Our Governance
Governance as the strong foundation of SANBS’ business
Our Governance
Reporting frameworks, process and combined assurance
Corporate governance aligned to King IV™ principles
King IV™ is a foundation for our governance approach and the principles we follow. Here is how we align with the King IV™ principles:
Leadership, ethics, and corporate citizenship
We lead SANBS with a commitment to ethics and responsibility. The SANBS Board is dedicated to embodying integrity and responsibility in its actions, serving as an example for ethical leadership while upholding the company's core values.
To comply with legal obligations, all Board members act diligently and responsibly in the best interests of SANBS.
To clarify expected behaviour, SANBS has embedded its Code of Ethics throughout the company. The GSEC actively oversees ethical practices, engaging in regular discussions to prioritise these matters. Each Board and committee meeting includes a designated time for members to declare any personal interests related to the agenda. Board members submit written declarations annually or when their circumstances change to manage conflicts of interest effectively.
To promote an ethical culture, SANBS provides ongoing ethics training sessions. These initiatives educate employees on ethical behaviour and responsible reporting, using real-life examples for relevance.
The introduction of an Ethics Manager has further enhanced the visibility and accessibility of raising ethical concerns, creating a safe space for open discussions about ethics.
SANBS employs Ethics Ambassadors across various teams to promote ethical practices, alongside maintaining a formal ethics reporting system that includes annual conflict of interest declarations. Plans are in place to implement supplier checks to better integrate ethical considerations into business practices.
Our contributions to society
As a non-profit company dedicated to saving lives, SANBS acknowledges the importance of contributing positively to society. We focus on several key areas:
Workplace: We prioritise the well-being of our employees, ensuring a safe and dignified working environment
Economy: We are committed to preventing fraud and corruption, promoting integrity and accountability within the company
Society: We engage in initiatives that enhance public health, community development, and the protection of human rights
Environmental protection: We recognise our responsibilities regarding environmental protection and have implemented strategies to minimise our impact. At SANBS this is known as our ‘Greening Strategy’
SANBS takes a holistic approach, covering the entire blood value chain. This includes educating donors about their health and promoting healthy lifestyles, strengthening caring relationship with our communities.