The main aim of this article is to assess the Setsoto Local Municipality’s readiness to adopt emerging technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Although both local government officials and citizens require a level of e-readiness (e-literacy and e-skills), a skills deficit and a lack of cluster implementation of 4IR-related technologies have resulted in a mismatch between critical technological vacancies and the delivery of municipal e-services. Additionally, in most instances, municipalities are poorly equipped to provide these services to their local populace. Thus, this study analyses various factors that affect the Setsoto Local Municipality’s readiness to adopt 4IR-related technologies in rendering e-services. To address this issue, the study employed a qualitative interpretivist research paradigm to explore the lived experiences of officials in the Setsoto Local Municipality. Thirty-five (n=35) semi-structured interviews were conducted with the management and administrative employees of the municipality. The most significant finding of this article is that the adoption of 4IR technologies is hindered by interrelated financial, staffing, information, and communication technology infrastructure constraints that impact the e-readiness capacity of officials. This article recommends that scholars follow a holistic approach when assessing the readiness of local government to adopt and deliver e-services using 4IR mechanisms to the local community.
This paper employs the ideology of Pan-Africanism to analyse the potential strengths and challenges faced by African states in addressing 21st-century issues. As a political and ideological framework, Pan-Africanism aims to foster continental unity by promoting cohesion among diverse African societies. However, post-colonial Africa grapples with political and security crises, including rising conflicts, exclusion, and civil wars in many nations. Unfortunately, many solutions tend to originate from external sources, often proving ineffective and counterproductive. The concept of ‘African solutions for African problems’ is examined to assess whether African countries can resolve their issues independently of extensive outside interference. External influence, whether through invitation or force, has been shown to undermine Africa’s security structures and mechanisms designed to achieve accurate African solutions. The competition for influence among external powers further complicates these efforts. The paper concludes that Africa is capable of managing its political and security affairs effectively without Western involvement.
This paper explores the role of ethical leadership in addressing the persistent challenges of service delivery in KwaZulu-Natal municipalities. Using a qualitative methodology, interviews were conducted with municipal officials, councillors, traditional leaders, and community members, and the data were analysed thematically using NVivo software. The study reveals that the lack of ethical leadership, as evidenced by corruption, nepotism, and poor governance, is a primary cause of service delivery failures. Participants highlighted the importance of moral integrity, community engagement, and consistent ethical conduct for restoring public trust. The data indicate that ethical lapses are often normalised within municipal operations, allowing misconduct to persist unchallenged. Ethical leadership, therefore, is not merely a moral aspiration but a governance necessity in the context of democratic local government. A culture of ethical awareness and institutional integrity must be nurtured and inculcated at all levels of municipal administration. The findings call for a cultural shift in leadership practices and a renewed commitment to ethical governance across all tiers of local government.
This paper examines the relationship between unplanned urbanisationand deforestation through the lens of the political ecology of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation(REDD+), as well as conservation, sustainable forest management, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks,in Nigeria. The paper argues that while Nigeria is committed to REDD+ as part of its climate diplomacy profile, this has not helped arrestthe worsening rate of deforestation in the country. It notes further that the situation is exacerbated by unplanned urbanisation, which is one of the most serious social problems facing the country.Given the government's failure to ensure adherence to urbanisation and urban planning rules and regulations, the rise of new urban centres and the expansionof existing onesare driving an acute rate of deforestation in the country.Based on qualitative research methods, including interviews and secondary data, the paper concludes that Nigeria’s so-called commitment to REDD+ is a farce, as it has failed to address the drivers of deforestation, chiefly unplanned urbanisation.The paper recommends that Nigeria must meet its international climate commitments, including those related to REDD+, with the appropriate implementation to achieve its goals and targets withinthe country.
A key component of local government in South Africa is the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), which gives municipalities a strategic framework for addressing service delivery priorities and developmental goals. However, the proper implementation of IDP depends on the alignment of Monitoring and evaluation indicators with municipal goals. This study explores the extent of alignment between the IDP objectives and M&E systems in King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality (KSDLM). The study used semi-structured interviews with municipal officials, and a qualitative methodology informed by the Theory of Change (ToC) and Results-Based Management (RBM) frameworks. Thematic analysis revealed that, despite the presence of performance management strategies, including sectoral monitoring mechanisms, institutional scorecards, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), their effectiveness is hindered by political interference, inadequate data systems, and capacity constraints. Additional findings suggest that while the Performance Management System (PMS) has established relationships between M&E practices and IDP goals, these are often reduced to purely symbolic exercises with no evidence-based resource allocation or decision-making. A conceptual model framework was developed in the study to demonstrate how IDP objectives can be successfully aligned with M&E indicators. Additionally, it recommends embracing digital data systems, enhancing feedback processes, reducing political interference, strengthening technical capability, institutionalising M&E as a developmental instrument, and promoting public engagement.
