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Welcome to the University of Venda Institutional Repository, an open digital archive of the research output of the University of Venda. Univen IR contains theses and dissertations, research papers as well as conference papers. For further information and assistance please contact Mr Keith Malabi at +27 15 9628564 or +27 15 962 8314 during office hours

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Embargo

Optimizing Inter-Organizational Collaboration to Address Critical Skill Gaps and Sectoral Priorities in the Food and Beverage Manufacturing Supply Chain in Thulamela Local Municipality

(2026-05-19) Ndlovu, Hluli; Nkondo, L. G.; Ramavhona, N. G.

Food and beverage manufacturing is one of the most significant sectors of the South African economy, exerting a substantial influence on the employment rate and food security. However, the lack of technical, managerial, and digital skills remains unresolved, which hinders the sector's development. The rapid development of Industry 4.0 technologies, the lack of coordination between stakeholders, and the fragmented form of training systems in Limpopo Province have contributed to the skills gap. This study explored the potential of inter-organizational collaboration (IOC) to streamline the sectoral priorities in the food and beverage manufacturing supply chain of the Thulamela Local Municipality and to curb such shortfalls. The study aimed to determine the extent to which collaboration amongst industry participants, government organizations, and academic institutions can improve the competency of the workforce. With an interpretivist paradigm and a qualitative exploratory research design, data were collected using semi-structured interviews with the manufacturers and suppliers of food and beverages. Through purposive sampling, the participants had pertinent expertise. The thematic analysis of the data was performed using ATLAS.ti., which provided systematic identification of the most important themes. The results revealed that the existing joint projects, such as those of the FoodBev SETA and the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA), are disjointed and do not align with industry skills demands. Significant discrepancies were found in the areas of food safety, automation and digital supply chain management. Collaboration barriers were also identified, including bureaucratic inflexibility, resource imbalance, breakdowns in communication, and the prevalence of distrust amongst stakeholders. The advancement in technology has further transformed the nature of skills, necessitating the need for hybrid skills that combine digital literacy, technical skills, and adaptive soft skills. In practice, it can provide a model on how policymakers and leaders in industries can institutionalize a multi-stakeholder collaboration to transform the workforce. Significant limitations include the geographic focus of the study on Limpopo Province, the relatively qualitative nature of the study, which hinders generalizability, and time constraints that prevented longitudinal observation. The prospective study employs mixed-methods and longitudinal designs to determine the lasting effects of collaborative partnerships and to analyse them in other sectors of the industry.

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Strategies which youth graduates in Thulamela Local Municipality can adopt to take entrepreneurship as a career

(2026-05-19) Netshisaulu, Murunwa; Nkondo, L. G.; Mampheu, V.

Youth unemployment is a problem across the globe in both developing and developed countries. Achieving a certain qualification does not guarantee employment as the job market is saturated and cannot employ every youth graduate who has attained a certain qualification every year. Youth entrepreneurship boosts economic growth, reduces unemployment and creates job opportunities. However, the rate of youth unemployment remains a problem facing graduates. This study aimed to determine strategies that youth graduates in Thulamela Local Municipality can adopt to develop entrepreneurship into a career. The qualitative approach and exploratory research design was used in conducting this study. Purposive, nonprobability sampling was adopted using semi structured interviews and observations to collect data through face-to-face interactions, as well as telephonic interviews with nine (9) unemployed youth graduates in Thulamela Local Municipality. Data was analysed using Atlas.ti8. The findings revealed that some of the reasons youth do not take entrepreneurship as a career include lack of motivation regarding entrepreneurship, fear of failure and a lack of finances. Some of the strategies which youth graduates can adopt to follow a career in entrepreneurship involve motivation for entrepreneurship, financial assistance, networking and connecting with appropriate associates. The study suggests that the government, as well as nongovernment organisations, should collaborate to promote youth entrepreneurship. The study contributes to existing literature since it provided findings from unemployed youth graduates in Thulamela Local Municipality. The results of the study, which was carried out in Thulamela Local Municipality, may not be generalised in other municipalities. Further research about youth entrepreneurship should be conducted to increase participation.

