This study examined factors influencing the competitiveness of family businesses in the Makhado Local Municipality, South Africa. Family businesses contribute significantly to local economies, employment creation, and community development. However, their ability to remain competitive is influenced by multiple internal and external factors. Existing research focuses largely on national and global perspectives, with limited emphasis on competitiveness within local municipal contexts. There is insufficient empirical evidence explaining how internal capabilities, institutional conditions, and social networks influence competitiveness in semi-urban municipalities. This study addressed this gap by providing context-specific insights into competitiveness among family businesses in Makhado. The study was guided by the resource-based view, institutional theory, and social capital theory. It aimed to classify key competitiveness factors, examine challenges, and assess the influence of community associations, business development initiatives, and policy frameworks.
A qualitative research design was adopted to gain an in-depth understanding of business experiences and operational contexts of family business owners. Purposive sampling selected the family business owners who had operated for at least five years at Makhado Local Municipality in South Africa. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews that allowed flexible and detailed responses. The data were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis to identify key patterns and insights. The findings revealed that internal resources, including family trust, shared values, and managerial competence, support competitiveness. However, weak succession planning, limited governance structures, and inadequate leadership development reduce competitive performance. Institutional factors, including policies and municipal programmes, influence formalisation, legitimacy, and access to resources. Inconsistent implementation and bureaucratic inefficiencies weaken the effectiveness of institutional support. Relational networks, including bonding, bridging, and linking social capital, enhance knowledge sharing, resilience, and market access. However, weak external linkages and limited collaboration reduce opportunities for sustained competitiveness.
The study provides practical implications for family business owners, including formalisation, skills development, innovation adoption, and strategic network engagement. Policy recommendations emphasise improving accessibility of support programmes, strengthening governance systems, expanding financing opportunities, and integrating family businesses into local economic development (LED) strategies. Overall, enhancing competitiveness requires strengthening internal capabilities, improving institutional support, and building strong social networks. The study contributes to theory by extending the understanding of competitiveness in family businesses within semi-urban municipal contexts. It also provides practical insights for policymakers and practitioners supporting inclusive LED.
Ngudo iyi yo ṱolisisa zwithu zwine zwa ṱuṱuwedza vhuṱaṱisani ha mabindu ha miṱa kha Masipala Wapo wa Makhado, Afrika Tshipembe. Mabindu a miṱa a shela mulenzhe vhukuma kha ikonomi dzapo, u sika mishumo, na mveledziso ya tshitshavha. Fhedzi, vhukoni havho ha u dzula vha tshi khou ṱaṱisana vhu ṱuṱuwedzwa nga zwithu zwinzhi zwa nga ngomu na zwa nnḓa. Tsedzuluso dzi re hone dzo sedza nga maanḓa kha mavhonele a lushaka na a ḽifhasi, hu tshi khou ombedzela zwiṱuku kha u ṱaṱisana nga ngomu ha zwiimo zwa masipala wapo. A hu na vhuṱanzi ho eḓanaho ha empiriki vhune ha ṱalutshedza nḓila ine vhukoni ha nga ngomu, nyimele dza tshiimiswa, na vhuṱumani ha matshilisano zwa u ṱuṱuwedza ngayo vhuṱaṱisani kha mimasipala ya vhukati ha ḓorobo. Ngundo iyi i khou ḓivhadza tshikhala nga u ṋekedza tsiangane ya vhukuma kha u ṱaṱisana u ya ngaha miṱa ya mabindu Makhado. Ngudo yo vha i tshi livhiswa nga mavhonele o
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tewaho kha zwishumiswa, theori ya tshiimiswa, na theiori ya tshelede ya matshilisano. Yo vha yo sedza kha u khethekanya zwithu zwa ndeme zwa muṱaṱisano, u ṱola khaedu, na u ṱola ṱhuṱhuwedzo ya madzangano a tshitshavha, vhurangeli ha mveledziso ya mabindu, na mihanga ya mbekanyamaitele.
