SACAA Annual Report 2022_23

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8. ETHICS AND CODE OF CONDUCT Ethical leadership, underpinned by a strong ethical culture, is quintessential to SACAA’s consistent excellent performance and clean audits over the years. The SACAA has made remarkable strides in inculcating a strong ethical culture. As a regulator, it has made concerted in its efforts to eradicate unethical behaviour and ensure that employees and all levels of management are equally empowered to deal with ethical dilemmas.

abuse of authority and in line with the approved Ethics Policy and Code of Conduct. These governance instruments embody the ethical principles that are envisaged at the SACAA for its directors, employees and contractors and are linked to the values adopted by the Board, which seek to also provide guidance and ensure that ethics are put into action and infuse employees with a sense of self-respect. They aid in strengthening the relationships among different role-players and foster a credible ethical working relationship and culture at the SACAA. To give effect to the King IV™ ethics outcome, the Board delegated the oversight of ethics to the Human Resources Committee, to ensure a more impactful focus on ethics. The Board has also ensured that risks related to ethics are documented and monitored quarterly. Based on the previous results of the ethics survey conducted in 2021, SACAA moved from a fragile culture in 2019 to a developing culture in 2021, and we hope to improve on this going forward, as we embark on a survey during the 2023/24 financial year. All training interventions that were incorporated into the SACAA’s Ethics Implementation Plan for 2022/23 addressed the recommendations of the previous survey, and tangible results can be seen. The remarkable strides made in maturing the SACAA’s ethical culture indicate that the organisation is investing in the development of its ethics and remains committed to the principles stated in the King IV report™. It is encouraging to report that the SACAA’s sustained efforts to drive an ethical culture within the organisation, and the oversight and ethical leadership exemplified by the Board and Management, will continue to build on the effective and ethical governance of this important entity, thereby contributing to an ethical state.

Ethical leadership, exemplified by integrity, competence, responsibility, accountability, fairness, and transparency, permeates SACAA’s ethos. In keeping with the King IV™ principles relating to ethics, the Board reviewed and approved the Ethics Policy and Framework in April 2022. The Ethics framework ensures that the SACAA maintains an excellent reputation of integrity in all its dealings, and this is anchored in a Board-approved annual Ethics Implementation Plan. The Board continues to oversee the implementation of the ethics programme, and it has been rewarding to see the implementation of the Ethics Plan and the positive impact it has had on employees. The value of a strongly ethical organisation, which is reliable, and with a credible reputation, can scarcely be overestimated. Various ethics initiatives were implemented throughout the year to reinforce ethical behaviour, which entailed ethics workshops, focus groups, quizzes, and the distribution of videos and training, including the revision of policies and procedures. An Ethics Day was successfully hosted in February 2023 to further embed the ethical culture at the SACAA. In this instance, employees were taken out of the office and provided with tools to resolve ethical dilemmas through the screening of a film. It proved to be an effective, therapeutic, and refreshing exercise. Employees are expected to fulfil their duties with integrity and respect towards customers, stakeholders, and the aviation industry, without the

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