Social entrepreneurship is a balance between having a profit-enduring business and ensuring that the business provides a solution that uplifts society.
If you want to start a business that doesn’t merely make money but serves an impact, but you don’t know where to start, you can start by having a look at the current problems faced by society and your surroundings.
Fortunately, you don’t have to navigate that process on your own. In this article, we’ll highlight socio-economic issues in South Africa and the businesses that could provide solutions to these problems.
1. Waste Management Solutions
There is an increase in waste generation in South Africa. This increase means there’s a greater need for waste management solutions. The existing waste management solutions that exist are under immense pressure as pollution continues. When there aren’t enough solutions for waste management, people resort to dumping, even in areas where dumping isn’t permitted.
If you’re passionate about providing solutions that will contribute to a healthy environment, waste management is the way to go. This isn’t only good for the environment, but for business, as investors who are solution-driven find confidence in businesses that solve environmental issues. One of the ways to solve the issue of waste is to open a recycling-focused business. You can do this by collecting old material and turning it into new products.
2. Water Shortage
There’s a water crisis in South Africa that needs to be addressed with the help of businesses that aim to bring effective solutions. This presents an opportunity for startups to bring solutions to this water crisis. Up to 70% of usage is used in agriculture; thus, many solutions are directed towards farming. Possible business solutions include:
Recycle wastewater: Developing and implementing systems to treat and reuse ‘grey water’ (from sinks, showers, and laundry) and ‘black water’ (from toilets) for non-potable uses like irrigation, industrial processes, or even supplementing municipal water supplies after advanced purification. This reduces the overall demand for fresh water.
Water purification: Many communities still lack access to treated water, putting people at risk of waterborne diseases. Introducing solutions that provide safe, clean drinking water can empower communities and improve their health.
Water retention for farms: This involves implementing techniques like rainwater harvesting or improving soil management to increase the amount of water stored on agricultural land.
3. Community Skills Development and Job Creation
Sell products like cleaning products where you train unemployed people on these skills, allowing them to not only gain the skill, but make the products and resell, allowing them to keep the profit they make, or businesses like Flour to Dough Bakery, which is the second-place winner of the 2025 IWISA No 1 Community Champions Competition.
The Flour to Dough Bakery demonstrates that a business can positively impact the community without exclusively targeting water, waste, or energy solutions. By leveraging its field, the bakery can upskill the community, offer convenience, and create jobs.
The Flour to Dough Bakery runs baking workshops, creates jobs for the unemployed, and improves communal life by delivering fresh bread.
4. Health Solutions
Starting a business that enhances the healthcare experience not only makes it a fundable model but also contributes towards solving the health crisis in Africa. Platforms like Kena Health introduce affordable health solutions, allowing users to consult with medical practitioners from their smartphones for a fraction of the average cost.
When users register, they’re expected to fill in their details, which will be saved securely as a means to avoid filling in their details each time. Consultations on the app are conducted via text, voice, or video.
Patients initially consult with a nurse or mental health practitioner, and when a doctor is needed, the call is transferred to a doctor. With Kena Health, your first three consultations are free, with the following consultations costing as little as R160.
Social Entrepreneurship for a Better Tomorrow
South Africa has a variety of challenges affecting the economy and quality of life. Unfortunately, the government has limited capacity to provide solutions to all these problems. However, this presents an opportunity for social entrepreneurs to create solutions through their businesses.
Through funding, government support, and customer support, social entrepreneurs are able to make a real difference by creating a better environment for South Africans to live in.
Social entrepreneurship is a balance between having a profit-enduring business and ensuring that the business provides a solution that uplifts society. If you want to start a business that doesn’t Read More
