The purpose of this research is to examine the ongoing challenges in implementing land restitution in South Africa, particularly within a rural district context, to inform policy reform and suggest a model for enhancing the effectiveness of restitution efforts. Employing a qualitative research approach that relies on secondary data, the study utilises peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, and legislative frameworks, while being informed by Land Restitution Theory to explore institutional and governance dynamics. The results indicate that despite South Africa's robust constitutional and legislative framework for land restitution, the implementation is hindered by inadequate institutional capacity, poor coordination among state agencies, ineffective Communal Property Associations (CPAs), market-oriented acquisition methods, and insufficient community involvement. These obstacles have considerably impeded the progress of land reform and weakened its intended socio-economic benefits. Additionally, the study highlights that insufficient post-settlement support and limited empowerment of beneficiaries continue to threaten the sustainability of restituted land. This research contributes to the field of land reform by providing policy-focused recommendations that aim to strengthen institutions, enhance CPA capabilities, foster participatory governance, and explore alternative acquisition methods. Furthermore, it proposes a people-centered model for implementing land restitution that aims to enhance governance, accountability, and livelihood outcomes.
Public service delivery in South Africa continues to face systemic challenges, many of which are linked to unethical conduct within local government institutions. Mkhondo Local Municipality has become emblematic of this crisis, with persistent allegations of maladministration, nepotism, and financial mismanagement. This study aimed to investigate the hidden costs of unethical conduct and its impact on service delivery efficiency within Mkhondo Local Municipality. A qualitative research design was adopted, employing purposive sampling to select ten (n=10) officials from the supply chain management and finance units, based on their institutional knowledge and operational experience. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and was analysed thematically using NVivo 12 software. The findings demonstrate that unethical conduct directly contributes to project delays, procurement irregularities, resource misallocation, and the underutilisation of allocated budgets, thereby undermining service delivery efficiency. Furthermore, inadequate oversight and ineffective consequence management mechanisms were found to exacerbate institutional dysfunction and erode public trust. The study concludes that unethical conduct is not merely an ethical concern but a structural governance failure with measurable consequences for service delivery. It recommends the institutionalisation of a merit-based governance system, strict adherence to clearly defined ethical standards and compliance protocols, compulsory ethics training for municipal officials, and the implementation of clear and consistent consequence management frameworks to restore efficiency and rebuild public confidence in local government.
Cultural Troupe Performance (CTP) serves as a dynamic medium of cultural transmission, blending verbal and nonverbal expressions to engage audiences. In Benin City, cultural troupes (CTs) draw upon the community's rich cultural resources not only to entertain but also to communicate and propagate the people’s heritage. This study examines the verbal and nonverbal messages conveyed through CTP in Benin City, analyzes how audiences interpret and comprehend these messages, and identifies the sociolinguistic, cultural, and contextual factors that shape message reception. The problem addressed in this study is the ongoing decline in people’s knowledge of their language and culture. Using a qualitative methodological approach, data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs), key respondents (KRs), and observations conducted during fieldwork. Data were analyzed using an interpretive thematic approach. Findings reveal that audience understanding of the messages communicated varies and is influenced by several factors. The significance of the study lies in drawing attention to the persistent threats of cultural erosion and language loss, thereby underscoring the need for sustained cultural and language education, as well as broader preservation initiatives. This paper contributes to the limited body of existing literature and expands access to knowledge in the field.
