“Apartheid-Induced” Corporate Social Responsibility in the Context of South Africa: A Review

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) continues to gain prominence in most parts of Africa. The aim of this study is to explore the nature and extent of recognition of CSR in South Africa (SA), a developing country. The need for CSR research focused in developing countries remains critical, particularly with the concerns that current CSR approaches and with their origins from developed countries, may not reflect and fully respond to developing countries context and circumstances encountered. The aim of this paper is to explore literature and to identify the nature and extent of CSR recognition in SA. This study therefore took a review research study approach. SA has a history of legal racial segregation, termed, ‘apartheid’. Within apartheid, humanity was defined on the basis of race. Thus, apartheid permeated the entire fabric of life. We find that CSR is largely ‘Apartheid-Induced’, and that the practice is two-fold: largely voluntary and less mandatory. The first model that emerged during apartheid followed a ‘moral and ethical perspective’. The second model after the fall of apartheid followed a “legislative perspective”. A third model of CSR practice among SA corporations is one of a ‘Strategic CSR’ towards sustainable development. This final model is in line with emerging global trends. Thus, CSR is seen as a means through which corporations contribute towards national reconstruction and development. The study adopts a multi-theoretical background to explore CSR in the context of SA. The study therefore seeks to add literature to scholarly work in CSR in Africa, and contributes to deepening our understanding of the extent of CSR recognition and practice in SA. Documenting this should help with our understanding of corporate responses in SA.

Keywords: Corporate social responsibility, Apartheid, South Africa, Developing, Multi-theoretical view