On 24 February 2025, the King Committee published a draft King V Code on Corporate Governance (“the Code”), which is open for public comment until the close of business on 04 April 2025.
The Code aims to address the ever-changing governance landscape, both locally and internationally. In this current draft form, the Code adopts an integrated thinking approach that recognizes organizations as embedded components of broader economic, social, and environmental systems. The intended King V Code is intended to update King IV with respect to local and national developments in corporate governance, including legislation, streamline the content and presentation of King V to support the interpretation and application of the Code by users, and standardize and facilitate disclosure of King V.
The Code, through a new “disclosure template”, seeks to operate on an “apply and explain” basis, requiring organizations to demonstrate how their practices achieve the principles rather than simply checking boxes.
The Code consists of 12 governance principles covering areas from ethical leadership and strategic value creation to risk management, information governance, and stakeholder relationships.
Effective action and governance are important to stay ahead in the fast-paced world of corporate governance. Please do not hesitate to contact Chantal Murdock (chantal@bv-inc.co.za), Bryan White (bryan@bv-inc.co.za) or Jason Hunter (jason@bv-inc.co.za) should you require any further information, advice, or assistance in preparation of comments on the Code.