This qualitative study investigates the benefits, challenges, and coping mechanisms of student marshals, who navigate the dual demands of academic coursework and campus responsibilities in university settings. Through narrative inquiry, a qualitative approach suited to capturing participants' lived experiences, the research elucidates the advantages accrued by these student volunteers, elucidates the multifaceted challenges they encounter, and delineates their adaptive strategies. Purposive sampling was employed to select five participants with direct involvement in marshal duties. Data were gathered via semi-structured interviews and subjected to inductive thematic analysis, enabling themes to emerge directly from the narratives without preconceived categories. The findings indicate that participants accrued distinct benefits from their service as student marshals, consolidated into four thematic categories: personal and social development, resilient leadership, augmented financial management proficiency, and professional advancement. Despite these gains, participants confronted pronounced challenges, articulated through three emergent themes: the demands of reconciling academic obligations with marshal responsibilities, deleterious impacts on physical and mental health, and impediments to effective policy enforcement. Participants further articulated coping mechanisms that coalesced into three themes: systematic time management protocols, deliberate stewardship of physical and mental well-being, and the nurturing of resilience coupled with optimism. This investigation contributes to the extant literature by elucidating the mechanisms through which students reconcile academic commitments with extracurricular work responsibilities, while proffering empirically derived strategies to safeguard their well-being and optimize performance outcomes.
This study assesses watershed restoration techniques in mitigating the impacts of climate change and safeguarding livelihoods in Ward 7, Matobo District, Zimbabwe. The study used qualitative research approaches to collect, analyse and interpret the findings. There were three primary instruments, unstructured interviews, focus group discussions and observation. Using case study design and purposive and snowball sampling techniques, the study had an in-depth exploration of 20 participants in real-life contexts. Key findings revealed that communities in Matobo District employ several watershed restoration techniques which include conservation farming, afforestation, contour farming and construction of erosion control physical structures such as silt traps, stone bunds, gabions and check dams. The findings also unearth the reality that the community members have knowledge about watershed management though they face a myriad of challenges in implementation and maintenance of these structures. Key among the challenges include lack of resources, lack of stakeholder collaboration and lack of technical capacity. The study therefore recommends training sessions focused on advanced watershed management techniques, sustainable agricultural practices, and climate adaptation strategies.
The study aimed to develop a strategic framework for improving the effectiveness of Quality Management System (QMS) in public secondary schools, by exploring its importance, identifying challenges and proposing strategic interventions. Framed through the lens of Burn’s (1978) Transformational Leadership (TL) theory, twelve (12) participants were purposively selected to partake in the study. Through the case study design and a qualitative approach, a telephone semi-structured interview was used to gather data. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis was employed to arrange emerging themes and subthemes. The findings of the study reveal that there are discrepancies in the effectiveness of QMS across the selected public secondary schools. Lack of training, time constraints, attitude towards the system, lack of school resources, and lack of systems control and management were all identified challenges. The study strongly recommends policymakers within the Department of Education deliberately incorporate the principles of the TL theory to guide the future streamlining and repositioning of QMS. Moreover, policy makers, district officials, and circuit managers should prioritize on training SMTs and educators regularly, focusing on TL development, educator empowerment, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of QMS effectiveness. However, the study was limited to relatively small sample size to represent the findings of the entire public secondary schools in the district. Guided by this limitation, further research is recommended. Another limitation was the technical challenges experienced during semi-structured interviews, including consistent network connectivity issues, which may have compromised the quality of responses from some participants.
This qualitative-descriptive study investigates the factors contributing to the success and failure of conciliation efforts within Baguio City's Katarungang Pambarangay system, with a focus on selected barangays in the Central Business District area. Drawing on the perceptions and experiences of eight participants, comprising complainants, witnesses, respondents, Lupon Tagapamayapa members, mediators, and barangay officials, the study employed unstructured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis to pursue two objectives: (1) identifying the factors that contribute to conciliation success or failure; and (2) exploring participants' lived experiences of the process. Key findings indicate that success is driven by effective communication fostering mutual understanding, the conciliator's neutrality and emotional intelligence, and community engagement that leverages local trust and indigenous cultural practices of the Cordillera region. Participants further highlighted perceived fairness, barangay officials' patience and procedural competence, and outcome satisfaction manifested through emotional relief and restored relationships. Failure, by contrast, stems from training gaps, power imbalances, confidentiality concerns, and mismatched expectations. Grounded in Interest-Based Negotiation Theory, Communication and Trust Theory, and the Katarungang Pambarangay institutional framework, the findings affirm conciliation's role in reducing court congestion and strengthening community peacebuilding. The study acknowledges limitations in sample scope and transferability and recommends enhanced mediator training, procedural safeguards, and future disputant-centered research to strengthen this ADR mechanism within the Philippine criminal justice system.
