https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/30857 2026-08-03T21:47:03Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32655 Effect of preservatives and storage conditions on quality of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) fruit juice Gosh, Lekhuleni Isobel Lerato The aim of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is, among other things, to eradicate hunger and malnutrition and guarantee that all people have access to sufficient nutrient-dense food by 2030. The introduction of underutilised indigenous fruit species such as marula (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra), which is reported to be abundant in vitamin C and minerals needed by humans for the fulfilment of their recommended daily dietary requirements, seems to be a reliable strategy to achieve these goals. This multi-disciplinary study was conducted to investigate (i) the impact of geographical region on the physicochemical properties of marula fruits and juice, and (ii) the effect of a treatment combination of preservatives and storage conditions on the physicochemical properties, mineral retention and microbial activities of 100% marula fruit juice. The aim of the study was therefore to establish the most suitable preservatives and storage conditions for processed marula fruit juice, for the purpose of the future commercialisation of this product. Fruit and its juice utillised for for the analysis of physicochemical properties including calcium, iron, fruit mass, total soluble sugars, total flavonoids, and vitamin C were harvested from Bushbuckridge, Giyani and Tzaneen, all of which are classified as lowveld regions of South Africa. The effect of treatment combinations (preservatives and storage settings) on quality, including phytochemicals and minerals, was assessed by subjecting marula fruit juice to preservatives (sodium metabisulphite and sodium benzoate) and storage conditions (4, 6, and 10˚C) for a duration of 20 days. Concerning the assessment of microbial activity, the spread plate count approach was employed, encompassing incubation, enumeration of colony-forming units, and species identification. For the physicochemical properties investigation, study revealed that fruits harvested in the Bushbuckridge region exhibited a greater mass (44.6 g) compared to those from other places. In comparison to other regions, the Tzaneen region fruit had a higher total soluble sugar concentration of 12.9 ˚Brix. Regarding the impact of varying presevatives and storage conditions on quality retention, results demonstrated that the combination of sodium benzoate and a storage temperature of 10˚C resulted in the highest preservation of total flavonoid content (2.49 mg QE/ml) after 20 days, compared to other treatments. Retention of higher vitamin C content (83.26 mg/100 ml) was noted under the treatment combination (+ positive control - pasteurized at 10˚C). For minerals, the treatment iv combination of sodium benzoate and 4˚C yielded enhanced calcium retention (81.3 mg/L) relative to alternative treatments. The maximum retention of iron content (33.1 mg/L) was recorded with the treatment combination of sodium benzoate and 4˚C, in comparison to other treatments. Regarding microbiological quality, juice samples treated with sodium metabisulphite, irrespective of storage conditions, exhibited the lowest yeast count (3.2 x 102 cfu/ml) in comparison to other treatments. Therefore, regional variances, the use of preservatives, and low storage temperatures all have a direct impact on marula fruit and juice. As a result, marula fruit juice manufacturers should take these factors into account since they have a direct impact on the juice's marketability and potential for commercialisation.; Inhloso yeMhlabuhlangene Tinjongo Tekutfutfukisa Letisimeme (SDGs) kutsi, emkhatsini waletinye tintfo, kucedza