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Green marketing has recently become essential to companies as environmental relevance grows worldwide. Green marketing implies focusing on developing a company's strategy in creating products, promotion, and distribution concerning ecological balance in conserving natural resources. This study assessed customer perception of green marketing within the South African retail sector. A descriptive, quantitative, and cross-sectional design was adopted for the study. Data were derived from a simple random sample of 150 respondents using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done through descriptive statistics using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. This study observed green marketing variables such as eco-labelling, environmental aspects, and green advertisement affect customers' purchasing behaviour. These findings could assist companies and marketing practitioners who wish to exploit environmentally sensitive consumers. In this regard, it is crucial for firms to actively assume green marketing strategies as one of the methods of adjusting to changeable customer sentiments. This study has contributed to literature on green marketing from the developing world with specific reference to the retail sector in South Africa

The system of cooperative governance in the democratic South African dispensation was constitutionally mandated and institutionalised to improve intergovernmental relations that can streamline effective performance, implementation, and monitoring of government programmes to improve service delivery for citizens. However, despite numerous efforts and pleas by the Auditor-General of South Africa to responsible oversight structures like provincial governments and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts to curb financial malfeasance, corruption and lack of adequate and proper financial management skills, these pleas have fallen on deaf ears thus undermining cooperative and good governance mechanisms and systems. A practice of cadre deployment rather than meritocracy has become inherent when appointing and selecting local government officials and strategic thinkers who can be tasked to conceptualise new ideas of governance that can be associated with accountability and other good governance measures. The main question that this paper seeks to investigate is what causes poor governance and management performance in local municipalities under the African National Congress? The six themes generated from the analysis of literature reviews and strategic documents are meritocracy versus cadre deployment, strategic collaboration, human capital development, performance efficiency and efficacy, corruption and nepotism, and capital flight. Thus, to ensure best practices, parliamentary oversight structures and responsible departments, like the National Treasury, should build checks and balances in their institutional mechanisms that strive to streamline good cooperative governance practices and accountability measures as per constitutional prescripts to ensure that basic services are effectively and sufficiently rendered across cooperative governance spheres. Furthermore, appropriate oversight measures driven by political will from political superiors in the governing party should be adopted, inculcated, and institutionalised in the cooperative governance system of South Africa to punish serial offenders amongst accounting officers in local municipalities. This study is significant because it outlines effective oversight mechanisms that streamline good governance within the cooperative governance framework in the developing world with specific reference to South Africa.

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.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess a viable system modelling approach applied to a university accounting department. Methodology: This study used the recursive nature of VSM to highlight how various levels of the organization can simultaneously work in alignment. The triple recursion levels were applied to the university, the accounting department, and the accounting lecturers. Findings: The findings show that themes that defined well-rounded accounting education professionals were work experience, teaching experience and the teaching qualification. The system in focus was identified as the accounting lecturers, as this is where the improvement and efficiency in teaching and learning occurs. Theoretical implications: The findings suggest that, if VSM is used to its full potential, it can solve complex problems to create a viable working system. Thus, universities are complex institutions that require traditional solutions in combination with the strengths of the VSM offering. However, it must be noted that an acceptance and familiarity of VSM must be created for it to be accepted as a working solution to problems. Research Limitation/Future research: This study focused on the application of VSM to a specific department within a higher education institution such that the findings cannot be applied wholesale. Therefore, future research should consider all departments within a higher education institution

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unexpected shocks to several sectors of the economy, including the insurance industry. The devastating effects of the pandemic have also affected the marketing model and the strategies' effectiveness. Therefore, this study sought to demystify the potency of marketing strategies as a tool for achieving competitive advantage in challenging times. An exploratory and qualitative research design was used to gain in-depth insight into the motivations and perceptions of a purposive sample of 15 insurance customers. Thus, interviews were conducted to gather data to determine the potency of the marketing strategies. The research findings showed that different companies used various marketing strategies, resulting in varying customer satisfaction. Some companies used low-cost strategies, while others focused on product differentiation strategies. It was further found that most customers prefer a lower price and reliable service from trustworthy insurers. In addition, it was noted that companies with high customer satisfaction levels outperformed their competitors and achieved a competitive advantage in the short-term insurance sector. This sector is customer-centric, so a higher emphasis must be placed on delivering quality service and customer satisfaction. Consequently, companies in the insurance sector will be able to keep customers satisfied over long periods and ultimately achieve customer loyalty. The study elucidates the pathway for insurance companies to navigate challenging times successfully by focusing on delivering quality service and nurturing customer satisfaction for long-term loyalty.

