Sector In South Africa Research Articles

The Perceived Impact of Leadership Practices of Academic Leaders on Student Success in a Higher Education Institution in South Africa

The research reported on in this paper was motivated by the need to investigate student complaints in the higher education sector in South Africa regarding the poor quality of teaching and learning which has resulted in low student success rates in many institutions in the country. To mitigate poor student success rates, higher educational institutions in South Africa need to consider implementing effective leadership practices of academic leaders to support students in their academic journey. This study identified how academic leaders leadership practices are perceived by students in a higher education institution in South Africa, and to identify which leadership practices are more impactful in supporting student success. According to Hoadley, Christie and Ward (2009) and Hallinger (2011), leadership practices are indeed aligned to academic performance. Grajfoner (2024) suggests that effective academic leadership is a key contributor to attaining academic excellence. However, Bryman (2007: 14) asserts that “one of the key problems in Higher Education is that not enough is known about exactly what makes an effective leader and what, in turn, may make them ineffective”. The theoretical framework upon which the study is based was developed by Mukan, Hawryluk and Stolyarchuk (2015: 42), who suggest that “leadership is a derivative quality of people collaborating, co-operating and supporting each other. It is characterized by openness and is a dynamic, inclusive, collegial process that occurs in a particular context”. In this research, a quantitative study was conducted using a purposeful sample selected from the target population of students at a higher education institution in South Africa. The final sample included 78 undergraduate students from the selected institution. The analysis undertaken in the study revealed that perceived leadership practices of academic leaders do have an impact on student success and that student success is not based on any one element of leadership practice alone; instead there are various perceived dimensions of leadership practices that play a role in promoting student performance. The findings of the study highlighted three key leadership practices that impact on student success, namely engagement, support and communication.

HEARING THE VOICE OF WOMEN WORKING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Early childhood development (ECD) has the potential to change society. Researchers globally recognise the importance of early intervention on children’s overall well-being and development, impacting their personality and social behaviour. When developing policies to support early childhood development, some questions arise regarding the implementation’s practicality. The National Integrated Development Plan for Early Childhood Development in South Africa aims to transform ECD service delivery in South Africa to address critical gaps and ensure comprehensive, universally available, and equitable early childhood development services. Providing quality places for care and education for children between the ages of 0-7 years is emphasised as a critical component of the overall plan toward eradicating poverty. Research indicates that the lack of quality ECD learning environments is one of the critical challenges impacting negatively on achieving the intended transformation. This research paper explores the experiences of the principals and teachers of a selection of 8 ECD centres situated in Outerwest eThekwini. The research is conducted through a theoretical lens of spatial justice for ECD children and their teachers/carers in South Africa. The study is framed within the ecological systems theory developed by Bronfenbrenner, providing an understanding of the complexity of their context. The research design follows a constructivist approach of interviews and participation, enabling voice to a marginalised group within an interpretive/ transformative paradigm. The research findings expose the multiple levels of inequality and the resilience of the women who serve the ECD sector in South Africa.

Increasing the deployment of Solar PV in the commercial sector in South Africa: Buildings as assets for energy transition

South African electricity system is undergoing energy transition towards increased use of renewable energy. The share of coal generated power was 83% in 2022 versus 94% a decade ago and 8% of electricity was generated with renewables. At large utility scale, the integrated resource planning (IRP) process is a policy vehicle used to increase renewable energy penetration within the grid. However, at distributed and small-scale level, the process of renewable energy uptake is heterogenous, complex, user-centric and relies on customer preferences, cost, the enabling municipal regulations and tariffs. This dynamic adoption makes planning for distributed energy systems very complex as energy planning tools are designed for centralised planning. To overcome this planning challenge, this paper adopts a three-step modelling process to estimate rooftop solar PV adoption for commercial buildings. This modelling process combines optimisation, market research and simulation modelling approaches using availability of commercial building rooftops, rooftop suitability properties and solar PV resource as constraints. With excellent solar PV resource potential in the country, and at high rooftop suitability levels of 80%, up to 12 GW of solar PV rooftops can be installed on commercial buildings. Therefore, commercial buildings can serve as strategic assets for decarbonisation and increasing the security of power supply.