indlala kanye nekungadli kahle kanye nekucinisekisa kutsi bonkhe bantfu bayakhona kutfola kudla lokwenele lokunemsoco ngemnyaka wa 2030. Kwetfulwa kwetinhlobo tetitselo temdzabu letingakasetjentiswa kahle letifana nemaganu imarula (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra), letisetjentiswa kancane. kuvithamin C kanye nemaminerali ladzingwa bantfu kwentela kugcwalisa tidzingo tabo tekudla letinconyiwe tetinsuku tonkhe, kubonakala ngatsi lisu leletsembekile lekufeza lemigomo. Lolucwaningo lolunetifundvo letiningi lwentelwe kuphenya (i) umtselela wesigodzi sendzawo etimphahleni tephysicochemical tetitselo temarula kanye nejusi, kanye (ii) nemphumela wenhlanganisela yekwelapha yetintfo letilondvolotako kanye netimo tekugcina etimphahleni tephysicochemical, kugcinwa kwemaminerali ejusi yemarula 100%. Inhloso yalolucwaningo bekukusungula tintfo letifanele kakhulu tekugcina kanye netimo tekugcina ijusi yetitselo temarula lecubunguliwe, ngenhloso yekutsengisa lomkhicito esikhatsini lesitako. Titselo kanye nejusi yato lesetjentiselwa kuhlatiya tintfo temtimba letifaka ekhatsi ikhalsiyamu, i-ayoni, bukhulu besitselo, shukela loncibilikako lophelele, ema flavonoids laphelele kanye nevithamin C kwavunwa eBushbuckridge, eGiyani nase Tzaneen, konkhe loku kuhlukaniswe njengetindzawo letiphansi eNingizimu Afrika Umphumela wekuhlanganiswa kwekwelapha (tintfo letilondvolotako kanye netindzawo tekugcina) ngelizinga, kufaka ekhatsi emakhemikhali etitjalo kanye nemamineral, kwahlolwa ngekubeka ijusi yetitselo temarula ngetintfo letilondvolotako (isodium metabisulphite kanye nesodium benzoate) kanye netimo tekugcina (4, 6, kanye na 10 ̊C) sikhatsi lseingemalanga langu-20. Mayelana nekuhlolwa kwemsebenti wetintfo letincane, indlela yekubala emapuleti lasakateke yasetjentiswa, lefaka ekhatsi kufukamela, kubalwa kwemayunithi lakha emakoloni kanye nekukhonjwa kwetinhlobo. Kuloluphenyo lwephysicochemical, lolucwaningo lwaveta kutsi titselo letivunwe esigodzini sase Bushbuckridge tikhombisa bukhulu lobukhulu (44.6 g) uma kucatsaniswa naleto letivela kuletinye tindzawo. Uma kucatsaniswa naletinye tifundza, sitselo sesigodzi sase Tzaneen besinesibalo lesiphakeme sashukela loncibilikako lesiphelele lesingu 12.9 ̊Brix. vi Mayelana nemtselela wetintfo letehlukene tekugcina kanye netimo tekugcina ekugcineni lizinga, imiphumela yakhombisa kutsi kuhlanganiswa kwesodium benzoate kanye nelizinga lekushisa lekugcina la 10 ̊C kwaholela ekugcineni lokusetulu kwalokucuketfwe kweflavonoid lephelele (2.49 mg QE/ml) ngemuva kwemalanga lamashumi lamabili (20), uma kucatsaniswa naletinye tindlela tekwelapha. Kugcinwa kwe vithamin C lesetulu (83.26 mg/100 ml) kwaphawulwa ngaphansi kwekuhlanganiswa kwekwelashwa (+ kulawula lokuhle - pasteurized ku 10 ̊C). Kumaminerali, inhlanganisela yekwelapha ye-sodium benzoate kanye na 4 ̊C kwakhicita kugcinwa kwe khalsiyamu lokukhulisiwe (81.3 mg/L) uma kucatsaniswa naletinye tindlela tekwelapha. Kugcinwa lokukhulu kwe-ayoni (33.1 mg/L) kwabhalwa ngekuhlanganiswa kwekwelapha kwesodium benzoate kanye na 4 ̊C, uma kucatsaniswa naletinye tindlela tekwelapha. Mayelana nelizinga letintfo letincane, emasampula ejusi laphatfwe ngesodium metabisulphite, kungakhatsaleki kutsi timo tekugcina, tikhombisa sibalo lesiphansi semvubelo (3.2 x 102 cfu/ml) uma kucatsaniswa naletinye tindlela tekwelapha. Ngako-ke, kwehluka kwesifundza, kusetjentiswa kwetintfo letilondvolotako kanye nelizinga lekushisa leliphansi kwekugcina konkhe kunemitselela lecondzile esitselweni semarula kanye nejusi. Ngenca yaloko, bakhiciti bejusi yetitselo temarula kumele batsatse letintfo njengoba tinemtselela locondzile ekutsengiseni kwejusi kanye nemandla ekutsengisa.; Xikongomelo xa Swikongomelo swa Nhluvukiso lowu Yisekaka Emahlweni (tiSDG) swa United Nations, exikarhi xin'wana, i ku herisa ndlala na nsiko na ku tiyisisa leswaku