Abstract

In contemporary society, the widespread adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has resulted in increasing societal expectations for organisations to be accountable for the environmental and social contexts in which they operate. This study seeks to explore the extent to which corporate social responsibility initiatives contribute to the sustainable development and enhancement of local communities. A quantitative research design was employed to gather primary data. Data collection was conducted in selected areas of Richards Bay, located in the northern region of KwaZulu-Natal. The sample comprised 129 community stakeholders. The reliability of the instrument yielded a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.773, indicating satisfactory internal consistency. The findings demonstrate that a significant number of participants perceived multiple benefits stemming from corporate engagement with local communities. Among the reported positive outcomes were investments in social and technological innovation, capacity development, business and procurement opportunities, and job creation. However, the exploratory and quantitative nature of the research imposes certain constraints on the generalisability of the results. Caution is advised when extrapolating these findings, and further studies incorporating broader sample sizes and comparative perspectives from other provinces are recommended.