South African Practice Statements
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South African Practice Statements may be developed and issued by the IRBA to provide practical assistance to auditors in the implementation of relevant International or South African Standards on Quality Management, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance, and Related Services. South African Practice Statements developed may be in respect of Auditing, Review, Other Assurance and Related Services (SAAPS, SAREPS, SAAEPS and SARSPS). SAAEPS 1 is accessible from the Sustainability Page.
Currently the following South African Auditing Practice Statements (SAAPS) have been issued:
- SAAPS 2 – Financial Reporting Frameworks and the Auditors Reports
- SAAPS 3 – Illustrative Reports
- SAAPS 4 – Letters of Specific Inquiry to the Entity’s External Legal Practitioner Regarding Litigation and Claims Involving the Entity
- SAAPS 5 – Reporting on Donor Funding Engagements
- SAAPS 6 – External Confirmations from Financial Institutions
SAAPS 2
SAAPS 3
SAAPS 4
SAAPS 5
SAAPS 6
SAAPS 7
SAAPS 2
SAAPS 2 – Financial Reporting Frameworks and the Auditors Reports
| Title | Date Issued | Effective Date | Download Documents |
| SAAPS 2 (Revised 2018) – Financial Reporting Frameworks and the Auditor’s Report | May 2022 |
|
PDF | Word |
| SAAPS 2 (Revised 2018) – Financial Reporting Frameworks and the Auditor’s Report | March 2018 | Periods ending on or after 1 April 2018 | |
| SAAPS 2 (Revised November 2013) – Financial Reporting Frameworks and the Auditor’s Report | November 2013 | November 2013 |
Related Communiqués
- 09 March 2018: South African Auditing Practice Statement (SAAPS) 2 (Revised 2018) Financial Reporting Frameworks and the Auditor’s Report
- 03 December 2013: South African Auditing Practice Statement Revised SAAPS 2 (Revised November 2013) Financial Reporting Frameworks and the Auditor’s Report and SAAPS 3 (Revised November 2013) Illustrative Reports
- 03 February 2011: SAAPS 2 (Revised) Financial Reporting Frameworks and the Auditor’s Report
- 15 November 2010: Reminder to submit comments on the Proposed Revised South African Auditing Practice Statement (SAAPS) 2: Financial Reporting Frameworks and the Auditor’s Report
- 07 October 2010: Explanatory Memorandum and Exposure Draft Proposed Revised South African Auditing Practice Statement (SAAPS) 2. Financial Reporting Frameworks and the Auditor’s Report
SAAPS 3
SAAPS 3 – Illustrative Reports
| Title | Date Issued | Effective Date | Download Documents |
| SAAPS 3 (Revised September 2025) – Illustrative Reports | September 2025 | Audits or independent reviews of financial statements for periods beginning on or after 15 December 2024, with early adoption permitted. | PDF | Word |
| SAAPS 3 (Revised March 2024) – Illustrative Reports | March 2024 | Audits or independent reviews of financial statements for periods ending on or after 15 December 2024, with early adoption permitted. | PDF | Word |
| Updated SAAPS 3 (Revised May 2019) – Illustrative Reports | June 2023 | Audits and reviews of financial statements for periods ending on or after 31 December 2023, with early adoption permitted. | PDF | Word |
| Updated SAAPS 3 (Revised May 2019) – Illustrative Reports | May 2022 |
| PDF | Word |
| Updated SAAPS 3 (Revised May 2019) – Illustrative Reports | November 2020 | Effective as of 16 November 2020 | PDF | Word |
| SAAPS 3 (Revised May 2019) – Illustrative Reports | May 2019 | Auditor’s reports issued on or after 15 June 2019 | PDF | Word |
| SAAPS 3 (Revised November 2015) – Illustrative Reports | November 2015 | Periods ending on or after 15 December 2016 | PDF | Word |
Related Communiqués
- 11 September 2025: Publication of SAAPS 3 (Revised September 2025), Illustrative Reports: Incorporating the IAASB’s Narrow Scope Amendments to ISA 700 (Revised)
- 13 March 2024: Publication of South African Auditing Practice Statement 3 (Revised March 2024), Illustrative Reports, Incorporating Enhanced Auditor Reporting Requirements
- 30 May 2019: The IRBA issues the South African Auditing Practice Statement (SAAPS) 3 (Revised May 2019), Illustrative Reports
- 01 March 2016: South African Auditing Practice Statement (SAAPS) 3 (Revised November 2015)
- 22 December 2011: Proposed South African Auditing Practice Statement (SAAPS) 3 (Revised) Illustrative Reports
- 29 March 2010: SAAPS 3 (Revised) (March 2010) Illustrative Independent Auditor’s Reports (with the correct link)
- 18 March 2010: SAAPS 3 (Revised) (March 2010) Illustrative Independent Auditor’s Reports
SAAPS 4
SAAPS 4 – Letters of Specific Inquiry to the Entity’s External Legal Practitioner Regarding Litigation and Claims Involving the Entity
| Title | Date Issued | Effective Date | Download Documents |
| SAAPS 4 (Revised 2019) – Letters of Specific Inquiry to the Entity’s External Legal Practitioner Regarding Litigation and Claims Involving the Entity | May 2022 |
| PDF |Word |
| SAAPS 4 (Revised 2019) – Letters of Specific Inquiry to the Entity’s External Legal Practitioner Regarding Litigation and Claims Involving the Entity | 29 August 2019 | Effective for letters of specific inquiry requested on or after 1 September 2019 | PDF |Word |
| SAAPS 4 – Enquiries Regarding Litigation and Claims | October 2005 | This SAAPS is effective |
SAAPS 5
SAAPS 5 – Reporting on Donor Funding Engagements
| Title | Date Issued | Effective Date | Download Documents |
| SAAPS 5 – Reporting on Donor Funding Engagements | March 2007 | This SAAPS is effective | PDF |Word |
Warning to ReadersRegistered auditors are alerted to the fact that the practice statement has not been updated for amendments to legislation that has been referenced, types and categories of donors and for amendments to:
If reports are issued in terms of this guide they should be updated in terms of the Act and Standards. Additionally, this practice statement has not been updated for the IFRS Foundation® Trade Mark Guidelines. However, any reference in it to the IFRS Foundation, the IASB, the ISSB and the work of these bodies is intended to be aligned to the IFRS Foundation Trade Mark Guidelines. Furthermore, registered auditors are encouraged to adhere to the guidance issued by the IAASB when referencing the IFRS Accounting Standards in their reports. |
SAAPS 6
SAAPS 6 – External Confirmations from Financial Institutions
| Title | Date Issued | Effective Date | Download Documents |
| South African Auditing Practice Statement (SAAPS) 6: External Confirmations from Financial Institutions | May 2022 |
| PDF | Word |
| SAAPS 6 – External Confirmations from Financial Institutions | July 2013 | This SAAPS is effective for external confirmation requests issued on or after 1 October 2013 | PDF | Word |
Related Communiqués
SAAPS 7
SAAPS 7 – Transparency Reports of Firms that Audit Financial Statements of Publicly Traded Entities
| Title | Date Issued | Effective Date | Download Documents |
SAAPS 7 – Transparency Reports of Firms that Audit Financial Statements of Publicly Traded Entities | November 2024 | This SAAPS is effective for transparency reports prepared and published on or after 15 December 2025 | PDF | Word |