scholarly journals Corporate social responsibility: Applying sustainability principles in stakeholder engagement

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renitha Rampersad
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
The South ◽  
Corporate Sector ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Sustainability Principles

There is a strong ethical case to redress poverty and inequality in South Africa. The South African corporate sector has been called upon to take responsibility for the ways their operations impact societies. There has been considerable change in the way the corporate sector concerns themselves with applying sustainability principles to the ways in which they conduct their business specifically in their social interactions with stakeholders. This sees the South African corporate sector investing millions to support sustainable community development and social programs. The total corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure in South Africa was estimated to amount to R8.2 billion in 2013/2014 (Trialogue, 2014). Although major South African and multinational companies have had ample opportunity to express and communicate their views on the potential of CSR, the voices of communities continue to be thwarted and stifled when they should logically lie at the heart of effective change management interventions. Business has the obligation, and also the resources, to make a contribution to communities in which they operate. This article investigates the South African business sectors involvement in stakeholder engagement and describes two cases of major South African companies and their increased value for a stakeholder governance model.

scholarly journals Monitoring and evaluation of corporate social responsibility programmes in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-318
Author(s):  
Renitha Rampersad
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Fiduciary Duty ◽  
The South ◽  
Corporate Sector ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

The South African corporate sector invests millions to support community development and social programs. One of the more fundamental issues about sustainability in a business context is the fact that directors have a fiduciary duty to take into account interests of those stakeholders other than investors/shareholders. This therefore places major importance on sustainability reporting through reports on governance, economic, social and environmental performance and is increasingly being regarded as a key form of stakeholder engagement, and the most accepted formal way of communicating measured outcomes to all stakeholders. A number of methodologies may exist for the development of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies or “how-to guides” for community engagement and investment, however, it lacks development in the field of CSR Programme Evaluation. Integrated approaches to the measurement thereof are still in expanding stages of development and statistical data and/or empirical evidence is lacking at this point. Trust and relationships take time to build but are valuable assets, therefore a company must show it has listened and acted in response to stakeholder concerns, this means that ongoing communication and reporting back to stakeholders is a very important component in any engagement strategy. It is therefore important for the corporate sector to not only evaluate the effectiveness of their CSR Programmes, but also to measure the impact on both their beneficiary communities and their business and subsequently on the Return on Investment (ROI). This paper will highlight a case of the South African corporate sectors attempts to evaluate its effectiveness and impact on beneficiary communities and how they quantify the impact of the investment through successful CSR interventions

Social responsibility: The changing role of business in South Africa

1979 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 93-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. Wagenaar
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Business Community ◽  
Business Managers ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Changing Role

Business in South Africa is becoming increasingly involved in the solution of the social problems of the country, and business managers face growing demands concerning the corporate social responsibility of the private sector. The author investigated the nature and scope of corporate social responsibility in South Africa, considering both the viewpoint of business managers, and the expectations of the public. Both questionnaires and interviews were used in the investigation. The attitudes of managers and the expectations of society are set out in detail, and are then compared, showing that society is significantly more in favour of corporate social responsibility than the business community. There is, however, also a growing social awareness among South African business leaders.Sake-ondernemings in Suid-Afrika word toenemend betrek by die oplossing van die sosiale probleme van die land, en bestuurders is blootgestel aan toenemende eise wat betref die sosiale verantwoordelikheid van die private onderneming. Die skrywer het die aard en trefwydte van die sosiale verantwoordelikheid van Suid-Afrikaanse ondernemings ondersoek, met inagneming van sowel die standpunt van sakebestuurders as die verwagtings van die publiek. Vraelyste en personlike onderhoude is in die ondersoek gebruik. Die houdings van bestuurders en die verwagtings van die gemeenskap word volledig uiteengesit, en word dan vergelyk. Dit blyk dat die gemeenskap betekenisvol meer ten gunste is van sosiaal-verantwoordelike optrede deur ondernemings, as die sakelui. Daar is egter ook 'n groeiende bewustheid van sosiale verantwoordelikheid onder Suid-Afrikaanse sakeleiers.

scholarly journals Assessing the potential impact of the Marikana incident on South African mining companies: An event method study

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 586-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Hill ◽  
Warren Maroun
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
The South ◽  
Statistical Research ◽  
Share Prices ◽  
Mining Companies ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Corporate Social

This study examines the potential impact of industrial unrest and the outbreak of violence at Marikana on 16 August 2012 on the share prices of mining companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) using an event methodology. Contrary to expectations, the Marikana incident does not appear to have had a widespread and prolonged effect on the South African mining sector. This may be the result of the strike action already having been discounted into the price of mining shares, implying that the market was only reacting to the unusually violent (but short-lived) protest. Alternately, the results could be indicative of investor confidence in the corporate social responsibility initiatives of the South African mining industry as a whole. This paper is the first to examine the potential impact of the Marikana incident on the share prices of mining companies listed on the JSE. It should be of interest to both academics and practitioners wanting to understand how share prices react to exogenous events. It is also relevant for corporate-governance researchers concerned with the relevance of social and governance practices in a South African setting. This research is faced with the limitations associated with most statistical research: that causality cannot be ascribed to tested relationships. Notwithstanding these limitations, it is argued that these findings are important, given the significant coverage of the Marikana incident and the ongoing debate on the need for corporate social responsibility.

