“As part of our commitment to community service in the South African context, it was important for the University of Pretoria to contribute to King III as it plays an important role in shaping the way that companies and public sector organisations are directed and controlled in South Africa,” says Professor Deon Rossouw, Head of the Philosophy Department and Director of the Centre for Business and Professional Ethics.

Rossouw, and staff members Estelle de Beer (Department of Marketing and Communication Management) and Professor Derick de Jongh, Director of the Centre for Responsible Leadership (CRL), crafted contributions over a period of two years.

Rossouw and De Jongh were members of the Integrated Reporting and Disclosure Committee and were closely involved in drafting chapter one of King III that provided the ethical foundation for the responsible governance of companies.

“The positioning of the first chapter was a significant development since the principles of responsible leadership and corporate citizenship now form the basis of the entire report.” said De Jongh.

Estelle de Beer was one of six researchers who contributed to King III. She was also a member of the Compliance and Relationships Committee. “The discipline of communication management plays a vital role in the strategic management of organisations. The Department of Marketing and Communication Management at UP specialises in this field and we could therefore contribute significantly to the chapter on Governing Stakeholder Relationships,“ she said.

Of the 123 people involved in the compilation of the King III Report, less than 20% are serving directors. The others are professionals and experts who covered the respective topics in the chapters. King III is the third report of its kind to be issued. King I was issued in 1992 and King II in 2002.