vanhu hinkwavo va na mfikelelo wa swakudya leswi nga tala swiaki swa mirhi swo ringanela hi kwalomuya ka 2030. Ku sungula ku tirhisiwa kwa mixaka ya mihandzu ya xintu leyi tirhisiwaka switsongo yo tanihi makanyi (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra), leyi yi vikiwaka ku va yi tele yi vhitamini ya C na timinerali leswi dingiwaka hi vanhu ku fikelela swilaveko wa vona swa madyelo ya siku na siku leswi bumabumeriwaka, swi tikomba swi ri qhinga ro tshembeka ku fikelela swikongomelo leswi. Ndzavisiso lowa marhavinyingi wu endleriwile ku lavisisa (i) nkhumbo wa xifundza xa ndhawu ya misava hi mayelana na swihlawulekisi swa fizikokhemikali swa mihandzu ya makanyi na juzi ya makanyi (ii) xitandzhaku xa nkatsaniso wa makhomelo wa swisivelakubola na swiyimo swa vuhlayiselo, na nhlayiso wa timinerali na migingiriko ya switsongwatsongwana ya 100% ta juzi ya mihandzu ya makanyi. Hikokwalaho, xikongomelo xa ndzavisiso lowu a ku ri ku tumbuluxa swisivelakubola leswi ringaneleke swinene na swiyimo swa vuhlayiselo swa juzi ya mihandzu ya makanyi leyi phurosesiweke, hi xikongomelo xa vubindzurisi bya nkarhi lowu taka wa xikumiwa lexi. Muhandzu na juzi ya wona leswi tirhisiweke eka nxopaxopo swihlawulekisi swa fizikokhemikali ku katsa na khalisiyamu, ayoni, ntiko wa mihandzu, machukela lama n'okaka hinkwawo, tifulavhonoyidi hinkwato na vhitamini ya C swi hlengeletiwile eBushbuckridge, Giyani na Tzaneen, hinkwaswo swa swona swi ntlawahatiwa tanihi swifundza swa le timbalankoveni ta Afrika-Dzonga. Xitandzhaku xa mikatsaniso ya makhomelo (swisivelakubola na tindhawu ta vuhlayiselo) eka risima, ku katsa na tifayitokhemikali na timinerali, xi kamberiwile hi ku endla juzi ya mihandzu ya makanyi yi va na swisivelakubola (sodium metabisulphite na sodium benzoate) na swiyimo swa vuhlayiselo (4, 6, na 10˚C) ku ringana nkarhivunavi wa 20 wa masiku. Hi mayelana na makambelelo ya nghingiriko wa switsongwatsongwana, nhlayelo wa puleti yo hangalasela wu tirhisiwile, leswi katsaka andziso wa switsongwatsongwana, nhlayelo wa tiyuniti leti vumbaka tikholoni na ntiveko wa mixaka ya swihanyi. Eka vulavisisi bya fizikokhemikali, ndzavisiso lowu wu paluxe leswaku mihandzu leyi hlengeletiweke eka xifundza xa Bushbuckridge yi kombe ntiko lowukulu wa (44.6 g) loko wu pimanisiwa na lowuya wa le tindhawini tin'wana. Hi ku viii pimanisiwa na swifundza swin'wana, xifundza xa Tzaneen xi vile na nkhuvangano wa machukela lama n'okaka hinkwawo wa 12.9 ˚Brix. Hi mayelana na nkhumbo wa swisivelakubola leswi hambanaka na swiyimo swa vuhlayiselo eka nhlayiso wa risima, mivuyelo yi kombise leswaku nkatsaniso wa sodium benzoate na mahiselo ya vuhlayiselo ya 10˚C wu vange nhlayiso wa henhlahenhla wa vundzeni wa tifulavhonoyidi hinkwato (2.49 mg QE/ml) endzhaku ka 20 wa masiku, loko ku pimanisiwa na makhomelo man'wana. Nhlayiso wa vundzeni bya vhitamini ya C bya le henhla (83.26 mg/100 ml) byi lemukiwile ehansi ka nkatsaniso wa makhomelo (+ vulawurinene - ku hisisa kufika eka 10˚C). Eka timinerali, nkatsaniso wa makhomelo wa sodium benzoate na 4˚C swi nyike nhlayiso wa khalisiyamu lowu antswisiweke (81.3 mg/L) loko ku fananisiwa na makhomelo man'wana. Nhlayiso wa mpimohenhla wa vundzeni bya ayoni (33.1 mg/L) wu rhekodiwile eka nkatsaniso wa makhomelo wa sodium benzoate na 4˚C, hi ku pimanisiwa na makhomelo man'wana. Hi mayelana na risima ra ntivoswitsongwatsongwana, tisampulu ta juzi leti cheriweke sodium metabisulphite, swi nga ri na mhaka swiyimo swa vuhlayiselo, ti kombe nhlayelo wa xiviriso wa le hansihansi (3.2 x 102 cfu/ml) hi ku pimanisiwa na makahomelo man'wana. Hikokwalaho, mihambano ya swifundza, ntirhiso wa swisivelakubola na mahiselo ya vuhlayiselo ya le hansi hinkwaswo swi na nkhumbo wo kongoma eka mihandzu ya makanyi na juzi ya makanyi. Hikokwalaho, vamaki va juzi ya mihandzu ya makanyi va fanele ku tekela enhlokweni swihlohloteri