Audit

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

In the agricultural sector, working beyond standard hours is often unavoidable, especially during peak periods or when essential tasks cannot be delayed. Sundays, in particular, may require attention to critical operations such as irrigation, livestock care, or equipment monitoring. While this is part of the reality of farming, it is important for employers to understand… Continue reading Overtime on a Sunday in Agriculture: Getting the Wages Calculation Right

Water remains a vital part of agriculture and an essential part of our daily lives. To view water as a necessity and a resource is therefore extremely important. During Environmental audits, water use and impacts on water resources are assessed. When auditing a farming or production site that abstracts, stores, diverts, discharges, or otherwise impacts… Continue reading Water Use and Water Resource Impacts:  How will an auditor evaluate these practices?

On January 26th, 2026, the Western Cape High Court ruled in favour of CropLife SA, confirming that the 2023 regulations relating to agricultural remedies (Government Notice 3812), as issued under the Farm Feeds, Fertilisers, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act 36 of 1947, do not apply to the Pest Control Operator (PCO) Regulations of 2011.… Continue reading High Court Ruling Providing Clarity on the PCO Regulations.

What is carbon footprinting? Carbon footprinting is the measurement of an organisation’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). These emissions typically stem from fuel and electricity consumption, fertiliser application, packaging, and other sources. In recent years, increased focus on environmental impact has led to greater regulatory pressure on buyers to… Continue reading Greenhouse Gas requirements for auditors to assess.

Current state of biosecurity Biosecurity concerns have increasingly plagued South African agriculture in recent years, with Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) declared a National Disaster during the recent 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA). Thus far in 2026, South Africa has experienced one of the most severe biosecurity periods in recent history, including outbreaks of FMD,… Continue reading What an auditor must check for if livestock is on site, including biosecurity measures

It is common for agricultural businesses, especially during peak season, to make use of Temporary Employment Services (TES) to supplement their workforce. While this practice provides flexibility and operational support, it has also raised important compliance questions during social audits. Over the past few years, recurring uncertainties have emerged: •     What is required from a… Continue reading Auditing a Temporary Employment Service Provider – What Do You Need to Know?

In the agricultural sector, on-farm housing remains a common and often essential arrangement. However, providing accommodation to employees without a clear, written housing agreement exposes both the employer and the occupant to unnecessary legal and operational risk. From a SIZA perspective, formal housing agreements are not merely administrative documents but a key document that ensures… Continue reading Housing Agreements: What is important when looking at a housing agreement?

A strong employment relationship starts long before the first day of work. It begins with the contract. Employment contracts are more than administrative documents, they are foundational compliance tools.  During social audits, employment contracts are among the first documents reviewed, as they provide evidence of legal compliance, clarity of employment terms, and alignment with labour… Continue reading How to review Employment Contracts

A third-party audit remains a cornerstone of the SIZA Audit process. It provides a credible, objective picture of a supplier’s on-site practices to stakeholders in South Africa and buyers across global markets. In an increasingly transparent, due diligence-driven world, an audit measures compliance and helps to shape perceptions and convey a picture of the grassroots… Continue reading The Role Auditors Can Play to Strengthen Compliance, Transparency and Trust