At the core of South Africa’s challenges lies political interference, coupled with ineffective and corrupt leadership within the public service. The article analyses the reasons for and the consequences of leadership of governance in the public service in South Africa. The challenges of leadership, poor service delivery, resultant protests and violent demonstrations, and corruption should be thoroughly investigated. This article, based on qualitative desktop research with a deductive approach, examines the nature and extent of political and administrative relationships in the public service. It establishes the extent to which political influence and the cadre deployment policy influence effective and efficient public services, and consequently, the delivery of quality services to the citizenry. The reasons for poor service delivery include poor governance, leadership, and performance issues stemming from incapacity, as well as an inadequate political and administrative interface, which have a negative impact and result in corruption and service delivery protests. The research suggests that for efficiency, the public service in South Africa should be professionalised. Appointments in the public service should be made on merit, not based on political beliefs or allegiances. The professionalisation of the public service is one of the key factors in resolving the status quo.
This paper exploresthe perceptions of municipal councillors and officials regarding their role in promoting social cohesion within local government contexts. Social cohesion is closely tied to how communities experience trust, inclusion, and equitable service delivery, making local government a critical actor in fostering unity and resilience. The perceptions of municipal councillors and officials are thereforeessential, as their attitudes, decisions, and practices directly shape how social cohesion is promoted or hindered within municipalities.A qualitative research approach was employed, using a multiple case study design to explore two metropolitan municipalities in South Africa, the City of Cape Town and the City of Ekurhuleni. These municipalities were purposively selected as they explicitlyidentify the facilitation of social cohesion, particularly through fostering trust and a sense of belonging, in their policy and strategic documents. The main findings of this study revealed three interrelated challenges that undermine the promotion of social cohesion at the municipal level: a lack of commitment, a lack of political will, and inadequatebudget allocation. The lack of explicit budget allocations undermines the effectiveness of social cohesion policies at the local level. Municipalities must therefore consider integrating social cohesion into their budgeting processes as a strategic priority, thereby signallingtheir commitment to building cohesive, inclusive, and resilient communities.
Over the past five decades, Mozambique has experienced an intensification of extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, and high-speed winds, resulting in the forced displacement of thousands of people. Rivers, central to livelihoods, are ambivalent: while they provide essential water, they also cause devastation by flooding communities and destroying infrastructure. At the same time, populations already vulnerable to flood cycles face prolonged droughts, which insidiously compromise the survival of people and animals and destructive winds that amplify the damage. The decision to relocate outside traditional areas of residence becomes extremely complex in contexts of socioeconomic vulnerability and food insecurity. Communities, often forced to migrate to resettlement villages, do not have enough time to maintain productive activities, such as agriculture, as they are required to be permanent residents in the new area. In this scenario, the paradigm of "I am not leaving here, no one will take me away" proves unsustainable, as people have to leave due to the devastating floods and cyclones. In contrast, to that same extent, leaving their homeland will not promote climate resilience or guarantee food security. The central question raised by communities affected by such events is: How can resilience be maintained in the face of such events? This article analyses a robust data set from longitudinal studies and recent research on climate refugees and Internally Displaced Populations (IDPs). Additionally, we conducted interviews in the resettlement areas where IDPs are located. The results indicate that, five years before the deadline to comply with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mozambique is far behind in achieving key targets relate to SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), while still opting for conventional approaches, known as Business as Usual (BAU). Despite being triggered by such extreme weather events, the methods used to address them should be revised, as they are insufficient to tackle the complexity and uniqueness of climate impacts. It follows that migration, often seen as a solution, fails to promote climate resilience communities and exacerbates food insecurity, which requires an urgent review of climate disaster management policies and practices.
