This study investigated the extent to which banks in South Africa report on remuneration and incentives according to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. The study was done by examining the annual integrated reports of eight commercial banks listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Content analysis was used as the research method in this empirical study. There was, on average, 75% compliance to G4-51 a, the standard concerning remuneration policies by the integrated reports studied and 69% compliance to G4-52 a, the standard concerning the process for determining remuneration. There was a very low degree of compliance to standard G-53 a and standard G4-55 a, which concern how stakeholders’ views are sought and taken into account regarding remuneration and the ratios regarding compensation, respectively. Two of the standards had no compliance at all. They are G4-51 b and G4-54 a that respectively, concerns how the performance criteria in the remuneration policy relate to the highest governance bodies’ and senior executives’ economic, environmental and social objectives and the ratio of the annual total compensation for the organization’s highest-paid individual in each country of significant operations to the median annual total compensation for all employees. These are two of the most important standards in order to reach the objective of social responsibility reporting with regards to remuneration and that serious consideration must be given as to why there is no compliance. Based on the findings from this study, it is found that social reporting by the banks listed on the JSE with regards to remuneration, as indicated by the GRI G4, are relatively poor. Keywords: sustainability reporting, sustainable development, global reporting initiative, integrated reporting; remuneration and incentives, corporate social responsibility, banking industry, South Africa. JEL Classification: M14, N2, N27, M52

In the aftermath of the credit crisis of 2007-2009, there was considerable public frustration with regard to executive remuneration, particularly in the banking industry. Consequently, the need for regulated remuneration practices became essential. For this purpose, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) aims to align risk and reward by encouraging good risk management and discouraging excessive risk-taking. This paper aims to demonstrate the correlation between the health of the banking industry and economic activity, as well as the change in executive remuneration pre and post the credit crisis. In addition, the paper aims to measure the correlation between executive remuneration in the form of cash and equity, and risk-taking. The unique features of banking emphasized the interconnectedness to the broader economy. The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used to perform these analyses. It was found that as executive remuneration in the form of cash increased, risk-taking decreased. In addition, as executive remuneration in the form of equity decreased, risk-taking increased. In summary, the research points to the fact that executives have in fact been remunerated in terms of equity. However, the results indicate that this may not have enticed the executives to take on more risks

A reliable and secure supply of energy is a prerequisite for adequate output and economic growth – especially in a platinum mining company. With exponential tariff increases, inadequate power supply leading to power cuts, and a carbon tax introduction, this study compared the costs with benefits by implementing a 54 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant. Two scenarios were compared over the same 20-year period in a case study of a South African platinum mining company operating in the platinum belt of Rustenburg. The first scenario was grounded upon the decision to proceed with the conventional manner of sourcing electricity from Eskom, South Africa’s power utility. The second scenario assessed the implementation of a 54 MW solar PV plant. The findings reveal that the company could generate 2 439 753 MWh of clean energy over 20 years with an investment of ZAR 910 857 920, giving a ZAR 563 205 994 (11%) carbon tax saving and a ZAR 5 614 426 335 (10%) reduction in electricity costs. Further, installing the solar PV plant could reinforce the company‘s dedication to protecting the environment and creating job opportunities through the employment of staff to install and maintain the plant.

Transparency in reporting has become very important and various stakeholders expect companies to disclose sensitive information, such as ethical aspects, integrity and anticorruption information. Any indication of corruption can be detrimental when trying to attract foreign investors to invest in a country. These disclosure practices could place remarkable pressure on a company that needs to portray a positive image to their stakeholders. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the reporting on ethics, integrity and anticorruption of companies in the motor vehicle manufacturing sector. Content analysis was used as the research method. A checklist was compiled based on the different frameworks and country requirements. The results of the evaluation indicate that companies understand the importance of the governance aspects such as ethics and integrity, and some also provide training on the relevant codes and policies. However, disclosure on corruption-related incidents within the companies is substandard and insufficient information is provided in the reports.

Volhoubaarheid en volhoubare ontwikkeling is dikwels betwiste konsepte wat geassosieer word met 'n wye verskeidenheid verbandhoudende betekenisse en teorieë. Verskillende wêreld-beskouings deur mense en organisasies beïnvloed die manier waarop volhoubare ontwikkeling hanteer word. Om volhoubaarheid en volhoubaarheidskonsepte na te streef, is meestal in direkte konflik met die dryfveer om winste te genereer. Hierdie oorsigartikel fokus op moontlike ontwikkelinge en aanpassings in die besigheidswêreld wat ten doel het om volhoubaarheid te verseker. Met die volhoubaarheidskonsep in gedagte, is die doelwit van hierdie artikel derhalwe om die rol en bydrae van die rekeningkundige professie in volhoubare ontwikkeling te ondersoek. Vorige studies dui aan dat Finansiële Rekeningkunde onderworpe is aan standaardisering en regulering in ooreenstemming met internasionale en plaaslike vereistes en dat dit daarom moeilik is om, gegewe dergelike gestandaardiseerde regulasies, volhoubaarheid te akkommo-deer. Die volgende stap was om te ontleed hoe die volhoubaarheidskonsepte in Bestuurs-rekeningkunde geïnkorporeer kan word. Omrede die meting en rapportering van omge-wingskostes steeds problematies blyk te wees, het 'n totale nuwe vakdissipline naamlik Omgewingsbestuursrekeningkunde ontwikkel. Die verhouding tussen monetêre inligting en verhoogde uitset enersyds en tegelykertyd daarmee die vermindering van omgewingsbe-soedeling of natuurlike hulpbronverbruik andersyds, kan uitgedruk word in terme van 'n eko-doeltreffendheidsverhouding of 'n ekonomiesedoeltreffendheidsindikator (EDI). Hierdie behoefte om te meet en te ontleed, gee aanleiding tot nuwe vakdissiplines as deel van Omge-wingsbestuursrekeningkunde, insluitende nuwe spesialisrigtings soos Water-rekeningkunde en Koolstofrekeningkunde wat tans ontwikkel word. Die implementering van 'n groot aantal omgewingsbestuursrekenkundige instrumente vorm die grondslag vir die bevordering van integrasie en volhoubaarheid. Bogenoemde ontwikkelinge en tendense, benader vanuit die perspektiefvan 'n rekeningkundige professie, kan 'n positiewe bydrae lewer tot die beskerming van ons omgewing. Groter samewerking tussen navorsers, akademici en professionele rekeningkundige liggame kan die volhoubaarheid van ons planeet bevorder.