PRETORIA – The North West Province has recorded a notable increase in volunteer activity, reflecting growing community participation despite a decline in the average number of hours contributed per volunteer, according to the latest Volunteer Activities Survey 2024 released by Statistics South Africa.  

The report shows that the number of volunteers in North West rose significantly from 113,000 in 2018 to 307,000 in 2024, more than doubling within six years.   This growth aligns with the national trend, where total volunteers increased to 3.1 million in 2024.

Despite the sharp increase in participation, the average annual volunteer hours in North West declined from 337 hours in 2014 to 133 hours in 2024, indicating that while more people are volunteering, they are contributing less time individually.  

This mirrors the broader national pattern, where average volunteer hours dropped significantly as participation expanded. Experts suggest that this may point to changing lifestyles, economic pressures, or more people engaging in shorter, informal volunteer activities.

According to the report’s provincial comparisons (Figure 7 on page 15), volunteer rates increased in most provinces between 2014 and 2024, with North West among those showing improvement.  

While provinces such as Mpumalanga and Limpopo recorded the highest overall volunteer rates, North West demonstrated consistent growth in participation, highlighting strengthening civic engagement across communities.

The survey indicates that community and social services remain the dominant sector for volunteer work across South Africa, including North West. This sector contributed the highest share of volunteer hours and economic value, reaching billions of rand nationally.  

Volunteers in North West, like the rest of the country, are primarily driven by a desire to support causes they believe in, with over 90% of volunteers nationally citing this as their main motivation.  

The report also highlights that  women continue to lead in volunteer participation, both nationally and across provinces. This trend is reflected in North West, where female participation plays a key role in sustaining community initiatives.  

Nationally, volunteer work contributed an estimated R17.5 billion in economic value in 2024, underscoring the critical role of unpaid labour in supporting communities and public services.  

Although provincial breakdowns of monetary value were not specified, North West’s growing volunteer base suggests an increasing contribution to this informal yet vital sector.

The findings point to a strengthening culture of volunteerism in the North West Province, driven by community needs, social responsibility, and economic realities.

However, the decline in hours contributed signals the need for structured programmes that can better harness and sustain volunteer efforts.

As the province continues to expand its participation levels, stakeholders may need to focus on improving coordination, support, and recognition of volunteers to maximise their impact on local development.

-The VIP Team

-StatsSA