'Social enterprise will lift SA out of poverty'
IT IS better to make a difference than to be rich. That is the basis of social enterprise, according to Susan Steinman, head of the Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and Social Economy at the University of Johannesburg.
IT IS better to make a difference than to be rich
Steinman said South Africa needed to stimulate social enterprises which focused on creating businesses for the primary purpose of social development.
In an interview with Sowetan ahead of the Fourth Social Enterprise World Forum held at the University of Johannesburg last week, Steinman said South Africa needed social enterprises.
"A social enterprise's primary goal is its social purpose. The business model must be financially stable and if surpluses or profits are made, they should be mainly be re-invested into the social purpose," Steinman SAID.
"While start-up social enterprises are grant-dependent, mature social enterprises trade in goods or services to raise income for the social purpose and in many cases show a profit."
She said there were NGOs in the country that were already making a difference.
"They have to find new ways of generating revenue for social development," she said.
"If you look at nonprofit organisations most are dependent on grants. The lottery grants are not enough."
She said what was needed was innovation in social development as the first step in the growth path. The country needed social enterprises that would create jobs, adding that social enterprises "are resilient".
Steinmana said the country had enough money for everybody, "but not enough for greed".
"It's not about creating billionaires. If they become billionaires they should move on.
"We need to show our people new role models, people who will make a difference. It is better to make a difference than to be rich."
Brian Whittaker, CEO of Business Trust of South Africa, said part of the challenge going forward was reflected in South Africans' dependence on grants.
Whittaker, who also spoke at the forum, said the route out of this dilemma was in innovative entrepreneurial responses.
"If we are to rise to this challenge we need to restore the value of entrepreneurship, rooted as it is in the enterprising behaviour of individuals," he said.
"We need people who can invent solutions to social problems and who have the courage and commitment to drive them to fruition.
"The challenge is to restore the value of entrepreneurship, acknowledge its role in the social arena and build the institutional architecture that can draw entrepreneurs into social action," Whittaker said.
Arsene
Of course, we can assume that Susan Steinman is donating most of her income to charity...Report Abuse
