Despite their dedicated aim of improving the quality of life for marginalised South Africans, social enterprises have attracted relatively limited research attention. The University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) took steps towards changing this in 2018 with its research publication Social Enterprises in South Africa – Discovering a vibrant sector.
This is the first such study on social enterprises in the country, and it remains a foundational source of information for understanding social entrepreneurship and informing strategy, future policy initiatives and research around social enterprises.
Social enterprises aim to solve social problems while generating revenue to ensure future sustainability. The GIBS study proposes that this model holds the potential to strengthen the economic and social pillars of society, offering respite from the many challenges South Africans face as a result of poverty and inequality.
The lack of research into social enterprises in South Africa has meant that their nature and impact was not well understood, limiting the policy and legislative requirements needed to enable these social enterprises to thrive. Consequently, social enterprises have been isolated from each other and the mainstream economy. They have also struggled to access the resources they need to make a difference.
The GIBS study set out to understand social enterprises in the South African context, and identify their sectors and scope, management methods, customers, beneficiaries and employees. It also examined the financial status, funding mechanisms and growth prospects of social enterprises.
The report remains a good starting point for understanding social enterprises in the South African context, as well as the value social enterprises offer in their aim to reach underserved customers and communities.
Access the report: Social Enterprises in South Africa – Discovering a vibrant sector.