Tag: accountability

In South African corporate law, shareholders enjoy extensive rights - but face remarkably few obligations when exercising them. Directors, in contrast, are tightly bound by fiduciary and statutory duties, accountable for every decision they make on behalf of the company. This imbalance raises a critical question: Should shareholders also bear some responsibility - especially when their actions directly shape the strategic direction of a company?

In a world marked by heightened economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and shifting regulatory landscapes, the demand for integrity and transparency in business has never been greater. As professionals charged with stewardship over financial information, governance frameworks and assurance practices, chartered accountants are not merely working with numbers.

The new employment equity regulations have ushered in a new era of transformation and accountability for South African businesses. These regulations officially came into effect on 15 April 2025. Employment equity plans must now cover the period from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2030.

In a landmark moment for South Africa’s financial services sector, Investec and other SA stakeholders officially launched and handed over the new Market Surveillance Code of Conduct to the South African Institute of Stockbrokers (SAIS).

In today’s fast-paced and complex governance environment, the traditional annual board work plan remains a useful tool. The traditional annual board work plan structures routine responsibilities, such as scheduling board evaluations, reviewing policies, and approving annual financial statements and budgets. However, the board work plan’s largely static nature often fails to capture the fluid realities of modern governance.

In a decisive move, the judiciary reaffirmed its role in safeguarding constitutional rights. The Gauteng Local Division of the High Court in Johannesburg recently issued an urgent interim relief order against the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) in a case of right to health enforcement.

Four years after a seemingly ordinary dinner ended in emergency surgery, the Western Cape High Court has served up a stern warning to the hospitality industry. If a hazardous object reaches a diner’s plate, negligence may be inferred unless the restaurant can prove otherwise.

From TikTok to Instagram, South Africans are increasingly exposed to posts claiming to offer financial tips. However, many blur the line between education and exploitation. As misinformation spreads, financial advisers have a clear opportunity: step in with the credibility, structure and ethics that the public is missing.

In any boardroom, agency or war room, leadership is the lever that moves the team. In advertising, where deadlines are brutal and the spotlight is always on, the difference between a manager and a true leader shows up fast. You can’t fake it. You either bring the spark or you don’t. I didn’t learn how to lead from a textbook. As such, I learned it in midnight pitch preps, delayed approvals, hard conversations, and the quiet post mortems that followed.

In 2016 Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum reflected on the intersection of technology and humanity. Schwab expressed concern about how technology like smartphones could affect our compassion and connection with others, possibly depriving us of meaningful engagement.