As of January 2024, about 86.98 million Filipinos use the internet with adults aged 25–34 forming the largest group of online gamers, while also representing a large portion of the employed population (27.3%). Balancing work and life demands requires substantial energy, with the Philippines reporting the highest employee burnout in Southeast Asia (70.71%), linked to depression, anxiety, and stress among those working 40–50 hours weekly. Consequently, working adults increasingly seek accessible stress relief, with online gaming offering emotional rest, social connection, and personal growth. This qualitative study explored the positive effects of online gaming on working adults’ well-being. Six participants (4 males, 2 females) from the National Capital Region were interviewed via Google Meet. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis showed that gaming supports emotional regulation, stress relief, self-expression, enjoyment, relaxation, and reward. It also fosters relationship-building, communication, social networking, and cognitive and creative skills such as problem-solving and strategic planning. Challenges like shallow online interactions and potential social disengagement were noted. The findings suggest online gaming can be a positive outlet for well-being when paired with healthy habits such as emotional management, prioritization, and time management.
South African municipalities face persistent challenges in revenue management and debt collection, with consequences for financial resilience and the reliability of basic service provision. Although legislative instruments require sound billing, credit control, and accountability, implementation is often uneven across departments and constrained by institutional routines, capacity limitations, and weak enforcement. This study develops an empirically informed framework for improving municipal revenue management and debt collection. A qualitative case study design was applied, drawing on semi-structured interviews with municipal officials and relevant stakeholders involved in billing, credit control, financial reporting, and related governance processes. Data were analysed through a thematic approach, combining inductive coding of participant accounts with deductive interpretation guided by institutional and organisational perspectives. The findings indicate that weak data integrity and billing accuracy, inconsistent application of indigent policies, limited consequence management, and fragmented coordination between finance and service departments are central contributors to persistent consumer debt. Participants also highlighted the need for clearer process ownership, improved communication with consumers, and more consistent monitoring of revenue collection performance. Based on these insights, the study proposes an integrated framework that aligns institutional compliance requirements with operational controls, stakeholder engagement, and enforcement mechanisms. The framework contributes a practical, context-sensitive tool that can guide municipal managers in strengthening revenue governance, improving implementation coherence, and supporting more sustainable local government finance.
This study provides an examination of Alter X (Twitter Alter) as a hyperreal digital realm using Jean Baudrillard’s concept of hyperreality, Judith Butler’s notion of performativity, and Critical Theory as its theoretical framework. This study unveils that Alter X provides a space for a persistent production of performed and commodified identity, intimacy, desire among Filipino youth that shows features of hyperreality from Baudrillard’s philosophy. Filipino youth are driven to initiate with numerical measurable validation, recognition, and visibility which makes identity inconstant caused by this system. This system that appears to be an empowering and fulfilling experience elucidates through Butler’s theory of performativity to reveal that it is still a manifestation of system that is entangled with heteronormative hierarchies, algorithmic incentives, and audience expectation. Critical theory serves as a framework to further present capitalism within digital spaces is a driving force leading to commodification of bodies and identity. While the space offers relative freedom for usually marginal identities, the production of identities within it serves to reinforce, rather than challenge, heteronormativity. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), it further argues that this occurs within an economy of simulation, in which reputation and likes function as currency, and identity itself becomes the commodity being bought and sold. On these grounds, the paper recommends policy measures to curb harmful participatory practices, algorithmic control, and to provide protection for the most vulnerable users whom the app’s logic most easily exploits.
