Let’s be honest: in a country where load shedding is a lifestyle and trying to find a job feels like an extreme sport, a simple donation here and there just doesn't cut it anymore.
According to Stats SA’s 2025 General Household Survey, 22% of South African households struggle with food access, while the Q2 2026 Quarterly Labour Force Survey pinned official unemployment at a heavy 33.6% (with youth unemployment sitting at a staggering 47.4%).
So, what's the next move for big business? At the recent 2026 Serious Social Investing (SSI) Conference held at GIBS on 7 October, Justin Julius from SPAR North Rand hit the nail on the head: it’s no longer about how much money is handed over, but what gets built using existing supply chains, infrastructure, and relationships.
Moving Past Once-Off Handouts
Cash is great, but as any local entrepreneur will tell you, money alone won't keep the lights on if you don't have customers, skills, or market access.
Forward-thinking companies are leveraging their core ecosystems to create real, lasting change:
Supplier Development Hubs: SPAR pumped R13.8 million into this initiative in their 2025 financial cycle, helping emerging local farmers gain the competitive edge needed to enter formal retail markets.
Fighting Hunger from the Ground Up: Through the Isonka programme partnering with Operation Hunger, SPAR merges immediate meal relief around distribution centres with long-term fixes like community vegetable gardens and income-generating skills.
Saving Surplus Food: Teaming up with FoodForward SA, surplus safe food is redirected to communities in need—with Encore contributing over R3.1 million in SPAR private-label food in 2025, alongside thousands of meals packed for World Food Day.
Measuring What Stays Behind
At the end of the day, true social impact shouldn't just be measured by the number of rands spent or heads counted. The real test is what remains after the project wraps up: Are enterprises stronger? Are livelihoods more resilient? Can people actually participate meaningfully in the economy?
By using commercial reach to build sustainable enterprises and resilient communities, Mzansi businesses are proving that the next chapter of social investment isn’t about writing cheques—it’s about writing a brand-new future.
What role do you think local businesses should play in tackling youth unemployment?