IN SOUTH AFRICA Research Articles

Social network analysis of a landscape-scale conservation initiative in South Africa

Assessment of social relations, including social network analysis, is central to understanding collaborative processes for environmental decision-making and action. The capacity of network role players to learn and adapt appropriately to uncertainty and change is a critical determinant of the resilience of socialecological systems. Poor social network structure can predispose failure. In this study, we used social network analysis to explore learning capacity and network resilience in a multi-authority conservation initiative on the West Coast of South Africa (Dassenberg Coastal Catchment Partnership). Our analysis focused on structural variables for network learning and resilience, namely connectivity, heterogeneity, and centrality. The governance network was found to be structurally connected, with the interaction between heterogeneous organisations and sectors, and centralised around a core group of actors. The network had good structural features to enable learning. However, the high level of centrality, and dependence on a small number of core actors, rendered the network potentially vulnerable to dealing with complex challenges. We recommend that core actors (1) reflect on their core functions and whether the network can absorb these functions if they were to leave and (2) tap into the knowledge potential of actors on the network periphery or invite new actors to the network when dealing with complex challenges. This may require the network to diverge into decentralised subgroups to deal with complex issues. We further suggest that the Dassenberg Coastal Catchment Partnership network incorporate social network research with qualitative monitoring into a long-term plan to monitor the movement and influence of actors as the initiative evolves. Significance: This study illustrates how social network analysis can help researchers, public-sector organisations, and donor agencies to monitor the structural features of governance networks that enable or disable learning and resilience within landscape-scale conservation initiatives. Our results illustrate how social network analysis can assist public-sector actors to reflect on their roles and whether there is redundant competency within the network to maintain its resilience.

The influence of digital transformation on the growth of small and medium enterprises in South Africa

From a global perspective, the business environment has become highly dynamic, unpredictable, and competitive due to external forces – mostly technology – that generate change. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of digital technologies on South African business sectors. The sample includes small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the KwaZulu-Natal province. Being qualitative by design, the study used semi-structured interviews for data collection, with eight interviews in the Durban area. SME managers were purposefully selected as participants based on their management positions in the business/company and that they oversee the business operation and understand the influence of digital transformation in the business. The interviews were then transcribed after data collection to determine any recurring themes. In the effectiveness of digital transformation, the study identified themes such as “gaining exposure” and “gaining effective sales figures” as a result of implementing digital transformation, which was indicated by six of eight participants. The findings showed that digital transformation significantly affects building customer relationships and ensuring easy accessibility of the business. The results further indicate online selling and digital marketing as the leading digital platforms successfully implemented by most South African SMEs. Lastly, the study revealed digital maintenance and rapid changes in technology as challenging factors. Moreover, the study recommends that South African SMEs implement more available digital technologies to gain additional exposure.

Environmental Sustainability Commitment and Access to Finance by Small and Medium Enterprises: The Role of Financial Performance and Corporate Governance

Small and Medium Enterprises in South Africa contribute critically to the economy, yet they face many challenges, such as lack of access to external finance. Thus, applying the stakeholder theory, this study tested the relationship between environmental sustainability commitment and access to finance and whether this relationship was mediated by financial performance. The study further examined the moderating role of corporate governance on the relationship between environmental sustainability commitment and access to finance. Owner/managers of 600 SMEs from three provinces in South Africa were randomly selected using a probability sampling method. Primary data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. The moderated mediation model was tested using PLS-SEM. The findings showed that environmental sustainability commitment significantly predicts access to finance both directly and indirectly through financial performance. Moreover, the results showed that corporate governance positively moderates the link between environmental sustainability commitment and access to finance. This study has several implications. Practically, small unlisted firms can adopt and apply the model developed in this study to enhance their environmental, social, and governance practices to unlock external funding. The novelty of this study is that it proposed and tested a moderated mediation model to understand SMEs’ determinants of access to finance. In addition, this study provides a nuanced understanding of responsible business through green behaviour in the context of SMEs, which has been lacking in the existing literature.