Three decades after democratisation, South Africa continues to experience significant migration from rural areas to adjacent cities as residents seek improved employment opportunities and better access to essential public services such as healthcare and education. This trend has raised concerns regarding the effective delivery of services, as municipalities face increased financial pressures due to the need to allocate limited resources to accommodate migrants. The growing urban populations have led to a heightened demand for critical services, including water, electricity, housing, and sanitation, often overwhelming existing infrastructure in urban areas. This article examines how internal and cross-border migration shape municipal service delivery capacity in South African metropolitan municipalities. Using a structured review of policy and academic literature and a comparative synthesis of cases from India, China, Uganda, and the DRC, the paper identifies governance mechanisms that mediate service delivery outcomes under population mobility. The findings show that planning population mismatches, weak intergovernmental coordination, and limited implementation capacity (rather than migration per se) drive service delivery inequities. While comparative cases demonstrate partial mitigation strategies, institutional and constitutional constraints limit direct policy transferability to South Africa. The study concludes with context-specific governance implications for metropolitan planning and migration-sensitive service provision.
The status of women’s participation in senior leadership positions remains an unachieved global agenda in all sectors, including higher education. The extant literature consistently underscores the underrepresentation of women in senior leadership positions at South African public universities. The main purpose of this review was to identify the major persisting challenges that limit women's advancement into senior leadership positions and to propose strategies to reduce the existing barriers. Using systematic literature review, this study synthesizes findings from 24 journal articles published between May 2015 and February 2026, sourced from well-known databases, namely Google Scholar, ERIC, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, and the Taylor and Francis Group. The findings from the review identified that several intermingled, persistent challenges obstruct women's access to top leadership positions in South African academia. Lack of support, mentoring programmes and networking, recruitment and selection biases, role conflicts, discrimination, gender stereotypes, gender inequity, gendered organizational culture, and gaps in gender policy formulation and practice are qualified as persisting challenges over the past ten consecutive years. The findings further indicated that refusal to racial discrimination, effective training and development programmes, provision of support and networking platforms, mentoring programmes and research, promoting institutional change and policy reforms, conducting continuous monitoring and evaluation systems, and ongoing advocacy and policy interventions are regarded as systematic strategies to mitigate the existing barriers. Institutional and government commitment play a pivotal role in achieving real gender parity in senior leadership positions and aligning with international, continental, and regional development goals.
Cybercrime has become one of the most harmful forms of crime in the world. By 2025, losses from cybercrime were projected to exceed $10.5 trillion annually, making it one of the largest economies in the world. Despite this alarming global menace, the South African Police Service (SAPS) continues to rely on outdated classification systems and fragmented approaches to digital evidence management, thereby obscuring the true extent of cyber-enabled crimes. This study assesses the integrity of SAPS cybercrime statistics from 2013 to 2022 using an interpretivist qualitative research design, with a particular focus on auditing key issues, including misclassification, institutional discretion, and sociotechnical system failures. The findings revealed three major issues. First, SAPS cybercrime data are largely incomplete due to widespread underreporting and the absence of a centralized reporting system. Second, common cybercrimes, such as phishing, ransomware, identity theft, and business email compromise (BEC), are systematically misclassified under broad categories such as fraud or commercial crime. Third, outdated digital infrastructure, inconsistent practices across police stations, limited technical capacity, and the slow implementation of the Cybercrimes Act significantly undermine data quality. The study recommends adopting the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS) standards, among other reforms. Although the use of secondary data limits insights into internal SAPS practices, the findings underscore the urgent need for coordinated sociotechnical reforms to enhance the effectiveness of digital-age policing in South Africa.
The study examined how social media impacts the online and offline well-being of social workers in private practice within the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Employing an exploratory research design within a qualitative research approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants selected through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The Uses and Gratifications Theory served as the study’s theoretical framework, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The results showed that social media is not one of the primary causes of anxiety and depression; however, it can worsen these conditions among individuals who already experience them. Findings regarding the tools and techniques used by private practice social workers to support their well-being revealed that social media offers several benefits, including attracting new clients, strengthening relationships with existing clients, and providing psychosocial support to individuals in need. The findings further revealed that social media affects social workers’ ability to manage their well-being both online and offline, as creating content for social media marketing requires considerable creativity and time. The study implies that a secure, accessible, and affordable platform should be developed specifically for social work private practitioners to enable them to practice safely while limiting exposure to potential risks such as hacking and scamming.
