185 research outputs found

    Making change against the odds:Entrepreneurial pursuits among young professionals in South Africa

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    Global middle classes appear to be on the rise: more and more people live or aspire to the associated consumptive or professional lifestyles. At the same time, entrepreneurialism has become mainstream in international development discourse and -practices, yet income security and financial stability have diminished for most people. Together these trends present a complex historical situation for current generations trying to build their lives. In this study I analyze how pressures for middle-class ways of living, the proliferation of entrepreneurialism, and pervasive insecurity intertwine in the lives of young professionals in South Africa, and how they grapple with the inherent tensions. I present an ethnographic case study of participants in business incubators, startup hubs and entrepreneurial events, based on eleven months of fieldwork in Johannesburg and Cape Town between 2015 and 2019. How to understand their entrepreneurial aspirations and continued engagement despite volatile and uncertain outcomes? I argue that young professionals’ uptake of entrepreneurship is a situated, cultural practice through which they renegotiate the aspirational legacies of apartheid and the promises of the transition amidst deepening inequalities, rather than the effect of hegemonic neoliberalism. Foregrounding entrepreneurship’s positive potential and the incompleteness of reality, I argue that it offers a practical mode of becoming, of realizing social changes and of changing in itself. In short, this dissertation shows how the appeal of entrepreneurship in the case of Johannesburg’s young professionals makes sense as a way to realize the possibilities for success and the conditions of respectability in post-transition times

    Challenges facing small and medium enterprises at the Lephalale Local Municipality of Limpopo Province in South Africa

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    Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) development is significant for employment, wealth distribution, and innovation advancement. SMEs struggle to survive in the commercial world despite the availability of government programmes. This study was to identify the factors that hinder SMEs in Lephalale Local Municipality from succeeding. The phenomenological research design was used to investigate the current state of SMEs. The objectives were achieved by employing a qualitative approach and using unstructured interviews from a population of 318 participants. The data were analysed using Atlas. ti 8 software. SMEs struggle to sustain their businesses because of a lack of access to equipment and financial resources. SMEs consider attending bookkeeping training. SMEs find it difficult to compete with large businesses because they lack the resources. SMEs should consider collaborating with other businesses to acquire business skills and the government should review the current standards to help SMEs meet the requirements for business development.U bveledzwa ha mabindu maṱuku na a vhukati (dzi SME) ndi zwa ndeme kha mushumo, u kovhela lupfumo na u bvela phanḓa na vhubveledzi. Dzi SME dzo konḓelwa u bvela phanḓa kha ḽifhasi ḽa mbambadzo naho hu na mbekanyamushumo dza muvhuso. Ngudo heyi yo itwa u topola zwiṱaluli zwine zwa thivhela dzi SME kha Masipala Wapo wa Lephalale kha u bvelela. Nḓila ya ṱhoḓisiso ya zwibveleli yo shumiswa u ṱoḓisisa tshiimo tsha zwino tsha dzi SME. Zwipikwa zwo swikelelwa nga u shumisa ngona ya khwaḽithethivi na u shumisa inthaviwu dzine mbudziso dza hone dza sa thome dza dzudzanywa kha vhathu vha vhadzheneli vha 318. Data yo saukanywa hu tshi khou shumiswa sofuthiwee ya Atlas.ti 8. Dzi SME dzi a konḓelwa u bvela phanḓa na mabindu adzo ngauri dzi a konḓelwa u swikelela zwishumiswa na zwiko zwa masheleni. Dzi SME dzo dzhiela nṱha u dzhenela vhugudisi ha u vhulunga rekhodo dza masheleni. Dzi SME dzi wana zwi tshi konḓa u ṱaṱisana na mabindu mahulwane ngauri a vha na zwiko. Dzi SME dzi fanela u dzhiela nṱha tshumisano na maṅwe mabindu u wana zwikili zwa bindu, na muvhuso u fanela u sedzulusa hafhu zwilinganyo zwa zwino u thusa dzi SME u swikelela ṱhoḓea dza mveledziso ya bindu.Go hlongwa ga dikgwebopotlana le dikgwebo tša magareng (di-SME) go bohlokwa go tlhomo ya mešomo, go kabaganyo ya lehumo le go tšwetšopele ya boitlhamelo. Di-SME di swara bothata go tšwela pele ka kgwebo ka lefaseng la kgwebo le ge e le gore go na le mananeo a mmušo. Dinyakišišo tše di dirilwe ka nepo ya go tseba mabaka ao a šitišago di-SME ka Masepaleng wa Selegae wa Lephalale go atlega. Tlhamo ya dinyakišišo tša boleng bja maitemogelo di šomišitšwe go nyakišiša seemo sa bjale sa di-SME. Maikemišetšo a ile a fihlelelwa ka go diriša mokgwa wa boleng le go šomiša dipoledišano tše dipotšišo tša tšona di sego tša hlangwa peleng go bakgathatema ba 318. Tshedimošo e ile ya sekasekwa ka go šomiša softewere ya Atlas.ti 8. Di-SME di swara bothata bja go tšwetša pele dikgwebo tša tšona ka lebaka la tlhokego ya phihlelelo ya ditlabelo le methopo ya ditšhelete. Di-SME di nyaka go tsenela tlhahlo ya mabapi le go beakanya dipuku tša ditšhelete. Di-SME di bona go le boima go phadišana le dikgwebo tše kgolo ka ge di hloka methopo. Di-SME di swanetše go nagana ka go dirišana le dikgwebo tše dingwe go hwetša mabokgoni a bophelo, gomme mmušo o swanetše go lekodišiša maemo a bjale a go thuša di-SME gore di fihlelele dinyakwa tša tlhabollo ya kgwebo.Business ManagementM. Comm. (Business Management