Earnings generation and strategic alliance-building and as a means of achieving scalability of social enterprises in South Africa

While scaling of social impact is a key element in social entrepreneurship (SE), many social enterprises fail to scale-up their impact meaningfully. This is an opportunity to investigate earnings generation (EG) and strategic alliance-building (SAB) as potential predictors of scalability of social enterprises. The study context is South Africa where SE has much relevance due to the many social ills, which plague the country. Initially, the study instrument is tested for validity and reliability, whereupon hypotheses are tested using multiple regression analyses. Results show that EG is a significant and positive predictor of social enterprise scaling. This finding is important considering that many social enterprises in South Africa are challenged by financial resource constraints. This study, conducted in an African emerging market context, allows social entrepreneurs to more deeply understand the relevance of EG and SAB in their scaling efforts. Indeed, developing a strong body of evidence that validates the effectiveness of policy in supporting social enterprise scaling is pivotal for both theory and practice.

A typology of social entrepreneuring models continued: Empirical evidence from South Africa

ABSTRACT There have been calls in social entrepreneurship research to move beyond conceptual arguments and to ground definitions and conceptualizations of this field in empirical research, especially pertaining to the developing world. Owing to the socially embedded nature of social enterprises, the context in which social enterprises originate is a key determinant of their modus operandi. In South Africa, a context fraught with social ills, the lack of clarity on the nature and form of social enterprises constrains research and policy formulation. Using a survey methodology, we collected data from a sample of 453 social enterprises on domains of social entrepreneuring identified in previous studies and performed a cluster analysis to identify different types of social entrepreneuring models. The findings point to the existence of two main types of social entrepreneuring models in South Africa: beneficiary-centric entrepreneurial nonprofits and customer-centric social businesses. This paper contributes a more contextual understanding of social entrepreneuring models in South Africa. By showing that social enterprises in South Africa are partly unique to their context, this paper underscores the theoretical and empirical importance of the context in which social enterprises originate and operate when testing the universal validity of social entrepreneuring models.

A Stakeholder-Centered mHealth Implementation Inquiry Within the Digital Health Innovation Ecosystem in South Africa: MomConnect as a Demonstration Case

BackgroundThe internet is a useful web-based multimedia platform for accessing and disseminating information unconstrained by time, distance, and place. To the health care sector’s benefit, the advent and proliferation of mobile devices have provided an opportunity for interventions that combine asynchronous technology-aided health services to improve the lives of the less privileged and marginalized people and their communities, particularly in developing societies.ObjectiveThis study aimed to report on the perspectives of the different stakeholders involved in the study and to review an existing government mobile health (mHealth) program. It forms part of a study to design a re-engineered strategy based on the best demonstrated practices (considerations and methods) and learned experiences from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders within the digital health innovation ecosystem in South Africa.MethodsThis study used an ethnographic approach involving document review, stakeholder mapping, semistructured individual interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observations to explore, describe, and analyze the perspectives of its heterogeneous participant categories representing purposively sampled but different constituencies.ResultsOverall, 80 participants were involved in the study, in addition to the 6 meetings the researcher attended with members of a government-appointed task team. In addition, 46 archived records and reports were consulted and reviewed as part of gathering data relating to the government’s MomConnect project. Among the consulted stakeholders, there was general consensus that the existing government-sponsored MomConnect program should be implemented beyond mere piloting, to as best as possible capacity within the available resources and time. It was further intimated that the scalability and sustainability of mHealth services as part of an innovative digital health ecosystem was hamstrung by challenges that included stakeholder mismanagement, impact assessment inadequacies, management of data, lack of effective leadership and political support, inappropriate technology choices, eHealth and mHealth funding, integration of mHealth to existing health programs in tandem with Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals, integration of lessons learned from other mHealth initiatives to avoid resource wastage and duplication of efforts, proactive evaluation of both mHealth and eHealth strategies, and change management and developing human resources for eHealth.ConclusionsThis study has only laid a foundation for the re-engineering of mHealth services within the digital health innovation ecosystem. This study articulated the need for stakeholder collaboration, such as continuous engagement among academics, technologists, and mHealth fieldwork professionals. Such compelling collaboration is accentuated more by the South African realities of the best practices in the fieldwork, which may not necessarily be documented in peer-reviewed or systematic research documents from which South African professionals, research experts, and practitioners could learn. Further research is needed for the retrospective analysis of mHealth initiatives and forecasting of the sustainability of current and future mHealth initiatives in South Africa.

