Reclaiming SA’s moral leadership: Reflecting on King V and the boardroom’s role in shaping the future

SOUTH Africa stands at a crossroads, grappling with challenges that have tested the nation’s spirit and integrity.

- DR NTOKOZO MAHLANGU

Yet, within this climate of uncertainty lies a remarkable opportunity: to reclaim the country’s tradition of moral leadership on the global stage.

As the country waits for the launch of King V, the next evolution in corporate governance, we are called to consider not just rules and compliance, but the deeper values that define who we are - and who we aspire to become.

This is a moment to reflect on the boardroom’s power to shape a future rooted in both responsibility and hope.

When the Institute of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA) unveils King V on October 31, 2025, it will not just be another chapter—it will be a defining moment ina legacy that began in 1994.

Each iteration of the King Code has captured the heartbeat of its time: King I bridged business and a newborn democracy, King II put sustainability at the forefront, King III revolutionised the world with integrated reporting, and King IV challenged organizations to “apply and explain” the very principles that guide responsible leadership.

Now, King V stands poised to set a new moral benchmark, inviting South Africa's leaders to shape a future where governance is not only about compliance, but about forging a purpose that resonates both locally and globally.

This new chapter arrives in a different mood. South Africans are weary. Trust in institutions - public and private - has frayed. Governance codes have not stopped scandals: Steinhoff, Tongaat, and the unraveling of state capture. Many executives now see governance as an obligation, not an opportunity. The danger is that King V will be greeted with the same cynicism.

This new chapter dawns in a climate of deep fatigue and skepticism. South Africans, worn down by relentless crises, have watched trust in both public and private institutions dissolve.