    NEMISA Digital Skills Conference (Colloquium) 2023

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    The purpose of the colloquium and events centred around the central role that data plays today as a desirable commodity that must become an important part of massifying digital skilling efforts. Governments amass even more critical data that, if leveraged, could change the way public services are delivered, and even change the social and economic fortunes of any country. Therefore, smart governments and organisations increasingly require data skills to gain insights and foresight, to secure themselves, and for improved decision making and efficiency. However, data skills are scarce, and even more challenging is the inconsistency of the associated training programs with most curated for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Nonetheless, the interdisciplinary yet agnostic nature of data means that there is opportunity to expand data skills into the non-STEM disciplines as well.College of Engineering, Science and Technolog

    Investigating Funding Challenges Experienced by SMMEs in Komani, South Africa

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    All around the world there are small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) that help by creating jobs and contributing to gross domestic product. However, funding is a major problem that limits the growth and development of SMMEs. Funding challenges have increased, hence the need for research to be conducted in Komani, in South Africa‟s Eastern Cape Province, to see how the challenge can be overcome. This research aims at investigating the funding challenges experienced by SMMEs in Komani. The objectives of the research were to: evaluate the effect of funding challenges on the number of people employed in SMMEs; establish reasons why SMMEs fail to obtain funding from major financial institutions; to examine the avenues available for funding SMMEs; and to recommend to policymakers and SMMEs how to solve the problem of funding. However, previous research in Komani has not managed to investigate this problem with regard to the research process and the method used. This research is based on the positivistic paradigm and used the quantitative method to investigate the funding challenges. The research population was 441 SMMEs; of them 82 SMMEs were sampled using questionnaires. Data collected was analysed using Excel and Stata. Pearson Chi-square test of association from Stata and Excel Analysis ToolPak were used. The study found that most SMMEs use retained earnings and informal funding to finance their operations. It also found that most SMMEs were unaware of government support agencies like SEFA. The research recommends that more must be done to raise awareness on a regular basis to make sure that all SMMEs are aware of the financial support system that the government has for the SMMEs. Financial institutions will need to lower their requirements when SMMEs apply for finance. Finally, SMMEs are supported financially by both the government and the private sector to employ more people. However, the government could also create a guarantee scheme for SMMEs to ensure successful credit applicationsThesis (MA) -- Faculty of business and economic sciences, 202

