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Determinants of digital marketing adoption among SME's in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality: a structural equation modeling approach
No full textPhD (Business Management)Department of Business ManagementSmall and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are continuously gaining recognition as a vital tool for the socio-economic development of South Africa and most countries, throughout the world. SMEs play a pivotal role in job creation and wealth distribution in previously disadvantaged communities, however, several studies conducted in South Africa have shown that SMEs experience high failure rates. It is estimated that South Africa has the highest failure rate of SMEs, however, they can significantly moderate their high failure rate by leveraging digital marketing strategies. Digital marketing is promoting products and services through digital channels, such as social media, share of experience (SOE), email, and mobile apps using the internet. Digital marketing adoption is an essential tool to curb the high failure rate of SMEs, however, several studies that have been conducted in South Africa show that there is a low level of adoption of digital marketing. This study sought to identify the key determinants for digital marketing adoption among SMEs in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa and to develop a conceptual framework to guide its adoption by SMEs in South Africa and other developing nations with similar socio-economic conditions. A positivistic paradigm was adopted to conduct the empirical component of the study and following the requirements of the positivistic paradigm, a quantitative research design was employed to conduct the study. SME owners or managers operating in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality were selected using the multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. The research employed a survey method through a self-administered questionnaire to gather data from research participants; the questionnaire was developed using literature from previous studies. The descriptive statistics data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 30. From the results, the researcher developed and tested a conceptual model using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, using the AMOS software package (version 26). Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were performed to test the hypotheses variables under study, to confirm a causal relationship and make inferences between observed and latent variables. The results obtained in this study reveal a concerningly low level of digital marketing adoption among the SME owners and managers who participated in this study. In addition - perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, firm size, behavioral control, top management support, perceived cost, and perceived availability of financial resources - were identified as the most significant factors influencing behavioral intention to use digital marketing. Compatibility and competitive pressure, however, were found to be insignificant factors
influencing the behavioral intention to use digital marketing and the actual adoption of digital marketing. The findings of this study, it is anticipated, will contribute immensely towards the effective adoption of digital marketing by SMEs, using current digital marketing tools and providing guidelines to potential digital-marketing adopters as they develop their growth and sustainability strategies
An exploration of Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs) owners’ preparedness towards the risk of natural disasters within the Limpopo Province: a case of Vhembe District Municipality
No full textMCOM in Business ManagementDepartment of Business ManagementSmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) are considered as the engine of growth for every country’s economy. These enterprises are estimated to be the major employer within the South African economy and contributes approximately 40 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country. SMEs are perceived as the main drivers of poverty reduction, employment, economic growth, and wealth generation, hence are vital for a marketplace to be profitable and competitive. Regardless of the significance of SMEs on the country’s economic growth, literature has mainly ignored investigating the preparedness of SMEs owners towards the risk of natural disasters. Several available studies concentrated mainly on the challenges that SMEs come across in their businesses because of natural disasters thus threatening these enterprises’ business continuity and performance. Hence, it is an opportunity for this study to address the gap based on the above literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the SMEs owners’ preparedness towards the risks of natural disasters within Thulamela and Makhado Local Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Furthermore, a qualitative research approach was employed with a sample of 10 participants; purposive sampling was used to select the sample who share similar characteristics, experiences, and sentiments. Semi-structured interview guides were used to conduct face-to-face interviews to gather data. After collecting data, the transcription of data was done using Microsoft word, then the transcribed data was analysed using thematic analysis through ATLAS.ti version 8 software. The findings of this study have shown that there is plethora strategies implemented to prepare to overcome risks of natural disasters in Thulamela and Makhado Local Municipality, therefore strategies revealed were investment in insurance, emergency financial funds, employee training and use of digital tools. The current study was limited solely to SMEs operating within two Local Municipality, namely Thulamela and Makhado Local Municipality and dependent only on the views and experiences of participants. The researcher recommended that SMEs should establish disaster awareness workshops and training to instil knowledge to other SMEs and large enterprises from other Municipalities or districts. It is advisable that a similar study be conducted in other districts using quantitative or mixed research approaches to gain a holistic understanding about the differences or similarities that may exist