Ubiquitous political interference, especially from the governing African National Congress through cadre deployment practice of patronage, has undermined strategic and operational efficacy within state-owned entities such as ESKOM, contributing to loadshedding due to the unavailability of electricity for many hours daily. A critical analysis is undertaken through desktop literature review and document analysis to juxtapose institutional performance between ESKOM as a non-performing state-owned entity and TELKOM as a performing state entity in meeting performance objectives and strategic goals to contribute to the National Development Plan of creating an economically viable and capable state in South Africa. The study aims to contribute to deepening debates and public discourse about strengthening performance efficacy within public sector institutions and entities and towards achieving the strategic goals of the National Development Plan of building a capable and capacitated South African developmental state.

This study sought to ascertain the general perceptions regarding the significance attributed to various passenger motor vehicle brands among Generation X, a demographic group that constitutes most car purchasers. The research was carried out in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, where data was gathered from four higher education institutions. A study was conducted utilising a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional research design. The survey method was employed to collect data from a sample of 400 individuals affiliated with a university as either staff or students belonging to the Generation X cohort. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics by means of the SPSS version 23. The research examined distinct brand dimensions, specifically focusing on factors associated with quality, value, personal and group identity, status, and family traditions. The results of this study indicate that a significant proportion of the participants expressed agreement with the notion that their selection of a vehicle brand was influenced by factors such as perceived quality, value, individual and collective identity, social status, and family traditions This study could provide valuable insights to scholars, professionals in the industry, and motor vehicle brand manufacturers, enabling them to develop a comprehensive comprehension of the challenges faced within the industry, academia, and consumer domain pertaining to the perceptions surrounding various motor vehicle brands. Moreover, the results of this research can serve as a valuable tool for identifying a more suitable marketing approach to enhance consumer attitudes towards automotive brands.

Local authorities’ independence level largely depends on the adequacy of the revenue part of local self-government budgets. One of the sources of income of local authorities is the payment of the population and business entities for services. Along with this, there is the issue of insufficient accumulation of revenues to the provincial budget due to non-payment of remuneration for services rendered. Municipalities are responsible for providing, regulating and managing essential services such as water supply, domestic wastewater treatment, electricity distribution, sewage systems and health services. This article summarizes the arguments and counter-arguments of the scientific discussion regarding municipalities' problem in filling the revenue part of the local budget. The study's primary purpose is to analyse municipalities' financial capacity in the province of the Free State (Republic of South Africa). The systematization of literary sources and approaches to solving the problem shows that most municipalities in the Republic of South Africa face financial issues. Municipalities have liquidity problems or cannot fulfil their obligations on time. Despite these problems, municipalities must provide services at an acceptable level. The relevance of this scientific problem-solving is that it focuses on analyzing the financial difficulties faced by the Mangaung Metro Municipality. The primary data source for this study was the questionnaire results. The sample consisted of 24 employees and financial statements of municipalities and auditors' conclusions. The municipality's financing structure consists on average of 65% from internal revenues, 29.5% from state transfers and 10% from external borrowings. The financial capacity of the municipality is impaired due to an increase in the number of debtors, problems with cash flows, rising costs, unstable revenues to the revenue part of the budget, and an increase in short- and long-term debt. According to the survey results, 63% of respondents reported that the water supply sector is the largest source of debt among consumers, and the debt collection system could be more effective. The results may be helpful in municipalities with similar governance architectures. Thus, the municipality is recommended to develop and implement a strategy for increasing revenues, a cash flow plan, review the tariff policy, and implement an effective system of debt collection and cost reduction measures.

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.

The shift away from an economy focused on transactions and towards one based on relationships has taken place worldwide, and this movement can be observed quite plainly in South Africa's business environment. Individualized customer care is becoming an increasingly important factor for customers who now have higher expectations than before. Therefore, this study analysed the impact of customer relationship management (CRM) on a beer manufacturing company’s sales performance. A quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive research design was adopted to collect data from a stratified random sample of 172 liquor outlet owners within the Durban region. The respondents can be categorised as retailers, distributors, On-Con and Off-Con. The findings show that customers were generally satisfied with the trading environment, order placing, delivery and information sharing. The use of data analytics and technology in general should be put at the forefront of any effective customer relationship management (CRM) solution for the firm. This might be a very helpful tool for organization in its attempts to mould its business environment to better suit the expectations of its customers and clients. This study has contributed to the literature on customer relationship management in the manufacturing sector, with specific reference to South Africa.

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

This study sought to explore the role of Project Management in enhancing service delivery for metropolitan municipalities. This study was conducted in each of the six metropolitan municipalities of South Africa, viz. eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, the City of Cape Town, the City of Ekurhuleni, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, the City of Johannesburg, and the City of Tshwane. A qualitative and exploratory study was adopted using semi-structured interviews amongst a purposive sample of 60 respondents. The findings of this study showed that project managers lack Project Management credentials, which makes the implementation of projects at the Metropolitan Municipality level complex and demanding. The findings further revealed that some projects are encountering difficulties in project planning, quality management, monitoring and evaluation due to a lack of understanding and poor communication channels. These results were a highly intriguing breakthrough in understanding why Metropolitan municipalities fail to provide anticipated services. Thus, the proper execution and administration of the projects could result in a substantial improvement in the services that Metropolitan municipalities provide if municipal managers are equipped with the requisite Project Management theory and skills through training.

