Lusanda Beauty Juta

Both formal education and the acquisition of relevant entrepreneurship skills by young people are essential for the socio-economic and political progress of any country. African youths are deficient in adequate skills with formal education to become self-reliant and generate employment opportunities for others. The study utilised secondary sources of data and employed a qualitative research approach to examine the relationship between entrepreneurial skill acquisition initiatives and the academic curriculum in Nigerian and South African institutions. The data were collected from many sources, including textbooks, academic journals, online resources, and official documents on the subject matter. The data collected were examined using content analysis and suitable descriptive analysis techniques. The study uncovered a fundamental lack of vocational training and entrepreneurial skill development in the academic curricula of Nigerian and South African universities across all disciplines. Instead of taking advantage of numerous opportunities to acquire practical skills and become employers, the youth in these countries tend to wait until after graduation to pursue elusive white-collar jobs. The study concluded that the significance of vocational training and the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills by African youth is of utmost importance in the current era of rapid socio-economic growth. Universities in African countries should follow the trend in Japan, China, and South Korea’s education systems by implementing and mandating vocational training and entrepreneurial skill development at all levels of educational programmes. The study contributes to academic discourse by contextualising entrepreneurial skill development within Africa’s socio-economic landscape, delivering insights for curricular advancement, and presenting pragmatic strategies to mitigate youth unemployment.

This paper assesses the effectiveness of the school sports policy in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, in the North-West Province of South Africa. With data from extant literature, public documents and reports, the paper argues that sports policy in schools goes beyond the health benefits for physical fitness and mental growth. In addition, such a policy should take cognisance of the significance of sports in a learner’s education as well as the development of blogs. The purpose of a blog is to provide a platform for individuals or organisations to share information, ideas, and thoughts with a wider audience. This idea is to promote more holistic development in the learner’s career. The paper seeks to broaden the implementation horizon of school sports policy. This paper, therefore, provides a holistic approach to addressing the factors that would ensure the effective implementation of school sports policy to achieve the desired objectives. The paper discovered the lag in the implementation of the school sports policy. To this end, it is recommended that stakeholders incorporate the principles of inclusion in the policy and ensure a comprehensive consideration of societal peculiarities in the implementation of the policy. Keywords: School Sports Policy Development, Effective Implementation, Holistic Development

Background: Service delivery remains a persistent challenge in many regions of South Africa, particularly the Eastern Cape province. Monitoring and evaluation (ME) practices, along with citizen participation, are essential components of improving local governance in the democratic era. Aim: The primary aim of this study was to explore the pathology of the service delivery dilemma and examine the effectiveness of evaluation and assessment mechanisms within Eastern Cape municipalities. The secondary objective was to critically assess the role of citizen participation in democratic local developmental governance. Methods: The study employed a qualitative approach, using purposive sampling to select 15 participants – 10 administrators and five councillors – from 10 different municipalities in the Eastern Cape. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews, allowing participants full engagement in responding to the research questions. Results: The findings revealed widespread deficiencies in ME structures in most municipalities. In response to these challenges, the South African government introduced citizen-based ME initiatives, culminating in the creation of the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation within the Presidency. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for stronger ME frameworks in local governance, as well as the importance of fostering citizen involvement in assessing the implementation of policies and programmes. The establishment of the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation reflects a significant policy shift aimed at addressing these shortcomings. Contribution: This research contributes to the discourse on service delivery and governance by providing insights into the challenges faced by Eastern Cape municipalities. It emphasises the importance of both institutional structures and active citizen participation in improving local government performance.

Pan-Africanism’s ideology has long promoted African society’s unity, fostering cohesion among people living in various states across the continent. After gaining independence, African states have evolved from colonial structures into independent entities, resulting in a heightened manifestation of the “Pan-Africanism ideology” and a more profound understanding of statehood. This study examined the impact of the Pan-Africanist movement on present-day statehood in Africa by investigating socio-economic and political variables, its effect on post-colonial African society and its ongoing significance in the pursuit of regional integration. The study analysed several limitations that result from the continent’s historical colonial origins, political structures, and the tension between the autonomous states and the demand for a more cohesive union. A comparative analysis of the African integration agenda was conducted using a case study approach from several African institutions, including the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This analysis highlighted the cultural and social integration efforts of a shared regional identity among separate sovereign states. This study contributes to the ongoing discussion on the integration and growth of African nations by examining how the Pan-Africanism of statehood shapes the complex dynamics of the continent. The need arises for a fresh perspective on an integration that upholds the autonomy of each African state while safeguarding African society’s collective cohesion. Consequently, it asks for enhanced cooperation among policymakers and stakeholders engaged in Africa’s economic success. Keywords: Pan-Africanism, Nationhood, Development, Statehood, Integration, Political System

This paper examined the socio-economic implications caused by the current energy crisis South Africa is facing.