The Sociology of Work Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of KwaZulu-Natal Press are hosting a book launch of the UNRISD publication,
Staking their Claims: Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility in South Africa.
How responsive are South African corporations to their social and environmental responsibilities? Given the extremes of economic inequality, is business generally proactive in redressing the legacy of apartheid, or does it only respond to regulation?
These are among the questions addressed in this new volume, based on research conducted for a UNRISD project that examined the implications of corporate social and environmental responsibility for social, sustainable and economic development, as well as for democratic governance and business regulation. It breaks new ground, emerging from a tradition of applied social sciences rather than industrial sponsorship. It is therefore free to ask and answer questions not typically raised in the debates about corporate behaviour.
Staking Their Claims presents sectoral studies on the chemical, mining and food industries. It also examines crosscutting issues, such as the response of business to back economic empowerment and alleviation of the AIDS pandemic. The book provides vital insights for corporate leaders, business schools, social analysts, investors, and those in the field of corporate social and environmental responsibility.
The book launch event will take place on 24 October 2007 at 17:00 (South African Time) at the University of Witwatersrand. Guests are directed to the Hofmeyr House at the East Campus in Wits University (use Yale Road entrances).
The Keynote speaker will be Bobby Godsell, CEO of AngloGold Ashanti and the discussant will be May Hermanus (Director of the Centre for Sustainability in Mining & Industry)
Please RSVP to Shameen Govender at +27 (0) 11 717 4460 or by e-mail at
[email protected]