Small-scale dairy farming plays a pivotal role in the development of rural economies and has become a key source for job creation and poverty alleviation. However, the survival rate of these enterprises is compromised due to multifaceted challenges. As a result, the newly established or emerging small scale dairy businesses are not sustainable. The objective of this paper is to therefore investigate the determinants affecting sustainability of small-scale dairy enterprises and to develop a framework for failure minimization. The study used purposive snowball sampling techniques to invite small-scale dairy farmers (SSDFs) in Bojanala Platinum District, North West Province, South Africa. The data were analyzed using thematic content analysis (TCA) for factor derivation and ranked using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The study revealed the high cost of agricultural inputs, medication and electricity, followed by a lack of agricultural services, and unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change, which were regarded as priority factors proliferating high failure levels and unsustainability by the local farmers. Meanwhile, loadshedding and cattle theft were regarded as low priority factors affecting farming sustainability. The high level of failure in this industry diminishes the chances of farmers to obtain funding or credit; poorer farmers end up falling back into poverty as a consequence of market circumstances beyond their control. The paper concludes that small-scale dairy farming should be revised as part of a broader livelihood strategy by all stakeholders, while continuously pursuing alternative access points to achieve prosperous rural livelihoods, local market information and access, and risk optimization. With the prospects of future climate, geopolitical and environmental crisis, considering how local small-scale dairy farmers (SSDFs) react and use information technology is vital to their sustainability and providing policy relevant knowledge. Furthermore, the SSDFs should be exposed to agricultural funders in their localities, and also access to agricultural sector training authority (AGRISETA) services should be made available for local farmers to receive training for proposal writing to apply for funds.
Service delivery in the South African public sector seems to have eluded both the anticipated beneficiaries and the custodians who are the officials involved, role players and some stakeholders. The problem of the study was to investigate the role of the South Africa's public sector in economic development for the country. Twenty-eight managers in government departments shared their experiences in this study by providing information about the way their employees who should be prime to the responsibilities are familiar with the various aspects of public sectors in implementing out the mandate of development to improve the economy of South Africa. The managers found most employees to be inadequate for their jobs. In addition, they did not have impressions of confidence regarding their employees. The study recommended that proper merit-driven recruitment should be effected in the public sector and that public servants in the service be educated.
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