3.4 Analysis
145
has a negative influence on the coastal and marine environment, but it also has an
undesirable influence on human health, especially for those using Durban’s beaches
for recreational purposes. The main concern here is the high level of pathogens
(Meissner et al. 2018b), such as the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria after stroms.
These bacteria normally reside in the intestines of healthy humans and animals and are
harmless, or they could cause relatively brief diarrhoea; however, certain strains, like
E. coli O157:H7, can be responsible for severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhoea
and vomiting. Contaminated water and food could expose humans to the bacteria.
After rainfall events in the city, human and animal faeces may pollute the surface
water (Mayo Clinic 2020) and may end up in the sea along Durban’s beaches, where
E. coli. could infect recreational bathers and surfers (Meissner et al. 2018b). This
could have a potentially damaging influence on Durban’s local tourism industry.
Corporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) (p. 123) is the collaboration capability between
corporations and the community in which businesses are located. This type of cooperation aims at the mutual benefit of the partners: communities and companies (Boehm
2002). Certain arguments exist that CSR is embedded in liberal institutionalism, while
others state that this type of cooperation is incompatible with liberal institutionalism.
Kinderman (2012) argues that CSR and related initiatives are complementary to
liberal institutionalism and can act as a substitute for institutionalised social unity.
Furthermore, Kinderman (2012: 30) goes on to say that:
As a quid pro quo for a lighter regulatory touch, CSR provides compensation for some of the
social dislocations that result from neo-liberalism. Moreover, it appeals to the businesspersons’ moral sensibilities, thereby helping to legitimate their conduct among themselves and
vis-a-vis society in a way that purely instrumental rationality cannot.
Likewise, Kinderman (2012) notes that CSR is associated with neo-liberalism in
that it reinforces neo-liberal institutions, which provides fertile ground for a rise in
CSR. Richter (2010: 625) also explains that the ‘conventional reasoning on corporate
social responsibility…is based on the assumption of a liberal market economy in the
context of the nation state’. The theory assumes that the responsibility of businesses
is directed towards a national society in the liberalist reasoning of their corporate
roles (Richter 2010).
In this context, society contracts, or charters, ‘give life’ to corporations through
the state’s governing apparatus, and then they regulate their behaviour through local,
provincial and national government structural devices, such as the planned River
Horse corporate social initiative, which is mentioned by Respondent 6 (p. 123).
Society, on the other hand, depends on business for employment and income, while,
at the same time, it supports corporations by buying their goods and services (Fitch
1976). During this cyclical relationship, and particularly when businesses manufacture goods and services, problems could arise, such as pollution and other ills that
affect the natural environment negatively. CSR is an attempt by businesses to ‘solve’
problems (Fitch 1976), by focusing on the ethical aspects of business to achieve a
balance between profitability and social responsibility (Balza and Radojicic 2004).
145
has a negative influence on the coastal and marine environment, but it also has an
undesirable influence on human health, especially for those using Durban’s beaches
for recreational purposes. The main concern here is the high level of pathogens
(Meissner et al. 2018b), such as the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria after stroms.
These bacteria normally reside in the intestines of healthy humans and animals and are
harmless, or they could cause relatively brief diarrhoea; however, certain strains, like
E. coli O157:H7, can be responsible for severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhoea
and vomiting. Contaminated water and food could expose humans to the bacteria.
After rainfall events in the city, human and animal faeces may pollute the surface
water (Mayo Clinic 2020) and may end up in the sea along Durban’s beaches, where
E. coli. could infect recreational bathers and surfers (Meissner et al. 2018b). This
could have a potentially damaging influence on Durban’s local tourism industry.
Corporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) (p. 123) is the collaboration capability between
corporations and the community in which businesses are located. This type of cooperation aims at the mutual benefit of the partners: communities and companies (Boehm
2002). Certain arguments exist that CSR is embedded in liberal institutionalism, while
others state that this type of cooperation is incompatible with liberal institutionalism.
Kinderman (2012) argues that CSR and related initiatives are complementary to
liberal institutionalism and can act as a substitute for institutionalised social unity.
Furthermore, Kinderman (2012: 30) goes on to say that:
As a quid pro quo for a lighter regulatory touch, CSR provides compensation for some of the
social dislocations that result from neo-liberalism. Moreover, it appeals to the businesspersons’ moral sensibilities, thereby helping to legitimate their conduct among themselves and
vis-a-vis society in a way that purely instrumental rationality cannot.
Likewise, Kinderman (2012) notes that CSR is associated with neo-liberalism in
that it reinforces neo-liberal institutions, which provides fertile ground for a rise in
CSR. Richter (2010: 625) also explains that the ‘conventional reasoning on corporate
social responsibility…is based on the assumption of a liberal market economy in the
context of the nation state’. The theory assumes that the responsibility of businesses
is directed towards a national society in the liberalist reasoning of their corporate
roles (Richter 2010).
In this context, society contracts, or charters, ‘give life’ to corporations through
the state’s governing apparatus, and then they regulate their behaviour through local,
provincial and national government structural devices, such as the planned River
Horse corporate social initiative, which is mentioned by Respondent 6 (p. 123).
Society, on the other hand, depends on business for employment and income, while,
at the same time, it supports corporations by buying their goods and services (Fitch
1976). During this cyclical relationship, and particularly when businesses manufacture goods and services, problems could arise, such as pollution and other ills that
affect the natural environment negatively. CSR is an attempt by businesses to ‘solve’
problems (Fitch 1976), by focusing on the ethical aspects of business to achieve a
balance between profitability and social responsibility (Balza and Radojicic 2004).