SIZA Audits

As we approach the upcoming summer season in South Africa, focusing on fire prevention and safety within our farming communities is crucial. Fire safety should be integral to your business’s health and safety management system. Implementing efficient and robust measures for all types of fires that could occur in a business is not just about protection; it’s a form of insurance that ensures business resilience and sustainability.

From 01 April 2023 until 31 March 2024, 713 SIZA Social (ethical) Audits were conducted in South Africa on farms and packhouses. These audits were conducted throughout various seasons and included a wide variety of agricultural crops and commodities.

The cost of compliance has always been a sensitive and uncomfortable subject. The aim of compliance is not to create financial strain on the business but a requirement to ensure a third-party certification body has evaluated specific requirements of a standard required by the farm’s clients/buyers.

A SIZA audit can take place at any time just before or after the peak period, for example, pruning, harvesting, etc. It does not have to occur in the middle of the busiest period/harvest or packing time, as long as the minimum requirements are met and a full risk evaluation can take place.

Many buyers only recognise certain audit firms for each respective scheme. These decisions occur when buyers consolidate the number of recognised firms, or due to specific criteria for a particular country.

Since 2015, a total of 4498 third-party audits have been conducted. Out of the total third-party audits conducted from 2015 until 2023, 46 023 findings were raised during audits as one audit can contain multiple findings.