OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open-access peer-reviewed journal
| Combating Drug Trafficking in South Africa: A Multifaceted Approach to Addressing Socioeconomic, Political and Law Enforcement Factors | 11-26 |
| Sustainability Managers for a New Global Era | 27-38 |
| Rebuilding Ukraine: Socio-Cultural Strategies for Developing the Hospitality Industry in the Post-War Era | 39-50 |
| Building Resilient and Sustainable Rural Communities: Leveraging Benefits for Trauma Therapy in Sustainable Development | 51-60 |
| White commercial agriculture and the reproduction of racial order: Understanding the field of social relations on a Limpopo Citrus Farm | 61-78 |
| Sustainable urban management through digital transformation and technologies in the South: Challenges and prospects | 79-98 |
| Health care workers’ perceptions towards Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT) implementation regardless of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status | 99-108 |
| Harnessing Citizen-Based Monitoring for Sustainable Governance in South Africa: A Framework for Achieving SDGs through Enhanced Governance Practice | 109-128 |
Combating Drug Trafficking in South Africa: A Multifaceted Approach to Addressing Socioeconomic, Political and Law Enforcement Factors
Devandran Mogambery Moodley 1, Juanida Horne 2
1,2 Department of Police Practice, School of Criminal Justice, College of Law, University of South Africa, Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria, South Africa.
Volume 18, Issue 08, Pg. 11-26, 2025
Abstract: This paper explores the intricate propellants of drug trafficking in South Africa, framed within national and international drug trade networks. Key contributory factors include poverty, unemployment, insufficient law enforcement capacity, porous borders, corruption, and inadequate adherence to technology-driven advancements. Socio-economic hardships such as high poverty rates and job scarcity lead individuals towards drug-related activities, while inadequate resources and vulnerable borders facilitate the influx of illicit substances into the country. Corruption within law enforcement and judicial systems further complicates the required control efforts, with compromised officials often protecting traffickers. Technological innovations such as online drug markets and encrypted communications present formidable challenges to traditional policing methods.
This study underscores the need for a multifaceted response to drug trafficking by employing qualitative interviews with law enforcement officials and drug enforcement specialists. Overall, the findings suggest that reducing drug trafficking in South Africa requires a comprehensive approach that integrates economic reform, as well as significant improvements in law enforcement and international cooperation. By addressing both supply and demand aspects, the study advocates for strategies that can create a safer environment, promote the well-being of South African communities and mitigate the adverse effects of drug trafficking.
Recommendations focus on implementing targeted economic development programmes to address fundamental socio-economic issues, enhancing law enforcement capabilities through increased funding and specialised training, as well as strengthening border security with advanced surveillance technologies. Anti-corruption efforts are essential for maintaining the integrity of law enforcement and judicial systems, while international collaboration and intelligence sharing are crucial for dismantling global drug trafficking networks.
Keywords: drug trafficking, law enforcement challenges, organised crime, policing strategies, political challenges, socio-economic challenges
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Sustainability Managers for a New Global Era
Robert Taylor
Montclair State University of New Jersey, United States America.
Volume 18, Issue 08, Pag. 27-38, 2025.
Abstract: Challenges to corporate business success requires the development of a new type of manager/leader who can integrate business expertise with knowledge of science and technology. Sustainability is a compelling issue that businesses globally are facing. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in Europe requires large companies operating in the European Union to disclose information on their environmental, social and governance performance. In the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is now requiring public companies to disclose information on their climate-related risks in their annual reports. These new requirements require a new generation of professionals in business that understand the challenges related to climate change, biodiversity conservation, waste management, and pollution. Asia is particularly impacted by these challenges, as it will account for 50% of global trade by 2030 and 60% of global GDP by 2050. This paper tests the viability of professional graduate degree program designed to prepare sustainability professionals for Vietnamese businesses. A survey was delivered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to discover if local companies find sustainability education to be a current or future human resource need for their organizations; if so, what education and job skillsets are business organizations looking for; and to assess their support for an experiential program, internship or consultancy for students in such a program. The results of this survey indicate that there is a growing need for sustainability professionals in Vietnam and that companies would be interested in developing research and internship opportunities with local universities.
Keywords: Education, Leadership, Management, Sustainability, Vietnam
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Rebuilding Ukraine: Socio-Cultural Strategies for Developing the Hospitality Industry in the Post-War Era
Liliia Honchar 1, Khrystyna Pletsan 2, Igor Komarnitskyi 3, Viktoriіa Pylypiv 4,
Maryna Bratitsel 5, Serhii Krasovskyi 6
1,3,4,5 Department of Hotel and Restaurant and Tourist Business, Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2Private Higher Educational Establishment “Kyiv University of Culture”, Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, Kyiv, Ukraine.
