Our Mandate
Statutory Framework & Public Trust
The Ingonyama Trust (IT) is established under the KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Act 3 of 1994, as amended by the National Land Affairs Act 9 of 1997. The Trust holds approximately 2.8 million hectares of communal land in trust for the material benefit and social well-being of the members of traditional communities. As a Schedule 3A public entity, ITB is fully accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. Every Rand of revenue, every land transaction, and every operational decision is governed by a layered framework of legislation, regulation, and corporate governance codes. Good governance is not an administrative afterthought — it is the foundation on which trust between the Board, traditional communities, and government rests. We commit to transparency, ethical leadership, and open reporting in everything we do.Governing Legislation
KZN Ingonyama Trust Act 3 of 1994 — Founding statute establishing the Trust and its mandate
Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) — Financial accountability and reporting standards
Constitution of the Republic of SA — Sections 25 (property) and 211 (traditional leadership)
Traditional & Khoi-San Leadership Act 3 of 2019 — Recognition of customary institutions
King IV Code on Corporate Governance — Voluntary code adopted in full
Three Pillars
Pillars of Good Governance
Our governance model rests on three interlocking pillars — each anchored in legislation, embedded in policy, and audited annually by independent reviewers.
01
Legal
Legal & Regulatory Compliance
Continuous adherence to all applicable legislation, regulations, and circulars governing public entities — proactively monitored and quarterly reported to the Board.
PFMA & Treasury Regulation tracking
Statutory reporting calendar
Legal opinion register
02
Risk
Enterprise Risk Management
A structured, board-approved risk framework identifying strategic, operational, financial, and reputational risks — with mitigation plans owned by senior management.
Quarterly risk register reviews
Combined assurance model
Business continuity planning
03
Ethics
Ethics & Integrity
Code of Conduct binding all Board members, executives, and staff — supported by a confidential whistleblower hotline, conflict-of-interest declarations, and gift-register protocols.
Annual ethics declarations
Independent whistleblower line
Procurement probity reviews
Board Committees
Sub-Committees of the Board
Four standing sub-committees, each chaired by a non-executive Board member with relevant expertise, meet quarterly to provide focused oversight on their mandate areas.
Standing Committee
Audit & Risk Committee
Independent oversight of financial reporting, internal controls, external and internal audit relationships, and the enterprise risk management framework. Reports directly to the Board.Standing Committee
Human Resources & Remuneration
Oversees organisational design, remuneration policy, executive performance, succession planning, and employee relations. Recommends annual remuneration mandates to the full Board.
Standing Committee
Land & Tenure Committee
Reviews land allocation applications, lease and PTO matters, valuations, and disputes. Ensures alignment with traditional governance structures and the principles of customary tenure.
Standing Committee
Social, Ethics & Transformation
Monitors social and economic development impact, ethical conduct, transformation, environmental sustainability, and stakeholder engagement — in line with King IV principles.Compliance Framework
Regulatory Adherence
We comply with the full spectrum of South African public-entity legislation. Each Act is owned by a designated compliance officer who reports quarterly to the Audit & Risk Committee.
PFMA
Public Finance Management Act
Financial reporting, budgeting, supply chain, and accountability standards.
PAIA
Promotion of Access to Information
Public right to access records held by the Trust — manual published annually.
POPIA
Protection of Personal Information
Lawful processing of personal data of beneficiaries, lessees, and staff.
B-BBEE
Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment
Annual scorecard reporting and supplier transformation targets.
King IV
Corporate Governance Code
Voluntary code adopted in full — apply-and-explain disclosure approach.
Speak Up
Report Wrongdoing Anonymously
If you suspect fraud, corruption, maladministration, or any breach of our Code of Conduct, we want to hear from you. The whistleblower hotline is operated by an independent service provider and is fully protected under the Protected Disclosures Act 26 of 2000.
1
Confidential by design
Reports are received by an independent third party. Your identity is never disclosed to ITB without your consent.2
Protected by law
The Protected Disclosures Act shields whistleblowers from any form of retaliation, dismissal, or occupational detriment.3
Acted upon
Every credible report is investigated. Outcomes are reported (anonymised) to the Audit & Risk Committee quarterly.Tip-Off Anonymous
Independent · Protected · 24/7
☎Toll-Free Hotline
0800 212 752
Email
tipoffs@itb.org.za
SMS / WhatsApp
0338469918
All channels are operated by an independent service provider. Reports may be made in any of South Africa's 11 official languages.
100%
PFMA Compliance
2024/25 financial year
Clean
AG Audit Outcome
Auditor-General SA
04
Sub-Committees
Quarterly oversight
30+
Active Policies
Reviewed every 3 years
Policies & Documents
Public Document Library
Key governance documents are published here in line with our PAIA obligations. For documents not listed, submit a PAIA request via our Information Officer.
King IV Journey
Our Governance Maturity
A summary of how the Board has progressively strengthened its governance practices in line with the King IV Code on Corporate Governance.
2018Adoption
King IV Code formally adopted
Board resolution to apply the King IV principles in full and adopt the apply-and-explain disclosure approach.2020Charter Review
Board Charter and Sub-Committee Terms of Reference refreshed
All four sub-committees re-mandated against King IV principles 8 and 9 — composition, independence, and effectiveness.2022Risk Framework
Combined Assurance Model rolled out
Three-lines-of-defence framework introduced — operational management, oversight functions, and independent assurance providers integrated.2024Ethics
Ethics & Transformation Committee elevated
Standalone Social, Ethics & Transformation Committee established to focus on King IV principles 3 & 4 — ethical leadership and corporate citizenship.2025Digital