Interest in the social economy is increasing in South Africa. By signing the Decent Work Country Programme for South Africa in September 2010, the ILO's constituents noted that "SMMEs such as group cooperative enterprises and social businesses which are components of the social economy have been identified by the social partners as one of a variety of viable and sustainable economic enterprises that can help to alleviate pressure on the local labour market". They called for "support for the upgrading and promotion of Social Economy enterprises". The New Growth Path announced by the Government in October 2010 identifies the social economy as a key 'jobs driver'.

Against this background, new forms of social purpose business are emerging. Across South Africa, social entrepreneurs are finding sustainable solutions to social problems and setting up social enterprises that deliver those solutions. At the same time, some community-based organizations are recognizing the need to generate sustainable income streams to fund their social purpose, to reduce their dependence on grants and donations. The result is organizations that are run like businesses but that exist for a social purpose rather than private benefit.

This set of case studies describes 25 existing social enterprises in South Africa, and a handful of emerging social enterprises that offer promise for the future. The case studies have been selected to illustrate the breadth and diversity of existing social enterprises in South Africa. They will be of interest to policy makers as well as enterprise development and non-profit organization support agencies who wish to understand the reality of social enterprise in South Africa. They will also be of use to trainers, teachers and learners. We hope that they will provide inspiration for a new generation of social entrepreneurs.

The case studies were researched and written by Yogi Nambiar and developed in association with the African Social Entrepreneurs Network and the Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and Social Economy of the University of Johannesburg. They were commissioned and produced by the International Labour Organization as part of its work on social economy enterprise development in South Africa. The ILO is grateful to the Government of Flanders for its support for this work.