csr

• A country with as many socio-economic problems and challenges as SA needs a strong partnership between businesses and individuals to fulfill an important citizenship role.
• The corporate world is acknowledging its responsibility towards communities in which it operates.
• Individuals need to play a role in maximising the potential of our resources – natural, human or any other resources.
• Economically Active Population (EAP)


  Individuals who contribute towards the production of goods and services
• Jobs aimed at helping and developing communities

  • Teaching
  • Social workers
  • Medical staff
• Ways individuals can make a difference

  • Volunteering
  • Helping out at churches
  • Community centres
  • Outreach programmes
• Corporate Social Investment (CSI)


  • Focus on specific projects
  • Counts towards Integrated Reporting
  • Improves Social Responsibility Index (SRI) points for JSE listed companies
• Responsibilities of good corporate citizenship

  • Economic involvement
  • Fulfilling legal obligations
  • Acting in an ethical manner
  • Giving back to communities
• Corporate citizenship is often regarded as businesses acting in a socially responsible manner by making charitable donations and encouraging employee involvement in poor communities.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

  The moral obligation to help
• Corporate Social Investment (CSI)

  The actual capital, resources and labour put into a project
• Positive impacts of CSR/CSI

  • Job creation
  • Providing goods and services
  • Education and training
  • Social interactions
  • Inclusion and diversity
• Negative impacts of CSR/CSI

  • Inflation
  • Economic crimes
  • Unethical behaviour
  • Loss of cultural values
  • Pollution
  • Piracy and plagiarism
  • Illiteracy
• Primary Responsibility


  • Owners
  • Employees
  • Suppliers
  • Consumers
  • Competitors
• Broader Social Responsibility


  • The government
  • Broader community
• The government collects taxes from businesses in the formal sector and uses these to create infrastructure and an environment that stimulates more business operations.
• Key issues in CSR

  • Labour rights
  • Environmental conditions
  • Human rights
  • Poverty alleviation
• Arguments for CSR/CSI


  • Society will encounter socio-economic problems without CSR
  • Expertise to deal with socio-economic issues exists in the organisation
  • Government is less likely to enforce CSR as law if businesses get involved
  • CSR promotes the image of the business and gains goodwill
  • CSR is about making a difference through initiatives in the community
• Arguments against CSR/CSI


  • Providing goods and services is already socially responsible
  • CSR is spending money without real profits
  • CSR distracts employees from their jobs
  • Spending on CSR leads to inflation
  • CSR creates community expectations that may not be met
• General solutions to socio-economic issues

  • Use of raw materials
  • Support for employees
  • Analysis of products and services
  • Acquisition of input materials
• Specific solutions to socio-economic issues

  • Environmental issues
  • Labour issues
  • Ethical issues
• Sustainability involves setting up structures to enable the community to become self-sufficient.
• A CSR programme is a strategic plan.
• Buy-in is critical for CSR to become part of the core and identity of the business.