leswi tanihileswi swi nga na nkhumbo wo kongoma eka vumaketeki bya juzi leyi na vuswikoti bya vubindzuriseki. Abstract in English with Swazi and Tsonga translations 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32433 Empirical investigation of the effects of trade openness on poverty in South Africa and Lesotho Mtolo, Zimvo The study examined the impact of trade openness on poverty in South Africa and Lesotho separately. The study used the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach with annual data from 1980 to 2019. The study used the consumption-based measure of poverty, measured by consumption expenditure as a target variable of investigation. The study further employed three measures of trade openness, which are sum of trade to GDP, the ratio of exports to GDP, and imports to GDP ratio. The use of three proxies of trade openness allowed the study to check the robustness of the results and to examine the individual effects of exports and imports on poverty. As a contribution to existing literature, the study included a dummy variable for Lesotho to capture the effect of the structural break that occurred from 1990 resulting from retrenchments of Lesotho nationals from South African mines. The overarching aim of the study is to contribute to the ongoing literature on the extent in which trade openness impacts poverty in South Africa and Lesotho, which are members of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The pursuit of the present study, among other things, is motivated by SACU’s mandate highlighting the need to foster sustainable economic growth and development among member countries. Such a mandate is underpinned by a focus on generating employment opportunities and alleviating poverty in the SACU area. The study provides a comparison of how the impact of trade openness on poverty differs between South Africa which is an upper-middle income country and Lesotho which is a lower middle-income country. The comparison also considers if the results differ with different proxies of trade openness. The results show that for South Africa, in the long run and short run, trade openness does not lead to poverty reduction, irrespective of the proxy used to measure trade openness. Instead, in the long run, trade openness, proxied by the sum of trade to GDP and the ratio of imports to GDP, has a negative effect on poverty. In the short run, the sum of trade/GDP and exports/GDP are both insignificant to poverty while imports/GDP have a negative impact on poverty. For Lesotho, in the long run, sum of trade/GDP is insignificant to poverty while exports/GDP and imports/GDP have a positive effect on poverty. In the short run, the sum of trade/GDP has a positive impact on poverty, exports/GDP have a negative effect on poverty while imports/GDP are insignificant to poverty. The coefficient of the dummy variable is negative and significant in the short run, confirming the evidence of a structural break. These results suggest that policies adopted in South Africa have not brought significant poverty alleviation. This could be an indication of a situation where policies implemented over the past tend to prevent the poor from benefiting from the gains of trade openness. Based on the findings, the main recommendation for South Africa is that policymakers could review the policies in place and understand the unintended consequences of each policy on poverty reduction. Policymakers in Lesotho could ensure that they adopt policies that benefit the poor directly. If well implemented, such policies could provide relief that will protect the poor from short term adjustment costs arising from trade openness. In view of the overall findings, the current study, therefore, recommends that there be a critical review of policies to assess unintended consequences of trade openness that may lead