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In recent years, the skincare industry in South Africa has witnessed a surge in the popularity of skincare products among female students. With the increase in social media platforms and the rise of influencer marketing, there is growing interest in understanding the influence of social media influencers on the purchase patterns of South African skincare products. Therefore, this study analyzed social media influencers and their role in the purchase pattern of South African skincare products among female students at university. An exploratory and qualitative study was undertaken, and data was collected from a purposive sample of 15 respondents at a selected university. The study shows that students are influenced to purchase skincare products based on influencer fidelity and expertise, attractiveness, confidence and consistency, and brand and influencer connection. This study is significant as it has explored the evolving dynamics of consumer behavior in the skincare industry, particularly among young women in South Africa. Understanding how social media influences purchasing decisions could help skincare companies modify their marketing efforts to better resonate with their target demographic. Furthermore, the findings of this study could help educational institutions, marketers, and practitioners understand the impact of influencer marketing on consumer purchasing decisions. Ultimately, the insights can help to improve ethical marketing methods and drive long-term growth in the skincare business.

After graduation, graduates of higher education institutions are faced with a difficult choice: to work for an organisation or to open their own business. A significant role in the decision-making process is played by the personal qualities of the individual, as well as the presence of initiatives in the higher educational institution aimed at fostering among students the desire for their own entrepreneurial activity as an alternative to traditional employment. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that an individual's propensity for entrepreneurial leadership by starting his own business depends on his biographical data (age, gender, academic level, academic field, race, and nationality). The methodological tools of the research are methods of descriptive, quantitative, and cross-sectional research. The object of the study is a sample of 332 university students in South Africa. The research was carried out in the following logical sequence: at the first stage, 332 respondents − students of a higher educational institution in South Africa - were selected using a random sample. With the help of the answers to the questions, the respondents expressed their attitude towards independent entrepreneurial activity. Data processing and analysis were carried out using SPSS software using descriptive and logical statistics tools. The results of empirical calculations prove the lack of influence of gender, race and entrepreneurial intentions on respondents' propensity to carry out their own entrepreneurial activities. At the same time, there is a statistically significant difference in the attitude to entrepreneurship depending on the nationality of the respondents, their age and specialty of study: respondents under the age of 24 are more inclined to start their own business, compared to respondents older than 35; South Africans are more likely to start their own business than Zimbabweans. The study empirically confirms and theoretically proves the presence of numerous problems that reduce students' inclination to entrepreneurial activity as an alternative option for their career development. Based on the results of the research, it was concluded that starting their own business by graduates requires their social support: the government should change tactics and policies regarding the development of entrepreneurship, and higher educational institutions should pay more attention to measures aimed at encouraging students to open their own business. The results of the conducted research can be useful for activating the development of entrepreneurship in developing countries, from the point of view of understanding the motives and attitude of graduates of higher educational institutions to the development of their careers through the implementation of independent entrepreneurial activities.

Sports betting has become a very profitable business of late. For instance, in 2020, it contributed 48% of Africa's Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), and the South African Bookmaking business was ranked ninth in the world for web traffic. The relevance of this scientific problem decision is that the industry is saturated with many betting companies. Companies that conduct business in the gambling industry in South Africa are obliged to provide a charitable contribution equal to a certain percentage of either their annual revenue or, more specifically, their after-tax net profit to be eligible for a gaming license. Before the company can be granted the license, it is necessary for them to make this contribution first. Under this legislation, operators are evaluated based on a variety of criteria, including ownership, management control, employment equity, skills development, preferential procurement, enterprise development, and socio-economic development. The B-BB-EE Act compels operators to be evaluated in line with these factors. Therefore, this study analyzed the impact of Corporate Social Investment on Customer loyalty in the Gaming Industry. This study adopted a descriptive, quantitative and cross-sectional approach. A nonprobability sampling technique known as convenience sampling was used to collect data from 150 customers who made sports bets. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the primary data, which included descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as correlation and regression analyses. The study's findings show that Corporate Social Investment has a positive (= 0.746) and statistically significant (p. value

The relevance of this scientific problem is that there are numerous calls and arguments from civil society organisations, labour unions, progressive economists, and policy experts to the South African government regarding the introduction of basic income grant. This will help protect the unemployed from poverty and stimulate economic growth. Systematization of the literary sources and approaches for solving the problem of improving the quality of life of the poor indicates that the government (led by the African National Congress) since 1994 implemented a social security policy (the child support grant for women). At the same time, the government's position regarding the feasibility of introducing of basic income grant as a tool for economic stimulation has changed. The African National Congress disagrees with the need for basic income grant as a tool for poverty alleviation and economic growth. The main purpose of the research is the analysis of the prerequisites for the change in the position of the African National Congress regarding the feasibility of introducing basic income grant: basic income grant is a tool for stimulating economic growth and overcoming poverty for most of the disadvantaged population of South Africa, or a means for the government to preserve its positions, which are weakening among the South African electorate. The paper presents the results of an empirical analysis, which proved that basic income grant will contribute to the increase of the national tax base as those not earning an income can start buying and selling goods and be taxed. At the same time, at the initial stage, the introduction of basic income grant will lead to an increase in the level of income taxation of the employed population. Analytical methods of scientific literature analysis became the methodical tools of the conducted research. The research empirically confirms and theoretically proves that the introduction of basic income grant could stimulate the economy by ensuring that the unemployed become economic participants by having disposable cash to spend and start business activities.

The devastating truth for young people in the education sector, particularly at the tertiary level, is that they will have no job after finishing their degrees. It is still challenging to find work, making starting and running your own business an attractive and necessary alternative source of income. Thus, an avenue out of poverty exists in Africa's critical need to be discovered and establishing a business may hold the key. This study sought to assess students' perspectives on entrepreneurship in the South African higher education sector. Data was collected from 332 students using a probability sampling approach. Specifically, a simple random sampling technique was adopted to identify the respondents. A quantitative and descriptive study was undertaken using a Likert Scale questionnaire to ascertain students' feelings towards entrepreneurship. Data were analyzed through the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 24 using descriptive statistics. Tables, percentages and frequency distribution were used to present the findings of this study. The results reveal an overwhelming agreement among students that various factors, viz. personal attitude, perceived behavior control, self-efficacy, subjective norms, and entrepreneurial intention, are the significant determinants of entrepreneurship. Therefore, institutional managers should provide a supportive structure and atmosphere to foster the growth of entrepreneurial behaviour. This could boost individual confidence and the sense that completing tasks is simple, hence promoting perceived behaviour control. The findings of this study could assist higher education institution managers in developing initiatives that can create and entrench entrepreneurial skills and mindsets in students such that they are well prepared to face the unpredictable and ever-changing world. This study has contributed to the literature on entrepreneurship in the higher education and the developing world. Future research should focus on a qualitative research design to understand the challenges students encounter in establishing startups.