Incarcerated female offenders often come from backgrounds marked by multiple layers of vulnerability and hardship, including poverty, gender-based violence, caregiving responsibilities, and marginalisation, which significantly impact their mental health outcomes. Although men make up most of the incarcerated population, women’s experiences in South African correctional facilities are largely understudied. This study presents a documentary analysis of existing literature drawing on peer-reviewed journal articles, policy documents, and institutional reports to examine how incarcerated women understand, experience, and manage mental health challenges. A narrative literature review approach is used to identify patterns and gaps in the literature. Many incarcerated women cope with mental health challenges through informal strategies like peer support networks, spiritual practices, inner resilience, and silence. These strategies often compensate for the lack of accessible, gender-sensitive, and trauma-informed mental health services in most correctional environments, as they help maintain a sense of self and dignity. By critically engaging with these patterns, the study aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of women’s psychological experiences in correctional facilities. In addition to supporting future research, policy reform, and activism within the penal system, the anticipated insights may inform the development of gender-responsive mental health interventions in South Africa. The study recommends trauma-informed services that address intersecting factors such as race and class, supported by improved mental health screening, increased access to professionals, and enhanced living conditions in correctional facilities. It further calls for community-based alternatives, integration of women’s coping strategies, and greater investment in mental health systems to address structural drivers of criminalisation and align practices with human rights standards.
Previous studies examined the challenges of recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals across the health sector. However, they have not explicitly focused on the public health sector, particularly in the rural areas of Limpopo province. This paper explores challenges experienced in recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals in rural areas and suggests strategies for the Limpopo Department of Health (DoH) to attract and retain these professionals effectively. The paper employed a qualitative descriptive research design and gathered data through semi-structured interviews. The findings were analysed using thematic content analysis. The paper found that rural public hospitals under the Limpopo DoH struggle to recruit and retain healthcare professionals due to poor living conditions, centralised recruitment, limited career development, and the unattractive nature of rural areas. These challenges show weaknesses in public sector Human Resource Management (HRM) and policy implementation. They lead to staff shortages, burnout, reduced quality of care, and continuous loss of skills. These factors undermine effective healthcare service delivery and the constitutional right to healthcare under Section 27 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. The paper therefore recommends improved administrative planning, decentralised recruitment, better working and living conditions, and stronger interdepartmental coordination to support sustainable healthcare delivery in rural areas. These recommendations align with national priorities and constitutional obligations to ensure every South African has access to equitable and quality health services. This paper contributes to public administration practices in public health and public sector HRM and provides a theoretical contribution to the HRM sub-field in public administration.
The rapid diffusion of algorithmic credit systems has transformed lending decisions, yet their implications for financial well-being remain theoretically fragmented and empirically contested. Existing studies often adopt technologically deterministic perspectives, emphasizing access and efficiency while overlooking the roles of borrower capability and institutional governance. This study advances a socio-technical and architectural systems perspective by examining how algorithmic credit systems influence financial well-being and how these effects are conditioned by human capability and institutional design. Using a quantitative, explanatory, cross-sectional design, data were collected from 400 users of algorithmic and digitally mediated credit platforms. Multiple regression and moderation analyses were employed to assess the direct and conditional relationships among algorithmic credit systems, human capability, institutional design, and multidimensional financial well-being outcomes, including repayment behavior, financial stress, and financial resilience. Measurement reliability and validity were established through Cronbach’s alpha and principal component analysis. The results indicate that algorithmic credit systems are positively associated with repayment behavior and financial resilience but are also linked to higher levels of financial stress. Moderation analysis reveals that these effects are significantly shaped by contextual factors: higher levels of human capability and stronger institutional design amplify positive outcomes and mitigate adverse effects. These findings suggest that financial well-being is not an automatic byproduct of automated credit efficiency but an emergent outcome of architectural alignment among technology, borrower capability, and governance structures. The study contributes to theory by empirically integrating technological, human, and institutional dimensions within a single architectural framework, moving beyond isolated analyses of digital credit.