Culture as a determinant to youth involvement in entrepreneurship, Maleni Village, Vhembe District, South Africa
No full textAGMARDInstitute for Rural DevelopmentDespite the significant contributions of entrepreneurship to economic development, specifically income equality, poverty reduction, and job creation globally, South African youth involvement in entrepreneurial activities is relatively low; this is worrisome. These shortfalls justify reasons why youth unemployment in the country continues to surge, leaving concerns and the need to interrogate the determining factors deterring the active participation of this category of South Africans in such lucrative practices that promises sustainable economic development. Focusing on youth groups (14-35 years), this study assesses the influence of culture on youth’s involvement in entrepreneurship, using a mixed research method. Through a snowball sampling technique 70 participants were determined for the study. Data was collected through one-on-one interviews, using semi-structured and structured questionnaires. It was revealed that males dominate in enterprises such as service delivery, agriculture and artisans while females dominate enterprises such as street vending. This is because retail services are shaped by cultural norms and economic factors. The study specifically aims to determine the specific cultural orientations affecting youth’s entrepreneurship involvement, measure the impact of identified cultural orientations on youth entrepreneurship involvement, assess the youth’s perception of cultural influence on entrepreneurship involvement and suggest strategic interventions in relation to youth cultural orientations. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for quantitative data and Atlas ti for qualitative data. The key recommendations highlighted in this study are to promote access to resources for women and promote cultural awareness that help in shifting perceptions with relation to entrepreneurship involvement among communities that participated in the study
The impact of human resource management practices in the provision of basic services: A case of Collins Chabane Local Municipality, Limpopo Province
No full textMaster of AdministrationDepartment of Public and Development AdministrationThis study focused on evaluating the impact of human resource management practices (HRP) in the provision of basic services: A case of Collins Chabane Local Municipality (CCLM) situated in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study sought to test how human resource management practices, particularly recruitment and selection, impact the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of basic service provision within local government, particularly in CCLM. By examining the relationship between HRP (Human Resource Management Practices) and basic service provision, this research intends to provide valuable insights for policymakers, human resource professionals, and municipal managers seeking to optimize their workforce and management strategies. The mixed-methods approach was employed in the study by combining qualitative and quantitative research techniques. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used for qualitative data, while a probability-based sampling ensured broader representation in the quantitative aspect. The study used non-probability purposive sampling method in qualitative data due to the need to capture in-depth perspectives from relevant stakeholders and probability-based sampling method was used with quantitative data to ensure statistical representativeness and generalizability. The choice of a qualitative methodology was made to foster receptiveness to ideas, experiences, opinions, and emotions, as well as to delve into the perceptions of research respondents. Concurrently, a quantitative approach was employed to enable the researcher to have a sophisticated statistical analysis and effective comparison of gathered data. Information gathered through questionnaires was analysed using International Business Machinery: Statistical Products and Service Solutions (IBM: SPSS) version 29, because of its reliability, advanced features, support, and compatibility with the research, statistical analysis was used to analyse this data. Information gathered through interviews was analysed using the NVivo version 14 and thematically analysed to gain rich insights of the study and generate new knowledge from the study.
The major findings of the study are:
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HRM practices negatively impact service provision due to inefficiencies and poor recruitment processes.
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Bureaucratic delays hinder the timely filling of critical positions.
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High staff turnover, driven by dissatisfaction, leads to talent loss and decreased productivity.
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Limited diversity and inclusion due to societal biases and HRM constraints affect workforce effectiveness.
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Cadre deployment negatively impacts HRM practices, influencing service provision.
The following recommendations are proposed based on the study's findings:
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The study recommends that the municipality streamline HRM processes by reducing bureaucratic delays to ensure timely recruitment.
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The municipality should enhance training, recruitment transparency, and employee wellness programs to improve workforce efficiency.
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The study recommends that the municipality implements retention strategies to address high staff turnover and boost job satisfaction.
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The study also recommends that the municipality fosters diversity and inclusion through bias training for hiring panels.
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Lastly, the researcher recommends that a merit-based recruitment system be adopted to mitigate the negative effects of cadre deployment.
