the Minister’s Negotiated Service Delivery Agreement (NSDA), National Health Council Priorities. Although the province is failing to fully provide quality health service in so far as Maternal Children’s and Women’s Health (MCWH) package, if the number of reported medico-legal cases from the province is anything to go by promotion of a better life for all is seemingly becoming a pipe dream. The research which was conducted throughout the province looking at the performance enablers in the form of social determinants of health qualitatively and quantitatively looked at the service delivery points and the infrastructure to determine Improvements on the quality and continuum of primary healthcare. However, from the results of the study it is clear that the Province is still managing to reduce morbidity and mortality due to communicable diseases and non-communicable illnesses and conditions by implementing high impact strategies to address prevention, detection, management and support at all levels of care despite the corollary of both institutional failures and Apartheid legacy.

Financial education has gained global attention as essential to financial well-being, yet national strategies often remain fragmented in design and implementation, constraining policy coherence. To address this fragmentation, this article explores the South African financial education ecosystem through a collaborative governance lens to enhance international efforts for sustained, coordinated policy approaches. The Quintuple Helix Model and the Integrative Framework for Collaborative Governance informed a deductive qualitative analysis of statutory law, policy documents, and grey literature to delineate the mandates of key ecosystem actors. The findings reveal four categories—highly formal, semi-formal, knowledge-based and informal. The article introduces a novel Collaboration Mandate Framework for financial education within a governance regime to assist diverse actors in tackling South Africa’s persistent socio-economic challenges. The article concludes that operationalizing a financial education collaborative governance regime offers a viable pathway to enhance policy coherence, strengthen multi-actor collaboration, and improve financial well-being in South Africa.

Increasing linguistic diversity in higher education institutions across Southern Africa has highlighted translanguaging practices in academic discussions. In Zimbabwean universities, English serves as the official language of teaching and learning and international students frequently navigate complex multilingual settings that challenge conventional monolingual teaching methods. This study examines the challenges and opportunities associated with translanguaging practices among international students at a public university in Zimbabwe. The study aims to explore how international students use translanguaging in both academic and social settings, recognise the difficulties they face in largely English-medium environments and assess the potential advantages of translanguaging for achieving academic success and fostering inclusion. The research is grounded in translanguaging theory. A qualitative research approach was utilised and three focus group discussions were used as data collection methods. The groups comprised 17 international students studying at the chosen state university, enrolled in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses, from different nationalities and backgrounds. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. The data were analysed thematically to uncover recurring themes and insights. The study's findings indicated that translanguaging acts as an essential tool for constructing meaning, collaborating with peers and negotiating identity among international students. Nonetheless, institutional barriers, such as strict language policies and educators’ lack of understanding of translanguaging teaching methods, hinder its effective application. Students additionally expressed feelings of linguistic isolation and decreased involvement when confined to English-only practices. The research suggests that universities implement more adaptable language policies, offer training for instructors in multilingual teaching methods and establish supportive environments that acknowledge and utilise students' full linguistic skills. These measures may promote fairer and more efficient learning experiences for international students in Zimbabwean universities.

Extortion through protection fees has become a major challenge to small businesses in rural towns of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This study examines how extortion operates as a form of localised criminal governance and its socio-economic effects on small business owners. The researcher adopted a qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with 12 small business owners and 4 key informants, including local government officials and community leaders, in 3 rural towns in the Eastern Cape. Thematic analysis showed that the issue of extortion arises from systematic demands for protection fees and the creation of parallel governance structures that undermine state authority, leading to significant socio-economic consequences, such as business closures, decreased investment, job losses, and psychological distress. The findings also suggest that perpetrators target vulnerabilities, including the absence of the state, economic disparities, to establish territorial power, and withdraw resources from both sectors, the informal and formal economy. The study concludes by emphasising that extortion is not only criminal opportunism but also reflects institutional failures in governance that affect the success of economic development, state legitimacy, and social cohesion in rural areas. Strategies to improve must focus on both law enforcement limitations and the underlying socio-economic challenges that enhance criminal behaviours. This study contributes to the advancement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by highlighting threats to small business sustainability, SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) through its focus on criminal governance and weakened state authority, and SDG 1 (No Poverty) by demonstrating how extortion exacerbates economic vulnerability in rural communities. Key Terms: Extortion; Protection fees; Criminal governance; Rural crime; Small businesses; Eastern Cape; Informal economy, Local governance

