Mr Zander Botha, Prof Stephan van der Merwe, Prof Jan Visagie
Abstract
Entrepreneurial stewardship constitutes a transformative framework for advancing value creation within South African social organisations. This approach delineates a trajectory towards sustainable development amidst a context characterised by financial volatility and complex socio-economic challenges.
South Africa’s social sector plays a vital role in addressing poverty and inequality, but faces significant challenges, including financial instability, poor regulatory compliance, and over-reliance on government funding. While many NPOs are adopting entrepreneurial strategies to improve sustainability, questions remain about how effectively these approaches align with principles of responsible stewardship.
A qualitative research methodology approach was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews to collect data and a manual qualitative data analysis process. The POPI Act of South Africa posed research limitations.
Drawing on participant insights, the study offers targeted, actionable recommendations to strengthen entrepreneurial stewardship in South African social organisations, including adaptive leadership development, formal intrapreneurial initiatives, and mission-aligned income generation. These strategies directly address persistent challenges such as financial instability, weak governance structures, and limited organisational capacity, offering practical, context-specific solutions grounded in both empirical evidence and established social enterprise theory.
South Africa’s social sector plays a vital role in addressing poverty and inequality, but faces significant challenges, including financial instability, poor regulatory compliance, and over-reliance on government funding. While many NPOs are adopting entrepreneurial strategies to improve sustainability, questions remain about how effectively these approaches align with principles of responsible stewardship.
A qualitative research methodology approach was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews to collect data and a manual qualitative data analysis process. The POPI Act of South Africa posed research limitations.
Drawing on participant insights, the study offers targeted, actionable recommendations to strengthen entrepreneurial stewardship in South African social organisations, including adaptive leadership development, formal intrapreneurial initiatives, and mission-aligned income generation. These strategies directly address persistent challenges such as financial instability, weak governance structures, and limited organisational capacity, offering practical, context-specific solutions grounded in both empirical evidence and established social enterprise theory.