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 cooperative governance model espoused in the democratic South African Constitution requires the three spheres of the local, provincial and national governments to coordinate their service delivery strategies and institutional plans to strengthen efficiency, coherence and accountability toward improving performance efficacy and the quality of citizens’ life. However, political and ideological contestations in a situation where different political parties are in power at national, provincial and local government levels result in the lack of alignment between the Integrated Development Plan and the National Development Plan, which denies citizens access to good quality services. This study reviewed various literature sources, governance policies and strategies to analyse whether the Integrated Development Plan of the City of Tshwane Metro Council under the governance of the multi-party coalition led by the Democratic Alliance can align with the National Development Plan, which is a creation of the African National Congress-led national government. A Qualitative approach informed the study, guided by a literature review to collate data and arrive at findings. The findings revealed a lack of alignment between the Integrated Development Plan of the City of Tshwane and the National Development Plan during the Democratic Alliance’s control, which results in a disjointed approach to planning; poor implementation of local government services; and slow social-economic development that hamper the improvement of the quality of lives of citizens in Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, perpetuating societal inequalities. It is recommended that institutional and political leaders in the three spheres of government in South Africa, and the citizenry, should put ‘all hands on deck’ and work together for the betterment of the country, despite differences in political strategies and policy approaches.

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.

This study compares women's disparity in science over a period of 5 years (2013–2017) in eight continental regions of the world using synthesised data from a UNESCO scientific report with a desktop literature review and deductive inference from statistical analysis. The different descriptive measures, such as mean percentages, correlations, multifactor analysis (MFA), and non-linear regression, identify the trend, change points, factors, and best-fit exponential time series for decision-making. We determined that each continent follows the same exponential smoothing trend, with a correlation coefficient of 0.67, over the years of study and that the year of study exhibits a different exponential trend that varies over the different continental regions' counterparts. The study also highlights gender bias, family life, mentoring, and stereotypes as significant factors contributing to the relationship between science and gender parity. Therefore, this study advocates policy implementation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to ensure women's representation in scientific research.

South Africa is confronted with the problem of youth unemployment. Despite this challenge, young people have few options to stay relevant in the economy. While many young people consider starting a business, they face obstacles such as a lack of information, capital, networking, and mentorship. This makes it very difficult for young people, particularly university graduates, to pursue entrepreneurship as an alternative career. This study examined the antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions amongst higher education students in South Africa. A quantitative and descriptive research design was adopted using a positivist research philosophy. A self-administered online questionnaire was used to gather data. A total of 400 students were chosen as respondents using simple random sampling. The findings of this study show that entrepreneurial intention has a positive and significant relationship with subjective norms (β=0.619, t-value=8.197, p=0.050), perceived behavior control (β=0.171, t-value=1.969, p=0.050), personal attitude (β=0.137, t-value=1.967, p=0.050). In contrast, there was a negative and insignificant relationship between entrepreneurial intention and self-efficacy (β=-0.015, t-value=0.209, p=0.835). This research has contributed to the literature on entrepreneurship in higher education and the developing world. This study is also expected to aid scholars, practitioners, and policymakers in understanding the dynamics of entrepreneurial intentions amongst students in higher education institutions.

This study sought to diagnose the factors leading to the mass uptake of unregulated pyramid schemes in South Africa. The study adopted an exploratory and qualitative research design. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 respondents using a non-probability sampling technique known as purposive sampling. The respondents were drawn from the target population of individuals who have previously used unregulated pyramid schemes. Data were analyzed using the Nvivo framework matrix. The findings of this study show that individuals are motivated to join pyramid schemes because of the expected benefit or return, accounting for 40%, followed by current economic conditions (30%), friends and family recommendation (15%), desire to get rich quickly (10%), and past performance of the scheme (5%). This study has contributed to the literature on multi-level marketing and pyramid schemes in South Africa and the developing world in general. It will further act as a launchpad for designing policies in the financial services sector.

