This paper explores the interconnected dynamics between governance, public debt, and domestic investment (also known as gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) in South Africa). It also highlights domestic investment as a key driver of economic growth, noting a consistent decline in investment since the country’s democratic transition in 1994. Moreover, this downward trend is exacerbated by excessive public debt, poor governance, and increased economic risks, discouraging domestic and foreign investments. The analysis incorporates two theoretical perspectives: endogenous growth theory, which stresses the significance of local capital investment and innovation, and institutional governance theory, which focuses on the role of governance in promoting economic development. The study reveals that poor governance, rising debt, and high economic risks have impeded GFCF and economic stability. By utilizing quantitative data from 1995 to 2023, the research concludes that reducing public debt, improving governance, and minimizing economic risk are critical to revitalizing domestic investment in South Africa. These findings suggest that policy reforms centered on good governance, effective debt management, and economic stabilization can stimulate investment, promote growth, and address the country’s economic challenges. This study offers insights into how governance and fiscal policies shape investment and capital formation in a developing nation, providing valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders working towards sustainable economic growth in South Africa.

This research investigates the safety status of water transport in Lake Towuti, South Sulawesi, employing the MICMAC and MACTOR methodologies to discern the factors that affect navigation safety and the interactions among the relevant stakeholders. The MICMAC analysis reveals that the effectiveness of sustainable transportation in Lake Towuti is significantly dependent on technical elements such as vessel certification, maintenance practices, and safety monitoring, alongside robust relationships among key entities like The South Sulawesi Class II Land Transportation Management Center (BPTD), The East Luwu District Transportation Office (Dishub), and the Timampu Port Service Unit (Satpel). When implementing the MICMAC-MACTOR model, it is essential to consider the technical implications of the proposed recommendations from the perspectives of social justice, environmental sustainability, and economic feasibility. The outcomes derived from the MICMAC and MACTOR assessments in Lake Towuti provide critical insights that can be utilized in other lakes across Indonesia, especially those that exhibit deficiencies in safety measures and adherence to inland water transport safety regulations.

Social Services are vital for addressing adversity and safeguarding vulnerable individuals, presenting professionals with complex challenges that demand resilience, recovery, and continual learning. This study investigates Organizational Resilience within Community Social Services, focusing on strategic planning, adaptive capacity, and user perspectives. A cross-sectional study involved 534 professionals and service users from Community Social Services Centers in Spain. Centers were selected based on the characteristics of their population and the representativeness of their geographic location. The study utilized the Benchmark Resilience Tool (BRT) to evaluate Organizational Resilience and the SERVPERF questionnaire to gauge user-perceived service quality. The results demonstrate satisfactory levels of Organizational Resilience and user satisfaction, while also highlighting key areas for enhancing resilient strategies: reinforcement of personnel for thinking outside the box or in the resources available to the organization to face unexpected changes. These findings suggest the need to develop and optimize measures that improve the organization’s ability to adapt to and recover from adverse situations, ensuring a positive user experience. Emphasizing the importance of resilience in Social Services as a quality predictor, future research should explore innovative strategies to bolster Organizational Resilience. The findings emphasize the need to strengthen resilience in Social Services, enhancing practice, policy, and adaptability to support vulnerable populations.

In recent years, environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues have emerged as a significant area of focus for companies. Furthermore, the international trend is reinforced by the emergence of relevant regulations and the obligation to prepare sustainability reports in leading economies and in the European Union. The impact of ESG and its constituent elements (environmental, social, and governance) on financial performance has been the subject of extensive investigation, with the majority of studies documenting a positive correlation. This evidence substantiates the assertion that sustainability initiatives can yield financial benefits. Concurrently, research has accorded much less attention to the impact of ESG performance on brand value, which can be identified as an indicator of consumer perception. This study, based on data from 26 global corporations between 2012 and 2021, demonstrates that efforts in the areas of environmental and social responsibility have a positive impact on consumer perception, which translates into increased brand value. Nevertheless, such a relationship was not found in case of the governance component.

Nigeria’s palm oil processing industry poses significant environmental pollution risks, jeopardizing the country’s ability to meet the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Traditional processing methods generate palm oil mill effluent (POME), contaminating soil and shallow wells. This study investigated water samples from five locations (Edo, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Delta, and Imo states) with high effluent release. While some parameters met international and national standards (WHO guidelines, ASCE, NIS, and NSDWQ) others exceeded acceptable limits, detrimental to improved water quality. Results showed, pH values within acceptable ranges (6.5–8.5), high total conductivity and salinity (800–1150 µS/cm), acceptable hardness values (200–300 mg/L), nitrite concentrations (10–45 mg/L), excessive magnesium absorption (> 50 mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) indicating significant pollution (75–290 mg/L), total dissolved solids (TDS) exceeding safe limits in four locations, total solids (TS) exceeding allowable limits for drinking water (310–845 mg/L), water quality index (WQI) values ranged from “poor” to “very poor”. POME contamination by metals like magnesium, nitrite, chloride, and sodium compromised shallow well water quality. Correlation analysis confirmed robust results, indicating strong positive correlations between conductivity and TDS (r = 0.85, p < 0.01) and pH and total hardness (r = 0.65, p < 0.05). The study emphasizes the need for environmentally friendly palm oil processing methods to mitigate pollution, ensure safe drinking water, and achieve Nigeria’s SDGs. Implementation of sustainable practices is crucial to protect public health and the environment.

The use of firearms, their frequency, and legitimacy through self-defence and extreme necessity are socially relevant in Czechia and Slovakia. Legal firearm ownership for defence purposes impacts overall social security, influenced by factors like firearm legislation, cultural traditions, legal awareness, and violent crime rates. Understanding this issue requires considering subjective interpretations, even among security experts. This paper explores the theoretical foundations of self-defence and extreme necessity from criminal law, alongside practical implications supported by police statistics on violent crimes involving firearms in Czechia and Slovakia. It also includes a comparison with selected EU countries. The authors’ research uses a questionnaire to assess attitudes towards choosing defensive firearms, preparation for firearms licensure, and potential support for state security forces. The findings provide insights into legal firearm owners’ behaviours and attitudes toward defence and security. The study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of firearm use for self-defence, correlating training, weapon preferences, and willingness to enhance state security.