Resource allocation for the realisation of women’s rights: Building on previous gender budgeting initiatives in South Africa

South Africa has ratified several international instruments that impose an obligation on the country to allocate sufficient budgetary resources to realise women’s rights. Gender budgeting has been recognised as a means through which states can implement this obligation. South Africa was the first African country to have adopted gender budgeting initiatives and despite being successful in the initial years, the initiatives phased out and did not become integral to the budgeting process. In this article, I propose sustainable gender budgeting initiatives for a better realisation of women’s rights in South Africa. While the article highlights the challenges, I put forward recommendations for integrating gender budgeting in the national budgeting process.

Promoting Access to Justice through the Broadcasting of Legal Proceedings

This article considers a lack of legal literacy as a barrier to access to justice. The article then considers the potential effectiveness of introducing media-based teaching tools to South African society in an attempt to increase the rights awareness of South Africans. In so doing, the article proposes ways in which this improved rights awareness can assist South Africans to engage with the law, their rights, and the judicial system as a whole in a manner which promotes improved access to justice. It considers television-based teaching tools already implemented in the country as well as possible future interventions. It draws on past television-based education initiatives in South Africa in an effort to consider how South Africans engage with television-based teaching tools. It further draws on the open justice principle to argue for the increased broadcasting of legal proceedings. The article then considers television in three other jurisdictions and undertakes an assessment of the effect of television on our cognitive and subliminal engagement with the law. The discussion on other jurisdictions includes how fictional legal programming, syndicated court programmes as well as other forms of "Court TV" have contributed both positively and negatively to the legal consciousness of those societies.

Promoting Access to Justice through the Broadcasting of Legal Proceedings

This article considers a lack of legal literacy as a barrier to access to justice. The article then considers the potential effectiveness of introducing media-based teaching tools to South African society in an attempt to increase the rights awareness of South Africans. In so doing, the article proposes ways in which this improved rights awareness can assist South Africans to engage with the law, their rights, and the judicial system as a whole in a manner which promotes improved access to justice. It considers television-based teaching tools already implemented in the country as well as possible future interventions. It draws on past television-based education initiatives in South Africa in an effort to consider how South Africans engage with television-based teaching tools. It further draws on the open justice principle to argue for the increased broadcasting of legal proceedings. The article then considers television in three other jurisdictions and undertakes an assessment of the effect of television on our cognitive and subliminal engagement with the law. The discussion on other jurisdictions includes how fictional legal programming, syndicated court programmes as well as other forms of "Court TV" have contributed both positively and negatively to the legal consciousness of those societies.

Key success factors for scaling social enterprises in South Africa

Key success factors for scaling social enterprises in South Africa

Presence and Virulence Characteristics of Shiga Toxin Escherichia coli and Non-Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157 in Products from Animal Protein Supply Chain Enterprises in South Africa.

