One might ask why SIZA recognises five third-party audit firms to conduct SIZA audits. The motivation behind such a wide variety is to ensure producers have a choice to select a firm that they are comfortable with. This furthermore enables a more competitive and cost-effective approach. As members are situated all over the country and sometimes even in neighbouring countries, we ensure that auditors are available in all of the provinces, meaning lower travel fees – again contributing to the cost-saving approach.
SIZA is proud of the five audit firms we recognise because they all have stellar accreditations and global recognition. To bring about responsible management of cost, choice, and availability all while ensuring credibility and assurance for global markets, SIZA will always try to offer a variety of service providers to choose from.
For more on what these five audit firms can offer, read on below.
BSI Group South Africa’s auditors have many years of experience in the global agricultural industry and understand the diverse needs of farmers and growers from fruit and vegetable farms to packhouses and distribution of agricultural products. An important element of BSI’s audit delivery capacity is that audits can be delivered in a number of languages: Afrikaans, English, Sotho, Tswana, Zulu, Shona, Ndebele, and French. BSI have auditors based in Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Durban. BSI are approved to conduct audits on both the SIZA social and environmental standards. If you need more information on BSI and your SIZA audits, please contact:
- Charlene Holm (holm@bsigrouop.com) / 082 310 0469
- Christine de Beer (debeer@bsigroup.com) / 064 890 5028
- https://www.bsigroup.com/en-ZA/industries-and-sectors/food-and-drink/siza/
Control Union South Africa Pty Ltd has its foundation in agriculture and focuses its efforts on developing services around the sustainability of the industry’s supply chains which feed into the food, feed, forestry, biomass, bioenergy, social compliance, and textiles markets. Control Union is an accepted audit firm for SIZA on both the Social and the Environmental Standards and conducts other technical audits such as GLOBALG.A.P. Through the knowledge and experience of their local teams, Control Union is uniquely equipped to communicate and mitigate the risks faced by customers elsewhere in the world. Control Union has auditors available in the Western Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape. If you need more information on Control Union or your SIZA audit, please contact the following people:
- Mariessa Erasmus (merasmus@controlunion.com) / 083 794 2811
- Melinda Dolby (mdolby@controlunion.com) / 082 458 2898
- https://certifications.controlunion.com/en
NSF Africa (Pty) Ltd forms part of a wide network globally and has a large footprint in South Africa. With many years’ relevant industry experience, NSF is an accredited provider of independent certification services to the agriculture, produce and processing industries. NSF is a SIZA approved audit firm for both the Social and the Environmental Standards. NSF also conducts GLOBALG.A.P. and Food Safety audits. NSF has auditors residing around the country in all the provinces. For more information on NSF and booking them for your SIZA audit, please contact:
- Elize van der Westhuizen (evanderwesthuizen@nsf.org) / 082 388 0003 (Social)
- Brian Windsor (bwindsor@nsf.org) / 079 029 6566 (Environmental)
- https://nsfafrica.com/
Partner Africa is an NGO working across 50 countries in Africa. The company’s goal is to improve the working conditions and livelihoods of workers and producers in African supply chains. Their aim is to positively engage with clients to identify, address, and report on the salient environmental, social, and governance risks in their organisation and supply chains. Partner Africa is accepted by SIZA as an audit firm for the social standard. Partner Africa has SIZA auditors available in the Western Cape & Gauteng. For more information, please contact:
- Emarie van Schalkwyk (evanshalkwyk@partnerafrica.org )/ +27 (0) 21 680 5397 /083 265 9036
- Natalie Thomas (nthomas@partnerafrica.org) / +27 (0) 21 680 5397 / 083 393 5760
- https://www.partnerafrica.org/
SGS South Africa (Pty) Ltd operates within a wide network around the world. SGS helps organisations to ensure that they and their partners have efficient and manageable processes and systems in place which comply with stakeholder requirements related to quality, health and safety, environmental management, corporate social responsibility, and other areas of sustainable development. SGS is a SIZA approved audit firm for the Social Standard and also conduct GLOBALG.A.P. audits. SGS has SIZA auditors residing in the Western Cape. For more information, please contact:
- Chris Rankine (Rankine@sgs.com) / 083 356 5317
- Irma Lubbe (Lubbe@sgs.com) / 064 763 7504
- https://www.sgs.co.za/
