Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate corporate sustainability reporting trends among selected Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed companies operating in Lesotho. To achieve this, the study addressed several key research objectives: to investigate existing reporting patterns and trends among these companies; to determine whether they disclosed negative externalities associated with their business operations; to examine whether companies within the same industry followed a systematic reporting approach and to assess the similarities or differences in their reporting guidelines; and to assess the consistency in reporting styles between the same companies operating in both South Africa and Lesotho.
The study was based on an analysis of 41 corporate sustainability reports from 12 companies operating in various sectors and listed on the JSE, with operations in both South Africa and Lesotho. The findings revealed that reporting patterns differ across countries, even among companies within the same sector. While negative externalities were disclosed, the extent of disclosure was often left to the discretion of individual companies. It was noted that companies with a higher environmental impact were more likely to report such externalities, likely due to increased public and regulatory scrutiny.
Furthermore, the study found no evidence of a systematic reporting approach. Companies employed different reporting guidelines, and these inconsistencies were more pronounced when comparing subsidiaries in South Africa and Lesotho. This variation in reporting practices reflects differences in legislative frameworks and enforcement mechanisms between the two countries, suggesting both weaknesses and strengths in the regulatory environments.