to increased poverty and ensure alignment of policies to overall poverty reduction objectives. In this context, the study recommends that the mechanism of distributing gains from trade be reviewed to ensure that gains from trade openness, such that the returns from trade, including funds from SACU revenue, are invested towards poverty reduction.; Bofuma ke sehlooho sa bohlokwa haholo se bohareng ba Dipheo tsa Ntlafatso ya Dilemo tse Sekete le Dipheo tsa Ntlafatso ya Moshwelella jwalo ka ha di hlahiswa ke Matjhaba a Kopaneng. Kahoo, phuputso ena e batlisisa phello ya ho buleha ha kgwebo bofumeng dinaheng tse pedi tse kgethilweng tsa Mokgatlo wa Lekgetho wa Dinaha tsa Afrika e Borwa (SACU), e leng, Lesotho le Rephabliki ya Afrika Borwa. Naha ya Lesotho e nkwa e le naha e sa tswelang pele haholo mme e behilwe boemong ba naha e futsanehileng, ha Afrika Borwa e le naha e ntseng e tswela pele moruong eo hape e nkilweng e le naha e hodimo-dimo. Nako ya phuputso e akaretsa 1980 ho isa 2019, e leng nako ya sewa sa pele ho COVID-19. Phuputsong e matla ya phello ya ho buleha ha kgwebo bofumeng, phuputso e sebedisa mokgwa wa tlhahlobo ya meedi ya ho dieha ho tsamaiswa ka mokgwa o ikemetseng (ARDL) ho kopanya. Kaha maemo a bofuma a ntse a tswela pele Afrika Borwa le Lesotho, sepheo se seholo sa phuputso ena ke ho kenya letsoho dipatlisisong tsa hore na ho buleha ha kgwebo ya matjhaba ho ama bofuma hakae dinaheng tse kgethilweng tsa SACU. Takatso ya phuputso ya jwale, hara tse ding, e susumetswa ke thomo ya SACU e totobatsang tlhokeho ya ho kgothalletsa kgolo le ntlafatso ya moruo wa moshwelella hara dinaha tseo e leng ditho. Thomo e jwalo e tshehetswa ke tsepamiso ya maikutlo hodima ho hlahisa menyetla ya mesebetsi le ho fokotsa bofuma sebakeng sa SACU. Kemedi ya bofuma e sebedisitsweng phuputsong ena ke Malapa le Mekgatlo e sa Etsang Phaello e Sebeletsang ditshenyehelo tsa Malapa tsa ho qetela tsa tshebediso ya motho ka mong tse lekantsweng ka 2015 US$ kamehla. Tlhaloso ya kemedi ena ke hore ha ditshenyehelo tsa ho qetela tsa tshebediso ya tjhelete ya malapa di le hodimo, ho fokotsa sekgahla sa bofuma. Diphetoho tse hlalosang tse sebedisitsweng tlhahlobong di kenyelletsa ho buleha ha kgwebo, e emetsweng ke thepa e iswang kantle ho naha le e tswang kahare ho naha e le karolo ya Kakaretso ya Dihlahiswa tsa Lehae (GDP), ho phahama ha ditheko ho emetsweng ke Indekse ya Theko ya Moreki, kgolo ya moruo e emetsweng ke GDP motho ka mong, le thuto e emetsweng ke tshebediso ya tjhelete ya mmuso thutong e le peresente ya GDP. Diphetho tse matla di senola diphumano tse latelang mabapi le hore na ho buleha ha kgwebo ho ama bofuma ka nako e kgutshwane le nako e telele jwang: sa pele, bakeng sa Afrika Borwa, phuputso e fumana hore phapang ya ho buleha ha kgwebo e bonahala ka dipalo ka katisi e mpe. Sena se fana ka maikutlo a hore keketseho ya ho buleha ha kgwebo e amahanngwa le ho theoha ha ditshenyehelo tsa tshebediso ya tjhelete malapeng, ho lebisang ho, keketseho ya bofuma. Ha ho bapiswa, phuputso e fumana hore ho phahama ha ditheko ho na le dipalo palo tse nang le katisi e mpe, ho bolelang hore ho eketseha ha ho phahama ha ditheko ho lebisang ho ho fokotseha ha ditshenyehelo tsa tshebediso ya ditjhelete ya malapa le keketseho e tsamaellang ya bofuma. Phuputso e fumana hore kgolo ya moruo e bonahala ka dipalo-palo ka katisi e ntle, e leng se bontshang hore ha kgolo ya moruo e ntlafala, lekeno la tjhelete la malapa le lona e ya ntlafala, kahoo bofuma bo a fokotseha. Ho phaella moo, thuto e bonahala ka dipalo-palo tse nang le katisi e ntle, e bolelang hore keketseho ya ditshenyehelo tsa mmuso thutong e lebisa ho eketseha ha ditshenyehelo tsa tshebediso ya tjhelete ya malapa le ho fokotseha ho tsamaellanang ha bofuma. Diphetho tsa Afrika Borwa di kenya letsoho diphuputsong tse teng tse fumaneng hore ho buleha ha kgwebo ho kenya