Linking Labour Law and Consumer Law in South Africa: The Impact of the “Add Hope Initiative” on KFC Employees and Consumers

This article explores the legal and ethical challenges of corporate-social-responsibility initiatives, focusing on KFC South Africa’s “Add Hope” charity campaign. With South Africa’s ongoing issues of poverty and unemployment, corporate-social-responsibility campaigns, such as soliciting small donations from consumers, can significantly impact employees and consumers alike. The study identifies gaps in South African labour and consumer-protection laws that fail to address fully the pressures placed on employees tasked with soliciting donations and the ethical concerns surrounding consumer coercion. Through doctrinal analysis and case studies, this article examines these issues and calls for a more nuanced legal framework to safeguard both employee welfare and consumer rights. The findings highlight the need for clear legal guidelines regarding corporate-social-responsibility participation and consumer protection from undue influence. This article underscores the importance of establishing a balance between corporate social responsibility and the protection of employee and consumer rights. By revising labour and consumer-protection laws to account for the specific challenges posed by corporate social responsibility, businesses can foster more ethical, transparent and sustainable charitable initiatives. This study contributes to the broader conversation about the intersection of corporate responsibility, labour rights and consumer protection, offering insights that can inform both legal scholarship and policy development.