Machine learning technology for good health and well-being for sustainable human security in South Africa

The failure to achieve sustainable development in South Africa is due to the inability to deliver quality and adequate health services that would lead to the achievement of sustainable human security. As we live in an era of digital technology, Machine Learning (ML) has not yet permeated the healthcare sector in South Africa. Its effects on promoting quality health services for sustainable human security have not attracted much academic attention in South Africa and across the African continent. Hospitals still face numerous challenges that have hindered achieving adequate health services. For this reason, the healthcare sector in South Africa continues to suffer from numerous challenges, including inadequate finances, poor governance, long waiting times, shortages of medical staff, and poor medical record keeping. These challenges have affected health services provision and thus pose threats to the achievement of sustainable security. The paper found that ML technology enables adequate health services that alleviate disease burden and thus lead to sustainable human security. It speeds up medical treatment, enabling medical workers to deliver health services accurately and reducing the financial cost of medical treatments. ML assists in the prevention of pandemic outbreaks and as well as monitoring their potential epidemic outbreaks. It protects and keeps medical records and makes them readily available when patients visit any hospital. The paper used a qualitative research design that used an exploratory approach to collect and analyse data.

Brand Image as a Strategic Lever for Mergers and Acquisitions in the Financial Services Sector in South Africa

There were a number of mergers and acquisition (M&A) and hostile take overs in South Africa over the past decade and half. Companies in a M&A are in most instances preoccupied in pursuit of increasing the shareholder value and securing the biggest market share through effective branding. The research objectives of the study were to evaluate the effectiveness of mergers and acquisitions in relation to its image as a brand and to provide recommendations in respect of future merger and acquisition deals for an organisation. The study adopted the quantitative method of research by means of a survey questionnaire and the target population for this study was 310 managers (in the financial services sector) in Kwazulu-Natal. Relevant descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected. The research findings uncovered that from a turnaround perspective in mergers and acquisition deals, brand image should be skilfully and appealingly crafted to generate the desired return on investment. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by revealing that institutions who merge in the financial services sector consolidate their position in the market if brand image is aligned to the institution’s strategy. A fortified brand image results in greater market share.

“Someone Who Is Going to Preserve Your Surname and Clan Name”: A Sesotho Cultural Perspective on Male Partner Involvement in Maternal and Newborn Care in the Free State, South Africa

In the global public health discourse, involving men in maternal and neonatal health is regarded as crucial for positive outcomes in both health and development. In South Africa, health interventions designed to promote male partner involvement among low-income indigenous populations have been framed within social constructivist notions of masculinities and have produced mixed outcomes. This has necessitated calls to explore alternative approaches, including the need to decolonise men and masculinities studies in Africa. As part of one phase of formative research for a mixed-method project aimed at adapting a male involvement intervention for the context of Sesotho-speaking men and women in the Free State, we applied a multi-site case study research design and collected qualitative data using focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Verbatim-recorded transcripts were translated, transcribed, and thematically analysed with NVIVO 14. The results indicate that customary practices in pregnancy, delivery, and newborn care are not static and vary between families based on belief systems, socioeconomic status, geographical setting (peri-urban/rural), and kinship networks of care. Therefore, these practices and beliefs should be understood, affirmed, and contested within the complex African-centred material and immaterial worldviews on personhood in which they were generated, transmitted, rejected, or adopted. It is recommended that a decolonised approach to male partner involvement in this context must be cognisant of the intersections of racial and gendered power relations, contestations in beliefs and practices, the resilient effect of colonialism on indigenous gender systems, as well as contemporary global entanglements that inform North–South power relations on the best practices in maternal and newborn health in the public health sector in South Africa.

Newly qualified primary care nurses' preparedness to make sound clinical judgements in practice.

The public health sector in South Africa provides care to more than 40 million people, with primary health care (PHC) clinics acting as most patients' first contact with healthcare services; 80% of patients are treated by primary care nurses. Primary care nurses' poor clinical judgment can result in poor patient care, complications and death. However, newly qualified primary care (NQPC) nurses' preparedness for making sound clinical judgements in practice has not been evaluated in Gauteng province, South Africa. To determine NQPC nurses' level of preparedness in making sound clinical judgements in practice. A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive design was used. The target population was NQPC nurses. A census method was used to select all NQPC nurses in public PHC facilities in three health districts of Gauteng. The sample size comprised 77 NQPC nurses, and data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The findings indicated that 83% of NQPC nurses were able to notice salient changes in patients' conditions, 43% were able to correctly interpret the changes that were noticed, but only 42% prioritised the correct patient care. The results reflect that 50.2% of the NQPC nurses in public PHC facilities in the three districts in Gauteng were functioning at exemplary levels.Contribution:This article highlighted NQPC nurses' level of preparedness to make sound clinical judgements within a year after qualifying.

