Although studies relative to redirecting the unsustainable trajectory of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the South African construction industry (SACI) have been extensively conducted, current statistics show that 70–80% of construction SMEs in the SACI fail within their first five years of existence, raising concerns regarding their sustainability. This paper attempts to address the negative trajectory by exploring the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR), investigating the organisational perceptions of SMEs in the SACI relative to the relationship between the integration of CSR and sustainable business performance (SBP). Existing literature was used to provide an overview of this relationship taking into consideration the views of SMEs in both developed and developing countries. The empirical study was conducted utilising a quantitative research approach in the form of an online questionnaire survey. The research data was analysed using both descriptive (mean, standard deviation, etc.) and inferential (Analysis of Variance ANOVA) statistics. Based on the research approach and data analysis, the findings revealed that SMEs in the SACI similarly perceive the relationship between the integration of CSR and SBP to be a positive one, implying that the practice of CSR within construction businesses should lead to SBP, and serve as a meaningful guide in addressing the unsustainable trajectory of SMEs in the SACI. The findings could guide government agencies such as the construction industry development board (cidb) to embed CSR education within contractor development programs, linking the adoption of CSR to the contractor grading system.

This paper purposes to develop a corporate social responsibility (CSR) model to guide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the South African construction industry (SACI) towards sustainable business performance (SBP). A theoretical CSR model was developed from the literature and validated through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), using primary questionnaire data obtained from 110 SMEs in the SACI, who are registered on the construction industry development board (cidb) register of contractors between Grade 1 and 6 general building (GB) and/or civil engineering (CE). The PLS-SEM results indicate that CSR drivers influencing the CSR practices of SMEs, along with CSR implementation challenges experienced by SMEs, influence the perception of SMEs pertaining to the relationship between the integration of CSR and SBP all of which influences the CSR activities considered by SMEs to achieve SBP, thus implying that the holistic adaption of the PLS-SEM (CSR model) by SMEs in the SACI equates to more SBP. However, SMEs practicing CSR activities to achieve SBP are subjected to specific CSR: drivers and implementation challenges as well as SME owner perceptions.

PurposePublic facilities in most part of the world, including South Africa, are poorly managed due to factors including inadequate funding and poor implementation of systems. This study seeks to develop strategies that would help to overcome the barriers to managing public facilities.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted an exploratory research design. A semi-structured interview was used to collect qualitative data from the respondents. Purposive sampling was used to select the organizations whereas quota sampling was used to select the participants. The collected data were analysed by means of the thematic analysis technique.FindingsThe study found that 6 main strategies (i.e. adequate and capable human resources, provision of maintenance equipment and systems, adequate budget provision, amendment of procurement systems, root out corruption and effective organization structure) could be implemented to overcome public facilities management challenges.Research limitations/implicationsThe data were collected from only one province in South Africa. However, the findings may be applicable to other provinces since most of the provinces in the country share similar characteristics.Practical implicationsThe Department of Public Works and other public institutions could use these strategies to mitigate the barriers to public facilities management. This will help to improve the facilities management systems leading to enhanced facilities' value.Originality/valueStudies on challenges of public facilities management abound; however, approaches and strategies of dealing with these challenges have not received much attention. This study has identified strategies that could help mitigate the challenges associated with public facilities management. Thus, the findings of this study contribute to the body of knowledge on strategies of mitigating public facilities management challenges.

Statistics and various studies indicate that plant, road construction, and traffic safety are major issues in terms of construction H&S. Furthermore, motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) during employment are the dominating cause of fatalities in South African construction. A study was conducted among general contractor (GC) members of a civil engineering sector employer association using a self-administered questionnaire. The salient findings include: plant, road construction, and traffic safety are important aspects in respondents' organizations; plant is the more important of the three aspects; traffic accidents account for a fair percentage of total accidents, and respondents' organizations use a range of such devices and equipment to realize plant, road construction, and traffic safety. Conclusions include: respondents' organizations are managing the three aspects, and H&S programs must focus thereon. Recommendations include that respondents' organizations need to focus on drug and other substance abuse testing and medicals, and that plant, road construction, and traffic safety must feature prominently in H&S programs.