Consumption of food that is contaminated with Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) has been linked to serious foodborne disease outbreaks. Our aim was to provide a descriptive study on the presence and virulence factors of STEC and non-STEC O157 isolates recovered from 2017 diverse meat and meat product samples from all provinces of South Africa (n = 1758) and imported meat from South Africa's major ports of entry (n = 259). A cross-sectional study was undertaken to analyze raw intact meat, raw processed (nonintact) meat, and ready-to-eat (RTE) meat from cattle, game, sheep, pork, and poultry. Isolation was performed using International Organization for Standardization-based microbiological techniques, while detection and characterization were performed using real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and conventional PCR targeting the stx1, stx2, eae, and ehxA genes. A total of 28 of 1758 (1.59%; confidence interval [CI] 1.1–2) samples from the domestic market tested positive (n = 10 Escherichia coli O157:H7; n = 14 Escherichia coli O157: non-H7; and n = 4 non-O157 STEC), while 4/259 (1.54%; CI 0.4–4) samples from ports of entry tested positive for Escherichia coli O157:H7 based on RT-PCR. On average, diverse samples from domestic meat and meat products from cattle showed the highest number of positive samples (22/1758; 1.3%; CI 0.8–2). RT-PCR detected more positive samples (n = 32) compared with culture (n = 17). Sixteen different virulence factor combinations were observed. Our findings demonstrate a relatively low presence of diverse STEC strains along the meat value chain. To our knowledge, this is the first extensive report in South Africa to analyze STEC and non-STEC O157 from local and imported samples from many animal species. This is important as it reveals virulence factors in STEC strains circulating in meat and meat products in South Africa, which contribute to the risk of infection.

Troubling contexts of education and migration in the DRC and South Africa

ABSTRACT Migration, xenophobia, barriers and rights to education have emerged as a significant issue in recent South African history. While there is a growing body of work on migrants and refugees within South Africa, little is known of the histories and contexts from which migrants come and how these have shaped their educational trajectories. Using in-depth interviews with seven female migrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a complex notion of context, the article provides a comparative, relational ‘assemblage’ of the political economies framing educational experiences in the DRC and South Africa. Two main themes are explored: violence and school fees. Differences in the nature of fee-extraction and privatisation across the two societies are highlighted. The article further argues that NGOs and individual schools’ initiatives in South Africa mitigate dominant trends to some extent.

Analysis of the Business Inequalities Stimulated by the Fourth Industrial Revolution Between Corporates and Small and Micro Enterprises in South Africa

Most of the authors have discussed how technology could enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the production in various businesses. Yet, there is still a gap in literature, and little has been researched about the business inequalities which are fuelled by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) between Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) and corporates. The aim of this paper is to theoretically analyse the business inequalities instigated by the 4IR between corporates and SMEs. The paper argues that the 4IR is advocated by the corporates to increase their production because they are well-resourced and is a disadvantage to the SMEs due to their poor resources. The inadequate analysis of the business inequalities due to the inception of the 4IR provides a vacuum for further conceptual investigation of the phenomenon. The paper used literature-based methodology to analyze the business inequalities brought by the 4IR between corporates and SMEs. This methodology provided an extensive conceptual review of the literature regarding the subject under investigation. This paper reveals that the critical factor of production in corporates appears to be technology which increases production. In that, the 4IR is beneficial to the corporates and a disadvantage to the SMEs. Therefore, the literature indicated that there is an inevitable huge inequality between corporates and SMEs. The paper concludes that there are great business inequalities between corporates and SMEs brought by the 4IR. Thus, the paper recommends the support structures/organizations to assist the SMEs to respond to the growing technology and attempt to close the business inequalities.

Assessing the Critical Success Factors for Aquaculture Enterprise Development in South Africa

In South Africa, small enterprise development is an important strategy for the economic growth, transformation and eradication of poverty and inequality. The government also promotes the development of the aquaculture sector to provide food security, contribute to wealth and job creation, provide livelihood opportunities, and contribute to transformation. South African businesses unfortunately have a low rate of business sustainability. This study investigated the critical success factors enabling aquaculture enterprises in South Africa to become self-sustainable, and the potential reasons for failure including those enterprises that received public funding. The study was conducted on the West Coast of the Western Cape, South Africa. A multiple-case study approach was followed, focusing on the marine mussel farming sub-sector in Saldanha Bay. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the owners or managers of ten mussel farming enterprises, and with nine representatives of role players with responsibility or experience in aquaculture, agriculture, or enterprise development. The results of the study indicated that aquaculture farmers and role players have a similar understanding of the concept of self-sustainability in aquaculture agribusinesses, especially the need for profitability and independence. The most critical success factors for self-sustainable aquaculture enterprises include environmentally responsible and sustainable farming practices, efficiently addressing economic challenges and opportunities, cultivating good business leadership and management, and a supportive business and enabling environment. The main reasons for failing to become self-sustainable include environmentally unsustainable farming practices, economic challenges, weak business leadership and management, and challenges related to the business and enabling environment. The paper argues that commercially focused aquaculture ventures could achieve social benefits, however, socially-focused ventures are unlikely to achieve commercial benefits. The study recommends interventions that could assist aquaculture enterprises in addressing the critical factors described in this paper, to achieve self-sustainability in the long term.