letsoho hampe phokotsong ya bofuma. Sena se bolela hore ho buleha kgwebong ho amahanngwa le ho fokotseha ha ditshenyehelo tsa tshebediso ya tjhelete ya malapa, kahoo bofuma bo a eketseha. Bakeng sa Lesotho, diphumano tsa hona jwale di dumellana le diphumano tse fetileng, ho latela moo ho fumanweng hore bolokolohi ba kgwebo ha bo fetole phokotso ya bofuma dinaheng tse sa tswelang pele moruong. Diphetho tsa Lesotho di bontsha hore thuto ke yona feela e fapaneng e nang le kamano e kgolo le bofuma. Sena se bolela hore keketseho ya ditshenyehelo tsa mmuso thutong e baka keketseho ya ditshenyehelo tsa tshebediso ya ditjhelete ya malapa, le ho fokotseha ha bofuma kamora moo. Dikatisi tsa ho buleha ha kgwebo, ho phahama ha ditheko le kgolo ya moruo ha di na thuso ho latela dipalo. Diphetho tsena di fana ka maikutlo a hore maano a amohetsweng Lesotho ha a so ka a tlisa phokotso ya bofuma. Sena e ka ba sesupo sa boemo boo maano a kentsweng tshebetsong nakong e fetileng a atisang ho thibela mafutsana ho rua molemo melemong ya ho buleha ha kgwebo, kgolo ya moruo le thuto e ntlafetseng. Ka hona, baetsi ba maano ba Lesotho ba ka nahana ho hlahloba maano a hajwale le ho supa maano a tla fella ka hore ho be le basebetsi ba atlehang le ba amanang le phokotso ya bofuma. Bakeng sa Afrika Borwa, baetsi ba maano ba ka hlahloba maano a teng le ho utlwisisa diphello tse sa lebellwang tsa leano le leng le le leng la phokotso ya bofuma. Ka lebaka la diphumano tse akaretsang, phuputso ya hajwale e kgothalletsa hore ho be le tshekatsheko e hlokolosi ya melemo e fumanwang ponahatsong ya kgwebo, e le hore dipoelo tse tswang kgwebong, ho kenyeletswa le ditjhelete tse tswang lekenong la SACU, di tle di tsetelwe bakeng sa phokotso ya bofuma. Sena se ka etswa ka sepheo se hlakileng sa ho utlwisisa phello e sebetsang ya maano a jwalo ho ba futsanehileng ka nako e kgutshwane le e telele. Abstracts and keywords in English and Southern Sotho 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32416 Investigating teachers’ awareness of socio-economic, behavioural and literacy barriers to learning in primary schools in Elim Circuit, Limpopo Province. Kutama, Tshimangadzo Beauty Education plays a very important role in shaping people’s lives. In South Africa, it is seen as a way to fight poverty, build strong communities, and support social development. However, there are many barriers to learning that prevent learners from reaching their full academic potential, especially at primary school level. This study sought to investigate teachers’ awareness of socio-economic, behavioural, and literacy barriers to learning in Elim Circuit, Limpopo Province. The study employed a quantitative approach and a cross-sectional survey design. Structured questionnaires, with close-ended questions, were distributed to 126 teachers across 14 schools in Elim circuit. Data were collected anonymously over one week and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings showed poverty, food insecurity, poor infrastructure, absenteeism, lack of discipline, and limited parental involvement as major barriers to learning. Other concerns included mental health issues, drug use, cyberbullying, and gang related activities. The study concludes that there is an urgent need for better literacy programs, emotional support, and stronger parental involvement. Although teachers use creative strategies to help learners, more systemic support is needed. The study recommends targeted services and collaboration among schools, families, and communities to address these challenges and improve learning outcomes for primary school learners. 