The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), in collaboration with the OECD, has called for stronger ethical leadership to restore public confidence in South Africa’s institutions.
The two organisations convened an Ethics Month forum to address persistent domestic challenges surrounding public sector governance, accountability, and declining civic trust.
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Discussions reflected on the wider national environment, including matters under examination by the Madlanga Commission and mounting pressure from citizens for greater administrative transparency, according to a statement released by the professional body.
A central theme from the engagement was that institutional ethics must move beyond basic statutory compliance and regulatory adherence.
Participants noted that leaders face their primary ethical test during moments of intense public scrutiny, competing interests, and complex decision-making.
The forum concluded that public faith cannot be sustained through policy measures alone, requiring instead dependable conduct, principled choices, and a demonstrable commitment to the public interest.
Looking ahead to future local government elections, attendees stressed that restoring institutional credibility demands collective action across government, commerce, civil society, and the professions.
SAICA noted that such engagements remain vital as the public continues to question whether key institutions are sufficiently responsive, credible, and dependable.
SAICA serves as South Africa’s national accountancy body, representing over 60,000 chartered accountants, associate general accountants, and accounting technicians. The organisation is also an affiliate of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, a global network representing more than 1.8 million members and students across upwards of 190 countries.
