TUT DIGITAL OPEN REPOSITORY

This study aimed to assess the developmental effects of economic integration on SADC member countries using the system of innovation approach. In order to achieve this aim, the following research objectives were formulated: ▪ To evaluate the degree of regional trade integration among SADC member states ▪ To examine the level of institutional integration among SADC member states ▪ To assess the national systems of innovation of SADC member states and the SADC regional system of innovation ▪ To determine the degree of alignment between national systems of innovation of SADC member states and the SADC regional system of innovation. A qualitative research approach which combined a systematic literature review with document analysis using content analysis was adopted for this study. The critical literature review yielded contradictory results, with some studies finding that regional integration had positive developmental effects and others finding that regional integration had negative developmental effects. Some did not find any effect. Document analysis revealed, firstly, that SADC member countries had mainly failed to meet the targets of regional trade integration set out in the original SADC RISDP 2005-2020. Secondly, national economies of SADC countries remained undiversified, dominated mainly by the agricultural and mining sectors. The study found that there was still a low possibility of establishing a viable SADC regional system of innovation.

Sows are selected for their prolificacy. Therefore, assessing difficulties that can be associated with large litters is crucial. This review aims to highlight the factors that can affect reproductive performance such as breed, parity, litter size, environment, and nutrition. Understanding these factors can help producers make informed decisions about sow management and other aspects. Higher within-litter variation is the result of a high number of piglets born. It has been determined that large litter sizes pose a risk to animal welfare in the pig industry. Moreover, large litters bring more piglets with low birth weight leading to high pre-weaning losses. Lighter littermates struggle to get enough colostrum due to the competition with heavy littermates, which lowers their chances of survival causing high mortality. Larger litters may cause greater stress and discomfort of the sow. Therefore, applying stress-free environment and treating the sow with anti-inflammatory compounds may enhance the sow performance and consequent survival of piglets. The litter size is positively correlated with the variation in birth weight within a litter, while the average weight at birth is negatively related to litter size. Producers should therefore focus on potential management strategies that can improve piglet performance, survival and welfare such as proper supervision and adequate colostrum intake. This review highlights the historical development of the pig industry and literature on the variation in piglet weight at birth within a litter, factors influencing weight at birth, and the potential effects on the piglet performance before weaning. Also, the difficulties amongst large litters and possible strategies for managing survival in large litters were also reviewed.

The aim of the study was to develop a framework for understanding sustained sales revenue and equity value during the COVID-19 pandemic. The specific objectives were: to determine the relationship between corporate branding and sales revenue during the Covid-19 pandemic; to determine the relationship between corporate innovation and sales revenue during the Covid-19 pandemic; to identify the relationship between corporate diversity and sales revenue during the Covid-19 pandemic; to determine the relationship between corporate branding and equity value during the Covid-19 pandemic; to determine the relationship between corporate innovation and equity value during the Covid-19 pandemic, and finally, to determine the relationship between corporate diversity and equity value during the Covid-19 pandemic. These objectives were pursued while controlling for corporate entities’ marketing expenses, size, age, and leverage. The study applied a quantitative analytical method, drawing on a sample of 74 global companies from various industries that the Financial Times identified (and ranked) as having prospered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were collected from the financial years 2019 to 2021 and analyzed using a Pearson pairwise correlation matrix and by performing a cross-sectional regression analysis. The study found a positive and statistically insignificant impact between sales revenue and corporate branding. The study also found that corporate innovation has a positive but insignificant effect on sales revenue, while it has a significantly negative effect on equity value. Moreover, corporate diversity was found to have a significantly negative influence on sales revenue. The impact of corporate branding and diversity on equity value was positive but statistically insignificant. Furthermore, the findings remain consistent after taking into account sector heterogeneity. The findings from the analysis achieve the six secondary research objectives. The research contributes to knowledge of business processes through the development of a framework for understanding factors that support the attainment of sustained corporate sales revenue and equity value during crisis. No similar framework of this nature had been developed prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, and as yet nothing similar has been attempted either.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) established the South African Mathematics Curriculum Framework (SAMCF) to enhance and balance the approach to teaching and learning mathematics (DBE, 2018:8). It is envisaged that the SAMCF will help teachers develop learners with mathematical understanding and improve learner performance. The establishment of the SAMCF was prompted by the consistent poor learner performance in mathematics. It is recommended that the curriculum framework must be horizontally aligned with the content standards and assessment to enable achievement of the intended learning outcomes (Webb, 1997:5). This study sought to investigate the alignment between Grade 9 mathematics content standards, the SAMCF, and summative assessment tasks in Mpumalanga. The study aimed to establish the fundamental basis for how these educational components are aligned prior to the full implementation of the SAMCF. A mixed methods research design and concurrent triangulation were employed to explore different perspectives to effectively guide the education system. Further, document analysis was conducted to obtain comprehensive findings about the research problem. Moreover, the National Research Council (NRC, 2001) and two alignment models, Webb’s (1997) alignment model and Porter’s (2002) alignment model were employed as theoretical frameworks to guide this study. The findings reveal that the content structure of the Grade 9 mathematics summative assessment tasks from the four secondary schools in Mpumalanga were not well aligned with the Grade 9 mathematics content standards. Most major concepts were not assessed in the summative assessment tasks. The calculated Porter’s alignment index between Grade 9 mathematics content standards and the summative assessment tasks was statistically significantly low at an average of 0,699. The study recommends that courses on alignment of educational components should be established and incorporated at tertiary level; and more alignment studies should be conducted to improve alignment and guide the education system.