    The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa : a commentary

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    Since its adoption on 11 July 2003, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol) has become a landmark on the African human rights landscape. It has steadily gained prominence as a trail-blazing instrument, responsive to the diverse realities of women on the African continent. This comprehensive Commentary on the Maputo Protocol, the first of its kind, provides systematic analysis of each article of the Protocol, delving into the drafting history, and elaborating on relevant key concepts and normative standards. This Commentary aims to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for anyone interested in the Maputo Protocol, such as researchers, teachers, students, practitioners, policymakers and activists.https://www.pulp.up.ac.za/pulp-commentaries/the-protocol-to-the-african-charter-on-human-and-peoples-rights-on-the-rights-of-women-in-africa-a-commentaryhj2023Centre for Human Right

    The role of the institutional environment as a barrier or an enabler to entrepreneurial and innovation activity; the case of the South African green economy industry

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    This thesis examines the relationship between the institutional environment and entrepreneurial and innovation activity within SMEs operating in South Africa's green economy, with a focus on the energy, agriculture, water and sanitation, and waste and recycling sectors. The aim is to investigate how entrepreneurs navigate the institutional environment by utilising entrepreneurial orientation and managerial discretion to achieve entrepreneurial output. By examining the implications of South Africa's post-apartheid legacy on present-day entrepreneurship in these sectors, the study yields valuable insights from the entrepreneurs' perspectives. The methodology adopted in this study is phenomenological, which utilises qualitative research methods, cross-validated with some quantitative evidence in the form of statistical analysis and case studies. The study includes 55 participants, comprising 47 entrepreneurs and 8 stakeholders from government departments, government agencies, NGOs, and incubators. The study highlights the regulatory mechanisms in place to promote small business participation in South Africa's economy and transition to a more environmentally conscious one. However, the outcomes suggest that these measures may not be achieving their intended objectives, and the institutional environment and cultural views may pose significant obstacles to entrepreneurship and the adoption of greener practices. The research emphasises the importance of addressing these issues to promote sustainable economic growth in South Africa. The study recommends a more coordinated effort by all stakeholders to target pertinent socio-economic challenges specific to South Africa's context

    Public employment programmes and their contribution to service delivery and rural livelihoods in South Africa.