6 Department of Hotel and Restaurant and Tourist Business, Private Higher Educational Establishment “Kyiv University of Culture”, Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Volume 18, Issue 08, Pg. 39-50, 2025.
Abstract: The study’s relevance is driven by the critical need to restore Ukraine’s hospitality industry after the hostilities, which is crucial in restoring socio-economic well-being and strengthening the country’s international relations. The article focuses on socio-cultural clustering as a tool for stimulating economic revival, increasing cultural attractiveness and attracting investment. The study identifies the key characteristics of socio-cultural clusters that allow for the most efficient use of regional resources to create an innovative environment that can attract visitors and new businesses. The dynamics of interactions between the main cluster participants: the state, the private sector, scientific institutions and the public are analysed, and their contributions to the cluster development are assessed. Methodological approaches are presented, and the logical-structural method is used to assess the coordination of efforts of all stakeholders. The study substantiates the importance of socio-cultural clustering for developing the hospitality sector. It proposes models for optimising sustainable cluster management, which aims to create conditions for the full use of the potential of each region in the future realities of the post-war situation in Ukraine.
Keywords: socio-cultural clustering, hospitality industry, post-war recovery, regional development, cultural potential, post-war recovery.
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Building Resilient and Sustainable Rural Communities: Leveraging Benefits for Trauma Therapy in Sustainable Development
Fikile Xaba1, Nondumiso Hadebe 2
1,2 Department of Social Work, University of Zululand, Kwa-Dlangezwa, 3886, South Africa.
Volume 18, Issue 08, Pg. 51-60, 2025.
Abstract: Building resilient and sustainable rural communities plays a vital role in addressing the mental health and wellbeing needs of their inhabitants, particularly in relation to trauma therapy. In thirty years of democracy rural areas are still facing unique challenges like economic instability, environmental degradation and social isolation. By addressing mental health and wellbeing through trauma informed approach is fundamental for advancing rural community resilient. This study explores the interconnectedness of community resilience, trauma therapy and sustainable development in rural communities, focusing on building resilience and sustainability. We examined the ways that incorporating trauma treatment into sustainable development programs can improve social networks, empower people, and enhance community well-being. Findings reveal that stakeholder’s engagement with established support systems and collaborative initiatives significantly improve access to and effectiveness of trauma therapy. Using qualitative interviews with community leaders and mental health and wellness professionals. We highlighted effective models that show how holistic methods can improve mental health and sustainable behaviours through case studies and participatory research. By utilising local resources and expertise, we proposed strategies that not only address the psychological impact of trauma but also advance environmental sustainability and economic resilience. This paper suggests that prioritising resilience in rural planning and incorporating mental health and wellbeing support within community development frameworks not only addresses immediate therapeutic needs but also contributes to long-term and sustainable community can foster healthier rural environments.
Keywords: community resilience, community engagement, economic empowerment, mental health and wellbeing, social support systems, trauma recovery, sustainable development
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White commercial agriculture and the reproduction of racial order: Understanding the field of social relations on a Limpopo Citrus Farm
Safiyya Goga 1, Gabriella Vermeulen 2
1,2 University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Volume 18, Issue 08, Pg. 61-78, 2025.
Abstract:
Economistic approaches to understanding relations between farm owners and farmworkers in South Africa’s agricultural economy tend to make sense of these in terms of the value chain, with the argument generally being advanced that the state’s failure to properly understand the value chain prevents it from properly recognizing that the fate of farmworkers is interwoven with that of agricultural producers. The claim is that it is only with state support of the latter that the fortunes of the former can be altered. This paper is based on the critical discursive analysis of the narrative statements of one white commercial agricultural producer in the export-oriented citrus industry regarding the government, his workers, wages, debt and conflict in the ‘micro field’ of the farm (‘field’ being used in the Bourdieusian sense), to speak back to the central claim in the economistic literature. In doing so, we place the micro field of the farm within the ‘macro field’ of the national agricultural economy, while seeking to expand the scope of literature relevant to making sense of the ‘macro field’, thereby offering an interdisciplinary approach to analysis.
Keywords: White commercial agriculture; farmworkers; racial order; export-oriented citrus industry; South African agriculture; critical discourse analysis (CDA); post-apartheid
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Sustainable urban management through digital transformation and technologies in the South: Challenges and prospects
Taiwo Afinowi 1,2
1 Public Policy Hub, Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Hatfield Campus, Pretoria, South Africa.
2 Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, Hatfield Campus, Pretoria, South Africa.
Volume 18, Issue 08, Pg. 79-98, 2025.
