WHY COMPANY SECRETARIES ARE GOVERNANCE’S UNSUNG HEROES (2025-04-10)

By Terrance M. Booysen (CGF Research Institute: CEO)

Lessons from South Africa hint at a digital tomorrow

Looking back to move forward

I have spent 22 years at the helm of CGF Research Institute, watching South Africa’s governance story unfold, sometimes with hope, often with frustration.  State capture left a one-trillion-rand scar (Zondo, 2022), and Eskom’s R78 billion loss in 2023 still stings.  These are not just numbers to me; they’re signs that oversight systems are struggling to find their footing.  Yet through it all, I keep coming back to the Company Secretary - not sitting on the board but working tirelessly behind the scenes.  They are the ones who could turn things around, if only we gave them the right tools.  This is not just a South African tale; it’s a lesson for boards everywhere.

THE COMPANY SECRETARY CAN MAKE OR BREAK THE BOARD (2024-05-23)

By Terrance M. Booysen (CGF Research Institute: CEO)

While the position of Company Secretary has always been important within an organisation, especially from an administrative perspective, the Company Secretary’s role and scope of responsibility has grown over the years from an ‘efficient administrator’ to a ‘governance leader’. A modern-day Company Secretary’s role essentially encompasses ensuring the smooth running of the board’s functions, as well as ensuring -- from a good governance perspective -- that directors are adequately informed and protected in the heightened regulatory environment in which modern organisations operate.

THE COMPANY SECRETARY: FROM COMPANY ADMINISTRATOR TO GOVERNANCE LEADER (2018-06-19)

By Terrance M. Booysen (Director: CGF) and peer reviewed by Lucien Caron (Lead Independent Consultant: CGF)

The role of a company secretary is broad and onerous to say the least and, if this post is not occupied by a competent person who has the appropriate knowledge and skills; the consequences can be the cause of significant organisational friction.  The requirements and reporting lines of the position -- by their very nature -- give rise to potential conflict situations, and it is for this reason in particular, that the person appointed to the position must have the necessary maturity, experience and independence to properly carry out their duties and responsibilities, while being objective, impartial and independent.