2025-09-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32131 The nexus of taxation and economic growth, income inequality and poverty : a macro and micro econometric approach for Zambia Mwale, Evaristo William David Sub-Saharan Africa faces a significant challenge in mobilising tax revenue to finance essential state functions, as many economies in the region fall below the minimum desirable tax-to-GDP ratio of 15%. Despite Zambia's relatively higher tax-to-GDP ratio compared to that of other regions, poverty and income inequality levels remain stubbornly high. This research study addresses this issue by examining the relationships between taxation, economic growth, poverty, and income inequality in Zambia. The study's objectives include investigating the short-term and long-term connections between taxation and economic growth, exploring the direction of causality, and analysing the influence of direct and indirect taxes on poverty and income inequality. Additionally, the study aims to construct a tax revenue forecasting model for Zambia and offer policy recommendations. To achieve these objectives, the researcher employed a combination of macroeconometric and microsimulation models, including vector error-correction models (VECMs), autoregressive distributed lag models (ARDLs), bunching techniques, and MicroZAMOD. This study makes several significant contributions to the literature by utilising a combination of macroeconometric and microsimulation models, incorporating mining sector revenues in the analysis, and providing revenue projections for Zambia. In addition, the study computes poverty and inequality multipliers for every additional 1 billion Kwacha in tax revenue. To unearth the effect of taxation and its redistributive effect on poverty and inequality, this study uses the MicroZAMOD. Furthermore, the study uses the Personal Income Tax (PIT) elasticities from bunching techniques to convert the MicroZAMOD from a static model to a dynamic model. The results reveal that there is evidence of bunching around the first bracket in the PIT. Key findings underscore PIT as a potent instrument for reducing inequality, while the value added tax (VAT) emerges as a significant revenue generator but is inefficient at reducing poverty. Excise taxes and the turnover tax (TOT) have marginal effects on poverty and inequality metrics. Notably, VAT is associated with a 0.45 percentage point increase in the national poverty rate for every billion Kwacha raised, while a 1 billion Kwacha of PIT revenue is associated with an average reduction of 0.68 percentage points in the Gini coefficient. Granger causality analysis suggests that PIT, the corporate income tax (CIT), VAT, changes in the copper price, and mining tax revenue have causal relationships with gross domestic product. (GDP), indicating that lagged values of these variables enhance the model's ability to predict GDP. Additionally, impulse response function and variance decomposition analysis reveal the impact of shocks in these variables on GDP, with VAT notably contributing to GDP growth over time, while negative shocks in mining tax revenue consistently result in GDP decline. In the short run, corporate income tax and personal income tax negatively impact GDP growth, while value-added tax (VAT) and trade openness have positive effects. Conversely, mining tax revenue and government consumption show no significant short-term impact on GDP growth. Long-term analysis reveals that VAT, mining tax revenue, trade openness, and the exchange rate positively influence GDP growth, whereas personal income tax and oil price changes exhibit negative impacts This will be the first study to use these two approaches to model policy impacts in a developing country. Furthermore, this study offers essential insights for policymakers in Zambia and other developing countries by emphasising the importance of balanced taxation policies and targeted investments in key sectors for sustainable development and poverty reduction through the recommendation of empirical policy reform scenarios. 2024-04-01T00:00:00Z