Assessing social capital organisations’ impact on rural women entrepreneurs’ success in the Limpopo Province

Abstract

This research examines how social capital influences the success and self-reliance of rural women entrepreneurs in the Limpopo Province, with a specific focus on entrepreneurs who have received support from enabling organisations such as the National Movement of Rural Women (NMRW). Whilst acknowledging the gender roles that women play in society and the inequalities that persist, the paper questions whether organisational support strengthens the autonomy of businesses or perpetuates their dependency. Social capital and social exchange theories are discussed to make sense of the derived empirical themes. The study adopted an interpretivist, qualitative, exploratory case-study design, utilising semi-structured interviews with the NMRW Limpopo Coordinators as well as rural women entrepreneurs who have benefited from the organisation's support. The findings indicated that social capital is structured through community groups and burial societies and is supported by local leadership. In addition, the networks formed provide channels for information sharing, relationship-building, and the exchange of labour. The findings also showed that financial assistance, infrastructure provision, and skills development strengthen business capabilities and foster resilience for sustained operations. At the same time, rigid funding requirements, complex business registration systems, limited access to affordable land, theft, adverse climate conditions, and community perceptions impede the extent to which social capital and institutional support translate into self-reliance and bankability. The conclusion of the study finds that the success of rural women entrepreneurs is effective when enablers adapt agility within their funding methodology, prioritising specialised training for the entrepreneurs, leveraging local social networks, land brokers to secure land and creation of formal market connections as practical recommendations for the enablers, policy makers and entrepreneurs, in addressing rural poverty alleviation.