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Open Access

Managerial factors influencing the implementation of NIMART services in the mobile health clinics of eThekwini municipality in KwaZulu-Natal

(Elsevier, 2024) Ngcobo, Silingene Joyce; Makhado, Lufuno; Sehlularo, Leepile Alfred

Background The mobile health clinics (MHCs) have been instrumental in rolling out Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) care since they are an extension of Primary Health Care (PHC) services. The integration of HIV care into PHC services is reported as a structural facilitative factor for implementing nurse-initiated antiretroviral therapy (NIMART). The success of any health program relies heavily on management and support structure, hence managers’ perspectives on the implementation of NIMART services in MHCs are deemed crucial. Aim The study aimed to explore and describe the managerial factors influencing the implementation of NIMART services in the MHCs of eThekwini municipality in KwaZulu Natal. Methods A generic qualitative research approach was used applying Qualitative Exploratory Descriptive (QED) design, on twelve MHC managers who were purposefully selected and managing MHCs operated by local and provincial health authorities. The study was approved by the North-West University Human Research Ethics Committee (NWU 00934–19-A1), provincial (KZ_202002_017) and local health (30/1/1/6/3/1) authorities. Online semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data and were transcribed. Atlas-TI was used for data analysis while demographic data was descriptively analysed. Results Three themes and twelve subthemes emerged from the study: theme 1: Challenges in implementing NIMART services in MHCs, theme 2: Positive factors influencing implementation of NIMART services in MHCs, and theme 3: Suggestions to strengthen implementation of NIMART services. Subthemes were shortage of staff, shortage of medical equipment for NIMART services, challenges with infrastructure, lack of budget for NIMART services, nurses are trained in NIMART, continuous meetings, Proper planning, more nurses should be trained on NIMART, employment of more nursing personnel, collaboration with relevant stakeholders, proper infrastructure for NIMART and need for allowances. Conclusion The involvement of managers is key to the successful implementation of NIMART services in the MHCs and improvement is more desirable.

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Open Access

A systematic review of the effectiveness of epilepsy education programs on knowledge, attitudes, and skills among primary school learners

(Frontiers, 2024) Makhado, Thendo Gertie; Sepeng, Nombulelo Veronica; Makhado, Lufuno

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition affecting primary school learners, often leading to misconceptions, stigma, and limited social inclusion. These misconceptions transpire because of a lack of knowledge regarding the condition and may lead to high school dropouts. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of epilepsy education programs on epilepsy-related knowledge and understanding, values and attitudes, and skills among primary school learners. A thorough search of electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published between January 2000 and September 2023. Studies that satisfied the eligibility criteria were chosen, and two reviewers conducted data extraction independently. A narrative synthesis approach was utilised to analyse the findings. The review included 10 studies that satisfied the inclusion requirements. The epilepsy education interventions varied in content, duration, and delivery method. Findings indicated that diverse delivery methods, such as classroom-based programs, hospital-based programs, and community-centred interventions, effectively enhanced epilepsy-related knowledge and understanding, values and attitudes, and skills among primary school learners. This systematic review provides evidence that epilepsy education programs can effectively enhance epilepsy-related knowledge, understanding, values, attitudes, and skills among primary school learners. These findings support developing and implementing comprehensive guidelines for teaching epilepsy in primary schools, suggesting various delivery methods and integrating cultural values to promote optimal learning outcomes and social inclusion for learners with epilepsy.

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Open Access

Registered nurses’ experiences regarding operational factors influencing the implementation of HIV care services in the mobile health clinics of eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal

(Springer Nature, 2024) Ngcobo, Silingene Joyce; Makhado, Lufuno; Sehularo, Leepile Alfred

Background Registered nurses working in the mobile health clinics (MHCs) play an important role in enabling HIV care access to populations in remote areas through Nurse Initiated Antiretroviral Therapy program (NIMART). Aim To explore and describe the nurses’ experiences regarding operational factors influencing the implementation of HIV care services in the mobile health clinics (MHCs) of eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu Natal. Methods Qualitative Exploratory Descriptive (QED) method was used after permission was granted from North-West University Human Research Ethics Committee provincial and local health authorities. Data saturation informed sample size of thirteen MHCs nurses were purposefully sampled to participate. Audio-recorded, semi-structured, online, one-on-one interviews guided by open-ended questions were done for data collection, and including demographic profile. The interview transcripts were analysed using Atlas-TI and SPSS descriptive statistics was used for demographics. Results Eleven subthemes emerged under patient-related, nurse-related, and organisational-related themes which influence the operational factors in the MHCs, namely: patient defaulting treatment, lack of privacy, unavailability of phones, stressful and demotivating MHCs, nurses feel unsafe, lack of support from management, lack of budget, unavailability of computers, shortage of medical equipment, shortage of nursing staff and absence of data capturers. Conclusion Structured contextual coaching and support program for nurses is imperative to ensure effective and strengthened operations in MHCs, further supported by improvement in human resource for health allocation for MHCs in light of expanding health care programs Contributions Evaluation of health care programmes, and human resource for health quality improvement needs in the clinical practice of HIV care of MHCs nurses which advocate for specific policy formulations.