Sethu, M. J.Zitha, H. E.Motsepe, Humphrey Lephethe2026-06-292026-06-292026-05-19Motsepe, H.L. 2026. The Role of Incubation Model in Supporting Local Economic Development Initiatives of Youth Start-Up Enterprises: A Case of Nkangala District, Mpumalanga Province. . .https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/3304Doctor of AdministrationDepartment of Public and Development AdministrationThis study investigated the pivotal role of incubation models in bolstering local economic development (LED) initiatives, with a particular focus on youth start-up enterprises, within the Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province. The research is underpinned by a qualitative desktop-based Systematic Literature Review (SLR), encompassing scholarly and grey literature published between 2000 and 2025. The study adopts a constructivist research paradigm, recognising the socially-constructed nature of entrepreneurial realities and the contextual nuances, influencing youth enterprise development. Employing an exploratory research design, the study sought to uncover patterns, themes, and insights into the efficacy of incubation models in fostering sustainable youth entrepreneurship. The research approach is inductive, allowing for the emergence of grounded theory, through a thematic synthesis of existing literature. The research method is qualitative, with data drawn from peer-reviewed journals, policy documents, government reports, and institutional publications, relevant to incubation practices and youth enterprise development. The population of interest comprised of existing literature on incubation models, local economic development within the South African context and youth start-up enterprises operating within the jurisdiction of the Nkangala District Municipality, including its constituent local municipalities: Thembisile Hani, Dr JS Moroka, Victor Khanye, Steve Tshwete, Emakhazeni, and Emalahleni. Purposive sampling was employed to select literature that directly addressed incubation models, youth entrepreneurship, and local economic development within the South African context and comparable international settings. The sample was made up of 60 sources that meet the inclusion criteria of, relevance, credibility, and published within the specified timeframe. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis, enabling the identification of recurring motifs, conceptual frameworks, and strategic interventions that underpin successful incubation models. Key themes emerging from the analysis include capacity building, access to finance, mentorship, market linkage, and policy alignment. The study reveals that incubation models play a critical role in advancing youth start-ups, boosting local economic development (LED), and reducing unemployment levels within the Nkangala District Municipality. Additionally, the results demonstrate that the incubation models facilitate: capacity building for start-up entrepreneurs, access to finance, entrepreneurial mentorship, access to supply chains and, finally, policy alignment to ensure coherence with LED Strategies, youth development mandates and regulatory compliance. The study concludes that a well-structured incubation model, tailored to the socio-economic realities of Nkangala District, can significantly advance youth enterprise development and contribute to broader local economic development goals. It recommends the establishment of a dedicated incubation centre within the Nkangala District Municipality, strategically positioned to service all local municipalities in the District. The centre should integrate multi-sectoral support mechanisms, foster public-private partnerships, and align with national youth development strategies, to ensure sustainability and impact. This results contribute to the discourse on youth entrepreneurship and incubation by offering a contextualised framework for policy-makers, development practitioners, and municipal stakeholders seeking to catalyse economic transformation, through targeted support for youth-led start-ups.1 online resource (335 leaves): color illustrations, color mapsenUniversity of VendaBusiness IncubatorsUCTDIncubation ModelLocal Economic DevelopmentSmall and Medium EnterprisesStart-ups338.9096827Youth -- Economic conditions -- South Africa -- MpumalangaYouth -- Social conditions -- South Africa -- MpumalangaSustainable development -- South Africa -- MpumalangaRural development -- South Africa -- MpumalangaEnterprise zones, Rural -- South Africa -- MpumalangaCommunity development -- South Africa -- MpumalangaThesisMotsepe HL. The Role of Incubation Model in Supporting Local Economic Development Initiatives of Youth Start-Up Enterprises: A Case of Nkangala District, Mpumalanga Province. []. , 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from:Motsepe, H. L. (2026). <i>The Role of Incubation Model in Supporting Local Economic Development Initiatives of Youth Start-Up Enterprises: A Case of Nkangala District, Mpumalanga Province</i>. (). . Retrieved fromMotsepe, Humphrey Lephethe. <i>"The Role of Incubation Model in Supporting Local Economic Development Initiatives of Youth Start-Up Enterprises: A Case of Nkangala District, Mpumalanga Province."</i> ., , 2026.TY - Thesis AU - Motsepe, Humphrey Lephethe AB - This study investigated the pivotal role of incubation models in bolstering local economic development (LED) initiatives, with a particular focus on youth start-up enterprises, within the Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province. The research is underpinned by a qualitative desktop-based Systematic Literature Review (SLR), encompassing scholarly and grey literature published between 2000 and 2025. The study adopts a constructivist research paradigm, recognising the socially-constructed nature of entrepreneurial realities and the contextual nuances, influencing youth enterprise development. Employing an exploratory research design, the study sought to uncover patterns, themes, and insights into the efficacy of incubation models in fostering sustainable youth entrepreneurship. The research approach is inductive, allowing for the emergence of grounded theory, through a thematic synthesis of existing literature. The research method is qualitative, with data drawn from peer-reviewed journals, policy documents, government reports, and institutional publications, relevant to incubation practices and youth enterprise development. The population of interest comprised of existing literature on incubation models, local economic development within the South African context and youth start-up enterprises operating within the jurisdiction of the Nkangala District Municipality, including its constituent local municipalities: Thembisile Hani, Dr JS Moroka, Victor Khanye, Steve Tshwete, Emakhazeni, and Emalahleni. Purposive sampling was employed to select literature that directly addressed incubation models, youth entrepreneurship, and local economic development within the South African context and comparable international settings. The sample was made up of 60 sources that meet the inclusion criteria of, relevance, credibility, and published within the specified timeframe. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis, enabling the identification of recurring motifs, conceptual frameworks, and strategic interventions that underpin successful incubation models. Key themes emerging from the analysis include capacity building, access to finance, mentorship, market linkage, and policy alignment. The study reveals that incubation models play a critical role in advancing youth start-ups, boosting local economic development (LED), and reducing unemployment levels within the Nkangala District Municipality. Additionally, the results demonstrate that the incubation models facilitate: capacity building for start-up entrepreneurs, access to finance, entrepreneurial mentorship, access to supply chains and, finally, policy alignment to ensure coherence with LED Strategies, youth development mandates and regulatory compliance. The study concludes that a well-structured incubation model, tailored to the socio-economic realities of Nkangala District, can significantly advance youth enterprise development and contribute to broader local economic development goals. It recommends the establishment of a dedicated incubation centre within the Nkangala District Municipality, strategically positioned to service all local municipalities in the District. The centre should integrate multi-sectoral support mechanisms, foster public-private partnerships, and align with national youth development strategies, to ensure sustainability and impact. This results contribute to the discourse on youth entrepreneurship and incubation by offering a contextualised framework for policy-makers, development practitioners, and municipal stakeholders seeking to catalyse economic transformation, through targeted support for youth-led start-ups. DA - 2026-05-19 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - Business Incubators KW - Incubation Model KW - Local Economic Development KW - Small and Medium Enterprises KW - Start-ups LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2026 T1 - The Role of Incubation Model in Supporting Local Economic Development Initiatives of Youth Start-Up Enterprises: A Case of Nkangala District, Mpumalanga Province TI - The Role of Incubation Model in Supporting Local Economic Development Initiatives of Youth Start-Up Enterprises: A Case of Nkangala District, Mpumalanga Province UR - ER -