South Africa is in dire need of a culture of accountability and a governance mindset. The challenge is how to instill this and then maintain it. When we set out to develop ALICE™, we only wanted to make our own lives easier, increase coverage and de-risk our organisation appropriately. But when implementing ALICE™, there were…
In recent years, the concept of work/life balance has become increasingly popular as people try to juggle the demands of work and personal life. However, some researchers have argued that work-life balance may not be a realistic or desirable goal. Instead, they suggest a new approach: work/life harmony. Work-life harmony emphasises the integration of work…
The last article focused on the power of resilience and never giving up on your dreams, especially when you embark on the path to becoming a CA(SA). This article will share practical tips that can make your academic journey less difficult. I have spent 13 years as a tutor. I have had the privilege of…
Corporate failures trigger pressing questions about what went wrong and who is to blame. Laws and enforcement mechanisms are questioned, and attempts are made to solve for problems without exploring the core issues. Compliance requires improved scrutiny of the entire ecosystem, particularly in the case of public interest entities and entities with increased technological complexity…
Desperate times call for unconventional skills that can transform the public sector, writes Msizi Gwala, Project Director at SAICA. South Africa is facing a myriad of challenges. There are concerns acout audit outcomes, lack of accountability, world-leading inequality and service delivery protests. There were early signs of issues, such as the early struggles of state-owned…
Internal controls are the first line of defence against fraud, waste and abuse and help public sector institutions to deliver on their mandates. Furthermore, a robust control system, comprising effective internal control, risk management and audit, is fundamental to better governance, safeguarding of taxpayers’ money, and preserving public trust in government. However, the lack of…
The use of consultants in public finance management and reporting has become a significant cost to the fiscus, with stakeholders such as the Auditor-General raising concerns about its sustainability. Management consulting is the practice of providing consulting services to organisations to improve their performance or assist in achieving organisational objectives. Organisations utilise the services of…
In March 2022, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released guidance on its 15% global minimum tax proposed as the second ‘pillar’ of a project to address the tax challenges arising from the globalisation of the economy specifically as it relates to the impact on the way of working, referred to as the…
Good governance in public schools is essential to ensure that learners receive quality education and that the school operates effectively and efficiently. It ensures that schools are accountable, transparent, and effective in promoting learners’ achievement and success. In terms of section 23(1) of the South African Schools Act (SASA), the membership of a governing body…
A common response to factual insolvency is for a parent company or fellow-subsidiary to provide a so-called ‘letter of comfort’, also known as a ‘letter of support’. The value and benefit of such letters to an auditor (and indeed to the company itself and to its creditors) depend on the specific wording thereof, and in…