4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions
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Item The role of Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programmes on developing small and medium enterprises (SMEs): The case of Sappi Southern Africa in the local communities of Umkomaas in the South Coast of KwaZulu Natal(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Ntuli, Zandile Phindile; Dube, NkosiyaziAfrica. The government has called on corporations to help transform the country through Corporate Social Investment (CSI) to accelerate socioeconomic development. This study focused on CSI as part of a broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) framework. South Africa has seen significant growth in CSI, due in part to the implementation of the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) Code of Good Practice, which requires businesses to contribute to the country's reconstruction efforts. As a result, many businesses have adopted social development strategies as part of their core business objectives. The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) economy is considered crucial to achieving some of the objectives for post- apartheid reconstruction and development, such as economic restructuring and alleviation of poverty. Given the slow growth of new job opportunities in large corporations, the developmental support of SMEs is viewed as a vital vehicle for generating employment. Using a qualitative approach, the study explored the role of CSI programmes in developing SMEs, with a focus on Sappi Southern Africa’s Saiccor mill in Umkomaas on the South Coast of KwaZulu Natal (KZN). A case study design was adopted to obtain in-depth information from participants concerning Sappi's CSI programmes. A semi-structured interview schedules was used as a research instrument, with one-on-one individual interviews used as a method of data collection. The study consisted of 12 purposively sampled participants. The findings revealed that the local community of Umkomaas benefited from the CSI programmes. The CSI programmes contributed positively to the development of local SMEs. In addition, the unemployed youth gained skills through the various skills development initiatives to become economically active. To tackle poverty, unemployment and inequality in South Africa, a renewed commitment from the various economic sectors is needed, notably the private sector with the influence and resources.Item Beauty pageantry and corporate social investment in Botswana(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Gilika, Larona M.; Nkwoji, KenalemangCompanies’ sponsorship of cultural events such as beauty pageants is a common phenomenon in the global business community (Fan & Pfitzenmaier, 2002). Despite global trends in the successful sponsorship of beauty pageants, one of the major challenges facing the advancement of the beauty pageant industry in Botswana is lack of sponsorship by the local business community (Madondo, 2013). Literature reviewed indicated that corporate social investment (CSI) is an avenue through which companies support meaningful cultural events and community projects (Rundle, 2004) and that there is both possibility and opportunity for the integration of the pageant phenomenon into a business’s CSI strategy (Auletta & Jaen, 2013). The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the perceptions held by companies in Botswana towards sponsoring beauty pageants as a CSI initiative. This study will inform the strategic positioning necessary for beauty pageants to benefit from companies in Botswana which are actively engaged in CSI. The study was conducted using qualitative research methodologies for both data collection and analysis. Interviews were undertaken to gather the experiences of twenty (20) companies listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) or with a CSI culture. The interviews were then subjected to iterations of analysis in order to derive the companies’ perceptions of sponsorship of beauty pageants as a CSI initiative. Findings demonstrated that many companies in Botswana embrace the sponsorship of beauty pageants as a CSI initiative. It was concluded that while companies are willing to sponsor and associate with beauty pageants through their CSI, there is need for alignment of social impact projects of beauty pageants to CSI focus areas of companies in order to achieve lasting symbiotic relationships and for purposes of sustainability