GOVERNANCE IN 60 SECONDS
The Workplace Experience Mentorship Programme has launched successfully, with cohorts still open for registration.
The Hub Briefing website is now live as a professional platform for company secretaries and professionals across governance, risk, compliance and assurance.
The PIC leadership intervention raises important questions about board stability, executive authority and institutional independence.
President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Stella Ndabeni as Acting Minister of Health from 24 August to 30 September 2026.
Renewed debate about a fully independent Chapter 9 anti-corruption institution places institutional design and political independence back on the governance agenda.
Proposed beneficial-ownership rules would require financial institutions to strengthen ownership records, monitoring and reporting.
The NSFAS governance intervention highlights the need for lawful authority, clear delegations and accountable leadership transitions in public entities.
HUB ECOSYSTEM UPDATE
Registration Closing Soon
Our next learning cohorts are getting underway, and there is still an opportunity to register for:
Finance for Decision Making
Corporate Law
Applied Governance
Advanced Financial Accounting
Cohorts begin this week, and registration is nearing close. If you’ve been considering joining, now is the time to secure your place.
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The Hub Briefing website is now live. It is a professional platform for company secretaries and professionals across governance, risk, compliance and assurance. The platform brings together practical insights, learning opportunities, career pathways, resources and a growing professional community in one place.
New Resource: NQF Level 8 Company Secretary Workplace Experience Overview
We’re building a growing library of practical governance resources on The Hub Briefing website to support professionals and students beyond each edition of the newsletter.
Our latest free resource is the NQF Level 8 Company Secretary Workplace Experience Overview, developed for CGISA Company Secretary candidates preparing their Workplace Experience Portfolios.
The guide provides an overview of the workplace experience requirements, helps candidates understand how to structure their evidence, and supports the development of a complete, assessment-ready portfolio.
Visit our Resources page regularly as we continue adding practical governance guides, tools and professional resources.
COMING UP
Ongoing Workplace Experience Mentorship Programme.
Continued development of Learning Centre resources.
Further development of The Hub Briefing professional platform.
Click here: The Hub Briefing is now live
GOVERNANCE RADAR
Development | Key Update | Status |
|---|---|---|
Acting Health Minister appointed | President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Minister Stella Ndabeni as Acting Minister of Health from 24 August to 30 September 2026 while Minister Joe Phaahla remains on sick leave. | Appointment effective; continuity and delegated executive authority should be monitored. thepresidency.gov |
Independence of anti-corruption institutions | Renewed debate follows calls for a Chapter 9 institution insulated from political influence and concerns about vacancies and accountability within the current anti-corruption architecture. | Policy and legislative debate; monitor parliamentary developments. ewn.co |
FSCA regulatory roadmap | The FSCA’s 2026 Three-Year Regulation Plan identifies the COFI Bill as its key priority and signals future work on governance, licensing, fit-and-proper, risk management, complaints handling and fair customer outcomes. | Regulatory roadmap published; financial institutions should monitor phased consultation and implementation. masthead.co.za |
Beneficial ownership standard | The Prudential Authority and FSCA published a draft joint standard on beneficial ownership for financial institutions, with comments invited by 25 September 2026. | Consultation open; boards, company secretaries and compliance teams should assess ownership records and governance accountability. acts.co.za |
King V implementation | King V supersedes King IV and is effective for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2026, with a dedicated disclosure framework and updated guidance for ethical and effective leadership. | Implementation period underway; governing bodies should align board charters, disclosures and governance workplans. iodsa.co.za |
NSFAS board reinstatement | The NSFAS Board welcomed a Pretoria High Court interim order suspending the administrator’s appointment and reinstating the board pending final determination of the review application. | Interim relief granted; public-entity interventions should be legally grounded and procedurally sound. gov.za |
NSFAS maladministration findings | The Public Protector reported prima facie evidence of systemic maladministration at NSFAS, including governance, funding, coordination and oversight failures affecting students and institutions. | Remedial process developing; audit, risk and oversight committees should watch governance-restoration steps. dailymaverick.co.za |
THE GOVERNANCE LENS
PIC Intervention: Stability Must Not Replace Institutional Independence
Government interventions at the Public Investment Corporation continue following leadership instability, board resignations and the legal dispute concerning the suspension of CEO Patrick Dlamini. Deputy Minister Seiso Mohai has been appointed chairperson of the PIC board as part of efforts to restore institutional stability and strengthen governance. pic.gov
The PIC manages significant retirement and public-sector assets. Its governance therefore affects beneficiaries, financial markets, public confidence and the credibility of state-asset oversight.
