Audit

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

In any credible compliance programme, the integrity of the third-party audit process is paramount. The primary objective of an audit is to provide an independent, objective, and standardised evaluation of a supplier’s practices. For this reason, it is essential that the audit process remain free from undue influence and be conducted in accordance with fair… Continue reading Protecting the Integrity of the Compliance Process:  Auditors vs Consultants

Audits are often perceived as compliance exercises that take up a lot of time, but they are a necessary part of the value chain to satisfy buying customers. It is, however, important to remember that audits can become a powerful management tool that drives continuous improvement. From a SIZA perspective, the value of an audit… Continue reading How can Auditors Contribute so that audits become a management tool to drive continuous improvement?

Over time, SIZA has continued to refine how risk is identified, monitored, and managed across the audit process. Following enhancements to the MySIZA platform in 2025, the SIZA technical team identified an opportunity to develop bespoke risk reports and dashboards tailored to the Audit Manager of each individual audit firm. These dashboards draw on existing… Continue reading Strengthening Oversight: New Dashboards and Risk Reporting for Audit Managers

The primary role of a SIZA auditor is to assess compliance with the SIZA Standard Requirements and Audit Checklist. On the audit day, this includes identifying non-conformances and highlighting potential risks to enable remediation and drive continuous improvement in agriculture. However, a truly effective audit goes beyond identifying gaps. It also recognises what is working… Continue reading The Strategic Value of Reporting & Celebrating Best Practices

As global supply chains place increasing emphasis on ethical and sustainable practices, buyers are expecting suppliers to demonstrate strong audit readiness. Being well prepared for social and environmental audits is no longer something to leave to the last minute – it is a critical part of business planning that builds buyer confidence and protects market… Continue reading Plan Ahead for Audit Success

Employment Equity (EE) is becoming an increasingly important topic for South African businesses, particularly with recent amendments to the Employment Equity Act (EEA). While not a direct SIZA audit checklist requirement, suppliers who operate in agriculture and related sectors should be aware of the legal obligations and the practical steps needed to stay compliant. The… Continue reading Employment Equity – What Resources are Out There?

An effective environmental management system is the foundation for complying with the SIZA Environmental Standard. This standard is built on four pillars—soil, water, biodiversity and energy, materials and waste —all of which are addressed holistically across your business or farming enterprise through risk identification, prevention and mitigation measures, and legal compliance A common misconception is… Continue reading Why Full-Scope Audits Matter

One of the main focuses of sustainability is to preserve key resources.  Agriculture faces various challenges related to soil degradation through overplanting, overgrazing, clearing of natural vegetation to ensure that more agricultural development can occur, and much more. The SIZA Environmental Standard highlights soil as a key element and resource to the supplier and the agricultural environment in which they operate. Certain human activities can cause negative impacts on the environment, and one of those impacts a supplier can have is soil erosion. Soil erosion can be defined as the topsoil, the top layer of soil that is the most fertile, getting carried away by natural or human activities and causing environmental harm.

One of the Principle Codes speaks to preventing and remedying child labour when conducting SIZA social audits. One of the most critical elements to verify is the age of workers, especially to ensure compliance with laws on child labour and young workers and to ensure that businesses do not knowingly or unknowingly employ employees who are not allowed to work. South Africa governs this by the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and international standards such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. Businesses must implement effective systems to ensure they do not break the law.