<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="static/style.xsl"?><OAI-PMH xmlns="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/ http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/OAI-PMH.xsd"><responseDate>2026-09-23T04:47:11Z</responseDate><request verb="GetRecord" identifier="oai:univendspace.univen.ac.za:11602/3274" metadataPrefix="dim">https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/server/oai/request</request><GetRecord><record><header><identifier>oai:univendspace.univen.ac.za:11602/3274</identifier><datestamp>2026-07-01T21:29:11Z</datestamp><setSpec>com_11602_1952</setSpec><setSpec>com_11602_1940</setSpec><setSpec>com_11602_1895</setSpec><setSpec>com_11602_737</setSpec><setSpec>col_11602_2179</setSpec><setSpec>col_11602_738</setSpec></header><metadata><dim:dim xmlns:dim="http://www.dspace.org/xmlns/dspace/dim" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:doc="http://www.lyncode.com/xoai" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.dspace.org/xmlns/dspace/dim http://www.dspace.org/schema/dim.xsd">
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="contributor" qualifier="advisor">Chiliya, Norman</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="contributor" qualifier="author">Mariba, Tshiangwa Knowledge</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="date">2025</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="date" qualifier="accessioned">2026-06-22T08:02:49Z</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="date" qualifier="available">2026-06-22T08:02:49Z</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="date" qualifier="issued">2026-05-19</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="identifier" qualifier="citation" lang="en_ZA">Mariba, T.K. 2026. The Contribution of Microfinance Institutions to Entrepreneurship Development in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. . . </dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="identifier" qualifier="uri">https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/3274</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="identifier" qualifier="vancouvercitation" lang="en_ZA">Mariba TK. The Contribution of Microfinance Institutions to Entrepreneurship Development in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. []. , 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: </dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="identifier" qualifier="apacitation" lang="en_ZA">Mariba, T. K. (2026). &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;The Contribution of Microfinance Institutions to Entrepreneurship Development in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;. (). . Retrieved from </dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="identifier" qualifier="chicagocitation" lang="en_ZA">Mariba, Tshiangwa Knowledge. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;&amp;quot;The Contribution of Microfinance Institutions to Entrepreneurship Development in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; ., , 2026. </dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="identifier" qualifier="ris" lang="en_ZA">&#xd;
TY  - Dissertation&#xd;
AU  - Mariba, Tshiangwa Knowledge&#xd;
AB  - This investigation examines microfinance as a mechanism for enabling sustainable enterprise
development within South Africa&amp;apos;s distinctive socio-economic landscape, with particular attention
to the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province. The research interrogates how financial
intermediaries serving excluded populations influence poverty reduction trajectories and
economic advancement pathways.
The literature review synthesises diverse scholarly sources to explore microfinance’s conceptual
foundations and evolutionary trajectory within South African contexts, with particular emphasis
on financial inclusion and entrepreneurship development. Evidence reveals multidimensional
benefits extending beyond capital access to encompass entrepreneurial capability development,
employment generation, and gender-based economic empowerment.
Methodologically, this qualitative inquiry gathered experiential data through twenty semistructured
interviews with owners and managers of SMME’s who had engaged with
microfinance services. Interview transcripts underwent systematic thematic analysis using
ATLAS.ti software, revealing patterns illuminating how microfinance interventions shape both
enterprise success and operational challenges faced by small business proprietors.
Research findings illuminate microfinance&amp;apos;s transformative potential while acknowledging
complexities surrounding interest rate structures, repayment frameworks, and regulatory
constraints. The analysis underscores requirements for differentiated support mechanisms
acknowledging diverse entrepreneurial needs and aspirations characterizing South African
business landscapes.
This study provides contextually grounded insights into how microfinance is experienced by
SMME owners in the Vhembe District, contributing empirical evidence to broader debates on
financial inclusion and rural entrepreneurship in South Africa. Generated insights offer
preliminary guidance for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers seeking to strengthen
microfinance strategies in rural South African contexts, while acknowledging the inherent
limitations of a single-site, cross-sectional qualitative design.&#xd;
DA  - 2026-05-19&#xd;
DB  - ResearchSpace&#xd;
DP  - Univen&#xd;
KW  - Entrepreneur&#xd;
KW  - Entrepreneurship&#xd;
KW  - Microfinance&#xd;
KW  - Poverty alleviation&#xd;
KW  - Small business enterprises&#xd;
LK  - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za&#xd;
PY  - 2026&#xd;
T1  - The Contribution of Microfinance Institutions to Entrepreneurship Development in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa&#xd;
TI  - The Contribution of Microfinance Institutions to Entrepreneurship Development in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa&#xd;
UR  - &#xd;
ER  - &#xd;
</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="description">MCom in Business Management</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="description">Department of Business Management</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="description" qualifier="abstract">This investigation examines microfinance as a mechanism for enabling sustainable enterprise
development within South Africa&amp;apos;s distinctive socio-economic landscape, with particular attention
to the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province. The research interrogates how financial
intermediaries serving excluded populations influence poverty reduction trajectories and
economic advancement pathways.
The literature review synthesises diverse scholarly sources to explore microfinance’s conceptual
foundations and evolutionary trajectory within South African contexts, with particular emphasis
on financial inclusion and entrepreneurship development. Evidence reveals multidimensional
benefits extending beyond capital access to encompass entrepreneurial capability development,
employment generation, and gender-based economic empowerment.
Methodologically, this qualitative inquiry gathered experiential data through twenty semistructured
interviews with owners and managers of SMME’s who had engaged with
microfinance services. Interview transcripts underwent systematic thematic analysis using
ATLAS.ti software, revealing patterns illuminating how microfinance interventions shape both
enterprise success and operational challenges faced by small business proprietors.
Research findings illuminate microfinance&amp;apos;s transformative potential while acknowledging
complexities surrounding interest rate structures, repayment frameworks, and regulatory
constraints. The analysis underscores requirements for differentiated support mechanisms
acknowledging diverse entrepreneurial needs and aspirations characterizing South African
business landscapes.
This study provides contextually grounded insights into how microfinance is experienced by
SMME owners in the Vhembe District, contributing empirical evidence to broader debates on
financial inclusion and rural entrepreneurship in South Africa. Generated insights offer
preliminary guidance for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers seeking to strengthen
microfinance strategies in rural South African contexts, while acknowledging the inherent
limitations of a single-site, cross-sectional qualitative design.</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="format" qualifier="extent">1 online resource (xii, 75 leaves)</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="language" qualifier="iso">en</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="relation" qualifier="requires">PDF</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="rights">University of Venda</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject">Entrepreneur</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject">Entrepreneurship</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject">Microfinance</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject">Poverty alleviation</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject">Small business enterprises</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" lang="en_ZA">UCTD</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" qualifier="ddc">354.27990968257</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" qualifier="lcsh">Microfinance -- South Africa -- Limpopo</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" qualifier="lcsh">Financial services industry -- South Africa -- Limpopo</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" qualifier="lcsh">Small business -- Finance</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" qualifier="lcsh">Entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Limpopo</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="title">The Contribution of Microfinance Institutions to Entrepreneurship Development in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="type">Dissertation</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="others" element="access-status">embargo</dim:field>
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