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Corporate social responsibility practices: a case study of Automotive Company X in Pietermaritzburg.

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2018

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Abstract

Corporate “social responsibility (CSR) is a corporation's initiatives to evaluate and take responsibility for the effects of companies on the social and environmental wellbeing. This can be in form of providing safety, taking care of the environment, providing housing, providing health care, and other concerns by both small and large companies (Blackburn 2007). The concept of CSR started in the developed nations of North America and Western Europe which was a response to the great amount of consumer and civil society pressures. In South Africa, companies create problems for their communities in one way or the other because of their business. It is difficult to tell whether automotive companies in South Africa are engaging in CSR or not as there is no study that has been conducted in this regard. Despite the expansion of the automotive industry very little is known about the terms of contract between the automotive industry and society have established to serve human values and accept responsibility transactions. This led to the decision to conduct this study to ascertain the CSR activities carried out by companies in the automotive industry in South Africa Pietermaritzburg. The target population for this study were managers and employees at an automotive company in Pietermaritzburg. Non-probability sampling purposive sampling was used to select a total of 8 participants; four managers and four employees. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to generate the data needed from participants to understand the research problem under study. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Findings show that the company is carrying out discretionary, economic, legal and ethical responsibilities. There is however need to promote consumer awareness, environmental sustainability, and corporate reputations that can help the company to widen its scope and mandate of its strategic focus. There is also need to promote the returns that can be realised the implementation of CSR so that the company does not feel to be at loss in engaging in CSR activities. The existing legislation should be revised and intensified to prevent transgressors from eluding sanctions, and government should investigate inspiring ways of incentivizing the implementation” of CSR.

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Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.

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