Information and communication technology model to enhance small-medium enterprises development using indigenous languages in Limpopo Province, South Africa = Imodeli yobuchwepheshe bolwazi nokuxhumana yokuthuthukisa ukuthuthukiswa kwamabhizinisi amancane kusetshenziswa izilimi zomdabu esifundazweni saseLimpopo, eNingizimu Afrikha.

Abstract

The Republic of South Africa has a multicultural population with 12 official languages. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are significant to the economy, especially in rural areas. The study explored the appropriation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by SMEs with the considerable utilisation of indigenous languages, the development marked by the improvement of their business and the challenges experienced. The study investigated the government's role in advancing ICT integration in SME development in Limpopo Province and how ICT can be conceived to tackle the hurdles of including indigenous languages for the progress of SMEs. A research design that incorporated both quantitative and qualitative methods was selected for this study. A purposive sampling technique was employed to gather qualitative data, which involved interviews with two SMEs in each district in the Limpopo Province, and 10 were interviewed. These SMEs had operated for at least five years. For the quantitative component of the study, 130 questionnaires were distributed to SMEs officially registered with the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (DEDET) in the Limpopo province. The study's findings revealed that SMEs could play a critical role in helping address the recent declines in the South African economy. However, in the Limpopo Province, the economic contribution from SMEs still needs to be increased as they currently employ very few people. The study revealed the importance of infrastructure in SME development, ICT support, and the creation of business opportunities. The barriers identified included government participation in implementing policies and legislation, a need for an information-sharing culture, siloed stakeholder collaboration, sensitive information and ineffective information technology usage. The recommendations include the need for government institutions to advance SMEs' development and sustainability while implementing indigenous languages as an essential part of business communication. This consists of implementing indigenous languages in mainstream business operations to communicate, promoting the uptake of technology and the role of the government in promoting ICT in SME development in Limpopo Province.

Iqoqa.

IRiphabhulikhi yaseNingizimu Afrikha inabantu abanamasiko amaningi nezilimi ezisemthethweni eziyi-12. Amabhizinisi Amancane Naphakathi (ama-SME) abalulekile emnothweni, ikakhulukazi ezindaweni zasemakhaya. Ucwaningo luhlole ukwabiwa Kolwazi Nokuxhumana ngezobuchwepheshe (ICT) ngama-SMEs ngokusetshenziswa okukhulu kwezilimi zomdabu, intuthuko ephawulwa ukwenziwa ngcono kwebhizinisi labo kanye nezinselelo ngolwazi. Ucwaningo luphenye iqhaza likahulumeni ekuthuthukiseni i-ICT ukuhlanganiswa ekuthuthukisweni kwama-SME esiFundazweni saseLimpopo nokuthi i-ICT ingaqanjwa kanjani ukubhekana nezithiyo zokufaka phakathi izilimi zomdabu ukuze kuthuthuke ama-SME. Idizayini yocwaningo ehlanganisa izindlela zobuningi nekhwalithi kwaba ezikhethelwe lolu cwaningo. Kusetshenziswe indlela yokusampula ehlosiwe ukuze kuqoqwe idatha yekhwalithi, okuyinto ibandakanye izingxoxo nama-SME amabili esifundeni ngasinye esiFundazweni saseLimpopo, nayi-10 kwaxoxwa nabo. Lawa ma-SME asesebenze okungenani iminyaka emihlanu. Enye ingxenye yocwaningo, imibuzo eyi-130 yasatshalaliswa kuma-SME abhaliswe ngokusemthethweni noMnyango Wezokuthuthukiswa Komnotho, Imvelo kanye Nezokuvakasha (DEDET) esifundazweni saseLimpopo. Okutholwe kulolu cwaningo kuveze ukuthi ama-SME angadlala indima ebalulekile ekusizeni ukubhekana nokwehla komnotho kwakamuva eNingizimu Afrikha. Kodwa-ke, esiFundazweni saseLimpopo, umnikelo wezomnotho ovela kuma-SME kusadingeka unyuswe njengoba njengamanje baqashe abantu abambalwa kakhulu. Isifundo siveze ukubaluleka kwengqalasizinda ekuthuthukisweni kwama-SME, ukwesekwa kwe-ICT, kanye nokwakhiwa kwamathuba ebhizinisi. Izithiyo ezihlonziwe zihlanganisa ukubamba iqhaza kukahulumeni ekuqaliseni izinqubomgomo nemithetho, isidingo sesiko lokwabelana ngolwazi, ukusebenzisana okuvalekile nababambiqhaza, ulwazi olubucayi kanye nokusetshenziswa kobuchwepheshe bolwazi ngendlela engasebenzi. Izincomo zihlanganisa isidingo sokuthi izikhungo zikahulumeni ziqhubekisele phambili ukuthuthukiswa nokusimama kwama-SME kuyilapho zisebenzisa izilimi zomdabu njengengxenye ebalulekile yokuxhumana kwezamabhizinisi. Lokhu kuhlanganisa nokusebenzisa izilimi zomdabu emisebenzini yamabhizinisi ejwayelekile ukuze kuxhunyanwe, ukukhuthaza ukusetshenziswa kobuchwepheshe kanye neqhaza likahulumeni ekukhuthazeni i-ICT ekuthuthukisweni kwama-SME esiFundazweni saseLimpopo.