Assurance on Sustainability 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)

Currently the following South Assurance Engagements Practice Statements (SAAEPS) have been issued:

Title	Date Issued	Effective Date	Download Documents
Updated SAAEPS 1 - Sustainability Assurance Engagements: Rational Purpose, Appropriateness of Underlying Subject Matter and Suitability of Criteria	May 2022	Audits and reviews of financial statements for periods beginning on or after 15 December 2022; and Other assurance and related services engagements beginning on or after 15 December 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.

Useful Links:

IRBA Staff Audit Practice Alert 8_FAQ - Sustainability Assurance Engagements