Recently, the business landscape has changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to changes in the behaviors of both customers and business owners. The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions on store closures have presented a new challenge to businesses that rely on physical interaction, brick and mortar to meet different customer needs. Mandatory shutdowns and social distancing measures have left voids that have been filled by digitalisation. The main problems customers face are service failures and breakdowns. As a result, customers are grappling with how they can have their problems addressed during the pandemic. There is therefore a need for a paradigm shift in terms of how businesses respond to unforeseen circumstances and pandemics because it is the only firm that use automation that will be more robust in competitive scenarios. This study is aimed at providing a hybrid approach to integrating digital technology into service recovery strategies, namely apology, explanation, speed, compensation and empowerment, during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to achieve customer recovery satisfaction. Therefore, a model for integrating technology and digital connectivity into service recovery strategies to achieve recovery satisfaction has been proposed. Thus, this model provides insight into how businesses can use digital technology to implement service recovery strategies during a pandemic. This is critical to help enterprises maintain consistency and minimize service variability due to changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study contributes to the literature on digital technology and service recovery by using current methods to address today's challenges.

Co-operatives enable women who would have been isolated and working alone to band together and produce economies of scale whilst also increasing their negotiating power in the market. However, despite the quest to access the markets as a unit, women cooperatives face several challenges that hinder their progress. This study sought to analyse the challenges facing women cooperatives in accessing markets for agricultural products. A systematic literature review was conducted using several academic databases. Thus, a plethora of studies on women cooperatives published between 2011 and 2022 were reviewed. The findings of this study show that women cooperatives’ access to markets is hampered by a lack of information about markets, transportation problems, structural and cultural constraints, and a lack of skills. This study is expected to contribute to the extant literature on women cooperatives and could assist scholars, policy-makers and practitioners to understand the dynamics of the challenges affecting women cooperatives. Such an understanding could help in reviewing and re-designing policies aimed at opening up markets for women cooperatives.

This paper reviews existing literature on the service encounter in higher education institutions. It aims to analyse and provide more insight on the term service encounter, identify dimensions, the types of service encounter and how the service encounter is evaluated. The service encounter (SE) is a critical aspect of the service delivery process. It is used to determine whether the service delivered has been satisfactory or dissatisfactory. Furthermore, the service encounter offers an opportunity for the service provider to demonstrate his or her ability to offer a remarkable experience. However, it has been proven that many service providers do not take advantage of the service encounter to create student satisfaction. As a result, many encounters have left marks of unpleasant and negative feelings on the student. In higher education institutions, the service encounter helps both students and academicians communicate and understand the needs of either party. This study adopted a systematic review of the literature using several academic databases. A plethora of studies on the service encounter were reviewed from several academic databases but only 50 articles published from 1984 to 2018 were cited in this study. A descriptive analysis was used to highlight the classification of the sources used, the number of articles cited in this study and the year when the articles were published. The study identified several definitions of the service encounter and also found that there are several dimensions and types of the service encounter. The divergent views that emanate from these findings stem from the fact that there is a growth in literature and the body of knowledge on the service encounter in different sectors of the economy. The findings of this study could assist academics and practitioners to have a deeper understanding of the service encounter. Such an understanding is very critical in addressing the needs of students and other stakeholders of higher education institutions. Moreover, it can help faculty members and institutional managers deal with moments of truths which if properly managed can facilitate the realisation of student expectations and ultimately, satisfaction. This study further provides a basis for future research using the available service encounter evaluation tools or instruments.

Purpose: This study aims at assessing the determinants of Social Media Marketing in small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) during the Covid 19 pandemic. Design / Method / Approach: The study seeks to understand the viewpoints and motives for employing social media campaigns. Thus, a structured quantitative questionnaire was provided to 150 respondents to assess social media marketing in their firms, using convenience sampling. A descriptive analysis of data was undertaken using the SPSS. Findings: The study's findings showed that most respondents agreed with items related to Social Media Marketing’s facilitating conditions, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and cost implications. Theoretical Implications: The study contributes to the extant literature on Social Media Marketing during the Covid-19 pandemic in the developing world, wherein poor infrastructure, bureaucracy and culture play an important role in business performance. Practical Implications: SMME owners and managers should encourage their employees and customers to use social media regularly in order to drive traffic towards the business. Originality / Value: The study is unique as it analyses Social Media Marketing during a turbulent time in which the Covid-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc on economies globally. Research Limitations / Future Research: Researchers should consider analysing the effect of Covid-19's lockdown restrictions on specific sectors in an attempt to facilitate tailor-made solutions to the problem. Paper type: Empirical

The aim of this research was to analyze the changes in the rate of teacher absenteeism among South African provinces as a major in-class factor contributing to student performance and effective learning. Time series analysis of exponential smoothing, moving average, and seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model (SARIMA) were applied to model and assess the designed hypothesis as a major factor for educational advancement using different provincial data input from the Department of Basic Education in South Africa. The performances of all the models were analyzed using statistical indexes: Mean Square Error (MSE) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The overall performance showed that the absence rate increased statistically significantly from 2011 to 2017. Thus, this opinion was held by more than half of the general populace depending on the province type. The findings of this research could assist the management of the basic education department in general, and in schools in particular, to understand the problem of absenteeism and thereby enabling the implementation of effective strategies that can be used to curb the practice.