In contemporary governance contexts, the performance of elected executive political leaders at the state level is typically evaluated based on their ability to fulfil key indicators of good governance. These indicators include effective and efficient service delivery, accountability, transparency, absence of corruption, adherence to the rule of law, equity, and inclusiveness, among others. Nevertheless, in Nigeria, the attainment of these indicators is often impeded by ongoing political crises between governors and their deputies. The persistent failure to achieve these benchmarks frequently results in poor governance outcomes. While existing scholarship has attributed bad governance to factors such as corruption, weak political will, mediocrity, state fragility, and the lack of transparency among state executive leaders, there remains a dearth of research examining how political disputes between executive governors and their deputies contribute to the erosion of good governance in Nigeria. Utilising secondary data sources and grounded in principal-agent theory, this article investigates the underlying causes of political crises between executive governors and their deputies, assessing the extent to which these conflicts undermine good governance at the state level in Nigeria. It advances knowledge about intra-executive crises in Nigeria and offers informed recommendations for mitigating such conflicts to promote good governance
This study examines the relationship between Board Strategic Leadership (BSL) and the growth of Agricultural Marketing Co-operatives (AMCOS) in Simiyu, Tanzania. Concurrently, it assesses the moderating role of the co-operative regulatory framework on this relationship, thereby addressing the notable empirical gap. Resource-Based Theory and Institutional Theory guided it. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, using a structured questionnaire for data collection and stratified random sampling to select 237 AMCOS managers (82.3% response rate). Data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling(PLS-SEM) and linear regression. The findings revealed that BSL has a positive influence on AMCOS growth (β = 0.205, p = 0.012), with membership growth being the most prominent indicator, compared to asset growth and product innovation. Importantly, the regulatory framework significantly moderates this relationship (β = 0.03, p = 0.032) and has a direct effect on AMCOS growth (β = 0.388, p = 0.000). The study concludes that BSL is a significant driver of AMCOS's growth, with membership growth serving as the key indicator. This influence is significantly amplified by a supportive regulatory framework, highlighting a critical interplay between internal and external governance for the sustained co-operative success. The study provides policymakers in Tanzania with valuable insights to refine the cooperative regulatory framework, ensuring accountability, operational autonomy, clarity, and strategic flexibility for the AMCOS board. Additionally, it highlights the need for targeted training and capacity-building for leaders to enhance BSL and promote sustainable co-operative growth.
Legislative oversight is a constitutional mandate in the South African system of governance for maintaining an accountable public service. In practice, the implementation of this mandate is facing complexities arising from poor performance, maladministration, abuse of state power, and corruption scandals affecting governance at all levels. This study aims to explore the implementation of legislative oversight towards enhancing executive accountability to improve service delivery in the Limpopo Province. To guide the study, principal-agent theory was adopted as a theoretical perspective, and qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted to collect data from participants of this study. The finding shows that there was an inconsistent implementation of the oversight system, particularly in the monitoring of executive conduct via public hearings, meetings, reports, site visits, regular reviews, and public engagement processes. The data also highlights that the process of oversight implementation was affected by capacity constraints, a shortage of resources, political interference, ineffective consequence management, and bureaucratic red tape, which undermined the efforts to enforce executive accountability and transparency in the province. Thus, robust collaboration among the legislature and provincial departments, increased resource allocation, and enhanced political commitments are needed to consolidate accountable governance in the context of current political shifts that demand more proactive and innovative legislative oversight systems and mechanisms. This study contributes to the ongoing debate regarding accountable governance and public service delivery in South Africa.
The paper seeks to probe the challenges associated with the implementation of local economic development (LED) in Polokwane Local Municipality. The authors argue that local government in South Africa is associated with a multiplicity of challenges in implementing the LED strategy. Local economic development as a development strategy has, in the recent past, gained widespread popularity and acceptance as a grassroots-based approach, especially in the developing world. Local economic development has increasingly emerged as a crucial policy imperative for local communities across the globe, including in South Africa. The emergence of LED is explained by various government policies. However, the implementation and success of LED have also not been championed by local municipalities. This is reflected by the ever-increasing unemployment and poverty rates, as well as low economic development in rural areas. The paper employed a qualitative research approach as it relies on empirical evidence from existing literature, journals and government documents to sustain the argument. The findings of the study include the following challenges: political meddling, shortage of resources, lack of capacity, limited experience, lack of funding for LED, political interference, poor political leadership, lack of efficient bureaucracy, corruption and Infrastructure availability. The study recommends that further research should be conducted in South Africa's local government to detect problems associated with LED. The study further recommends mechanisms that can be used to adequately address LED challenges.
