Health care personnel are often exposed to strenuous working conditions due to their nature of work. The study assessed whether job stress affects the organisational commitment of employees within the health institutions. A quantitative design was used; the sample consisted of 141 respondents from selected public health institutions within the Nkonkobe Municipality Region, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Cluster sampling was used to select the hospitals and then the simple random sampling was used to select the sample from the cluster. Pearson Correlation Analysis was used to solicit the sought relationships. Results of the study showed significant relationships between job stress and organisational commitment showing that job stress has an effect on the commitment of workers. These findings are helpful and useful to the health department in implementing policies and procedures that will reduce job stress in employees in order to ensure that high levels of commitment towards the organisation are maintained for optimal success.

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Higher education is a tool for social and economic development as well as global competitiveness. It is thus crucial for students to make informed decisions when enrolling at university and, ultimately, deciding what career to pursue. This article offers insights into the factors that influence students’ selection of a university and programme, focusing on students at a historically disadvantaged university in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Data was gathered by means of qualitative focus groups and convenient sampling was employed to select the sample from a population of first-year students. The findings indicate that residential proximity to the university, the university’s reputation, programme image, entry requirements, affordability and funding influence university selection. With regard to programme selection, the factors considered include background dynamics, the subjects involved, failure to meet the requirements, family, peer or the influence of others, failure to be selected for first choice programmes, a lack of career guidance and funding availability. It was thus found that university selection was principally influenced by the student’s informed choice while programme selection was largely influenced by external factors. Key words: University, programme, selection, students, higher education

Background: The influx of migrants from neighbouring countries has contributed to diversity in South Africa. This has caused on-going clashes between local residents and migrants. This article explores the role of discourse towards enabling a cohesive society. There has been much focus on migrants working in South Africa over the 2020 December festive season as many faced challenges in travelling to their respective countries because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This limelight exposed the underlying discrimination towards migrants in South Africa remain regardless of the South African progressive Constitution that values and respects individuals as well as protecting them from discrimination.Aim: This article adopts threat theory and uses critical discourse analysis to highlight the existing and continued discrimination towards migrant workers. The article exposes the causes of social inequalities, which can assist the government in decision-making towards reducing the inequality gap in service delivery.Setting: Public viewer comments on the news updates on migrants’ travel that were posted on the national news websites over the 2020 festive season were analysed.Methods: Critical Discourse analysis (CDA) was employed as a method of analysis in this article.Results and conclusion: The article intends to add to the existing body of knowledge and to also inform local government towards canvasing agenda that incorporate all human rights and enable a cohesive society by considering the role of discourse as an enabler of the problems experienced in societies. The results show that discourse contributes to negative attitudes, hate speech, discrimination and stereotyping towards migrants in South Africa.