Social entrepreneurship fostering community development: the case of Mdukatshani NGO in the uThukela District, KwaZulu-Natal
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Date
2023
Authors
Duma, Zithobile Peggy
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
Social entrepreneurship plays a key role and it makes a crucial contribution to community development; hence, it is likened to being an architect of community development (Malunga, Iwu and Mugobo, 2014). Social entrepreneurs create something out of nothing in the community development landscape, bringing hope to the hopeless. Through social entrepreneurial activities, local communities benefit in terms of employment, income growth, and the provision of services. By so doing, social entrepreneurship’s contribution to community development bridges the gaps created by ineffective, inefficient, and unsustainable developmental programmes provided by major institutions (Dees, 2001).
Like many other developing economies, South Africa faces developmental challenges; inequality, poverty, and unemployment are the main problems (Stats SA, 2021). About 55.5% of the total population lives below the national poverty line, 45.3% of working-age adults are unemployed, and the Gini coefficient is 0.65 (among the highest in the world) (Stats SA, 2021). Various conclusions can be drawn from this situation, including the ineffectiveness of poverty alleviation policies and programmes, a slow and poor-performing economy, unemployment, and corruption. As a result, a heavy load rests upon the government's shoulders to take care of many people through grants.
The high level of unemployment is the leading poverty driver among the youth (Statistics SA, 2021). To curb youth unemployment, the government has introduced programmes such as the Expanded Public Works Programme, the National Youth Services, and Vukuzakhe. In the second quarter of 2023, the unemployment rate reached 32.6% (Stats SA, 2022). This is slightly lower than the 32.9% in the first quarter of 2021. Youth unemployment also registered a decrease, from 62.10% in 2021 to 60.7% in the second quarter of 2023. However, the unemployment in South Africa is still at an unacceptable rate.
In his State of the Nation address in 2020, the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, admitted that South Africa’s socio-economic problems are deeply entrenched and cannot be overcome by the government alone. The President confirmed that social compacts have been forged to overcome the countries challenges. Government, civil society, communities, and faith-based organisations have joined hands to find solutions, such as creating job opportunities (Ramaphosa, 2020). Social enterprises are a significant part of the solution by attending to social problems and growing the economy and employment rate.
It is evident from the above that the government’s commitment to solving the country’s developmental challenges is an never-ending endeavour. The President’s call for a social compact is confirmation of community development as an approach employed by the government to deal with development challenges. Community development provides a way for the government, the private sector, civil society, and communities to work together and mobilise resources for the upliftment and empowerment of communities in a sustainable manner (Rwigema, 2022).
Description
Dissertation (MDS (Development Studies))--University of the Free State, 2023