E-hailing services have become an integral part of student mobility in South African cities, offering convenience and flexibility within transport systems that are often fragmented and unreliable. However, for female university students, the use of these services extends beyond issues of accessibility and cost, intersecting with persistent concerns about personal safety, vulnerability and exposure to gender-based violence. This study examines female students' perceptions of safety and risk when using e-hailing services within an urban university context in the Eastern Cape province. Adopting a qualitative research design grounded in an interpretivist paradigm, the study draws on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with female students who regularly use e-hailing platforms for academic, social, and personal travel. The findings reveal that while e-hailing services are often perceived as safer alternatives to walking or traditional public transport, they simultaneously generate new forms of anxiety linked to driver behaviour, route deviations, inadequate platform accountability and broader societal violence against women. Participants described engaging in continuous risk assessment and adopting self-protective strategies such as monitoring routes, restricting travel times, and relying on peer-based safety networks to navigate perceived threats. The study further highlights the limitations of existing platform safety features, which are frequently experienced as symbolic rather than substantively protective. These findings underscore the need for a more coordinated response involving e-hailing companies, universities, and policymakers to strengthen passenger safety beyond individual vigilance. The study contributes to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by highlighting the structural and social conditions that limit women’s ability to move freely and safely in public and semi-private spaces. It further aligns with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), specifically the goal of ensuring safe, inclusive, and accessible transport systems for all, with particular attention to the needs of women and vulnerable populations. Furthermore, by centring female students lived experiences, this study contributes to ongoing debates on gendered mobility, digital transport governance, and safety within higher education environments in the Global South.

This paper critically examines the characteristics and challenges of small-scale farming in Wegdraai Village, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Drawing on secondary literature, comparative case studies, and thematic analysis, the paper integrates localized evidence such as reliance on family labour, fragmented plots under two hectares, and subsistence-oriented crop diversity with global perceptions from India, Kenya, and Ethiopia. The paper’s finding demonstrated that insecure land tenure, erratic rainfall, soil degradation, and limited access to irrigations and credit undermine productivity, while women and older adults disproportionately shoulder agricultural labour yet remain excluded from decision-making. Despite these constraints, informal networks and indigenous knowledge sustain resilience strategies. Thus, by situating Wegdraai Village within an agricultural ecosystem framework, the paper shows how systemic vulnerabilities disrupt farmer supplier market institution linkages. Therefore, the paper’s recommendations emphasize tenure reform, inclusive cooperations, climate-smart training, and youth focused agric-tech initiatives to strengthen resilience and ensure sustainable food security in marginalized communities.

This study examines how cognitive and structural factors jointly shape customer satisfaction in digital marketplaces, using South Africa as an emerging market context. Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and network embeddedness theory, it investigates the effects of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, perceived network density, and perceived network centrality. A survey of 128 township entrepreneurs engaging with e-commerce platforms was analysed using multiple regression. Findings indicate that cognitive factors, performance and effort expectancy, significantly predict customer satisfaction, whereas structural factors, network density and centrality, have no direct effect when considered jointly, suggesting their influence is mediated through user perceptions of platform efficiency. This study contributes theoretically by integrating technology cognition with ecosystem network perspectives, highlighting the interdependence of platform design and structural coordination in shaping customer satisfaction. Practically, the findings inform platform managers on prioritising customer-centric design while maintaining effective ecosystem governance to enhance customer satisfaction. By linking cognitive evaluations and structural embeddedness, the study provides actionable insights for managing complex digital ecosystems in emerging markets. It further extends understanding of platform strategy beyond technology adoption and network structure alone.

This study presents a quantitative analysis of the strategic role of job embeddedness on turnover intention among nurses in selected healthcare centres in urban Accra, Ghana. Focusing on both on-the-job and off-the-job embeddedness, the study aims to develop a predictive model as a complement to evidence-based policies on human resources to help improve the existing retention of nurses in the healthcare sector. A sample of 276 nurses was randomly selected to participate in the study. Structured questionnaires were administered through digital formats to enable selected respondents to provide data for analyses. The authors employed descriptive statistics in SPSS Version 28 to analyse the data, while Structural Equation Modelling with SmartPLS 3.0 was used to assess the relationships among the variables. By adopting an ecosystem and strategic perspective, this paper considers the role of on-the-job embeddedness as a vital stability mechanism in healthcare systems. Conversely, off-the-job embeddedness emerged as a comparatively weaker influence. The results underscore the need to improve organisational embeddedness as a strategic approach to curtail turnover and enhance healthcare service within healthcare facilities in Ghana.

