Acta Commercii is a journal that seeks to promote research within the ambit of management and related disciplines. As such, the Journal endeavors to serve as a platform for refreshingly new and invigorating approaches to, and findings of, research relating to management and associated disciplines. It includes disciplinary, multi-disciplinary and problem orientated work.

This study focused on investigating the factors that affect the entrepreneurial intention of final year undergraduate students at a South African university. It aimed to achieve the following objectives, (1) to assess the entrepreneurial intention of final year university students, (2) to investigate the effect of psychological and contextual factors on entrepreneurial intention of final year university students and (3) to examine if there is a gender difference in the effect of psychological and contextual factors on entrepreneurial intention of final year university students. The study examined the effect of psychological and contextual factors on the entrepreneurial intention of final year undergraduate students. The study used the quantitative research method with a descriptive research design. 140 students participated in the survey and data was collected through the use of self-administered questionnaire in a survey. The participants in the study were final year undergraduate business management students. The convenience sampling technique was used in the study. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and the T-test. The results indicated that business students have a high level of entrepreneurial intention. Both psychological and contextual factors positively impact on entrepreneurial intention. There is no significant gender difference. Recommendations to improve the entrepreneurial intention of students are suggested.

The manufacturing sector in South East Nigeria has many challenges concerning the incorporation of sustainability into the corporate strategies and operations of the industry, given its extractive nature and the numerous social and environmental impacts related to production activity. Attaining organizational sustainability requires the implementation of environmental management practice tools that create long-term value by embracing opportunities and managing risks derived from economic, environmental, and social developments. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of environmental management practice tools on the sustainability of manufacturing organizations. The goal of the study was to determine the relationship between environmental management practice tools and sustainability. A survey design was used for this study. A total of 363 questionnaires were distributed to the employees of the manufacturing firms, which included managers, supervisors, and line staff. The data collected were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Primarily, the study established that environmental management practice tools were significantly and positively related to sustainability. Thus, the study concluded that environmental management practice tools contribute significantly and positively to firms’ social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Additionally, the result of this study underlines the significance to manufacturing firms of carrying out environmental management practices. The ramifications are that manufacturing firms attempting to assert sustainability through EMP should have related knowledge with EMP. Furthermore, their environmental advantages will not convert into sustainability. The study adds to the body of knowledge by giving experimental pieces of proof identifying the interrelationships between EMP and sustainability.

This paper aims to assess the relationship between COVID-19 pandemic and the South African township economy in King William’s town, South Africa. The research methodology utilized a descriptive cross-sectional (survey) design. The population included micro and small business owners and or managers in King Williams Town, South Africa. Random sampling technique was used to sample 210 participants. The data were collected from owners/managers of micro and small businesses using a questionnaire method. The average age of the participant was 29 years (SD = 1.12), 37.6% were males while 62.4% were females. The findings of this study revealed the impact of the pandemic on micro and small businesses in the township area and that COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected micro and small business performance. The study therefore concludes that South Africa's lockdown measures introduced to contain the virus have had a significant economic impact on the township economy, particularly on micro and small businesses, which account for the majority of the township economy.

The study focused on identifying the relationship between market orientation and performance of small businesses in Vryburg region of South Africa. It aimed to achieve the following objectives, (1) To determine the level of market orientation among small businesses in Vryburg region of South Africa, (2) To establish if there is any relationship between market orientation and performance of small businesses in Vryburg region of South Africa . The study was exploratory in nature and utilised the quantitative research method with a descriptive research design. 268 questionnaires were distributed to small businesses owners/managers in the Vryburg region of South Africa. 207 questionnaires were returned, 9 questionnaires out of the 207 returned were incorrectly filled. Simple random sampling, a probability sampling technique was used in the study. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis. The Cronbach’s Alpha co-efficient was used to measure reliability. The findings revealed that the majority of small businesses in Vryburg region of South Africa are market oriented. The findings further show that there is a positive relationship between market orientation and the performance of small business in the Vrburg region of South Africa. The study proposed the formalisation of small businesses, the development of strategic cultures as well as entrepreneurship and business management training for small business owners and managers.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the variables that influence venture capital supply in Sub-Sahara Africa. The study developed econometric models and examined a 10-year period (2006 to 2015) pertaining to eight (8) Sub-Sahara African countries namely: Botswana, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. The empirical model includes six determinants (initial public offering, market capitalisation, unemployment rate, foreign direct investment inflow, inflation rate and trade openness). Secondary data was utilised for the study. The primary sources of data were the World Bank Development indicators and Preqin data base. All the statistical analyses in the study were performed using E-views version 8. Panel data models of pooled, fixed and random effects were employed. The results suggest that there is a significant positive relationship between initial public offering, market capitalisation and venture capital supply. Second, there is no significant relationship between unemployment rate, foreign direct investment inflows, trade openness and venture capital supply. Based on the empirical findings, this study recommends that Sub-Sahara African governments should attempt to develop their economies by improving infrastructure and corporate governance. There is also a need for African countries to develop the equity market.