Corporate social responsibility and the sustainable development goals: a case of South Africa

As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic raged across the world in 2020 and 2021, South Africa experienced its fair share of human tragedy and deprivation, unleashed by this deadly virus. However, in the midst of death, the loss of jobs and livelihoods, as well as the devastation of families and communities in the country, something surprisingly progressive was emerging which seemed to suggest that there was more convergence between business, labour and government in thought, vision and outlook, towards human deprivation. Arguably, these three sectors of society seemed to be, inter alia, in more harmony and seemingly able to easily put aside their ideologies and vested interests during the pandemic, than ever before in the post-apartheid era. For example, through the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) structure, which brings together business, labour and government, a Nedlac Rapid Response Task Team (NRRTT) was established to facilitate an effective response to COVID-19. Given the aforementioned issues, this chapter argues for strengthened and proactive corporate social responsibility (CSR) endeavours that are clearly linked to the implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Through the use of secondary data, the chapter contends that this approach will help South Africa to build boldly and better in the anticipated post-COVID-19 era. It concludes that for CSR to be closely linked to the SDGs, it must be underpinned by the social development approach.