Concerns about nurse attrition are mounting. Despite this, limited empirical evidence exists on how different dimensions of burnout and institutional support interact in this context. This study investigates how burnout influences nurses’ turnover intention (TI) in urban Ghana and examines whether institutional support mitigates this relationship. A cross-sectional survey design was employed to collect data from 245 nurses across five Christian-based hospitals. Primary data is analysed and aided by the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) in addition to conducting direct evaluation to assess the moderating influences. The findings revealed that emotional exhaustion has a significant impact on TI, whereas depersonalisation has no direct effect. Institutional support also significantly reduces TI. In addition, emotional support strongly moderates the link between emotional exhaustion and TI, while access to resources partially moderates the effect of depersonalisation. The study shows that the negative effects of burnout on TI can be reduced through strong institutional support systems. The outcomes reinforce the applicability of Job Demands-Resources and Social Exchange theories and recommend more investment in both tangible resources and emotional support mechanisms to enhance nurse retention in high-demand urban healthcare ecosystems.

This study focuses on procurement processes as one of the most critical issues facing the South African local government domain today. Our main argument in this paper is that effective and efficient procurement processes are stifled by corruption emanating from political patronage which continues to menace the public sector. The trickle-down effect of this is poor service rendering in local government and the disjuncture between the services rendered and the citizens’ priorities. The principal-agent theory was used as an analytical lens of the study. The study adopted a qualitative literature review to unearth the scourge of tenderpreneurship and explore its effects on service delivery in the Eastern Cape province. Findings revealed that, despite the enactment of relevant statutory instruments and institutional structures to enhance procurement practices within local government, politics-administration dichotomy continues to negatively affect the processes. Corruption in the procurement processes has manifested itself through bribery, fraud and kickbacks and these have proven to be counterproductive in terms of service delivery. Findings have also demonstrated that the rendering of services such as water and sanitation, infrastructure and electricity remain elusive in many local municipalities in the provinces owing to the poor quality of work provided by inexperienced contractors linked to the political elite. In this regard, the study recommends the strengthening of internal financial controls within municipalities and establishing clear work procedures and oversight mechanisms between the politicians and the street bureaucrats.

Cultural practice Gonyalelwa lapa’ occurs when a family chooses to marry a woman, regardless of whether she has children or not, with the intention of her bearing children for their deceased son. Nevertheless, young individuals who are raised within the context of ‘Gonyalelwa lapa’ encounter certain difficulties. This manuscript asserts that, despite these challenges, there are also favorable perspectives regarding this cultural practice. The research endeavor aimed to examine and elucidate the reflections of young individuals who were raised within the framework of ‘Gonyalelwa lapa’. For this purpose, qualitative research methods were employed, specifically adopting a phenomenological approach within an exploratory, descriptive, and contextual framework. Data was gathered from a sample of twenty-three young individuals (including both males and females) utilizing purposive and snowball sampling techniques and subsequently subjected to thematic data analysis. The investigation exposed that growing up in ‘Gonyalelwa lapa’ has had an impact on the youth in diverse manners. These encounters entail mistreatment, insufficient monetary assistance resulting in starvation, gender-based prejudice, especially directed towards females who are not biologically related to their mothers' "marital family", and sensing exclusion and inhospitality within these kinships. Transdisciplinary contribution: This study contributes to the understanding of the effects of ‘Gonyalelwa lapa’ cultural practice on young people from a variety of disciplines such as cultural dimensions, psychological and socio-legal. The findings call for the need for multidisciplinary interventions and policy makers to mitigate the negative consequences of ‘Gonyalelwa lapa’ cultural practice on young people who are raised within this context.

Polygamous marriages are a formally recognised family form within customary law in South Africa and specific cultural communities. However, little attention has been paid to the consequences of living in a polygamous family as a child. A study exploring the effects of Polygamous marriages on Youth Behaviour was conducted in the Ha-Makuya village, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study used a qualitative research approach to investigate the issue. The study used an exploratory research design to explore the topic. Participants were selected through a purposive sampling of six young people aged between 18 to 35 years from polygamous families in the Ha-Makuya village. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and then processed using thematic analysis. The results obtained showed that children in polygamous families face the difficulties associated with sibling rivalry, complex family dynamics, and stereotyping. However, they are adaptive and have developed coping mechanisms to counter these effects. The participants also said they needed more involvement from their fathers and the support of community-based programs. Beyond its sociocultural focus, the study offers insights into human capital development and community resilience in rural ecosystems, dimensions that influence long-term economic participation and youth empowerment. These findings are relevant for policymakers, educators, and social entrepreneurs designing youth-centred interventions in culturally diverse communities. The study recommends culturally sensitive programs, including school-based counselling and community partnerships, to strengthen youth well-being and contribute to sustainable local development.

