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An Exploration of Social and Rural Entrepreneurship and the Role of Youth Entrepreneurs: A Case of Stellenbosch Local Municipality

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.

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Main Author: Mgweba, Luluto
Other Authors: Kekana, Kerotse M.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2026
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access_status_str Open Access
author Mgweba, Luluto
author2 Kekana, Kerotse M.
author_browse Kekana, Kerotse M.
Mgweba, Luluto
author_facet Kekana, Kerotse M.
Mgweba, Luluto
author_sort Mgweba, Luluto
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136235
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:46:25.318Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2026
publishDateRange 2026
publishDateSort 2026
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
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source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136235 An Exploration of Social and Rural Entrepreneurship and the Role of Youth Entrepreneurs: A Case of Stellenbosch Local Municipality Mgweba, Luluto Kekana, Kerotse M. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Mgweba, L. 2026. An Exploration of Social and Rural Entrepreneurship and the Role of Youth Entrepreneurs: A Case of Stellenbosch Local Municipality. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/d61f514f-4bab-44f2-ba7e-2766dc689c3b Socioeconomic problems are a burden both globally and for the African continent, which is characterised by poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, and inequality. These challenges also face South Africa, where poverty rates are significantly higher in rural than urban areas. Since 1990, various legislative initiatives and intervention strategies have been established to address the socioeconomic challenge of youth unemployment in South Africa. Despite these efforts, this unemployment has worsened. In this research, social and rural entrepreneurship activities are explored as a tool to address youth unemployment. This study aims to investigate innovative solutions related to youth entrepreneurship and innovative solutions for municipal support of youth entrepreneurship in social and rural contexts from four entrepreneurship hubs within Stellenbosch Local Municipality. This research study was conducted within Stellenbosch Local Municipality, where it focused on social and rural entrepreneurship and the role of youth entrepreneurs. The primary objective was to explore innovative solutions related to youth entrepreneurship in social and rural contexts within Stellenbosch Local Municipality. A qualitative method was employed in this study, involving 13 semi-structured interviews with participants identified through a purposive sampling technique. The study’s findings reveal that youth entrepreneurs’ businesses in Stellenbosch Local Municipality are labour-intensive and provide youth with employment opportunities and income. Opportunities include freelancing and business training courses, which enable young people to acquire experience and secure better employment positions later on. The study also found that youth entrepreneurs in Stellenbosch Local Municipality encounter challenges, such as lack of funding, insufficient working spaces, bureaucratic red tape of laws and regulations, and a lack of partnerships. At the time of this research, only three of the youth entrepreneurs under study were involved in incubation programs to enhance their business performances. Based on its findings, this study recommends prioritisation of partnerships with Africa-focused entrepreneurship organisations for social and rural entrepreneurship, given the significance of enabling youth entrepreneurs to act as agents of socioeconomic change in rural areas. This study’s recommendations have the potential to improve municipal governance through innovative mechanisms that foster social and rural entrepreneurship in areas with high youth unemployment. Adopting strategies, such as mentorship opportunities, startup competitions, and easier access to financial channels, could support entrepreneurship as an essential mechanism to deal with social and environmental challenges. Masters 2026-04-29T06:27:52Z 2026-04-29T06:27:52Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136235 en Stellenbosch University 194 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Mgweba, Luluto
An Exploration of Social and Rural Entrepreneurship and the Role of Youth Entrepreneurs: A Case of Stellenbosch Local Municipality
title An Exploration of Social and Rural Entrepreneurship and the Role of Youth Entrepreneurs: A Case of Stellenbosch Local Municipality
title_full An Exploration of Social and Rural Entrepreneurship and the Role of Youth Entrepreneurs: A Case of Stellenbosch Local Municipality
title_fullStr An Exploration of Social and Rural Entrepreneurship and the Role of Youth Entrepreneurs: A Case of Stellenbosch Local Municipality
title_full_unstemmed An Exploration of Social and Rural Entrepreneurship and the Role of Youth Entrepreneurs: A Case of Stellenbosch Local Municipality
title_short An Exploration of Social and Rural Entrepreneurship and the Role of Youth Entrepreneurs: A Case of Stellenbosch Local Municipality
title_sort exploration of social and rural entrepreneurship and the role of youth entrepreneurs a case of stellenbosch local municipality
url https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136235
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