The Governance Lens
Board renewal should restore competence, independence and continuity rather than merely change personalities.
The roles of the shareholder representative, board and executive management must remain clearly defined.
Board interventions should be supported by lawful processes, documented delegations and transparent accountability.
Institutional stability must not become a justification for weakening independent oversight.
The board should publish a governance-recovery plan covering leadership, risk, investment oversight and stakeholder confidence.
Further reading: PIC statement on board appointments; Cabinet communication on PIC board appointment; Mpati Commission implementation updates.
Executive Continuity: Acting Appointments Require Clear Accountability
President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Minister Stella Ndabeni as Acting Minister of Health from 24 August to 30 September 2026 while Minister Joe Phaahla remains on sick leave. The appointment was made under section 98 of the Constitution and transfers the functions of the Health Minister to the Acting Minister for the specified period. thepresidency.gov
The Governance Lens
Acting appointments should include clear decision-making authority, reporting lines and handover arrangements.
Departments should maintain continuity registers for critical executive responsibilities.
Parliamentary and committee oversight should continue during temporary appointments.
Senior officials should document decisions made during the acting period for later accountability.
Boards and executives can apply the same principle through formal succession and delegation plans.
Further reading: The Presidency statement on Acting Health Minister appointment; Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, section 98.
GOVERNANCE INTELLIGENCE
Beneficial Ownership: Boards May Carry Direct Oversight Responsibility
Intelligence Brief
Proposed FSCA and Prudential Authority requirements would require financial institutions to maintain up-to-date beneficial-owner information, assess beneficial owners periodically and report relevant ownership changes. The proposed framework places responsibility on the governing body for ensuring compliance. moonstone.co
This moves beneficial ownership beyond a once-off onboarding exercise. It would require continuous monitoring, documented assessments and reliable escalation when ownership or control changes.
Recommended Actions
Review the current beneficial-owner register for completeness and currency.
Map responsibility between the board, company secretary, compliance officer and business owners.
Test whether ownership changes can be detected and reported within the required period.
Assess the impact of the proposed standard and consider submitting comments before the closing date.
Reconcile beneficial-owner information across Companies Act, FICA and regulatory records.
Further reading: Financial Intelligence Centre Guidance Note 7B; FIC Draft Guidance Note 7B consultation notice; CIPC guidance on sections 30A and 30B; CIPC Notice 35 of 2026; FSCA and Prudential Authority draft beneficial-ownership standard.
Public Entity Interventions: Governance Authority Must Be Clear
Intelligence Brief
The NSFAS intervention demonstrates the governance risk created when a public entity’s board and administrator operate under contested authority. The Pretoria High Court suspended the appointment of the administrator and reinstated the board on an interim basis pending the final determination of the review proceedings.
The broader lesson applies beyond public entities: interventions, delegated authority and leadership changes must be legally grounded, clearly documented and capable of withstanding independent scrutiny.
Recommended Actions
Review the legal basis for any intervention, administrator appointment or board replacement.
Define the powers, reporting lines and limitations of interim office-holders.
Require formal handover and continuity plans during leadership changes.
Maintain complete records of resolutions, delegations and stakeholder communications.
Ensure urgent action does not displace procedural fairness and independent oversight.
Further reading: NSFAS Board statement on Pretoria High Court interim relief; Pretoria High Court reporting on NSFAS administrator suspension; Public Protector reporting on NSFAS maladministration.
RESOURCE OF THE PERIOD
IIA Global Internal Audit Standards
Overview
The IIA’s Global Internal Audit Standards provide the professional framework for internal audit purpose, ethics, governance, independence, performance and quality assurance.
Practical Benefit
The standards assist audit committees and chief audit executives in assessing whether internal audit has the authority, independence and operating model required to support effective governance and combined assurance.
Access the IIA Global Internal Audit Standards
Further reading: IIA Global Internal Audit Standards; IIA guidance on internal audit governance, independence and quality assurance; King V Disclosure Framework.
FACES OF GOVERNANCE
Beyond the Boardroom
Behind every governance professional is a unique story.
This feature celebrates the people shaping governance across South Africa by highlighting their career journeys, professional contributions and the interests that define them beyond work.
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Featured professionals are showcased in The Hub Briefing and on the CS Professionals Hub LinkedIn page, reaching a growing audience of more than 1,500 governance professionals, company secretaries, directors, risk and compliance practitioners, and governance students across South Africa.
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Until next time,
The Editorial Team
The Hub Briefing