This study examines whether risk asset exposure affects the financial performance of commercial banks in Cameroon, a bank-dominated economy of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). Risk asset exposure is measured by lending intensity (the loan-to-deposit ratio) and credit expansion (annual loan growth), and performance by return on assets (ROA). The data form a balanced panel of ten commercial banks over 2014–2024, compiled from the prudential reporting system of the Central African Banking Commission (COBAC) as published by Cameroon's National Economic and Financial Committee. Bank fixed-effects regressions with bank-clustered standard errors are complemented by a wild-cluster bootstrap suited to few clusters, Driscoll–Kraay standard errors, lagged regressors, panel Granger non-causality tests and a within–between (Mundlak) decomposition that separates changes in a bank's own exposure from persistent differences between banks. The main findings are that (i) neither lending intensity nor credit expansion is significantly associated with profitability in any specification (bootstrap p = 0.81 and 0.30), and the confidence intervals exclude effects larger than about one percentage point of ROA; (ii) lending intensity is unrelated to profitability both within banks over time and between banks (between-effect bootstrap p = 0.88); and (iii) the COVID-19 years of 2020–2021 were associated with ROA about 0.70 percentage points lower (bootstrap p = 0.009). The results indicate a limited role for lending exposure, while significant bank fixed effects and the COVID-19 coefficient point to persistent bank heterogeneity and common systemic shocks. Because the sample comprises ten banks under a single regulator, the findings should be interpreted with caution.

This study presents a thematic literature review aimed at understanding the systemic barriers that Black African women face when accessing bank loans in South Africa, as well as the critical role that the humanities can play in addressing these issues. In the context of the persistent economic instability facing South Africa, the small business sector has become a vital source of income and resilience for Black women. Despite this, their economic potential remains constrained by limited access to bank loans. Guided by an intersectionality framework, the study discusses the systemic barriers that contribute to the financial hardships and exclusion of Black African women. It further explores how gender-sensitive and humanities-informed approaches can contribute to more inclusive financial services. This includes emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive financial products, bias awareness training, and supportive policy frameworks. The review calls for strategic interventions to improve economic empowerment among Black African women entrepreneurs. Central to these interventions is the role of humanities faculties in facilitating Short Learning Programs and Skills Training Programs that provide business training, helping women manage finances and scale their ventures sustainably through enhanced financial literacy. This increased knowledge can improve their chances of success, even in the absence of formal funding. Conducting Afrocentric research is another avenue to uncover the barriers and address the current financial exclusion that Black women in South Africa experience. Gender equality in financial inclusion must remain one of the fundamental building blocks for steady and positive economic growth in South Africa.

Despite changing Performance Management System (PMS) to Performance Management and Development (PMD) in 2018, public schools face difficulties in effectively implementing PMD in Botswana. This study, using a mixed methods approach, investigated the capacity of school managers to implement PMD. Quantitative analysis assessed capacity and workload, while qualitative insights explored managers’ perspectives on PMD.  From the study, poor PMD implementation is associated with capacity issues, moral laxity and organizational indifference. The study recommends building capacities at all levels of PMD and embracing PMD as a performance reform.

The AfCFTA presents significant opportunities for manufacturing SMEs in Namibia to expand into regional markets. However, limited evidence exists regarding the extent to which these enterprises are logistically prepared to participate effectively in continental trade. This study aims to examine the logistical readiness of GS1-registered manufacturing SMEs in Namibia to participate in trade under the AfCFTA. In this paper, it is also aimed to assess SMEs’ awareness of AfCFTA compliance requirements, identify key logistical challenges, and evaluate operational capability gaps related to supply chain documentation, inventory management, and export logistics. The study is underpinned by the Resource-Based View, Institutional Theory, and Trade Facilitation Theory. A qualitative research approach was employed using open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. A dataset comprising responses from representatives of GS1-registered manufacturing SMEs operating in sectors such as food processing, cosmetics, agro-processing, textiles, and light manufacturing was analysed. Data were collected during 2025 and analysed using reflective thematic analysis supported by Atlas.ti 23 software. The main findings of the study demonstrate that: (i) although awareness of the AfCFTA exists among SMEs, knowledge of specific compliance requirements, including rules of origin, customs documentation, and regulatory procedures, remains limited; (ii) significant internal logistical and operational capability gaps persist, particularly in export skills, inventory management systems, and logistics planning; and (iii) external barriers, including high transport costs, regulatory complexities, and inadequate institutional coordination, constrain SMEs’ readiness to exploit AfCFTA opportunities. The study concludes that GS1 registration is a necessary but insufficient condition for trade readiness and recommends targeted capacity-building initiatives, improved trade facilitation measures, and stronger institutional support to enhance SME participation in continental trade.