Innovating Built Environment Education to Achieve SDG 4: Key Drivers for Integrating Augmented Reality Technologies

Augmented Reality Technologies (ARTs) are increasingly pivotal in transforming various industries, with notable implications for the built environment sector. This article delves into the drivers of ART adoption for education and training within the built environment, focusing on its role in enhancing educational delivery and operational efficiency. Utilising a structured survey distributed among professionals in South Africa’s built environment, this study employs descriptive and inferential statistics to analyse the data, identifying key trends and correlations. Our results demonstrated that ART significantly enhances task accuracy, fosters better collaboration and mitigates misinformation, thereby improving training and education outcomes. Professionals particularly highlight ART’s capacity to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical site experience, underscoring its value in preparatory education and on-site training. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that the integration of ART into educational curricula and professional practices not only augments learning experiences but also propels safety and quality in construction projects. Given these findings, this study strongly recommends that stakeholders in the construction and educational sectors in South Africa prioritise the adoption of ART to fully leverage its benefits for innovation and competitive advantage in the built environment.

Evaluating the climatic suitability for camping in South Africa: an application of the Camping Climate Index (CCI)

ABSTRACT Nature-based tourism is a prominent component of the tourism sector in South Africa, attracting both domestic and international travellers. Camping plays a crucial role, providing both affordable lodging and an opportunity to engage more directly and continuously with the natural environment. Climate is a key determinant of the feasibility of camping activities and has been empirically established as a significant influence in tourists’ decision-making process when selecting a destination. The climate in South Africa, while highly heterogenous, has been generally classified as ‘ideal’ for tourism. The Camping Climate Index (CCI) has recently been developed to quantify the climatic suitability of diverse camping locations, and the suitability of the index confirmed for South Africa. This study applies the CCI to 33 stations across South Africa for the period 1990–2022 or for the longest time period for which data are available. The average annual CCI scores range from 3.5 (‘unfavourable’) for Sutherland to 5.3 (‘acceptable’) for King Shaka International Airport. Mean monthly scores for the common period 2017–2021 range from 2.7 (‘unfavourable’) for Sutherland in August to 6.2 (‘good’) for Springbok in January and December. This facilitates the advancement of the tourism sector in South Africa by providing a quantitative assessment of the climatic conditions suitable for camping activities.

An Analysis of Livestock Theft in South Africa (2013-2023): Towards a Deeper Understanding of Livestock Dynamics for Enhanced Countermeasures

Livestock theft poses a significant challenge to the agricultural sector in South Africa, impacting farmers’ livelihoods, food security, and economic stability. This article analyses livestock theft in South Africa for the ten-year period from 2013 to 2023. It draws on existing literature, government statistics, and analyses of livestock theft statistics. The study identifies the key factors contributing to livestock theft, including regional disparities, seasonal patterns, and the involvement of organised crime. Key findings reveal a steady decline in reported cases from the 2018/2019 financial reporting year, even though the number of stolen livestock has remained relatively high. This is indicative of underreporting, livestock theft incidents; closed-circuit television (CCTV) and surveillance measures; that have had an influence on the data. Practical recommendations are made for combating livestock theft, including improving reporting mechanisms; conducting targeted research on regional hotspots; implementing interventions during peak theft periods; fostering stakeholder collaboration; and increased investment in the training and capacity-building initiatives for law enforcement agencies. This article contributes to understanding the complexities of livestock theft in South Africa. It offers actionable recommendations for policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and agricultural stakeholders to address this pressing issue and protect the economic livelihoods of farming communities.

A Quantitative Review of Un-licensed and Off-label Medicines Use in Children Aged 0-2 Years in the Private Sector in South Africa: Extent, Challenges, and Implications.