This study explores the relationship between marital status, self-esteem, and body mass index (BMI) among working-class individuals, with the aim of understanding how these factors interact to influence well-being in the workplace. A comparative and correlational research design was employed to examine variations in self-esteem across different marital status and BMI categories. The study was conducted over a six-month period among working professionals in urban workplaces across India. A total of 200 participants (100 males and 100 females) were selected for the study. Self-esteem was assessed using the Self-Esteem Scale developed by Dr. Santosh Dhar and Dr. Upinder Dhar (2024), while BMI was calculated using standardized measurements of height and weight. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and F-test. The results of a two-way ANOVA revealed significant main effects of BMI and marital status on self-esteem. Self-esteem levels increased progressively from underweight to obese categories, with overweight and obese individuals reporting higher scores. Married participants demonstrated significantly higher self-esteem compared to unmarried participants. A significant interaction effect between BMI and marital status was also observed, indicating that married overweight and obese individuals reported the highest self-esteem, while unmarried underweight individuals reported the lowest. These findings suggest that self-esteem in the workplace is influenced by both physical characteristics and relational factors. Marital support appears to play a positive role in enhancing psychological well-being, particularly among individuals with higher BMI. The study highlights the importance of integrating social support, emotional well-being, and body image considerations into workplace wellness and mental health initiatives.
This study examined families’ perspectives and lived experiences regarding career transition planning for adolescents with Down Syndrome (DS) in an underserved Sizwe community in Soweto, South Africa. Using a phenomenological design, this qualitative study employed purposive sampling to select ten families of adolescents with DS and four Community-Based Organisations (CBOs). Semi-structured telephone interviews with participants were conducted between May and June 2025. Survey data from CBOs complemented family perspectives. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Ethical considerations were prioritised. Four themes emerged: families demonstrated limited awareness of systematic career transition planning, relying on faith-based coping and external agents; financial constraints emerged as the primary barrier to accessing services and saving for children’s futures; families recognised children’s strengths but lacked resources to develop these into career pathways; and families perceived schools as primarily responsible for career transition planning, reflecting uncertainty about their own role. CBOs offered general support but lacked specialised career transition planning programs for families and individuals with DS. Faith-based affirmations substitute seeking practical resources to nurture and develop specific skills or creating career transition plans that would actively prepare adolescents for independence in post-school settings. Recommendations include specific national policy guidelines that promote the post-school transition of special school graduates and collaborative partnerships in career transition planning among families, schools, and CBOs. The study is limited to the perspectives of one community, which may not reflect experiences and perspectives on the subject under study in other underserved communities.
Research is essential in public administration, supporting evidence-based policy making and effective service delivery. Despite its significance, integrating research into governance remains inconsistent, often leading to subpar policies and limited effects on service outcomes. While previous studies have explored evidence use in policy or service delivery, few have examined how research informs both areas comprehensively, especially in the South African context. Hence, this study aims to examine evidence-based research in public administration, with a focus on its role in policy-making and service delivery. Adopting an interpretivist approach and qualitative design, the study uses desktop data from published documents relevant to the subject. Guided by the Evidence-Based Policy (EBP) framework, the review systematically combines studies from published reports and journals, providing a context-specific and integrated view not covered in earlier reviews. Content and thematic analyses identified patterns in research utilization, theoretical connections, and interpretive insights on accountability and participatory governance. Findings indicate that research enhances informed decision-making, uncovers service gaps, supports transparency and accountability, and encourages citizen participation, although political interference, limited capacity, and resource constraints limit its impact. Despite the limited availability of rigorous, up-to-date studies, the depth of this review is restricted, underscoring the need for stronger evidence to inform public sector policy and service delivery. The study recommends institutionalizing research integration, boosting capacity, and adopting participatory approaches to maximize evidence use. This review contributes to the literature by offering a comprehensive, evidence-based understanding of research’s strategic role in promoting the use of evidence in policy development and service delivery.