e-Governance is a mechanism that a government can utilise within all three spheres of government to provide efficient and effective public services. Access to education, particularly amongst underprivileged learners, can be promoted through information and communications technology (ICT). In South Africa, social justice strives to ensure that every child has access to fair education that will enable them to thrive in socio-economic aspects as adults. The application of ICT in education is one mechanism that can ensure that learners are prepared for the world of work in the 21st century. Furthermore, adapting to the Fourth Industrial Revolution ensures citizens benefit from technological advancements. Reform is also required for the government to modernise itself and use technology to optimise service delivery. This article highlights the importance of e-governance and ICT in education, following an investigation into the role of these factors in promoting social justice. The research approach was qualitative. A single case study design, with two observation units, was adopted. Ten research participants were selected from a group of experienced educators, senior education administrators, and ICT professionals. The research participants were selected based on their knowledge and experience through purposive and snowball sampling. The outcomes of the investigation suggest that e-governance can effectively promote social justice; however, the implementation of policies must be executed in such a manner that buy-in from stakeholders is obtained from the early stages of the implementation phases. The common obstacles to implementing e-governance and ICT in education, especially in underprivileged areas, are ICT infrastructure, financial cost and training.
The Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), endorsed in 2015, aimed to ensure food security, eliminate hunger, promote sustainable agriculture, and improve nutrition. It provided a global action plan for the year 2030. Consequently, a disparity has emerged in South Africa (SA) between the existing initiatives and the anticipated attainment of SDG 2 in time. Thus, this study sought to investigate the role of student entrepreneurship on food security to propose strategies that promote sustainable student entrepreneurship in South African universities, particularly at the University of Limpopo (UL). A quantitative methodological approach was utilised to gather primary data through an online survey. The sample consisted of 42 student entrepreneurs from the UL, who were selected using purposive sampling techniques. This study was prompted by the financial burden faced by students at South African universities, which led to a rise in student entrepreneurship to address hunger. The findings showed that student entrepreneurship alone could not fulfil SDG 2, which expressed a need for support. This study concluded that student entrepreneurship merely held significant promise for enhancing food security, and sufficient institutional, educational, and policy initiatives should back it.
This paper sought to evaluate the impact of Corona virus (COVID-19) on the implementation of the National Development Plan 2030 in the Vhembe District Municipality. The National Development Plan (NDP) is a plan for South Africa to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030 through uniting South Africans, unleashing the energies of its citizens, growing an inclusive economy, building capabilities, enhancing the capability of the state and leaders working together to solve complex problems. The approach of the Plan revolves around citizens being active in development, a capable and developmental state able to intervene to correct the historical inequalities, and strong leadership throughout society by working together to solve the problems. The Plan addresses the need to enhance the capabilities of the people so that they can live the lives that they desire; and to develop the capabilities of the state so that it can grow faster, draw more people into work and raise living standards for all, particularly the poor. This paper investigates whether COVID-19 pandemic has done significant harm to an already bruised economy, or if it has enhanced the implementation of the Plan. The paper used a mixed research methodology in which both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used. To achieve the objective of the study, non-probability sampling and its subtype, purposive sampling method, were used to get an appropriate sample.
As one of sub-Saharan Africa's most arid countries, Namibia serves as a crucial example for studying the interactions between climate vulnerability, migration, and food systems. The primary objective of this paper is to examine how climate-induced migration in Namibia, driven by environmental stressors such as droughts and erratic rainfall, impacts urban food systems and influences the resilience strategies of migrant households, particularly in cities like Windhoek and the northern towns of Oshakati, Ongwediva, and Ondangwa. Aligned with the literature on environmental migration, informal economies, and adaptive capacity, the study examines the dual role of migration as both an adaptation strategy and a source of new vulnerabilities, exploring how migrants navigate urban food insecurity through informal trading, rural-urban linkages, and reciprocal food and cash transfers, while also assessing the institutional and policy gaps that constrain long-term resilience in the face of climate and socio-economic pressures. We adopted an integrated conceptual framework that examines the interplay between climate-induced migration, urban food systems, and resilience in Namibia. Through household surveys, policy analysis, and stakeholder interviews, we uncover a paradox: despite escaping rural climate stressors, migrants often encounter new vulnerabilities such as precarious employment, inadequate housing, and unstable food access. However, they develop sophisticated adaptive strategies that span urban-rural divides, maintaining rural agricultural production through family networks, adapting urban farming to water scarcity, and creating informal food distribution systems that connect rural and urban markets. These resilience mechanisms face mounting pressure from intensifying droughts and institutional constraints. While remittance economies and informal networks help buffer shocks, climate impacts compound vulnerabilities across migrant and host populations. The study demonstrates how formal and informal systems mediate these challenges. We recommend policies that recognise internal migration as a climate adaptation strategy, strengthen urban-rural food linkages, and improve urban food governance. The Namibian case offers valuable lessons for other arid, urbanising African regions facing similar climate-migration-food system dynamics.
