Socio-Cultural and Political Determinants of Youth Start-Up Enterprise Sustainability and Success in South Africa: Evidence From Nkangala District Municipality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51137/wrp.ijsbe.688Keywords:
Sustainable Youth Entrepreneurship, Long-Term Business Viability, Politics, Enterprise Sustainability, YouthAbstract
Youth entrepreneurship is widely recognised as a strategy for addressing unemployment and promoting economic development in South Africa. However, many youth start-up enterprises fail within the first few years, raising concerns about their long-term sustainability. This study examines the socio-cultural and political determinants of youth start-up enterprise sustainability in Nkangala District Municipality in Mpumalanga Province. A qualitative, literature-based case study approach was adopted, drawing on secondary data from government reports, policy documents, academic articles, and entrepreneurship development studies published between 2020 and 2026. The study explores how cultural norms, social networks, political environments, government support systems, and institutional factors influence the survival and continuity of youth enterprises. The findings indicate that social capital, cultural attitudes toward entrepreneurship, access to political and institutional support, and policy implementation effectiveness significantly shape enterprise sustainability outcomes. The study further shows that sustainability is not determined only by financial resources and business skills, but also by broader socio-cultural and institutional conditions that enable or constrain long-term viability. It concludes that youth enterprise sustainability is a multidimensional outcome shaped by interacting social, cultural, and political forces. The study contributes to entrepreneurship literature by linking these determinants to sustainability in rural and semi-urban contexts and offers insights for strengthening youth entrepreneurship support systems in South Africa.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Humphrey Motsepe, Mahlodi Joice Sethu, Hasani Elia Zitha, Sheperd Sikhosana (Author)
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