Dizaini ya ṱhoḓisiso ya khwaḽithithethivi yo ṱanganedzwa u itela u wana pfeseso yo dzikaho ya tshenzhemo dza mabindu na nyimele dza mushumo dza vhaṋe vha mabindu a miṱa. Sampuli ya ndivho yo nanga vhaṋe vha mabindu a miṱa vhe vha shuma lwa miṅwaha i sa fhiriho miṱanu kha Masipala Wapo wa Makhado Afrika Tshipembe. Data yo kuvhanganywa nga kha inthavhiyu dza musi vhathu vho livhana zwifhaṱuwo dzo dzudzanywaho nga tshipiḓa dzine dza tendela phindulo dzi tendelaho na dzi re na zwidodombedzwa. Data yo ṅwalululwa na u senguluswa hu tshi shumiswa tsenguluso ya thero u itela u topola phetheni dza ndeme na nḓivho. Mawanwa o bvisela khagala uri zwishumiswa zwa nga ngomu, hu tshi katelwa na u fulufhedzana ha muṱa, zwilinganyo zwo ṱanganelanaho, na vhukoni ha vhulanguli, zwi tikedza u ṱaṱisana. Fhedziha, u pulana ha u tevhekana hu si na nungo, zwivhumbeo zwa u vhuvhusi zwo linganelaho, na mveledziso ya vhurangaphanḓa i songo teaho zwi fhungudza kushumele kwa muṱaṱisano. Zwithu zwa tshiimiswa, hu tshi katelwa mbekanyamaitele na mbekanyamushumo dza masipala, zwi ṱuṱuwedza u ita uri zwithu zwi vhe zwa fomala, u vha mulayoni, na u swikelela zwishumiswa. U thomiwa hu sa fani na u sa shuma zwavhuḓi ha vhubindudzi zwi fhungudza vhukoni ha thikhedzo ya zwiimiswa. vhukwamani ha vhushaka, hu tshi katelwa na u vhofha, u ṱanganya, na u ṱumanya masheleni a matshilisano, zwi khwinisa u kovhekana nḓivho, u konḓelela, na tswikelelo ya makete. Fhedziha, vhuṱumani vhu si na nungo ha nnḓa na tshumisano yo linganelaho zwi fhungudza zwikhala zwa muṱaṱisano wo bvelelaho.
Ngudo i ṋetshedza mvelelo dzi shumaho kha vhaṋe vha mabindu a miṱa, hu tshi katelwa na u ita uri zwi vhe zwa fomala, mveledziso ya zwikili, u ṱanganedzwa ha vhubveledzi, na u dzhenelela ha nethiweke ya tshiṱirathedzhi. Themendelo dza mbekanyamaitele dzi ombedzela u khwinisa tswikelelo ya mbekanyamushumo dza thikhedzo, u khwaṱhisa sisṱeme dza vhuvhusi, u engedza zwikhala zwa masheleni, na u ṱanganya mabindu a miṱa kha zwiṱirathedzhi zwa mveledziso ya ikonomi yapo (LED). Nga u angaredza, u
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khwinisa vhuṱaṱisani zwi ṱoḓa u khwaṱhisa vhukoni ha nga ngomu, u khwinisa thikhedzo ya zwiimiswa, na u fhaṱa vhukwamani ha matshilisano ho khwaṱhaho. Ngudo i shela mulenzhe kha theori nga u engedza u pfesesa ha u ṱaṱisana kha mabindu a miṱa nga ngomu ha zwiimo zwa masipala wa vhukati ha ḓorobo. I dovha ya ṋetshedza nḓivho dzi shumaho kha vhaiti vha mbekanyamaitele na vhashumi vhane vha tikedza LED yo katelaho.
