This study analyses the long-run relationship between, and the direction and magnitude of impact of sectoral economic growth and fiscal capacity on government health expenditure. The study was carried out to validates the Wagner hypothesis from sectoral perspective and revenue-expenditure hypothesis for South Africa for the period 1984–2020. Fully modified least squares and dynamic least squares and canonical cointegration regression were used to achieve the objectives of the study. Empirical regression results showed that there is a negative impact of the secondary sector GDP on public health expenditure. Thus, invalidating the Wagner hypothesis and suggesting that secondary sector GDP cannot serves as an answer for public health expenditure. However, there was a positive relationship between tertiary sector GDP and public health expenditure. The study make case for unceasing provision of an enabling environment that continuously support growth of the tertiary sector.

The growing interconnectedness of the world has led to a rise in cybersecurity risks. Although it is increasingly conventional to use technology to assist business transactions, exposure to these risks must be minimised to allow business owners to do transactions in a secure manner. While a wide range of studies have been undertaken regarding the effects of cyberattacks on several industries and sectors, However, very few studies have focused on the effects of cyberattacks on the educational sector, specifically higher educational institutions (HEIs) in West Africa. Consequently, this study developed a survey and distributed it to HEIs particularly universities in West Africa to examine the data architectures they employed, the cyberattacks they encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic period, and the role of data analysis in decision-making, as well as the countermeasures employed in identifying and preventing cyberattacks. A total of one thousand, one hundred and sixty-four (1164) responses were received from ninety-three (93) HEIs and analysed. According to the study’s findings, data-informed architecture was adopted by 71.8% of HEIs, data-driven architecture by 24.1%, and data-centric architecture by 4.1%, all of which were vulnerable to cyberattacks. In addition, there are further concerns around data analysis techniques, staff training gaps, and countermeasures for cyberattacks. The study’s conclusion includes suggestions for future research topics and recommendations for repelling cyberattacks in HEIs.

The challenge of developing cadastral infrastructure in Africa is inextricably linked to the global issues of sustainable development. Indeed, in light of the constraints inherent to conventional cadastral systems, alternative systems developed through land regulation programmes (LRPs) are compelled to align with the tenets of sustainable development. A discursive study, conducted through a semisystematic literature review, enabled the selection of 53 documents on cadastral systems deployed in multiple countries across the African continent. A number of systems were identified and grouped into four categories: urban, rural, participatory and hybrid cadastral systems. These systems are developed on the basis of standards and sociotechnical approaches, including the LADM, STDM, and FFP, as well as innovative technologies such as blockchain. However, their sustainability is limited by the fact that they are not multipurpose cadastral systems. Consequently, there is an urgent need for studies to develop a global framework that will produce truly significant and sustainable results for all sections of society.

The undeniable importance of migrants’ remittances to the welfare of developing countries was again demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has therefore led to a significant shift in attention to the relevance of remittances and has likewise spurred research interest in factors that motivate the inflows of remittances. However, in spite of the increasing recognition of the roles of digital technology in the macroeconomic performance of developed and developing economies alike, empirical analysis of its possible impacts on remittance inflows has not been well explored in the literature. Therefore, pooling the annual data of 35 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries from 2011 to 2020, this study investigates the nexus between digital technology and remittance inflows within the generalized method of moments (GMM) framework. Using two measures of digital technology infrastructure—internet usage and mobile cellular subscription—the study finds a positive relationship between digital technology and remittances inflow. In addition, the findings indicate that the magnitude of the effect is relatively higher for internet usage. The study thus shows that the increased rate of remittance mobilization constitutes a significant pathway through which digital technology impacts the economies of the SSA region. Moreover, it offers further insight on the importance of digital technology in the socioeconomic development of developing countries. From a policy standpoint, governments and policymakers in SSA countries should intensify efforts to promote the diffusion and penetration of digital infrastructure.

The economy, unemployment, and job creation of South Africa heavily depend on the growth of the agricultural sector. With a growing population of 60 million, there are approximately 4 million small-scale farmers (SSF) number, and about 36,000 commercial farmers which serve South Africa. The agricultural sector in South Africa faces challenges such as climate change, lack of access to infrastructure and training, high labour costs, limited access to modern technology, and resource constraints. Precision agriculture (PA) using AI can address many of these issues for small-scale farmers by improving access to technology, reducing production costs, enhancing skills and training, improving data management, and providing better irrigation infrastructure and transport access. However, there is a dearth of research on the application of precision agriculture using artificial intelligence (AI) by small scale farmers (SSF) in South Africa and Africa at large. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) and Bibliometric analysis guidelines were used to investigate the adoption of precision agriculture and its socio-economic implications for small-scale farmers in South Africa or the systematic literature review (SLR) compared various challenges and the use of PA and AI for small-scale farmers. The incorporation of AI-driven PA offers a significant increase in productivity and efficiency. Through a detailed systematic review of existing literature from inception to date, this study examines 182 articles synthesized from two major databases (Scopus and Web of Science). The systematic review was conducted using the machine learning tool R Studio. The study analyzed the literature review articled identified, challenges, and potential societal impact of AI-driven precision agriculture.

This paper uses existing studies to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancements enhance recruitment, retention, and the effective management of a diverse workforce in South Africa. The extensive literature review revealed key themes used to contextualize the study. This study uses a meta-narrative approach to literature to review, critique and express what the literature says about the role of AI in talent recruitment, retention and diversity mapping within South Africa. An unobtrusive research technique, documentary analysis, is used to analyze literature. The findings reveal that South Africa’s Human Resource Management (HRM) landscape, marked by a combination of approaches, provides an opportunity to cultivate alternative methods attuned to contextual conditions in the global South. Consequently, adopting AI in recruiting, retaining, and managing a diverse workforce demands a critical examination of the colonial/apartheid past, integrating contemporary realities to explore the potential infusion of contextually relevant AI innovations in managing South Africa’s workforce.