Governance & Oversight

Oaths.co.za™ operates within a structured governance framework designed to support accountability, compliance, and professional standards in the certification process.

This framework is designed to support institutional use, compliance requirements, and audit readiness.  

Oaths.co.za™ operates in alignment with applicable South African legal and regulatory frameworks governing document certification, electronic records, and data protection.

These include:

• Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act, 1963 (Act 16 of 1963) 
• Regulations Governing the Administering of an Oath or Affirmation (GN R1258 of 1972) 
• Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002 (ECTA) 
• Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA) 

Oaths.co.za™ is designed to support compliance processes across industries, including financial services, telecommunications, education, and corporate onboarding environments.

All certifications are performed by a Professional Accountant (SA) who is a member of SAIPA and who holds office as a Commissioner of Oaths ex officio under section 6 of the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act 16 of 1963. 

Each Commissioner:

• must be authorised under South African law 
• must be in good standing with a recognised professional body 
• is subject to professional and ethical standards 
• applies independent judgment before certifying any document 

Each certification is:

• traceable to an individual Commissioner 
• supported by auditable records 
• subject to personal professional responsibility 

Oaths.co.za™ provides oversight and support mechanisms, but does not replace the legal authority or responsibility of the Commissioner of Oaths.

Oaths.co.za™ incorporates structured verification controls designed to support the certification process.

These include:

• identity and document verification processes 
• compliance and risk screening 
• audit and traceability mechanisms 
• real-time verification capability via OathsVault™ 

These controls are intended to assist Commissioners of Oaths in making informed certification decisions and to support the reliability, traceability, and integrity of certified documents.

Oaths.co.za™ incorporates controls designed to identify and manage potential risks in the certification process.

These include:

• structured verification checks 
• compliance screening processes 
• identification of elevated or inconsistent information 

Where material risks or inconsistencies are identified:

• certification may be declined 
• additional review may be required 
• the Commissioner may exercise independent judgment based on available information 

Certifications are not issued where significant risk indicators are present.

Where verification results are inconclusive, inconsistent, or require further review:

• certification may be delayed or declined 
• additional review may be performed 
• the Commissioner may request further information where appropriate 

This ensures that certifications are not issued where uncertainty exists or where sufficient verification cannot be achieved.

Oaths.co.za™ supports the secure handling and governance of personal and certification data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

This includes:

• controlled access to sensitive information 
• secure storage of certification records 
• auditability of system activity and access 
• compliance with POPIA and applicable data protection requirements 

These controls are designed to support confidentiality, integrity, and accountability in the handling of personal and certification data.

Governance is not a one-time exercise — it is an ongoing commitment. Oaths.co.za™ is dedicated to strengthening trust and compliance through:

• A roadmap toward independent assurance audits and alignment with SADC governance standards
• Ongoing engagement with regulators and professional bodies to ensure alignment with evolving compliance requirements
• Annual governance and compliance reviews to continuously evaluate and enhance our framework
   

This forward-looking approach ensures that Oaths.co.za™ remains not only legally defensible, but also a trusted partner for corporates, regulators, and institutions.

📩 compliance@oaths.co.za
For corporate due diligence requests, institutional partnerships, or compliance inquiries.