While more South Africans are volunteering, they spend less time doing so.
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More South Africans are stepping up to volunteer, but they are spending less time doing so, according to Statistics South Africa.
Despite the drop in hours, the economic value of volunteering has increased, reaching about R17.5 billion in 2024.
In labour terms, that contribution is equivalent to roughly 216,000 full-time jobs.
About 3.1 million people volunteered in 2024, up steadily over the past decade and now representing nearly 7% of the adult population.
The growth is being driven by a shift towards organisation-based volunteering, which has more than doubled since 2014. Direct, person-to-person volunteering has declined over the same period.
But while participation is rising, the time committed is falling.
Total volunteer hours have dropped by more than a quarter over the past decade, pointing to South Africans spreading their time more thinly.
Women remain more active than men, with black African women recording the highest participation rates.
Volunteering also increases with age, peaking among older groups, while younger South Africans are far less likely to get involved.
Those with tertiary education are the most likely to volunteer, although participation among less-educated groups has grown the fastest.
"Over the decade, volunteer rates among those with primary education increased the most, while graduates experienced a slight decline in 2024 compared to 2014," said Statistics South Africa.
By employment status, discouraged work-seekers and unemployed individuals show the highest levels of participation.
Most volunteering still happens directly in communities, including caregiving, assisting at funerals and churches, and helping with household or administrative tasks.
Community and social services continue to account for the bulk of volunteer activity.
The motivation remains simple: more than nine in 10 volunteers say they “just want to help”.
At the same time, the nature of compensation has shifted, with food now the most commonly reported form of support.
Of the nature of volunteering, Statistics South Africa says: "These activities include attending and helping at funerals and churches, caregiving (for people or animals), household chores, teaching or administrative tasks, and broader community work."
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