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Hence technology delivery is perceived to be an essential catalyst for rural development. This paper intends to present an empirical study on the use of modern technology for rural industrialization and its theoretical and practical implication on the rural SMEs economic growth. The idea of rural industrialization and how it can enhance the rural SMEs economic growth still the issue of concern of many policy-makers. The study seeks to establish understanding, knowledge and awareness about how the use of modern technology would assist in building strong rural industrialization that will have a positive change in the rural SMEs economy. In this research 127 participants consist with business managers/owners running SMEs in the province of KwaZulu-Natal were chosen for empirical data collection from both South and Northern parts of the Province. SPSS (24.0) version was used for the analysis of data. A quantitative questionnaire was used and distributed to the respondents. The findings revealed that in many cases there is no specific rural industrialization policy does not exist or somehow fall short, government attitudes towards rural industrialization as well as rural infrastructure development were also identified by respondents as areas of concern for rural industrialization. The exploratory and quantitative nature limited the survey. Hence, the application of this result should be made with utmost care. Further investigation which may include large and other parts of the country is therefore recommended.

This paper examines risks and critical factors contributing to the rural entrepreneurial orientation growth of businesses. The concept of entrepreneurial orientation and various factors influencing the rural entrepreneurial orientation growth are still not well known. The study aimed to assess risks and critical factors affecting rural entrepreneurial orientation growth of businesses. Questionnaire was developed and used to collect primary data from 127 rural entrepreneurs. The sample was made with small and medium entrepreneurs operating in rural places. They were selected using quota sampling, with respondents completing a questionnaire with the assistance of an interviewer. The study used quantitative technique for data collection. SPSS (23.0) version was used for data analysis and scientific statistical significance level found to be (.000*) at the Cronbach's alpha (.791*) reliability. Results of the survey reveal that majority indicates competition as a big challenge for them. Findings further indicate that competitor is due to the small market and lack of products differentiation. This study introduces an additional literature in the field of entrepreneurship with specific reference to rural entrepreneurship. The paper will benefit rural entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial marketing managers, potential young entrepreneurs, business consultants, policymakers, financial institutions, government agencies and all affiliated stakeholders by introducing a new understanding of risks and various critical factors causative into rural entrepreneurial orientation growth of business in an emerging economy. Most work on the entrepreneurship development has concentrated in the urban areas with little emphasis on the rural places. The findings of this study limited by study's exploratory, small sample and quantitative nature. Therefore, generalisation of results should be done with care and further research is encouraged and should aim at the development of technical skills that will empower and encourage entrepreneurial orientation growth culture among rural and young entrepreneurship in the developing and emerging economies countries.

The adoption of EMA is triggered by certain factors such as human resources, compliance to legislation, market factors, just to name but a few. However, the literature points out that there are limiting factors that impede the application of EMA, particularly in the developing economy. Currently, there is limited existing research on EMA practices available for use by the hotel sector in the developing economies. The overall aim of this study was to, therefore, investigate and describe factors that enable and limit the use of EMA tools by the hotel sector in South Africa, a developing economy. The research was an exploratory study and qualitative in nature using a single case study with embedded units approach. ABC Hotel Management Group formed part of this study along its 3 hotels which met the selection criteria. In-depth semi-structured interviews comprised the main method of data collection. Additional documents were analysed which included financial statements, policy documents, the Group's website, the hotels' websites, Group Energy Profile Analysis (GEPA) programme, and Building Monitoring Systems (BMS). There were 10 participants in this case study which included the group engineer, who is the main custodian of the Group's environmental management systems, 3 general managers, 3 financial managers, and 3 maintenance managers. The study discovered certain external and internal factors enabling the implementation of EMA tools; and there was the existence of limiting factors, internal and external, such as the shortage of skills and knowledge.

This paper reports on the perceived effectiveness of municipal financial management (MFM), on the performance of inventory stock management, by South African local government. The study aimed to evaluate and discuss various factors affecting the effectiveness of MFM on the performance of inventory stock management, in a local municipal government of South Africa, with specific reference to the Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) Province. The MFM Act was used as a theoretical framework for the study, and a quantitative research method was applied. The questionnaire was formulated based on information obtained from the literature, and was distributed to only one KZN local government department. The sample consisted of 57 respondents, selected using a census sampling method. The results indicate that there is significant relationships between experience and performance of inventory stock management (p=.003a,b*), experience and effectiveness/efficiency of MFM (p=.000a,b*),as well as experience and the economic viability of MFM (p=.000b,c*).Interestingly, the respondents also indicated that, although there is good inventory stock management, there is a weak relationship between the effectiveness/efficiency, economic viability, and transparency of MFM. This study recommends that further research should aim to advance financial management skills in South African local government, in order to build financial management capacity to deal with inventory stock management issues. This should enable communication with other related structures and improve the understanding of each other's efforts in the organization.

There is a wide belief and acceptance from leading government and business experts that small enterprises and entrepreneurship are the key components to unemployment and poverty alleviation in any country. Unfortunately, high unemployment levels, low entrepreneurial activity and high small business failure rate have become the main characteristics of the South African economy. Post-school education is partially blamed for the dropping levels of entrepreneurial activities in the country. South Africa's tertiary education system continues to focus on producing job-seekers instead of job creators. This problem has forced South African Universities to explore more on their potential of becoming more entrepreneurial, but lack of academics in the field of entrepreneurship has been found to be a hindrance to success in this agenda. To avert this obstacle, it is reiterated that internationalisation is key to any university entrepreneurship strategy, and therefore universities are encouraged to internationalise through attracting international entrepreneurial staff. The purpose of this literature review paper is twofold. The first part explores the role played by international academic professionals in the establishment of entrepreneurial universities in South Africa, while the second aims at evaluating the state of entrepreneurship development in higher education and the potential of South African universities becoming more entrepreneurial. The study employs both quantitative and qualitative research techniques (mixed method). The study reveals that South African universities should internationalise if they are to succeed in the entrepreneurial strategy. In addition, it is found that foreign academics have the required skills and bring in the diverse expertise needed for the establishment of entrepreneurial universities. Moreover, the presence of international academics has enhanced entrepreneurship mindset of local staff and students. It is recommended that universities should establish entrepreneurial institutes which are affiliated to them in order to drive this initiative and that the establishment of entrepreneurial universities is the way to go in South Africa if the country is to beat poverty and unemployment.

The current socio-economic and political problems of South Africa are rooted in the colonial apartheid era as scholars and researchers suggest through extensive research. However, there have been high levels of service delivery protests related to the government performance on the issues of service delivery to the local communities' countrywide. Governments departments appear to be lacking much required knowledge and understanding of external factors associated with rural to urban migration such social-economic factors and other various relevant challenges, hence, local authorities are struggling to meet up with demands caused by the ever-increasing number of urban populations, which affects services delivery performance. The study was quantitative approach and used 5 Likert scale questionnaires which were distributed in the selected areas of eThekwini city. A total of 100 with 25 respondents per area, chosen areas include emhlabeni, emalandeni, ezimeleni and silver city. Whereas, qualitative aspects of the study were secondary data through extensive literature review, the study has found that indeed rural to urban migration has a negative impact on service delivery the study argue that service delivery, rural to urban migration, public participation need to be part of the government agenda holistically to improve service delivery and capacity of local authorities. This study recommends proactive urban planning and community involvement through public participation channels. The generalization of the findings of this study should be done with care.