Assurance on Sustainability Reports
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Access key resources, guidance, and updates regarding Sustainability Assurance Engagements and Assurance on Integrated Reports
Illustrative Engagement Letters and Illustrative Assurance Reports
In May 2022, the CFAS updated the illustrative engagement letters, illustrative assurance reports and related guidance notes for practitioners on sustainability engagements in South Africa, for alignment to the IAASB’s Quality Management Standards
- Illustrative Engagement Letter: Sustainability limited assurance PDF | Word
- Illustrative Report: Sustainability limited assurance PDF | Word
- Illustrative Engagement Letter: Sustainability reasonable assurance PDF | Word
- Illustrative Report: Sustainability reasonable assurance PDF | Word
- Illustrative Engagement Letter: Sustainability combined assurance PDF | Word
- Illustrative Report: Sustainability combined assurance PDF | Word
In November 2019, the CFAS updated the illustrative engagement letters, illustrative assurance reports and related guidance notes for practitioners on sustainability engagements in South Africa, for alignment to the IRBA Code of Professional Conduct (Revised November 2018)
- Revised limited assurance illustrative engagement letter (updated) PDF | Word
- Revised limited assurance illustrative assurance report (updated) PDF | Word
- Reasonable assurance illustrative engagement letter (updated) PDF | Word
- Reasonable assurance illustrative assurance report (updated) PDF | Word
- Combined reasonable and limited assurance illustrative engagement letter (updated) PDF | Word
- Combined reasonable and limited assurance illustrative assurance report (updated) PDF | Word
June 2018, the CFAS has issued illustrative engagement letters, illustrative assurance reports and related guidance notes for use by practitioners on sustainability engagements in South Africa:
- Revised limited assurance illustrative engagement letter PDF | Word
- Revised limited assurance illustrative assurance report PDF | Word
- Reasonable assurance illustrative engagement letter PDF | Word
- Reasonable assurance illustrative assurance report PDF | Word
- Combined reasonable and limited assurance illustrative engagement letter PDF | Word
- Combined reasonable and limited assurance illustrative assurance report PDF | Word
South African Assurance Engagements Practice Statements (SAAEPS)
South African Assurance Engagements Practice Statements (SAAEPS)
Currently the following South Assurance Engagements Practice Statements (SAAEPS) have been issued:
| Title | Date Issued | Effective Date | Download Documents |
| Feedback Statement on South African Assurance Engagements Practice Statement (SAAEPS) 1, Sustainability Assurance Engagements: Rational Purpose, Appropriateness of Underlying Subject Matter and Suitability of Criteria | May 2025 |
| |
Updated SAAEPS 1 – Sustainability Assurance Engagements: Rational Purpose, Appropriateness of Underlying Subject Matter and Suitability of Criteria
| May 2022 |
| PDF | Word |
| Updated SAAEPS 1 – Sustainability Assurance Engagements: Rational Purpose, Appropriateness of Underlying Subject Matter and Suitability of Criteria | June 2020 | Periods beginning on or after 15 December 2020 | PDF | Word |
| If early adopted: SAAEPS 1 – Sustainability Assurance Engagements: Rational Purpose, Appropriateness of Underlying Subject Matter and Suitability of Criteria | Sept 2018 | Periods beginning on or after 15 December 2020 | PDF | Word |
Accountancy SA Articles on SAAEPS 1
At the date of the issue of the updated SAAEPS 1, three articles have been written thereon that have been published in Accountancy SA. The three articles, reproduced here, are as follows:
- The new rational purpose requirement written by Pieter Conradie;
- Before accepting your sustainability assurance engagement… written by Nicolette Bester; and
- SAAEPS 1: A practitioner’s perspective written by Jeremy Grist.
Assurance on Integrated Reports
The purpose of this webpage is to create a central source of all guidance or other information currently available regarding assurance on integrated reports.
This webpage is in three parts:
- Related IRBA projects.
- Links to related websites.
- Table of publications relating to the assurance of integrated reports.
Registered auditors may find these publications of assistance when providing assurance on integrated reports.
DisclaimerThe linked websites and documents are for information purposes only. The IRBA does not endorse any of the publications, as these have not been subject to the IRBA’s due process. |
Related IRBA projects
The Sustainability Standing Committee (the SSC) of the CFAS has prepared a South African Assurance Engagements Practice Statement (SAAEPS) 1, Sustainability Assurance Engagement Concepts: Evaluating the Rational Purpose, the Appropriateness of the Underlying Subject Matter and the Suitability of Criteria. The SAAEPS was issued in September 2018. The SAAEPS is effective for the Acceptance and Continuance – Preconditions for the Assurance Engagement phase of the sustainability assurance engagement for reporting periods beginning on or after 15 December 2020. Early adoption is permitted.
The guidance may be adapted to the acceptance considerations for assurance on integrated reporting engagements.
Related IAASB projects
The International Accounting and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) issued a Consultation Paper, Extended External Reporting Assurance, in February 2019. The Consultation Paper includes the first part of draft guidance for practitioners applying International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000 (Revised), Assurance Engagements Other than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information, to Extended External Reporting (EER) assurance engagements. Integrated reporting is a subset of EER.
Links to related websites:
- International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s (IAASB) project page
- International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)
- Integrated Reporting Committee South Africa
- SAICA’s Integrated Reporting page
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW)
- Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA)
- Financial Reporting Council (UK)
- International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) – database of recognised reports
- IFAC’s and IIRC’s Integrated Reporting PAO Network
Table of publications relating to the assurance of integrated reports
Contact the Standards Department of the IRBA at standards@irba.co.za with any further suggestions of relevant documents that may be
Useful Links:
Related Communiques:
- 07 August 2023: IRBA Undertakes a Post-implementation Review of its SAAEPS 1, Sustainability Assurance Engagements: Rational Purpose, Appropriateness of Underlying Subject Matter and Suitability of Criteria
- 31 October 2022: IRBA Staff Audit Practice Alert 8: Frequently Asked Questions on Sustainability Assurance Engagements