Systemic change through CSI - driving growth and changing lives

South Africa stands at a crossroads. We are a nation of extraordinary potential, weighed down by entrenched poverty, youth unemployment and climate vulnerability. For decades, Corporate Social Investment (CSI) has been part of our development landscape, often perceived as a peripheral act of charity. Increasingly, however, there is recognition that social investment be repositioned as a lever for long-term growth and resilience.[1]

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Much of this thinking is not new. Researchers, practitioners and policymakers have been making these arguments for years. What feels urgent now is that the evidence has mounted, the context has become sharper and the risks of “business as usual” are clearer than ever.

From charity to systemic change

CSI spending has grown steadily, reaching R12.7 billion in 2024. Education continues to dominate, with 92% of corporates investing in the sector. Yet South Africa still holds the title of the world’s most unequal country.[2]

CSI and B-BBEE alone cannot bear the burden of structural reform - government and donor spending far outweigh them. But what CSI can do is test new approaches, unlock innovation and build partnerships that point to systemic solutions. Strategic philanthropy has long been discussed, and we are now seeing real examples of corporates moving beyond welfare fixes to investments that address root causes.