Question

South Africa was brought to a standstill by the recent protests, which began on July 10, 2021, and escalated to mass looting of shops, malls, and the destruction of business property. Bearing the above statement in mind, answer the following questions:

Conduct research on any THREE reasons except politics for the looting of shops, malls, and the destruction of business property in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal.
a) Economic inequality
b) Social unrest
c) Unemployment
d) Ethnic tensions

Suggest Corporate Social Investment projects in which businesses can deal with EACH reason mentioned in QUESTION 1.1.1.
a) Education and job training programs
b) Community development initiatives
c) Anti-discrimination campaigns
d) Infrastructure improvement projects

Answer 1

The looting in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal was driven by economic inequality, social unrest, and unemployment. Businesses can address these issues through education and job training programs, community development initiatives, anti-discrimination campaigns, and infrastructure improvement projects.

Step-by-step explanation:

There were several underlying reasons, except politics, for the looting of shops, malls, and the destruction of business property during the protests that began on July 10, 2021, in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal. These include:

• Economic inequality: Deep-seated disparities in wealth distribution can drive desperate actions, especially in times of societal stress.
• Social unrest: General dissatisfaction with socio-economic circumstances may contribute to mass uprisings and subsequent looting.
• Unemployment: High joblessness rates, especially among the youth, can lead to feelings of disenfranchisement and can act as a catalyst for riotous behavior.

Businesses can invest in Corporate Social Investment projects to address these issues:

1. Education and job training programs: To combat economic inequality, businesses can create skill development initiatives to improve employability.
2. Community development initiatives: Programs focused on improving living conditions and offering recreational and support services can alleviate social unrest.
3. Anti-discrimination campaigns: These campaigns can promote inclusivity and reduce ethnic tensions.
4. Infrastructure improvement projects: Modernizing community facilities can create jobs and enhance the quality of life, addressing unemployment indirectly.