Abstract
M.Com. (Business Management)
This study focused on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Thohoyandou, located in a South African local municipality named Thulamela Local Municipality, situated in Limpopo Province. Thohoyandou is a semi-urban area which has a rich history including being a capital city and is currently considered the business hub of the Thulamela Local Municipality.
The research problem that this study sought to address was the limited availability of empirical information relating to the effects of SME’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in host communities such as Thohoyandou. The objective of this study was to identify factors influencing the implementation of CSR initiatives in SMEs located in Thohoyandou to be able to make recommendations on how SMEs may be encouraged to participate in CSR activities.
The study was of a qualitative nature and used one-on-one interviews with semi-structured questions as the data collection method. The study consisted of a sample size of 13 participants.
The study found that although SMEs have a desire to participate in CSR, limited resources and the SME owner’s mind-set and attitude towards CSR created a barrier for implementation of CSR activities among SMEs in Thohoyandou.