Corporate governance failures in South Africa: Are pension funds next?

Abstract

In recent times, South Africa (‘SA’) has seen many corporate failures due to poor corporate governance. It spans across Johannesburg Stock Exchange (‘JSE’) listed companies, State Owned Enterprises (’SOE’s’)1 as well as non-listed companies,2 ranging from business such as mutual banks and companies that specialise in agricultural products to companies who deal in furniture and household goods. The ramifications of such failures were felt across all corners of SA and beyond.3 Reflecting on the above failures, one will find a common thread of poor corporate governance having played a hand in their catastrophic downfall.4 One such corporate failure was that of Steinhoff International, the once darling stock of investors in SA and abroad.