# King V governance you can explain, not just claim.

XGRC® gives boards and governance teams a structured way to apply King V principles and report on them with evidence — risk governance, combined assurance, and ESG oversight — on one auditable platform. King V is South Africa's corporate governance code, applied on an apply-and-explain basis: it is governance best practice organisations are expected to report against, not a certifiable legal requirement.

**Frameworks:** King V, Corporate Governance, Risk Governance, Combined Assurance, ESG, Compliance

## Generic governance disclosure cannot withstand stakeholder scrutiny.

When apply-and-explain disclosures are written from a template rather than from evidence, boards struggle to show that King V principles are genuinely applied — not just referenced in an integrated report.

- Governance disclosures written generically, disconnected from actual practice
- Risk appetite set by the board but not visibly monitored day to day
- Combined assurance mapped in a static document, out of date within months
- ESG oversight treated as a reporting exercise rather than a governance responsibility

## A structured, evidence-based governance process.

- Define governance structures, roles, and delegation of authority
- Link strategy to the risks and opportunities that inform it
- Set and monitor risk appetite and tolerance at governing body level
- Map combined assurance coverage across management, internal audit, and external assurance
- Embed ESG oversight into governance reporting and board committees
- Prepare apply-and-explain disclosures backed by evidence, principle by principle

## How it works

- Central governance framework linked to risk and assurance data
- Live risk appetite and tolerance monitoring
- Combined assurance matrix mapping coverage across all lines of defence
- ESG oversight linked to sustainability data and targets
- Board-ready reporting aligned to each King V principle

## On the platform

**One connected view of governance** — Integrated Assurance links risk governance, the combined assurance matrix, and audit findings on one platform, so King V disclosures are backed by current evidence rather than a once-a-year reporting exercise.

## The same governance principles, backed by evidence.

| Manual approach | With XGRC® |
| --- | --- |
| Generic, templated disclosures | Disclosures backed by current evidence |
| Risk appetite set but not monitored | Live risk appetite and tolerance monitoring |
| Combined assurance mapped in static documents | Combined assurance matrix kept current |
| ESG oversight disconnected from governance reporting | ESG oversight embedded in board reporting |

## One platform across every dimension of governance.

- Leadership and governance structure
- Risk governance
- Combined assurance
- Compliance and legal governance
- Sustainability and ESG governance

## Frequently asked questions

### What is King V governance software?

King V governance software gives boards a structured way to apply King V principles and report against them with evidence, covering risk governance, combined assurance and ESG oversight on one auditable platform. King V itself is applied on an apply-and-explain basis, not a certifiable requirement, so the software’s role is to make that explanation credible.

### Does XGRC® monitor risk appetite, not just document it?

Yes. Risk appetite and tolerance are monitored at governing body level on a live basis, so the board can see whether actual risk exposure is within the appetite it set, rather than reviewing it once a year.

### Is the combined assurance matrix kept current for governance reporting?

Yes. The combined assurance matrix maps coverage across management, internal audit and external assurance continuously, so King V disclosures on assurance are backed by current data rather than a static document.

### How does ESG oversight fit into King V reporting?

ESG oversight is linked to sustainability data and targets and embedded directly in board reporting, so it is treated as a governance responsibility rather than a separate reporting exercise added at year end.

## Related solution

- [Integrated Assurance](https://xgrcsoftware.com/integrated-assurance)

---

Source: https://xgrcsoftware.com/use-cases/king-v-governance