Thutopatlisiso eno e sekasekile mabaka a a tlhotlheletsang kgaisano ya dikgwebo tsa malapa mo Lekgotlatoropong la Selegae la Makhado, kwa Aforikaborwa. Dikgwebo tsa malapa di akgela thata mo ikonoming ya selegae, mo go tlhameng ditiro le mo tlhabololong ya baagi. Le fa go le jalo, bokgoni jwa tsone jwa go tswelela go gaisana bo tlhotlhelediwa ke mabaka a mantsi a ka fa teng le a kwa ntle. Dipatlisiso tse di gona di totile thata melebo ya bosetšhaba le ya lefatshe ka bophara, mme go sa gatelelwe thata ntlha ya kgaisano mo bokaelong jwa makgotlatoropo a selegae. Ga go na bosupi jo bo lekaneng jwa maitemogelo jo bo tlhalosang ka moo bokgoni jwa ka fa gare, maemo a setheo, le dikgokagano tsa loago di tlhotlheletsang kgaisano ka gone mo makgotlatoropong a seka-metsesetoropo. Thutopatlisiso eno e samagane le tlhaelo eno ka go tlamela ka dintlha tse di totileng bokaelo jwa kgaisano mo dikgwebong tsa malapa kwa Makhado. Thutopatlisiso e ne e kaelwa ke molebo o o theilweng mo ditlamelong, tiori ya ditheo, le tiori ya letlotlo la loago. E ne e ikaeletse go aroganya dintlha tsa botlhokwa tsa kgaisano, go sekaseka dikgwetlho, le go sekaseka tlhotlheletso ya mekgatlho ya baagi, maiteko a tlhabololo ya dikgwebo, le matlhomeso a pholisi.
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Go dirisitswe moralo wa patlisiso wa khwalitatifi go tlhaloganya sentle maitemogelo a kgwebo le maemo a tiro a beng ba dikgwebo tsa malapa. Sampole ya maikaelelo e tlhophile beng ba dikgwebo tsa malapa tse di dirileng bonnye dingwaga tse tlhano kwa Lekgotlatoropong la Selegae la Makhado mo Aforikaborwa. Datha e ne ya kokoanngwa ka dipotso-therisano tsa seka-thulaganyo tsa namana le tse di neng tsa letla dikarabo tse di obegang le tse di neelang dintlha ka botlalo. Tshedimosetso e ne ya kwalololwa le go lokololwa go dirisiwa tshekatsheko ya meono go supa dipaterone le dintlha tsa botlhokwa. Diphitlhelelo di senotse gore didirisiwa tsa ka fa gare, go akarediwa go tshepana ga lelapa, dintlhatheo tse di tlhakanetsweng, le bokgoni jwa botsamaisi, di tshegetsa kgaisano. Le fa go ntse jalo, thulaganyo e e bokoa ya tatelano, ditsamaiso tse di sa lekanang tsa taolo, le tlhabololo e e sa lekanang ya boeteledipele di fokotsa tiragatso e e kgontshang kgaisano. Dintlha tsa mo setheong, go akarediwa dipholisi le mananeo a makgotlatoropo, di tlhotlheletsa go dira semmuso, go nna semolao, le phitlhelelo ya didirisiwa. Go tsenngwa tirisong go go sa tlhomamang le makoa a ditsamaiso tsa ditheo go koafatsa bokgoni jwa tshegetso ya ditheo. Dikgokagano tsa dikamano, go akaretsa kgolagano, go kopanya, le go golaganya letlotlo la loago, di tokafatsa kabelano ya kitso, go itsetsepela, le phitlhelelo ya mebaraka. Le fa go ntse jalo, dikgolagano tse di bokoa tsa kwa ntle le tirisanommogo e e lekanyeditsweng di fokotsa ditšhono tsa go gaisana go go tsweletsegang.
Thutopatlisiso e tlamela ka dikami tse di dirisegang tse di amang beng ba dikgwebo tsa malapa, go akaretsa le go di dira semmuso, tlhabololo ya dikgono, go amogela boitshimololedi, tirisano ya togamaano. Dikatlenegiso tsa pholisi di gatelela go tokafatsa phitlhelelo ya mananeo a tshegetso, go maatlafatsa ditsamaiso tsa taolo, go atolosa ditšhono tsa matlole, le go akaretsa dikgwebo tsa malapa mo maanong a tlhabololo ya ikonomi ya selegae (LED). Ka kakaretso, go tokafatsa kgaisano go tlhoka gore go nonotshiwe bokgoni jwa ka fa gare, go tokafadiwe tshegetso ya setheo, mme go agiwe dikgokagano tse di nonofileng tsa loago. Thutopatlisiso e akgela mo tioring ka go atolosa go tlhaloganya ga bokgoni jwa kgaisano mo dikgwebong tsa malapa mo bokaelong jwa makgotlatoropo a seka-toropo. Gape e tlamela batlhami ba dipholisi le badiri ba ba tshegetsang LED e e akaretsang botlhe ka dintlha tse di dirang.
