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THE COMPANY SECRETARY’S ROLE IN CG: PRIVATE AND PUBLIC OWNED SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANIES
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Joseph Sigauke, Patrick Collins, Emmanuel Mutambara 
, Rosemary Sibanda
Abstract
This study investigates the role of the company secretary in ensuring and promoting proper Corporate Governance (CG) in public and private owned South African companies, so as to educate companies on their significance in reducing corporate scandals. The study followed a mixed research paradigm in which qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used. Fifty questionnaires were sent to company secretaries of different business sectors giving a response rate of 78% with four of the participants telephonically interviewed to gather qualitative data. The study confirmed that the company secretary still plays a significant role in promoting CG by giving support and advising the board and its directors on CG matters. The results further show that some company secretaries are involved in director selection, performance evaluation and implement induction, training and/or professional development to strengthen the company’s governance practices. Through the use of the Companies Act and the Kings report the company secretary ensures directors are kept abreast of relevant legislative and regulatory developments. It was observed that the company secretary ensures good information flow between the board, directors and stakeholders and keeps record of all conflicts of interest. Though the company secretary is appointed by the board they can whistle blow any misconduct under the protection of the Protected Disclosure Act, thus ensuring effectiveness of their role. Despite the fact that some of the company secretaries are facing challenges due to the ever evolving and increasing complexity of their roles, there has been evolution with regards to legislation, greater transparency, better governance and improved investor expectation. This study enriches company secretaries with knowledge of their expected role in CG.
Keywords: King Report, Companies Act, Board of Directors, Stakeholders, Shareholders
How to cite this paper: Sigauke, J., Collins, P., Mutambara, E., Sibanda, R. (2015). The company secretary’s role in CG: private and public owned south African companies. Corporate Ownership & Control, 13(1-2), 401-413. https://doi.org/10.22495/cocv13i1c3p8
