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What has SIZA been up to since April 1st 2026?

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SIZA Spotlight

From Compliance to Competitiveness:
Key Insights and Reflections from the
SIZA Conference 2026

Staff Awards - June 2026

At the end of each period, SIZA hosts a staff meeting to reflect on recent achievements and recognise team members who have gone above and beyond in various areas.
20260623_113543

SAQ Superhero

Ashley Robinson
Master of reviewing SAQs
WhatsApp Image 2025-11-21 at 12.56.21

Social Butterfly

Matthew Wessels
Spreading good vibes with the top social media post
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Crowd Commander

Ger-Mari Tesselaar
Leading SIZA training with confidence
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Follow-Up Phenom

Wian van Niekerk
Following up, never falling behind
WhatsApp Image 2025-11-21 at 12.56.21

Road Warrior

Matthew Wessels
Going the distance (literally), and then some!

Read Our Newsletter

see more articles

Climate Change and How to Assess It

The auditor’s role is to understand the climate context in which a business operates, identify where climate-related conditions may increase existing risks, and assess whether those risks are being effectively…

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Waste Management Under the Microscope

Waste Management Under the Microscope

When addressing waste management within an agricultural business, the first step towards effective waste management is to identify and classify all waste streams generated on-site. This is essential, as each…

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From Audit To Environmental Impact

An environmental audit is not the end of the environmental management process. It provides a point-in-time assessment of how effectively a business identifies and manages environmental risks, while also highlighting…

Read More

Our Latest Posts

siza_programme

Enabling South African Agriculture to be a global leader. Ensuring sustainable, ethical trade and environmental stewardship.

This past week, SIZA's Environmental Specialist ha This past week, SIZA's Environmental Specialist had the privilege of visiting producers in the Northern Cape as part of the SIZA Environmental Between-Audit Monitoring Programme.

These visits play an important role in monitoring environmental practices between the two and three-year audit validity period, helping to ensure that continuous improvement remains a focus throughout the certification cycle.

Spending time on production sites and engaging directly with suppliers provides valuable insight into the realities, opportunities and challenges faced by agricultural businesses every day. These interactions strengthen our understanding of the sector and help ensure that the SIZA programmes remain practical, relevant and supportive of sustainable agricultural production.

Thank you to all the suppliers who welcomed us and shared their experiences. Together, we continue to build a culture of environmental responsibility, continuous improvement and resilient agriculture.
SIZA is pleased to invite pome producers to our up SIZA is pleased to invite pome producers to our upcoming Online Pome Producers Forum, where we will share feedback on the compliance outcomes from the latest season.

This is a great opportunity to reflect on the season, discuss key findings and trends, share experiences, and engage with SIZA on challenges and opportunities for continuous improvement. 

If you would like to attend this forum, send an email to kara@siza.co.za
Are you registered yet? For more information on Are you registered yet? 

For more information on our trainings, visit our website at www.siza.co.za

To register, pop Kara du Toit an email at kara@siza.co.za 

Hope to see you online!
Join us for an informative training webinar on SIZ Join us for an informative training webinar on SIZATrack360, SIZA’s cost-effective recordkeeping system that helps producers capture, manage, and share verified sustainability data with buyers while supporting the environmental standard requirements and the reporting of your carbon footprint status.

In today’s market, buyers increasingly require credible sustainability data and measurable environmental impact. SIZATrack360 provides a practical, centralised solution to support supply chain transparency, compliance, and alignment with buyer and market requirements.

We look forward to your participation!
Heritage Day is about celebrating what makes South Heritage Day is about celebrating what makes South Africa unique.  Our diverse cultures, traditions, stories and the things that bring us together.  What better way to celebrate than around a braai?  The South African braai is more than just food on a fire. It is about bringing people together, sharing stories, making memories and celebrating our differences while finding common ground.

At SIZA, we believe that collaboration and connection are at the heart of building a stronger and more sustainable agricultural sector. Just like around a braai, there is always room for everyone at the table.

This Heritage Day, let’s celebrate our shared South African spirit, different backgrounds, different traditions, but stronger together.
Minimum legal requirements related to the four cor Minimum legal requirements related to the four cornerstones of the Environmental Standard: soil, water, energy, materials, and waste, along with biodiversity and ecosystems, are integrated throughout the training. 

Strengthen your compliance knowledge by joining our upcoming Environmental Compliance Training and gain practical insights to assist you with the implementation of the requirements.

To register, please contact Kara du Toit at kara@siza.co.za.
SIZA is pleased to invite citrus producers to our SIZA is pleased to invite citrus producers to our upcoming Online Citrus Supplier Forum, where we will share feedback on the compliance outcomes from the latest season.

This is a great opportunity to reflect on the season, discuss key findings and trends, share experiences, and engage with SIZA on challenges and opportunities for continuous improvement. 

If you would like to attend this forum, send an email to kara@siza.co.za.
At the 2026 SIZA Conference on 19 August, one mes At the 2026 SIZA Conference on 19 August,  one message stood out above all others:  Compliance is no longer just about market access; it's about building resilient businesses, trusted supply chains, and a competitive agricultural sector.

Under the theme "The Reality of Compliance: Building Resilient Agriculture Through Collaboration," industry leaders, producers, retailers, auditors, government representatives, and other stakeholders explored a critical question:

What is the cost of non-compliance?

The discussions highlighted that compliance is not simply an audit requirement. It is a strategic investment in trust, sustainability, workforce wellbeing, environmental stewardship, and long-term business success.

Attached is a three-minute video showcasing the key insights and perspectives shared by delegates and speakers during the conference. 