This study highlights the urgent need for HRM reforms in CCLM to improve workforce efficiency for the provision of basic services in local government
An Analysis of the Strategies to promote Ethical Behaviour in Local Government: A Case of Thulamela Local Municipality
No full textMaster of Public ManagementDepartment of Public and Development AdministrationThe study analyses the strategies to promote ethical behavior in local government, with a particular focus on Thulamela Local Municipality (TLM). TLM is one of the local municipalities constituting Vhembe District Municipality in the Limpopo province. The 1994 first democratic elections in South Africa demonstrated the country's dedication to human rights and prosperity. There are three spheres of government: national, provincial, and local. Local government has come a long way since then, but obstacles to service delivery have led to a loss of trust in municipal employees. Good governance is increasingly being threatened by systemic corruption, which results from the unethical behavior of municipal leadership. The strategies and recommendations to be provided in this research study serve as a light on the challenge of adherence to the prescribed ethical standards in service delivery by TLM and other local municipalities across the country. To better investigate strategies to promote ethical behavior by municipal employees in service delivery in TLM, the study utilized the public value theory, a qualitative approach (descriptive design and explorative design) and the constructivism paradigm. The study used purposive sampling to ensure precise sample collection. Primary data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Thematic and descriptive analyses were applied to the analysis of the qualitative data. The major findings of this study are that unethical behavior in TLM is manifested through corruption, nepotism, cadre deployment, political interference, and bribery; that lack of exemplary behavior by senior municipal officials and incompetent staff members are some of the causes of unethical conduct within TLM; that unethical behavior demotivates committed municipal officials; and that internal strategies for enhancing ethical conduct within the municipality are not effective. The study recommends that consequence management and the provisions of the codes of conduct must be enforced and that TLM stakeholders must report unethical behavior by municipal officials to external watchdog bodies such as the National Prosecting Authority and the Office of the Auditor General
The Impact of Mining on Community Development in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Limpopo Province
No full textMaster of Public ManagementDepartment of Public and Development AdministrationLike elsewhere in the world, mining in South Africa has been credited for creating national wealth, creating job opportunities and impacting on socio-economic development. However, extractive mining also adversely affects socio-economic and ecological wellbeing. Despite policy reforms and regulatory interventions, unemployment, mine induced poverty and environmental pollution remain. The objective of this study is to establish the impact of extractive activities on local communities in the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality. Primarily, the study pays attention to the contribution of mining towards sustainable developmental goals in these communities. The study adopted a qualitative research method. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that the mines’ Social and Labour Plans in collaboration with the Local Municipality contributed immensely through major infrastructure projects to community development in BaPhalaborwa. On the other hand, the study found that the mines are causing serious environmental pollution that poses health hazards to the residents of the surrounding communities. The most worrying finding is that the extractive activities of those mines do not benefit local people since there is no beneficiation of the extracted minerals. The study has recommended the devolution of powers on monitoring and evaluation from DMR to the Local Municipality. It has further recommended skills training as the direct route to address the beneficiation challenge
Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions of Malaria among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Clinic in selected Primary Health Care facilities in Thulamela Municipality, South Africa
No full textMaster of Public HealthDepartment of Public HealthMalaria parasitic infections are a significant public health concern in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa and are prevalent in developing countries. Malaria is a life-threatening disease that poses a significant public health concern, particularly among expectant women in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Not much information exists on pregnant women's compliance to malaria management in Limpopo.
The study aimed to assess the Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of malaria parasitaemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in selected primary health care facilities in Thulamela municipality, South Africa.
The study used a quantitative and cross-sectional descriptive methodology. The study was conducted in the primary health care facilities chosen in Thulamela Municipality, Limpopo Province. The study used total population sampling to sample all pregnant women with a gestational age between 12 and 37 weeks who attended antenatal clinics. Respondents completed questionnaires within 20-40 minutes. The study included 190 pregnant women, with 108 recruited from Dzwerani Clinic and 82 from Ha-Manavhela Clinic.A pre-test was administered to pregnant women from a neighbouring village to ensure the measuring instrument's validity and modify it. Validity was established by face and content validity. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess the instrument's consistency and to validate its reliability. The researcher requested authorization to gather data from the provincial Department of Health and the participants. Data were gathered by a self-administered questionnaire and processed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26.0. The collected data was analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentages, and correlations. The researcher guaranteed the consideration of research ethics, including informed consent, authorisation, secrecy, beneficence, and privacy.
The results of this study show that pregnant women who go to specific basic healthcare facilities don't know much about malaria. Even though 98.4% of the women said they had malaria, a lot of them did not know much about how it spreads, what its signs are, or how to treat it. Only 29.5% of those who took part knew how malaria is spread, showing a lack of knowledge about how to avoid getting the disease. Also, the results showed that people do not know much about current ways to treat malaria. In conclusion, this study revealed a significant knowledge gap regarding malaria among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in Thulamela Municipality, Limpopo Province. Despite high self-reported malaria prevalence, participants demonstrated limited understanding of malaria transmission, symptoms, and treatment.
