Business Ethics in South Africa

Abstract

The business ethical culture in South Africa was and is still being shaped by a number of social and political influences that include its colonial history, the legacy of Apartheid, and the election of the first democratic government in 1994, after which President Nelson Mandela’s government started the process of redressing the racial imbalances and inequalities that resulted from Apartheid. Since 1994 business ethics has enjoyed considerable corporate attention. One of the main reasons for the prominence of business ethics is the King Reports on Corporate Governance for South Africa that emphasized the importance of an ethical business culture as an essential element of good corporate governance. In this chapter the business ethical culture that was shaped by these influences is unpacked. Research on business ethics in South Africa is highlighted, as well as the ethics management practices that are typically found in South African enterprises. These ethics management practices pose opportunities, but also challenges, to businesspeople and companies who wish to enter the South African market. These opportunities and challenges are unpacked in an attempt to help those who wish to invest in South Africa.

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