The global lack of suitable formulations for children leads to off-label and unlicensed medicine use, posing significant risks of adverse effects. Understanding this usage on a national level can help guide interventions for better formulations. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of off-label and unlicensed medicines among children in South Africa's private sector. The study used a point prevalence methodology to review medicine use in children aged 0-2 years enrolled in a selected pharmaceutical benefit management company in South Africa from January to June 2022. A sample size of 1055 prescriptions was calculated using a 90% confidence interval, 50% prevalence rate, and 5% error margin. A systematic random sampling approach selected every seventh entry from 91,973 total entries, resulting in a final sample size of 13,139. Data included patient age, number and characteristics of medicines, quantity, and indications. Descriptive statistics analysed and reported the prevalence of unlicensed and off-label medicine use. Among the 13,139 prescribed medicines, 40% (5,246) were off-label or unlicensed, and 60% (7,893) were on-label. Of the off-label/unlicensed medicines, 16.85% (2,214) were unlicensed, and 23.08% (3,032) were off-label. Methylprednisolone was the top off-label medicine, probiotics were the top unlicensed, and the ICD10 code Z76.9 was the top diagnosis. The study found that 40% of children aged 0-2 years were prescribed unlicensed or off-label medicines in South Africa's private healthcare sector between January and June 2022. This suggests a widespread practice of off-label or unlicensed prescriptions in paediatric treatment in the South African private sector.

Bridging the Skills Gap: Integrating Mobile Learning in Adult Basic Education and Training for Enhanced Employability in South Africa

South Africa experiences high levels of unemployment, and, among other reasons, this is perpetuated by a lack of skills development and training for adult learners in the Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) sector. To alleviate poverty and unemployment, adult learners need skills development and training to use mobile devices to learn conveniently. Mobile learning (m-learning) is a form of distance learning and a subset of e-learning and flexible learning. It has significance for the development of individual adult learners and countries. Consequently, this research study aimed to explore the effectiveness of skills development for adult learners in the ABET sector in South Africa and was supported by the theoretical framework of Andragogy. It also used the constructivist paradigm, followed by the qualitative research approach, and data collection methods included focus group interviews. The research findings indicate that skills development and training are desired in the ABET sector and that m-learning could be of greater use as an alternative approach to teaching and learning for adult learners. Based on the findings, the authors recommend integrating practical skills development into ABET programs and expanding mobile learning initiatives for effective mobile learning.

MSMEs’ resilience strategies during the Covid-19 Crisis: a case of the tourism sector in South Africa

MSMEs’ resilience strategies during the Covid-19 Crisis: a case of the tourism sector in South Africa

Enhancing service delivery through digital transformation in the public sector in South Africa

Enhancing service delivery through digital transformation in the public sector in South Africa

Talent Management and Work-Life Balance in the Business Process Outsourcing Sector in South Africa: Towards the Enhancement of Competitive Strategy

Talent Management and Work-Life Balance in the Business Process Outsourcing Sector in South Africa: Towards the Enhancement of Competitive Strategy

THE MODERATING ROLE OF TELECOMMUTING ON THE NODE OF EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, ITS DIMENSIONS AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE

Objective: To investigate the moderating effect of telecommuting on the relationship between employee engagement, its physical, cognitive, and emotional dimensions, and employee performance within the South African Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. Theoretical Framework: This study adopted the Employee Engagement theory and Social Exchange Theory which provide a basis for understanding the variables under study. Method: A quantitative research design was adopted. An online survey was utilised to collect data. A combination of non-probability sampling methods was employed to gather a total of 478 complete responses from employees in the South African ICT sector. The data was analyzed using a range of statistical tools, including structural equation modelling, to derive empirical insights and test the proposed hypotheses. Results and Discussion: The results reveal that telecommuting moderates the relationship between cognitive engagement and employee performance, as well as the relationsip between emotional engagement and employee performance. However, telecommuting did not moderate the relationship between physical engagement and performance, nor the relationship between employee engagement and performance. These findings suggest that telecommuting enhances employee performance primarily through its impact on cognitive engagement and emotional engagement. Research Implications: The study's findings imply that organizations, particularly in developing economies, should tailor their remote work policies to strengthen cognitive and emotional engagement among employees to optimize performance outcomes. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the moderating role of telecommuting in the relationship between different dimensions of employee engagement and performance within the ICT sector in South Africa.

