Governance Social and Ethics Committee report

“The Social and Ethics Committee’s responsibilities encompass monitoring and regulating the impact of the Group on its stakeholders.”

Prof LW Nkuhlu
Social and Ethics Committee Chairman

The Social and Ethics Committee’s responsibilities encompass monitoring and regulating the impact of the Group on its stakeholders. Although management is tasked with overseeing the day-to-day operational sustainability of their respective areas of business, and reporting thereon to the Social and Ethics Committee, the Board remains ultimately responsible for Group sustainability. The committee was established under the terms of the Companies Act.

The committee is chaired by Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu and further comprises CEO, Jens Montanana and independent non-executive Group Chairman, Stephen Davidson. The committee meets at least twice a year. Details of meeting attendance are set out here.

The Social and Ethics Committee operates within defined terms of reference as set out in its charter and the authority granted to it by the Board. Broadly, the committee is tasked with overseeing the good corporate citizenship of the Group on behalf of the Board.

The committee’s role is to regularly monitor the Group’s activities, with regard to any relevant legislation, other legal requirements or prevailing codes of best practice, in respect of the following:

• Social and economic development, including the Group’s standing in terms of the:
  • ten principles set out in the United Nations Global Compact Principles
  • anti-bribery and corruption legislation and best practice from around the world, including OECD policy guidelines for preventing corruption, US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and UK Bribery Act
• Employment Equity Act
• Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act
• Good corporate citizenship, including the Group’s:
  • promotion of equality, prevention of unfair discrimination, and reduction of corruption
  • contribution to development of the communities in which our activities are predominantly conducted or within which our products or services are predominantly marketed
  • record of sponsorship, donations and charitable giving
• Environment, health and public safety, including the impact of the Group’s activities and services
• Stakeholder relationships, including the Group’s advertising, public relations and compliance with consumer protection laws
• Labour and employment, including the Group’s:
  • standing in terms of the International Labour Organisation Protocol on decent work and working conditions
  • employment relationships, and its contribution towards the educational development of its employees.

The Social and Ethics Committee examines the application of the Group’s Code of Conduct which provides a framework of ethics that is applied across the Group. It also monitors the Group’s application of BBBEE legislation in its South African operations and the promotion of equality and prevention of unfair discrimination throughout the global operations of Datatec. Furthermore, it oversees the Group’s contribution to the development of communities in South Africa through the Datatec Educational and Technology Trust.

The committee draws matters relating to employment equity, BBBEE, CSI and labour to the attention of the Board and reports on them to shareholders at the Annual General Meeting. These are reported here.

No human rights incidents were reported during the financial year.

In South Africa, aspects such as prohibition of child labour, forced compulsory labour and discriminatory practices are monitored by the Department of Labour in addition to the committee.

Prof LW Nkuhlu
Social and Ethics Committee Chairman