Abstract: Traditional urban management plays a critical role in urban governance, addressing the increasing urban challenges relating to urban housing, land, infrastructure, services, and livelihood using policies, principles, specialised tools, and programmes. With increased urbanisation and population growth, the pursuit of sustainable development brings about complex challenges in planning and managing primary and secondary cities towards sustainability and efficiency. With urban centres and cities being a scramble point for shelter, employment, mobility, and access to quality health and education, urban managers are posed with a significant challenge in making predictions, planning, and managing cities timeously with updated information in real-time for better efficiency. These challenges have resulted in the development of various city concepts leaning on sustainability, innovation, information and communication technologies to better manage urban centres and cities. Despite developing various urban management approaches, smart city concepts and agendas, many Southern cities and even the North grapple with complex urban problems. The question thus arises: how can digital technologies and innovations be used in a sustainable way to improve traditional urban management in the cities of the South, considering their peculiar challenges? Following the broad paradigm of cognitive cities theory and smart governance theory, this paper explores the challenges and prospects of leveraging technological advancements in managing cities and improving urban management. While extensive structured and unstructured urban data are collected occasionally in silos by companies and municipalities, these data sets are not integrated to influence planning and management when they are processed. This article concludes that an integrated digital approach to urban management offers new sustainable pathways to address the planning, development, governing, monitoring and maintaining of cities using the Internet of Things, machine learning, remote sensing, drone technology, and other innovative practices.
Keywords: fourth industrial revolution, digital transformation in cities, digital twins, smart cities, sustainable urban management
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Health care workers’ perceptions towards Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT) implementation regardless of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status
Nondumiso Dlamini 1, Debbie Seoka Habedi 2
1,2 University of South Africa, South Africa.
Volume 18, Issue 08, Pg. 99-108, 2025
Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem throughout the world, a leading cause of death globally. TB Preventive Therapy (TPT), previously referred to as Isoniazid Preventive Treatment (IPT) is the treatment offered to individuals who are at risk of developing active TB disease, to reduce the disease. This paper assesses the health care workers’ (HCWs’) perceptions towards TPT implementation on them regardless of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status. A quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional research design was used. The research site was a hospital of Manzini Region at Eswatini. The population comprised of HCWs who were involved in clinical practice and the target population were clinicians. Simple random sampling method was used where suitable respondents were chosen randomly from their departments for two weeks. The sample size was 201 HCWs who worked in the departments where known TB patients were treated. The results suggest that HCWs generally do not support implementation of TPT on them as a preventive measure against TB. Furthermore, the long period of taking TPT as compared to the limited durability of TPT benefit of 2-3 years is a major deterrent factor to HCWs taking TPT. The results indicate that knowledge is not as a great determinant factor to TPT uptake as previously posited in other studies, and that most HCWs support the provision of alternative prevention methods such as ventilation of spaces and wearing of masks. The results may contribute to informing the formulation and implementation of effective health policies to improve the uptake of TPT amongst HCWs thereby ensuring their safety and that of the patients.
Keywords: health care workers; human immunodeficiency virus; implementation; tuberculosis; tuberculosis preventive therapy.
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Harnessing Citizen-Based Monitoring for Sustainable Governance in South Africa: A Framework for Achieving SDGs through Enhanced Governance Practice
Lesedi Senamele Matlala
Management, Governance and Public Policy, College of Business and Economics,
University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
South Africa School of Public, Management, Governance and Public Policy, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg,, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Volume 18, Issue 08, Pg. 109-128, 2025
Abstract: Citizen-Based Monitoring (CBM) has emerged globally as a participatory approach to enhancing governance by fostering accountability, transparency, and citizen engagement. In South Africa, despite its alignment with the principles of sustainable governance and its potential to support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), CBM remains underutilized due to systemic and structural barriers. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interviews with government officials, community-based organizations (CBOs), and community media representatives alongside an analysis of secondary data. The research examines how CBM contributes to or falls short of supporting sustainable governance, focusing on accountability, transparency, and equity in public service delivery. Findings reveal that CBM initiatives enhance citizen engagement and raise awareness of public service issues but face challenges such as inconsistent institutional integration, resource constraints, inequitable access, and limited governmental responsiveness. This study proposes a framework that prioritizes collaborative governance, resource sustainability, and inclusivity to address these challenges. Recommendations include fostering stronger government-community partnerships, expanding infrastructure and digital inclusion, institutionalizing CBM findings into policy processes, and building public trust through transparent and responsive governance. By situating CBM within the broader principles of sustainable governance, this framework offers a pathway for South Africa to achieve SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) through more equitable, transparent, and accountable governance systems.
Keywords: Accountability, Citizen-Based Monitoring, Public Service Delivery, Sustainable Development Goals, Transparency
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