Teachers’ Experiences on the Implementation of COVID-19 Protocols Amidst the Pandemic in Mmashadi Circuit of the Sekhukhune District

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic extended to the education sector in South Africa, prompting the implementation of preventative measures by the National Coronavirus Command Council. These COVID-19 protocols included the wearing of face masks or face shields, ensuring maximum ventilation, washing of hands, and school attendance routines to deal with overcrowded classrooms, among others. This study aimed to delve into the implementation of COVID-19 protocols in schools, focusing on the strategies utilised and the challenges teachers encountered. Employing a qualitative research methodology within a case study framework, the study involved eight teachers (five male and three female) from four schools in the Sekhukhune District, selected through purposive sampling. Data were elicited through semi-structured interviews to gain a thorough understanding of the phenomenon and coded for anonymity purposes. Aligned with the goal of the study, thematic data analysis was adopted for analysing the data. The findings revealed that teachers faced significant challenges in balancing their responsibilities in implementing COVID-19 protocols alongside making up for lost teaching time. However, alternative strategies were employed by teachers to mitigate this loss including the deployment of assistant teachers to support protocol and assist students with homework, additional security personnel to help guard and control unnecessary school visits, and for teachers to provide supplementary notes and embark on online learning. Recommendations include the increased deployment of support personnel, increased community involvement, training teachers to use online learning platforms, and for the Department of Basic Education to develop a guidance sheet to assist teachers in navigating the challenges of teaching during a pandemic.

Indoor temperature and CO[formula omitted] in South African primary school classrooms: Inspecting brick, container, and prefab structures

In the resource-constrained education sector in South Africa, infrastructure deemed temporary or backup elsewhere is used as permanent classrooms, mainly in areas of low income. Temperature and CO2 levels, substantial determinants of air quality, have not been studied across different classroom types, despite their direct impact on children’s cognitive performance and comfort. We measure CO2 and temperature every 11 min in 24 classrooms at two schools in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Container classrooms with and without insulation, mobile (prefabricated) classrooms, and brick classrooms of different configurations are included. Measurements were concurrently sampled over twelve months, across multiple seasons with relevant metadata, including ambient weather conditions. We analyse temperature and CO2 concentrations for classroom types and classroom categories and compare school days with non-school days. The results show that temporary classrooms (container and mobile) have substantially worse thermal environments, even when air conditioning is available. The CO2 concentrations in container classrooms are substantially worse, whereas mobile classrooms have better conditions comparable to brick classrooms. We conclude that container classrooms have the worst temperatures and ventilation, prefabricated classrooms have acceptable ventilation but poor thermal qualities, and brick classrooms have the best thermal environment and ventilation.

Collaborative actions of MICE stakeholders toward sector recovery and resilience

ABSTRACT This article examines the collaborative actions taken by key stakeholders in the meetings, incentive travel, conference/convention, and exhibition (MICE) sector of South Africa in enabling sector recovery and building resilience. In-depth interviews held with 19 MICE event stakeholders representing event planners, suppliers, leading industry associations, and governing authorities, show the key collaborative actions taken by MICE sector stakeholders, including establishing the South African Events Council, increased information sharing, capacity support, and recovery partnerships in the sector. The study illustrates that while the MICE sector forms a small segment of the tourism industry of South Africa and was the most regulated, the survival, adaptability, and recovery of many members in the sector were recognised as depending on the collaborations entered into therein. Understanding such collaborations in the MICE sector allows for a deeper understanding of the resilience-building process of the sector toward its sustainability.

The Impact of Risk Management on Banks’ Profitability: A South African Perspective

Global research has shown that different risk management practices in banks and companies, in general, may significantly influence their profitability. This research paper investigates the impact of credit risk, liquidity risk and market risk in the banking sector in South Africa. It adds to the literature by improving the existing models and by exploring the impact of the coronavirus on the profitability of the same banks through the lens of risk management. The research used quantitative data collected from the six largest commercial banks in South Africa during the period (2013-2020),before Covid-19. Several panel regression models were developed to incorporate credit, liquidity, and market risks. The results showed that the primary determinant of bank profitability was the management of non-performing loans, implying that other financial risks may already be appropriately managed or diversified away in the South African context. However, banks and regulators should place more importance on evaluating the creditworthiness of their current and prospective customers.