View the video at: https://youtu.be/hkCSxGY8nCs
SIZA hosted its annual training for recognised thi SIZA hosted its annual training for recognised third-party auditors on 8 and 9 September 2026, bringing together more than 70 auditors each day.

 The annual training forms an important part of SIZA’s auditor competency and calibration process. This year’s programme covered a range of important topics, including reputational risk and auditor accountability, confidentiality and information management, handling inconsistent or incomplete evidence, understanding and classifying audit findings, supply chain due diligence and expectations, sustainability and legal compliance, climate change and conducting effective closing meetings. The programme concluded with practical calibration and auditor assessments to support consistency and continued competency across the SIZA auditing community.

SIZA would like to sincerely thank all the auditors and audit firms who participated. We recognise the commitment, professionalism and hard work that auditors contribute throughout the year to support credible, consistent and meaningful sustainability practices across the industry.

@LRQA 
@African Certification and Testing 
@BSI Group SA 
@Control Union SA 
@NSF Africa 
SGS
The Social Compliance webinar is designed to equip The Social Compliance webinar is designed to equip suppliers with the knowledge to successfully implement the SIZA Standard requirements.  It is a fantastic opportunity to expand or refresh your expertise, where you can ask relevant questions and actively contribute to constructive engagement with other producers.

During the webinar, you will gain valuable insights into legal requirements and how to prepare for your upcoming audit. 

We look forward to your participation!
Don’t miss our upcoming SIZA training sessions! Don’t miss our upcoming SIZA training sessions! 

Strengthen your knowledge, build your skills and stay up to date with the latest developments in SIZA’s Social and Environmental Compliance Programmes.

Register today and secure your spot!

For more information on our upcoming trainings, visit our website: www.siza.co.za

To register, please contact Kara du Toit at kara@siza.co.za.

We look forward to having you join us online!
The SIZA Voice for All Programme aims to create a The SIZA Voice for All Programme aims to create a transparent and credible grievance mechanism for South African suppliers. Although it does not replace your company’s internal disciplinary and grievance processes, it supports remediation to resolve issues.

The Voice for All initiative is an accessible programme for all so that everyone in the agricultural value chain can use and benefit from it.

We hope you join us for this informative webinar to create a more accountable, inclusive, and sustainable supply chain. 

To register, please contact Kara du Toit at kara@siza.co.za. 

See you online!
Great to see SIZA engaging at the CRI Symposium an Great to see SIZA engaging at the CRI Symposium and connecting with stakeholders across the agricultural value chain. 

Thank you to Wayne Mansfield from Fruitfield Farming and Sam Louw from the Citrus Academy for the valuable conversations and shared insights. Collaboration and open dialogue are key to finding practical solutions and driving meaningful change across our industry.
Wian van Niekerk and Matthew Wessels are proud to Wian van Niekerk and Matthew Wessels are proud to engage with citrus growers, researchers, and industry partners this week at the CRI Symposium in the Drakensberg,  as we discuss the latest science, innovation, and sustainable practices shaping the future of South Africa's citrus industry. 

Come say hello if you spot the SIZA team!
A decade of memories, milestones, impact, partners A decade of memories, milestones, impact, partnerships and incredible stories, all captured in one special publication.

Join us as we launch the SIZA 10-Year Celebration Review and take a journey through the moments that shaped an unforgettable decade.  Our sincere thanks to all stakeholders whose support, trust and collaboration have made this journey possible.

Looking forward to the next 10 years of excellence, growth and shared successes.

Access the 10-Year Book online: https://siza.co.za/siza-10-year-celebration-book

View the 10-Year Booklet Video: https://youtu.be/yvaPnA8qFJU
The SIZA Conference 2026 concluded with Georgina H The SIZA Conference 2026 concluded with Georgina Hewitt providing a powerful presentation on the entire value chain's responsibilities to ensure we all work together in collaboration and make South African agriculture the front runner it already is. 

We all have responsibilities, from growers, retailers, auditors, exporters etc.
Are Grievance Programmes Actually Contributing to Are Grievance Programmes Actually Contributing to a More Effective and Sustainable Value Chain?

What an insightful panel discussion from industry experts on effective grievance systems. We heard from Rowen Markie, Fhumulani Ratshitanga, Marietjie Bezuidenhout, and Evan Cupido on why data on grievances is important, why effective feedback is required, and ultimately how creating better communication and building trust between workers and management is necessary.
A roaring round of applause to our four incredible A roaring round of applause to our four incredible panellists — Mecia Petersen, Mariette Kotze, Alana Snyman and Henko Vlok — for sharing such informative insights during our panel discussion, “From Policy to Practice: Compliance Beyond the File on the Shelf.”

Thank you for bringing real-world perspectives, unpacking the challenges and opportunities, and reminding us that meaningful compliance is about what happens on the ground — not simply what is written on paper.
A big thank you to our four incredible speakers — A big thank you to our four incredible speakers — Paul Hardman, Ian Spaulding, Calla du Toit and Francois Brink — for sharing such valuable, informative and thought-provoking insights on the reality of compliance.

Your perspectives during our first panel discussion provided an important foundation for the day, bringing practical realities, challenges and opportunities to the conversation.

Thank you for helping us look beyond compliance on paper and focus on what is really happening on the ground. Your insights truly set the platform for a meaningful day of discussion, learning and collaboration.
Thank you Dr Mogale for emphasising the importance Thank you Dr Mogale for emphasising the importance of Compliance. 

Compliance Managers should be valued for the key roles they play within companies.
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