The King Code of Governance Principles (King III) was released on 1 September 2009 and will become applicable on 1 March 2010. While the release of King III represents a significant advance in good corporate governance it falls short in responding to the distinct needs of non-profit organisations (NPOs) to which it is also applicable.

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By Melanie Judge
Pretoria News, 19 August 2009
First published in The Cape Argus, 11 August 2009

Although they need each other, the relationship between the media and civil society has not been at its best in post-apartheid South Africa, and both parties would do well to cultivate a more professional and respectful relationship.

At a recent event hosted by Inyathelo, participants were captivated by writer, columnist and researcher Glenn Ashton. Working in civil society Glenn spent the early breakfast session expanding on his recent article, The New Colonists Scramble for Africa. Referring to the corporate nexus, the profit-seeking imperative and conditional aid to Africa, Glenn disputed what Dambisa Moyo states in her book Dead Aid about the need to eschew foreign aid, arguing that civil society should in fact demand its fair share with increased influence as to where this funding goes.

The King III report on Governance Principles for South Africa might cause more harm than good to the country's non-profit sector since it inadvertently ignores the distinctive values on which the South African non-profit is based. So says Inyathelo, The South African Institute for Advancement, an NGO charged with building an African civil society, in a memorandum in which it notes that the King III Report has concentrated on commercial entities in its findings and recommendations.

Young people in South Africa played a determining role in bringing about a society based on sound democratic ideals and principles. “The energy and enthusiasm of our young people continues to contribute to the development of our society.” So says Shelagh Gastrow, Executive Director for Inyathelo – The South African Institute for advancement, in announcing the call for entries for the Inyathelo Philanthropy Awards 2009.

Inyathelo – The South African Institute for Advancement has called for nominations for its annual Philanthropy Awards which recognises those South Africans who have made a sustained personal contribution to benefit disadvantaged communities in South Africa.

This conference was devoted to ‘third stream income’: defining it, and accessing, securing and generating income from sources other than government subsidies and from tuition or student fees. Speakers from the United States of America, key local figures, and close to a hundred delegates presented and addressed the following topics: (i) ‘Third Stream Income at South African Universities’[1]; (ii) Commercialisation; (iii) The Role of the Vice Chancellor in Fundraising, Advancement and Third Stream Income; (iv) Endowment and Reserves Management; (iv) Public/Private Partnerships and (v) Short-term and Long-term Financing.

Care needs to be exercised to ensure that donations and favours to political parties do not degenerate into expectations of favours and corruption, and some form of regulation should be encouraged.

An informative, easy-to-read guide detailing the important responsibilities of boards of Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) has been published by Inyathelo – The South African Institute for Advancement. In just a few pages the booklet deals comprehensively with the vital responsibilities of such Boards in protecting and enhancing the reputation of NPOs.