Ensuring Audit Excellence: How SIZA assures stakeholders that Audit firms and Auditors maintain Competency and Credibility

The credibility of the SIZA programme is built on the strength and integrity of its third-party audit approach. Central to this is the competency of the audit firms responsible for conducting Social (Ethical) and Environmental audits. These firms play a critical role in ensuring that audit outcomes accurately reflect on-the-ground practices, while meeting both local and international compliance expectations. For this reason, SIZA places a strong emphasis on maintaining high standards of competency, consistency, and professionalism across all approved audit entities and the auditors who audit on their behalf.

• SIZA’s approach is rooted in independence and objectivity. By utilising third-party audit firms, SIZA ensures that assessments remain impartial and credible. However, this independence is supported by a structured system of oversight, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure that all audit entities continue to meet the required standards, enabling buyers and sources to have confidence in the South African agricultural industry.
• To ensure ongoing competency, SIZA strengthens the audit framework through its Audit Oversight, Monitoring, and Evaluation Policy. Audit firms are regularly assessed against key performance and compliance indicators, including audit scheduling, execution, and reporting quality. It is also a requirement that audit firms provide detailed information on audit outputs, dispute-resolution processes, and internal procedures.
• A critical component of maintaining competency lies in continuous learning and internal quality assurance. Audit firms must submit annual proof of their internal training programmes for auditors and reviewers, as well as evidence of shadow audits and quality control processes. These measures ensure that auditors remain skilled, up to date, and aligned with SIZA’s methodologies and expectations.
• Confidentiality and data protection are also essential aspects of audit competency. Audit firms must demonstrate robust systems to safeguard sensitive information, protecting both the client and the integrity of the SIZA programme.
• Buyers have the convenience of trusting SIZA to manage the audit firms, as the programme assures that the audit team and the audit programme are both of integrity and compliant and competent.

Through these rigorous measures, SIZA supports the delivery of reliable, consistent, and ethical audits—reinforcing confidence in the SIZA programme and strengthening the integrity of its standards, contributing to a transparent, responsible, and sustainable agricultural sector.

Why does SIZA present a choice of seven independent third-party audit firms:

SIZA currently recognises a range of third-party audit firms, providing suppliers with flexibility and choice. This encourages a competitive and cost-effective environment and ensures accessibility, with auditors available across all provinces and even in neighbouring countries. Ultimately, this contributes to a more efficient and inclusive audit process. The following audit firms are recognised to conduct audits on behalf of the SIZA programme.  Always make sure you contact the various firms to understand who can best assist your needs and provide a good, cost-efficient service. Please remember that audits are conducted independently from SIZA to ensure credibility and objectivity, so buyers can be comfortable accepting them to ensure compliance.

For more on what these audit firms can offer, refer to the following:

Audit Firm	Services Offered for SIZA	Contact Persons	Website
African Certification & Testing	SIZA Social Standalone Audit SIZA Social Audit Combined with WIETA Audit SIZA Environmental Standalone Audit SIZA Environmental Audit Combined with GLOBALG.A.P.	Jocelyn Tullis (audits@africancertification.co.za) Jacqueline Acres (audits@africancertification.co.za) +27725289452	https://africancertification.co.za/
BSI Group South Africa	SIZA Social Standalone Audit SIZA Social Audit Combined with WIETA Audit SIZA Environmental Standalone Audit SIZA Environmental Audit Combined with GLOBALG.A.P.	Andrea Martin (Andrea.Marten@bsigroup.com) +49170560 8457 +27796247376	https://www.bsigroup.com/en-ZA/industries-and-sectors/food-and-drink/siza/
Control Union South Africa	SIZA Social Standalone Audit SIZA Social Audit Combined with WIETA Audit SIZA Environmental Standalone Audit SIZA Environmental Audit Combined with GLOBALG.A.P. SIZA Environmental Audit with LEAF Bolt-on	Louhan Nel (lnel@controlunion.com) +27741624416	www.controlunion.com
LRQA (including Partner Africa, by LRQA)	SIZA Social Standalone Audit SIZA Social Audit Combined with WIETA Audit Accepted by Tesco	Sam Martin (sam.martin@lrqa.com) +27799524477 Jo-Anne September (jseptember@partnerafrica.org) +27662426472	https://www.lrqa.com/
NSF Africa	SIZA Social Standalone Audit SIZA Social Audit Combined with WIETA Audit SIZA Environmental Standalone Audit SIZA Environmental Audit Combined with GLOBALG.A.P. SIZA Environmental Audit with LEAF Bolt-on	Elize van der Westhuizen (evanderwesthuizen@nsf.org) +27823880003 +27634933575	www.nsf.org
SGS South Africa	SIZA Social Standalone Audit SIZA Environmental Standalone Audit SIZA Environmental Audit Combined with GLOBALG.A.P. SIZA Environmental Audit with LEAF Bolt-on	Lelanie Holtzhausen (Lelanie.Holtzhausen@sgs.com) +27823148632 +27118001000	www.sgs.com

*Note that these firms’ services are subject to change, and offerings may require a formal application process in order to quote adequately. Feel free to obtain quotes and availability from multiple firms when needed.