Mitigating risks of tacit knowledge loss in state-owned enterprises in South Africa through knowledge management practices

Background: State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in South Africa face a serious challenge of knowledge loss caused largely by resignations, the ageing workforce and a lack of knowledge management (KM) practices. Objective: This article explores KM practices in the South African SOEs to mitigate the risks inherent in tacit knowledge loss. Methods: The study adopted a mixed methods research strategy using an exploratory sequential design to identify KM practices and their effectiveness in addressing the issue of tacit knowledge loss. The qualitative data was collected through the interviews and document analysis of 2018 annual reports in nine SOEs across five market sectors. A survey questionnaire was distributed to 585 respondents, with a 25% response rate (145) for quantitative data in three SOEs. Results: The results revealed that the majority of the SOEs lacked KM practices in their structures. The lack of KM practices implies that the SOEs are lagging behind in knowledge protective capacities to mitigate the risks inherent in the organisational tacit knowledge loss. With many South African SOEs, facing all these sorts of knowledge loss risks and a lack of KM practices to mitigate them, achieving the objectives of a developmental state remains a far-fetched idea. Conclusion: The absence of KM practices negatively affected knowledge transfer and retention in most of the SOEs. A lack of KM practices will negatively affect their performance and their sustainability to deliver on their developmental mandate. Investment in KM practices will assist SOEs to mitigate the risks associated with loss of organisational tacit knowledge.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in South Africa: Programmatic Challenges and Opportunities for Integration With Other Adolescent Health Services?

Compared to other regions of the world, sub-Saharan Africa has made limited progress in the implementation and performance of nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes. Without urgent intervention, this will serve to undermine cervical cancer elimination efforts in this region. The primary intent of this narrative review is to highlight the programmatic successes and challenges of the school-based HPV vaccination programme in South Africa since its inception in 2014, with the aim of contributing to the evidence base needed to accelerate implementation and improve programme performance in other sub-Saharan African countries. As of 2020, the proportion of adolescent girls aged 15 years who had received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine at any time between ages 9–14 years was 75%, while 61% had completed the full recommended two-dose schedule. This gives some indication of the reach of the South African HPV vaccination programme over the past 6 years. Despite this, vaccine coverage and dose completion rates have persistently followed a downward trend, slowing progress toward attaining global elimination targets. There is evidence suggesting that declining public demand for the HPV vaccine may be a result of weakening social mobilization over time, inadequate reminder and tracking systems, and vaccine hesitancy. Another concern is the disproportionate burden of HPV and HIV co-infections among adolescent girls and young women in South Africa, which predisposes them to early development of invasive cervical cancer. Moving forward, national policy makers and implementers will have to explore reforms to current age eligibility criteria and vaccine dose schedules, as well as implement strategies to support vaccine uptake among populations like out-of-school girls, girls attending private schools, and HIV positive young women. Additional opportunities to strengthen the South African HPV vaccination programme can be achieved by scaling up the co-delivery of other adolescent health services such as comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights education, deworming, and health screening. This calls for reinforcing implementation of the integrated school health policy and leveraging existing adolescent health programmes and initiatives in South Africa. Ultimately, establishing tailored, adolescent-centered, integrated health programmes will require guidance from further operational research.

Disability-inclusive community development: A case of a community garden in Limpopo province in South Africa.