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    Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.ENGLISH ABSTRACT Public Employment Programmes (PEPs) are considered an important and widespread social protection tool to address the challenges of persistent unemployment and dire poverty. They provide a ‘win-win’ policy option through job creation, while ensuring that assets are created and services are delivered. In South Africa, the government implements the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), a countrywide PEP initiative which aims to provide job opportunities and income transfer to unemployed people through productive work in the delivery of community services and the creation of public assets, and thereby contributing to community development. This is similar to PEPs elsewhere in the world. The impact of PEPs in South Africa has mostly been measured based on their contributions to employment opportunities. However, this creates a gap in the holistic measurement of the EPWP, as its contribution to service delivery and asset creation by which people sustain their livelihoods is not given as much attention. This study's objective was to evaluate and critically assess the role of PEPs and their contribution to service delivery and rural livelihoods in South Africa. A qualitative research method was adopted, using both the purposive and snowball sampling strategies. Program Theory Evaluation (PTE) and the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework were applied as the underpinning theoretical frameworks for this investigation. The study found that the EPWP has positively contributed to service delivery and improvement in rural livelihoods in South Africa. This was revealed by the three categories of research participants representing EPWP workers, community informants, and government officials who are part of and play a role in programme coordination and implementation. However, the study also revealed challenges facing the programme. These include the flouting of some regulations governing the programme, such as the payment of participants below the minimum wage rate, interference in the recruitment of job-seekers, lack of proper planning, and inadequate human resources to coordinate the programme from the EPWP implementing bodies. Furthermore, the study noted the struggle to achieve the youth target by the programme, despite the soaring South Africa's rate of youth unemployment. On the basis of these findings, the study makes key recommendations to be considered in addressing these challenges. They include the introduction of a national EPWP policy with enforcement mechanisms, an improvement in the capacity of public bodies to coordinate and implement the programme, the introduction of youth-focused programmes, and scaling up the existing programmes. Finally, the study recommends that the government reconsider and re evaluate the EPWP in light of the current prevailing conditions of unemployment. isiZULU ABSTRACT Uhlelo Lwezemisebenzi Yomphakathi seluthathwa njengethuluzi elibaluleke kakhulu futhi eselisetshenziswa ezindaweni eziningi ukuvikele inhlalakahle yomphakathi kanye nokubhekana nezinselelo zamazinga aphezulu okwentuleka kwemisebenzi nobubha. Loluhlelo lukhobisa impumelelo nhlangothi zonke kwinqubo mgomo, ngoba ngesikhathi luletha amathuba emisebenzi lubuye futhi lufeze izidingo zokwethulwa kosizo kanye nengqalazisinda emphakathini. ENingizumu Afrika, uHulumeni wethula Uhlele Lwezemisebenzi Yemiphakathi Olwengeziwe njengohlelo lukazwelonke oluhlose ukuletha amathuba emisebenzi yethutshana kulabo abangasebenzi bese bethola imadlana ewumholo ekulethweni kwengqalasizinda kanye nosizo emphakathini oluholela okuthuthukeni kwemiphakathi. Loluhlelo lwaseNingizumu Afrika luyafana nezinye izinhlelo eziwuloluhlobo ezithulwa kwamanye amazwe. Imiphumela yezinhlelo ezinje eNingizumu Afrika ihlezi icutshungulwa futhi ikalwa kakhulu ngasohlangothini lokulethwa kwamathuba emisebenzi, okwenza kube nesikhewu esivulekayo ekukalweni ngokuphelele kwemiphumela namagalelo aloluHlelo izimpilweni kanye nasenhlalweni yemiphakathi, nokuthi leyongqalasizinda elethwe uHulumeni ngaphansi kwaloluHlelo iyithuthukisa kanjani imiphakathi. Inhloso yalolucwaningo ukubhekangokujulile, uhluze, ucubungule indima edlalwa yiloluhle lukaHulumeni kanye namagalelo alo ekulethweni kwezinsiza kanye nengqalasizinda emphakathi yesemakhaya nakwinhlalo mpilo yawo umphakathi kwizwe lonke lase eNingizumu Afrika. Lolucwaningo luhlonze indlela yekhwalithethivu njengendlela oluzoqhutshwa ngayo, luphinde lusebenzisa ngofunayo iphaphosivu kanye nesinobholi njengamasu namaqhinga ukuhlonza labo abazoba yingxeye yalo. Lube seluqoka injulalwazi yokubheka nokucwaningwa kwezinhlelo kanye nohlaka ulubhekele ukuthuthukiswa kwezimo zempilo oluqhubekayo njengezinjulalwazi eziwumgogoda walolucwaningo. Ucwaningoke lubeseluveza ukuthi Uhlele Lwezemisebenzi Yemiphakathi Olwengeziwe lube nemiphumela emihle ekulethweni kwezidingo, iqhlalisizinda Kanye nokwenzancono inhlalompilo yabantu basemakhaya eNingizimu Afrika. Lokho kuvezwe izigaba zontathu zalabo abebebambe iqhaza kulolucwaningo kusukela kwisebenzi zalo belu loluhlelo, izisebenzi zikahulumeni ezengamele loluhlelo kanye namalunga ophakathi aqavile. Kusenjalo, ucwaningo luphinde lwaveza izingqinamba ezibhekene naloluhlelo okubalwa phezukwezinye: ukungalandelwa kwemigomo ulawula loluhlehle ikakhulukazi uma kuqashwa abantu okumele bazosebenza, nokungakhokhwa kwamaholo njengalokhu umthetho ubekile; lubuye lwaveza futhi ukuthi akukho ukuhlelwa kahle okulandelayo izinhlaka ezihambisa loluhlelo, futhi zona lezizinhlaka azinabo abantu abanele ukulwethula loluhlelo ngendlela efanele. Ucwaningo luphinde lwaveza inselelo loluhlelo ebhekene nayo yokungakwazi ukufinyelela ezibalweni ezibekiwe zokuqasha abantu abasha phezu kwezinga eliphezulu kakhula eNingizimu Afrika lokwentuleka kwemisebenzi kubantu abasha. Uma sekulandelwa, kubhekwa imiphumela yalolucwaningo, umcwaningi wethula leziziphakamiso ekusizeni ezindwani lapho izinselelo sivezwekhona. Leziziphakamiso zifaka ngaphezukokunye ukwethulwa komgomo kazwelonke obhekelele loluhlelo ozoba nezindlela namandla wokuthi labo abasemagunyeni bangenelele uma kukhona okungahambi kahle; kuphinde kuthuthukiswe inani labantu kanye nezinsiza ekwethuleni loluhlelo ezinhlakeni zonke zikahulumeni ezibambe iqhaza kuloluhlelo; ucwaningi luphinde luphakamise ukuthi izinhlelo eziqonde ngqo kubantu abasha zibekwe eqhulwini zethulwe, bese kuthi lezi ezikhona zikhushulwe uma kuya kwinani labantu ukumele maqashwe. Ekugcineni ucwaningo luphakamisa ukuthi uHulumeni aphinde alubukisise kabanzi loluhle ngenjongo yokuliyamanisa nesikhathi isiphila kuso kanye nezinselelo ezikhona esikhathini samanje uma uqhathanisa neminyaka esondele emashumini amabili lwasungulwa loluhlelo.Abstract available in English and isiZulu