This study examined the effect of munificent environment factors on the antecedents of entrepreneurial intention and risk-taking propensity by means of the theory of planned behaviour. The study also assessed the effect of perceived behavioural control and entrepreneurial intention on entrepreneurial behaviour, as well as the moderating role of risk-taking propensity on the association between the antecedents of entrepreneurial intention, entrepreneurial intention, and entrepreneurial behaviour. Data were gathered from 127 SME owners in the Gauteng metropolitan cities of Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, and Tshwane using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test the relationships. Findings revealed the varying effects of the munificent environment factors on the antecedents of entrepreneurial intention and risk-taking propensity. Perceived behavioural control had a significant effect on entrepreneurial intention, while attitude towards behaviour and subjective norms were non-significant. Risk-taking propensity weakened the link between entrepreneurial behaviour and entrepreneurial intention and did not exhibit a significant moderating effect on the association between attitude towards the behaviour and entrepreneurial intention or between subjective norms and entrepreneurial intention. Risk-taking propensity had a significant effect on both entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial behaviour. Perceived behavioural control had a direct positive significant effect on entrepreneurial behaviour, whereas entrepreneurial intention did not. Efforts to promote access to entrepreneurial role models and social capital are vital in regard to stimulating risk-taking propensity and entrepreneurial behaviour. Thus, interventions that are directed at the enhancement of perceived behavioural control could help shape the formation of entrepreneurial intentions and stimulate entrepreneurial activity.

Climate change poses significant challenges to informal street vendors, particularly in urban settings where they operate in vulnerable environments. These challenges include economic instability, health risks, and sociopolitical exclusion, which are further exacerbated by extreme weather events and inadequate policy support. This review focuses on understanding these impacts by synthesizing lessons and exploring potential solutions from South Africa and other regions that could be implemented by governments and street vendors. A systematic review was conducted, following PRISMA guidelines, to synthesize findings from 48 studies published between 2015 and 2024. This review employed qualitative and quantitative analysis using thematic coding in ATLAS.ti and Microsoft Excel version 2024. Comparative analyses across regions and time periods were conducted to identify differences in impacts and adaptation strategies. Among the 48 studies, 52% were conducted in Africa and 50% in Asia, making these the most frequently represented regions in research on climate change and informal street vendors. Most of the publications were between 2021 and 2024 (52%). This review further highlights that climate change has led to significant economic losses, reduced working hours, and increased operational costs for informal vendors. Health impacts, such as respiratory illnesses and heat stress, are prevalent, particularly among vendors exposed to air pollution and extreme temperatures. Gender-specific vulnerabilities were noted, with women facing compounded challenges due to caregiving responsibilities and inadequate access to sanitation facilities. While Asian vendors have adopted technological solutions like mobile payment systems and cooling devices, these may not be currently feasible for South African vendors. Instead, tailored interventions that consider the local context and available resources are necessary to effectively support South African street vendors. Key recommendations include integrating vendors into urban resilience planning such as encouraging the use of cleaner and more sustainable transportation, improving access to healthcare, and providing financial support. Additionally, governments and communities should pilot the solutions identified in this review and publish their findings to inform future policies and practices.