BackgroundPersons with disabilities living in rural areas are marginalised and excluded in most developmental initiatives in South Africa. They face many economic, political and social problems; hence, improving their quality of life is a daunting and challenging task which needs interventions from both the state and non-governmental stakeholders.ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the role played by community gardens in rural Limpopo province in uplifting the lives of persons living with disabilities as well as their communities as a whole. Its main objectives were to assess the social and economic benefits they have provided to this group of people.MethodA qualitative research design was used for this study. Twenty-one participants were identified through purposive sampling. They were made up of people with disabilities, officials from Departments of Agriculture and Social Development. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect data which was analysed thematically.ResultsKey results were that community gardens have contributed to the economic and social well-being of persons with disabilities. They have assisted them with income to supplement their social grants. They also created jobs for their members and contributed to improved livelihoods of their families.ConclusionThe study demonstrated that people with disabilities are capable people who, if given the necessary support, can transform their livelihoods both socially and economically. The study recommends that a disability access audit be conducted to resolve the accessibility challenges of the garden.

Nexus of Loan Re-payment Plans, Interest on Loans and the Sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises in South Africa

This paper examined the influences of interest on loans and loan re-payment plans on the sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. A quantitative research design that adheres to the positivist paradigm was utilized for this study's methodology. The study targeted 103 SMEs operating in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa using purposive sampling. A total of 103 surveys were administered, representing a participation rate of 100 percent. The analysis demonstrated a positive relationship between interest on loans and the SMEs’ sustainability and positive relationship between Loan re-payment plans and SMEs’ sustainability. The study recommended that financial institutions should examine loan re-payment plans for SMEs as necessary in order to minimize loan defaults by SMEs, and financial institutions should cut loan interest rates and the costs associated with loan approvals, which may be accomplished via automation and the utilization of online applications. Furthermore, the study suggested that financial institutions should design a flexible loan re-payment plan for SMEs that considers the nation's economic realities.

Effect of Working Capital Management on Financial Performance of a State-Owned Enterprise in South Africa

South Africa’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have reportedly found it difficult to conserve their financial position in order to improve financial performance. Working capital management (WCM) is a significant component of financial management practices by which firms can be measured and improve financial performance. The study aims to examine the employees’ perceptions of the effect of WCM on financial performance of an SOE in South Africa. Cross-sectional, quantitative research and questionnaire approaches were used to collect data from 51 respondents. The study identified the gaps in cash management. The regression coefficient suggests that there is a strong causal relationship between WCM and financial performance of the firm (r=0.597; p<0.001). The F test indicates that the relationship is statistically significant (p<0.001). It was found that review of WCM accounts for 35.7% (R2 = 0.357) of the variance in finance performance F (1, 49) = 27.1560, p<.000 and it (review of WCM) is also a significant predictor of financial performance, where the relationship was positive (β = 0.597, p<.001). The study recommends that the SOE considers WCM as a tool for its economic growth.

Challenges Facing ICT Use during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises in South Africa

COVID-19 and its related restrictions have led to the closure of over 60% of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) largely due to the inability to move from physical to online business model. Using the desk research technique, this study examines the ICT challenges of SMMEs, coping strategies and the road map for redress in South Africa. Findings reveal challenges such as inadequate digital infrastructure, lack of funds for digital investment, lack of digital literacy, and nature of SMMEs’ business and trade model are major ICT use challenges faced by the SMMEs. SMMEs adopt measures such as laying off workers, changing to high consumable products, and changing marketing techniques to simple online marketing models and pricing strategies to cope with some of the challenges. Based on the findings, we recommend complementarity of the role of key stakeholders, including business owners, governments, telecommunication industry players or internet service providers, and business owners, as an indispensable approach. Businesses need to plan to build resilience against any unforeseeable eventualities that might have catastrophic impacts on their businesses. The government needs to provide financial bailout and business recovery funds at an affordable cost to businesses to help them acquire the necessary infrastructure needed to embrace the change. Furthermore, long-term investment in digital infrastructure by the government toward universal access to the internet by businesses is very necessary. It is also suggested that important industrial actors, such as those in the telecommunications industry, collaborate with the government to achieve universal access to the internet and other ICT technologies by people and SMMEs. This should include a digital literacy program to teach and equip businesses. Special interventions in the form of market security for businesses that are vulnerable are also recommended.