These findings highlight the need for targeted health education and awareness programs to empower pregnant women with accurate knowledge, ultimately reducing malaria-related morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population. The study recommended the implementation of Malaria Awareness Campaigns, particularly in regions with high malaria prevalence, to educate the people about the prevention and treatment of malaria
Short-term forecasting of global horizontal irradiance using stacked ensemble machine learning alogorithms
Full text linkM. Sc (E-Science)In today’s world, where sustainable energy is essential for the planet’s survival,
accurate solar energy forecasting is crucial. This study focused on predicting
short-term Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) using data from the
Southern African Universities Radiometric Network (SAURAN) at the Univen
Radiometric Station in South Africa. Various techniques were evaluated
for their predictive accuracy, including Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN),
Support Vector Regression (SVR), Gradient Boosting (GB), Random Forest
(RF), Stacking Ensemble, and Double Nested Stacking (DNS). The results
indicated that RNN performed the best in terms of Mean Absolute Error
(MAE) and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) among the machine learning
models. However, Stacking ensembles with XGBoost as the meta-model
outperformed all individual models, improving accuracy by 67.06% in MAE
and 22.28% in RMSE. DNS further enhanced accuracy, achieving a 93.05%
reduction in MAE and an 88.54% reduction in RMSE compared to the best
machine learning model, as well as a 78.89% decrease in MAE and an 85.27%
decrease in RMSE compared to the best single stacking model. Furthermore,
experimenting with the order of the DNS meta-model revealed that using RF
as the first-level meta-model followed by XGBoost yielded the highest accuracy,
showing a 47.39% decrease in MAE and a 61.35% decrease in RMSE
compared to DNS with RF at both levels. These findings underscore the
potential of advanced stacking techniques to significantly improve GHI forecasting.DST-CSIR National e-Science Postgraduate Teaching and Training Platform (NEPTTP
The Criminological Evaluation of Cybercrimes Within Higher Learning Institutions. A Case Study of University of Venda: Limpopo Province
No full textMA in Criminal JusticeDepartment of Criminal JusticeThis study evaluated the nature and extent of cybercrimes prevalent within higher learning institutions of South Africa. Cyber-attacks are growing at a distressing rate and has posed a serious challenge within academia by impacting and disrupting normal learning setting. Universities data infrastructure is vulnerable to criminals, can be compromised easily while students and staff are not alien to proportion of cybercrime impact inclusive of hacking, financial loss, bullying, illegal circulation of pornography, blackmailing’s, extortion and many other crimes. This case study evaluated cybercrimes at the University of Venda (Univen). It therefore, evaluated if Univen have institutional framework for managing cybercrimes and cybersecurity risk, also assess if it has been efficient to counteract cybercrimes impact against the university and students. Mixed method approach applied, where snowballing sample procedure was utilised to quantitatively sample Univen students, and purposive sampling was applied to sample Univen Information Communication Technology officials. The researcher utilised the routine activities theory and differential association theory of crime as the study problem framework. Sample was selected based on their suitability of contributing towards research; Focus group discussions, questionnaires and voice recorder were used to collect data. Thematic Content Analysis (TCA), was used to analyse qualitative data and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 for quantitative data analysis. The study made findings and recommendations that could be used to inform adoption of framework to manage cybercrimes within higher education institutions (HEI) of South Africa and to find alternatives programmes that will positively address cyber incidents within academia
Effect of adding Moringa Oleifera leaf power on the nutritional composition protein digestibility and sensory attributes of sorghum based Mahewu
No full textMSCFSTDepartment of Food Science and TechnologyIn this study, the effect of different levels (1-5%) of whole and defatted Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) on the nutritional composition, physicochemical properties, protein digestibility and consumer acceptability of sorghum mahewu was investigated. The MOLP was boiled and added to the fermented sorghum mahewu. The results demonstrated that sorghum mahewu enriched with whole and defatted MOLP had higher amounts (P 0.05) from the control sample. Therefore, sorghum mahewu must be enriched with low percentages of MOLP of at least 2% since it shows a significant increase in nutritional value and improves its acceptance among consumers. On the other hand, the defatted MOLP is preferable to the whole MOLP since it has more benefits in terms of reducing fat content. These findings suggest that incorporating medicinal plants such as boiled MOLP into basic foods produced from sorghum flour could improve their nutritional profile and protein digestibility