Corporate social responsibility in South Africa: quo vadis?

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Alastair Lindsay Coldwell ◽  
Tasneem Joosub
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Business Leaders ◽  
Measuring Instruments ◽  
Shared Value ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose – Strategies and policies aimed at alleviating poverty in Sub-Saharan African countries usually depend on capitalistically driven economic growth. However, the view that capitalism needs to reinvent itself to survive the crisis of confidence brought about by the recent global financial collapse depends on the extent to which such a shared value oriented, sustainable capitalist reinvention is embraced by emergent business leaders. A sustainable system of capitalism driven by business and community shared value can only take root if the hearts and minds of future business leaders are convinced of their cogency and appropriateness. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This paper reports the findings of an empirical study utilizing a Likert-type scale designed to measure corporate shared value (CSV) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) among a sample of fourth year accountancy students at a leading South African university. Findings – Preliminary findings suggest that perceptions of this group of emergent leaders generally regard CSR rather than CSV as the “correct” business model for companies to follow. Although the sample is limited to one South African university and is relatively small, it contributes to the literature by offering insight into emergent business leaders’ perceptions and their view of the direction of CSR in South Africa should take. Research limitations/implications – Implications of the paper are that by offering insight into emergent business leaders’ perceptions of South African society and specifically their view of the direction South African CSR should take, the paper suggests prescriptive remedial steps in policy that educational and other learning institutions could take to engender appropriate social values in learners. Originality/value – The study contributes to the literature by offering devised and tested measuring instruments for CSR and CSV in the South African context and gives insight into emergent business leaders’ perceptions and their view of the direction of CSR in South Africa should take.

scholarly journals THE CURRENT STATE OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PRACTICES OF FIRMS OPERATING IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jabu Mokwena ◽  
Nokulunga Xolile Mashwama ◽  
Didi Thwala ◽  
Clinton Aigbavboa ◽  
Mansur Hamma-Adama
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
The South ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Construction Firms ◽  
Corporate Social

The overall aim of this study is to appraise the current practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on firms operating in the South African construction market. Primary and secondary sources of data were utilized. The primary data were collected via of questionnaire survey issued to 12 different firms operating within the South African construction sector and secondary data obtained from related and reliable scholarly literature such as journal articles, conference papers, reports, books etc. Out of 60 questionnaires issued, 50 were acquired back, and all surveys received were valid. Descriptive statistical analysis was used for the collected primary data. The study reveals that common CSR variables that are practiced by South African construction firms using certified product/material verified by the independent third party. These include supporting government initiatives on public welfare; Occupational health, business ethics and code of conduct; welfare and safety; Purchasing green material and the most important CSR variables are contractual obligations are met, and product and service providers are paid in a timely manner; Using certified product/material verified by the independent third party; Ensuring fair treatment of workers at work irrespective of race, gender, and disability; and consult employees about crucial business activities. The implementation of CSR activities offers a great solution for many problems that are being faced by the South African construction firms as well as the South African society.

scholarly journals Corporate social responsibility reporting by South African mining companies: Evidence of legitimacy theory

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Dube ◽  
W. Maroun
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Legitimacy Theory ◽  
The South ◽  
Social Event ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Mining Companies ◽  
Platinum Mining ◽  
Corporate Social

This paper offers evidence on the relevance of legitimacy theory for explaining changes in the frequency of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures by South African platinum mining companies following violent strike action during 2012 at Marikana. The results show that all of the South African platinum mining companies provide additional information dealing specifically with the strike taking place at Marikana. This is more pronounced for the company directly involved in the incident. The research also finds evidence of a reaction to the social event by other companies in the South African Platinum Industry which alter the nature and extent of general CSR disclosures to maintain legitimacy. In this way, the study offers evidence in support of the relevance of legitimacy theory for explaining changes in CSR reporting. The findings of this study complement existing research which has ignored the South African market. Although there has been some work on legitimacy theory in the context of environmental disclosure by South African companies, the study is the first to examine a significant social event using legitimacy theory as the frame of reference.

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