https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32479 2026-08-23T23:39:25Z 2026-08-23T23:39:25Z Sohuma-Mdaka Anathi, Zwane Elliot Mahlangule, Belete Abenet https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32811 2026-07-30T08:25:07Z 2026-06-12T00:00:00Z

Factors Influencing Smallholder Farmers’ Decision to Commercialise Vegetable Production in Alfred Nzo and O.R. Tambo Districts, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa Sohuma-Mdaka Anathi, Zwane Elliot Mahlangule, Belete Abenet The agricultural industry is developing in South Africa and worldwide. This suggests that smallholder vegetable farmers should shift from producing for consumption to producing mostly for the market. However, factors are impeding the commercialisation of vegetable production among smallholder farmers. This study investigates factors influencing smallholder farmers' decision to commercialise their vegetable production. The study used purposive-stratified random sampling and selected vegetable farmers as the target population. The two district municipalities were referred to as strata, and 108 vegetable farmers were randomly selected from each stratum, for a total of 216. The binary probit model was used to analyse the data. The analysis shows that factors such as educational levels, distance to market, access to credit, and farm income play a significant role in influencing their decision to commercialise. The significant positive relationship between education and commercialisation decisions indicates that higher levels of education among farmers are associated with more market-oriented practices. Increased farm income further motivates farmers to engage in commercial activities, as higher earnings from farm produce create an investment cycle. Policymakers should enhance policy frameworks that promote agricultural commercialisation in the two districts, thereby improving the livelihoods and resilience of smallholder farmers in South Africa.

2026-06-12T00:00:00Z Andy Titus OKWU Mokgadi NGOEPE-NTSOANE Obiakor Rowland TOCHUKWU Timothy Chidi OBIWURU https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32695 2026-06-29T22:27:18Z 2017-06-28T00:00:00Z

HOUSING AND ECONOMIC GROWTH NEXUS IN NIGERIA: DATA-BASED EVIDENCE Andy Titus OKWU; Mokgadi NGOEPE-NTSOANE; Obiakor Rowland TOCHUKWU; Timothy Chidi OBIWURU Housing is considered as one of the cardinal measures of the state of an economy. This paper employed data-based evidence to explore housing sector-economic growth relationship in Nigeria during 1980-2015. Choice variables were real estate business services (REBS), building construction investments (BCI), property rights index (PRI) and human labor (L) engaged in the sector. Anchored on perceived interactions among the variables, the articulated conceptual model preceded an analytic model modified from the endogenous growth model of economic theory. Graphical and econometric techniques were employed to analyze the data sets on the variables for trends in time series values of the variables; and the effects of the housing sector variables on growth of the economy. The results showed that housing services delivery had a long-run relationship and significantly spurred the growth of the economy. Further, housing services delivery and growth of the economy had high speed adjustment coefficient to long-run equilibrium growth path under stable structural housing sector services delivery and appropriate human labor mix participation. Therefore, the paper concluded that housing services enhanced growth of the economy, and emphasized the need for appropriate human, capital and fi nancial policies for the sector to engender sustainable growth

2017-06-28T00:00:00Z Ngoepe-Ntsoane https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32694 2026-06-29T20:58:02Z 2021-10-01T00:00:00Z

Inclusive Economic Growth Through Community Empowerment and Transformation: The Case of the Johannesburg Development Agency on Rea Vaya Project Implementation Ngoepe-Ntsoane Orthodox logic proposes that small, medium, and micro enterprises are critical for growth, development and the transformation of society towards an inclusive economy, particularly in developing countries. The article provides input to the South African context in terms of addressing pertinent problems of multi-dimensions of poverty that encompass inequality, income, and unemployment at the municipal level. The case of the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), which deals with a broad spectrum of construction projects, is used for sharing lessons of good practice that could be replicated in other implementing bodies. The article uses document analysis to cross-correlate compliance and observation as research method. The findings are that the operating model of JDA's project approach ensures prevention of the ill effects of the past, ensuring that there are economic opportunities for the previously marginalised groups. This approach is consistent with the objectives of the National Development Plan, which seeks to ensure an inclusive economy is attained thereby combatting socio-economic exclusion. It is concluded that the JDA's approach towards an inclusive growth principle has been a successful one in terms of compliance with the legislation and this much is corroborated through observations made by the researcher. The unique contribution of the study is deemed important in the sense that it benefits society with regard to unemployment, inequality and income for an inclusive economy, which in turn ensures social inclusion. A case study of one entity is regarded as a limitation to the study since there has not been a comparison with others. Future studies will focus on comparative analyses of other operational modalities by other implementing agencies.

2021-10-01T00:00:00Z Oludele Akinloye Akinboade1, Trevor Taft 2,Johann Friedrich Weber 2, Ngoepe-NtsoanVictor Sannyboy Molobi4e, https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32693 2026-06-29T20:48:50Z 2023-03-23T00:00:00Z

Prosocial motives of solar entrepreneurs combating energy poverty in South Africa Oludele Akinloye Akinboade1, Trevor Taft 2,Johann Friedrich Weber 2, Ngoepe-NtsoanVictor Sannyboy Molobi4e, This study seeks to examine the prosocial motives of solar energy entrepreneurs as they generate energy to combat energy poverty in South Africa. Using a qualitative research method, data, in words of survey participants, were collected from social purpose and profitable solar energy businesses using a semi-structured interviews technique. These represent the reality of the interviewed Social Entrepreneurs because their societal world deals mainly with socially constructed issues. A predeveloped “codebook” forms the basis to build categories of social issues and to consequently amalgamate codes into umbrella themes that enable researchers carry out structured and systematic contextual analysis. Motivated by innate feelings of compassion, empathy and extrinsic concerns for the environment, solar entrepreneurs embark on social venturing to collaborate with municipalities to deliver public services, to the group of vulnerable energy poor South Africans gain access to public benefits, like access to clean energy, which are frequently out of reach of township as well as slum dwellers operating mainly in the informal sector. This study contributes to our understanding of how solar energy entrepreneurs operate and adapt to the complexity of public energy service delivery venture in South Africa.

2023-03-23T00:00:00Z