Podcast: Power. Purpose. Politics.

Hello and welcome! I’m excited to bring you this week’s edition — and yes, you can now listen to our articles directly on www.simphiwemtetwa.africa. This new audio feature is designed to make your experience even more seamless and accessible.

Let’s dive into the big story of the week: our CSI Meta Magazine winter edition is nearly ready. We initially hoped for a release this Friday, but it may shift to early next week — think 1st or 2nd June. In this issue, we pose a bold question: Has corporate social investment in South Africa truly empowered black business over the last 30 years?

Using AI, I prompted ChatGPT to write a piece exploring this. The article titled “Three Decades On: Has Corporate Social Investment Truly Empowered Black Business?” suggests that while CSI has invested billions into social upliftment, the measurable impact on Black-owned enterprises remains minimal. It’s a sobering yet essential reflection.

Another topic I touch on this week is the global portrayal of South Africa—particularly moments where we’ve framed ourselves as desperate for aid, despite the tremendous power we’ve shown, like the R4 billion raised for the Solidarity Fund. We must stop waiting for permission to lead and start building a self-sustaining, inclusive CSI ecosystem.

And this leads us to our upcoming CSI Legacy Conference taking place 5–6 November 2025. Day one will be in-person, day two virtual. The theme is: Power, Politics & Purpose: Reimagining CSI in a Polarised Global Climate. This is more than just a conference—it’s a call to action.

Early-bird tickets are now available at R4,980 (standard price R6,980) throughout June. Visit www.simphiwemtetwa.africa to secure your spot. We are also looking for speakers—so if you have a voice that can bring value and perspective, we want to hear from you.

Don’t miss our latest article: “South Africa’s Nonprofit Sector: Built on Emotion, Bankrupt on Execution”, now live and available in audio format.

Thank you for tuning in. Until next week, stay bold, stay critical, and keep pushing purpose.