Few South Africans have ever taken the time to read the Constitution in full, even though it is the very document that underpins our democracy. If we want to build a society rooted in dignity, equality and justice, we need to start by ensuring that more people truly know and understand their rights. So says Sasha Stevenson, Executive Director of human rights organisation, Section 27, who was one of the keynote speakers at this year’s Serious Social Investing Conference. With the theme Investing in a Future That Works, the conference confronted some of South Africa’s most pressing crises.

Addressing delegates about how the Constitution guides social investment to uphold rights and dignity, Stevenson said that “There is just no way to achieve our economic or social goals by band aid approaches. We have what we need in the Constitution. We have to shift from short-term crisis response to realising rights, and building resilience, equity, and inclusive long-term growth. This is what bold, brave and responsible social investing looks like. This is what the social compact of constitutionalism requires of us.”

With South Africa standing at a crossroads of entrenched unemployment, failing service delivery, eroding trust, and deepening inequality, the need for bold social investment has never been greater. The 2025 Serious Social Investing Conference, hosted by Tshikululu Social Investments and headlined by FirstRand Foundation in partnership with Mercedes-Benz South Africa, brought together the country’s foremost social investors, corporates, policymakers, and development leaders. Held at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in Johannesburg, this annual conference has become South Africa’s leading platform for advancing strategic, evidence-based social investment that goes beyond charity and compliance.

“This year, the urgency is undeniable,” says Leanne Emery-Hunter, CEO of Tshikululu Social Investments. “With our social contract under strain, social investors must be bolder, more catalytic, and more collaborative. We need solutions that can restore trust, unlock potential, and create a future that truly works for all South Africans.”

Emery-Hunter says that even through corporate social spend is increasing, with R12.7 billion CSI spend in 2024, South Africa still remains the most unequal country in the world. In her keynote, Emery-Hunter also highlighted the trends reshaping the social investment sector and emphasised that no single actor can solve our social challenges.

“We are the most unequal society in the world. Nearly half of our young people are unemployed. Public trust in institutions, whether government, business, or civil society, has been deeply eroded. And yet, this is not only a moment of crisis. It is also a moment of profound opportunity, says Marina Madale, Executive: Sustainability and Shared Value, MTN Group. “But let me be clear: this cannot be done by one company, one government, or one NGO alone. We need coalitions of courage, where each of us takes responsibility for shaping a South Africa that works.”

Other critical discussions showcased how social investors are building resilience through innovative public–private partnerships. Case studies included the Jozy My Jozy project, collaborative work between the National Prosecuting Authority and the Vodacom Foundation on tackling gender-based violence, and joint efforts to eradicate hunger and malnutrition among vulnerable communities in South Africa. These sessions illustrated how partnerships across sectors can address systemic issues that neither government nor business can solve alone.

For business leaders, the message is clear. “If we are serious about South Africa’s future, we must be serious about its youth,” says Abey Kgotle, Executive Director of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs at Mercedes-Benz South Africa. “Corporate South Africa has both the responsibility and the resources to co-create pathways into the economy. Social investment is not peripheral. It is central to business sustainability, national stability, and the dignity of future generations.”

FirstRand, returning as headline sponsor for 2025, brought both thought leadership and strategic alignment to the event. “The scale of the challenges facing our country requires more than intention; it demands deliberate investment in scalable solutions,” says Kone Gugushe, Head of Social Investing at FirstRand. “This conference is critical because it holds space for hard truths, while pushing us to act with urgency and hope.”

The event drew over 200 high-profile delegates from business, government, philanthropy, academia, and civil society. At a time when leadership, trust and impact are in short supply, the Serious Social Investing Conference remains a critical barometer of intent and a working platform for building the future South Africa needs, together.