    Financial Sustainability Strategies Used by Small Retail Business Owners

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    AbstractSmall retail business owners who lack an understanding of proper financial sustainability strategies often struggle with business success. Grounded in resource-based based view theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore the financial sustainability strategies some small retail business owners used to sustain their businesses for the first 5 years or longer. The participants consisted of five small retail business owners in New York. The data were collected using six semistructured interview questions and cash flow statements. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the data in which four themes emerged: (a) human capital, (b) professional consultancy, (c) monitoring inventory, and (d) customer retention. A key recommendation is for small business owners to use their human capital as the main asset to achieve sustainability and economic growth. The implications for positive social change include the potential for job creation, higher tax revenues, and less reliance on the government to provide services beneficial to the community through revenue generated from taxes

    Leading ethical leaders : higher education institutions, business schools and the sustainable development goals

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    This volume provides unique and profound insights from within educational institutions in diverse regions of the world on how ‘learning outside’ and ‘learning inside’ can be holistically integrated, so that the sustainable development agenda does not remain static and programmatic, but a creative and permeable framework. The shared hope across the thirteen chapters, which constitute complete original essays on the theme, is to develop meaningful, interdisciplinary curricula and research projects which serve the human community as a whole. The aim of the editors is directed towards a similar United Nations’ valuable ideal: to advance knowledge in respect of the earth and the future generations who will inherit it

    Investigating Funding Challenges Experienced by SMMEs in Komani, South Africa

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    All around the world there are small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) that help by creating jobs and contributing to gross domestic product. However, funding is a major problem that limits the growth and development of SMMEs. Funding challenges have increased, hence the need for research to be conducted in Komani, in South Africa‟s Eastern Cape Province, to see how the challenge can be overcome. This research aims at investigating the funding challenges experienced by SMMEs in Komani. The objectives of the research were to: evaluate the effect of funding challenges on the number of people employed in SMMEs; establish reasons why SMMEs fail to obtain funding from major financial institutions; to examine the avenues available for funding SMMEs; and to recommend to policymakers and SMMEs how to solve the problem of funding. However, previous research in Komani has not managed to investigate this problem with regard to the research process and the method used. This research is based on the positivistic paradigm and used the quantitative method to investigate the funding challenges. The research population was 441 SMMEs; of them 82 SMMEs were sampled using questionnaires. Data collected was analysed using Excel and Stata. Pearson Chi-square test of association from Stata and Excel Analysis ToolPak were used. The study found that most SMMEs use retained earnings and informal funding to finance their operations. It also found that most SMMEs were unaware of government support agencies like SEFA. The research recommends that more must be done to raise awareness on a regular basis to make sure that all SMMEs are aware of the financial support system that the government has for the SMMEs. Financial institutions will need to lower their requirements when SMMEs apply for finance. Finally, SMMEs are supported financially by both the government and the private sector to employ more people. However, the government could also create a guarantee scheme for SMMEs to ensure successful credit applicationsThesis (MA) -- Faculty of business and economic sciences, 202
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