This study develops a Food Security Vulnerability Index (FSV) to examine regional disparities in women's vulnerability to food insecurity in Nigeria. Using the 2018/2019 Nigeria General Household Survey (GHS) data, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to construct a composite index scaled from 0 to 1 and classified into five categories ranging from very low to very high vulnerability. The analysis covered 4,401 households, with descriptive statistics complemented by Moran's I to test for spatial autocorrelation. Results show that the mean FSV score was 0.302 (SD 0.172), with most households concentrated in very low (35.54%) and low (35.17%) vulnerability classes, while 22.86% fell in the moderate class, 6.23% in the high class, and 0.20% in the very high class. Female-headed households consistently displayed greater vulnerability than male-headed households, with 23.17% and 6.92% falling into moderate and high categories compared to 22.52% and 5.48% for men. Regional disparities were marked, as households in the South-South, South East, and South West exhibited higher vulnerability scores, with up to 46.33% in moderate and 15.73% in high categories, while the North East and North West recorded relatively lower vulnerability, partly due to external support interventions. Moran's I confirmed significant spatial clustering, rejecting the null hypothesis of no regional difference in women's vulnerability. The findings underscore that food insecurity in Nigeria is both gendered and spatially constituted, demanding spatially targeted, gender-sensitive policy responses.
Tropical Cyclone Idai, which struck in March 2019, was among the most catastrophic climate-related disasters in Southern Africa, causing widespread destruction, loss of life, economic loss, and rapid-onset displacement in Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. Displaced populations experienced disproportionate impacts after the cyclone, yet few studies have examined post-disaster displacement management dynamics. As climate change intensifies cyclones like Idai and their associated displacement impacts, addressing this research gap is crucial for mitigating future climate-related displacement risks. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature, reports from humanitarian agencies, and policy documents, this paper examines Cyclone Idai-related displacement in Mozambique, with a focus on the short-term, long-term, and cross-border dimensions shaped by displacement management. Findings indicate that displacements following Cyclone Idai were largely internal and marked by weak disaster preparedness, reactive disaster response, and resettlement, which are entrenched in structural and non-structural vulnerabilities. There was also limited coordination on cross-border displacements. Altogether, these challenges undermined disaster recovery, heightening future displacement risks. Based on these findings, the paper recommends a shift towards improved early warning systems, disaster preparedness, effective coordination, and mobilisation of local resources at national and regional levels for disasters. Furthermore, durable, displacement-proof solutions must be underpinned by coherent national and regional frameworks for displacement management that integrate disaster risk reduction into land-use planning, urban planning, and climate-resilient livelihoods.
This paper captures the primary remittance function in establishing economic resilience and migrant solidarity in Africa. Remittances, as a source of fiscal inflow, have played a crucial role in poverty alleviation, enhancing domestic welfare, and contributing to economic growth. In this article, the nexus between remittances, migrant solidarity groups, and economic development is analysed by applying a literature review approach, as well as theories of vulnerability and resilience, and social capital theory. Migrants form solidarity networks in host countries and offer support systems through financial, food, and material assistance, not only to their families in the host country but also to those in their home countries. In the face of increased environmental stress, such as droughts, floods, and economic uncertainty, these networks act as informal insurance, buffering risks and enabling adaptive capacity at a transboundary level. The article examines how migrant solidarity networks facilitate the reversal of challenges faced by migrants in South Africa and foster resilience in their countries of origin, using examples from Zimbabwean, Cameroonian, and Pakistani migrants. It concludes by discussing policy suggestions on how migrant solidarity networks can be integrated into national and regional climate change adaptation strategies, with a focus on fostering trans-border resilience to global socio-economic and environmental crises, as well as other development initiatives.
This paper explores women's lived experiences navigating food, land, and water systems in the context of climate-induced displacement in Tsholotsho, Zimbabwe. Based on qualitative data generated through participatory methods, the paper signposts the effects of entrenched gender inequalities, shaped by patriarchal norms, in amplifying women’s vulnerabilities in climate shocks. However, despite the systemic inequalities, displaced women demonstrate resilience and agency through adaptive strategies to sustain their families through challenging times. Based on qualitative data generated through participatory methods, the paper explores women’s experiences in displacement. Using an intersectional approach, findings highlight their vulnerabilities, which include structural inequities, lack of access to land leading to disrupted livelihoods and challenges with access to water resources. They further underscore women’s agency and resilience, challenging dominant narratives that portray displaced women as passive victims.
