Social Entrepreneurship in South Africa: Context, Relevance and Extent

In its broadest context, ‘social entrepreneurship’ refers to individuals and organizations that engage in entrepreneurial activities with social objectives. Whereas this concept and its constituent elements are well-researched and acknowledged in industrialized countries (such as the USA and UK) (Thompson, Alvy and Lees, 2000, p 328) and to some extent in developing economies (for example, in Bangladesh and Venezuela) (Mair and Martí, 2006, p 36), its prevalence and impact in South Africa (and in Africa for that matter) are not contextualized. This article presents an overview of social entrepreneurship in South Africa by analyzing why it has become important and popular, and assesses the role, relevance and extent of social entrepreneurship in a developing economy, concluding with the challenges and the way forward for social entrepreneurship in developing economies.