Regulatory · King V

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.

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The problem

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Combined assurance mapped in a static document, out of date within months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

The XGRC® approach

A structured, evidence-based governance process.

01

Define governance structures, roles, and delegation of authority

02

Link strategy to the risks and opportunities that inform it

03

Set and monitor risk appetite and tolerance at governing body level

04

Map combined assurance coverage across management, internal audit, and external assurance

05

Embed ESG oversight into governance reporting and board committees

06

Prepare apply-and-explain disclosures backed by evidence, principle by principle

How it works

Built for governance and risk teams, reported to the board.

  • 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

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.

From manual to XGRC®

The same governance principles, backed by evidence.

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

King V Governance Readiness Checklist

  • Leadership, ethics and governance structure
  • Risk governance
  • Combined assurance
  • Compliance and legal governance
  • Sustainability and ESG governance
  • Apply-and-explain reporting discipline
PDF · Governance aligned · v1.0
Standards and frameworks

Report against the governance principles stakeholders expect.

  • King V
  • Corporate Governance
  • Risk Governance
  • Combined Assurance
  • ESG
  • Compliance
Scope of application

One platform across every dimension of governance.

  • Leadership and governance structure
  • Risk governance
  • Combined assurance
  • Compliance and legal governance
  • Sustainability and ESG governance
Related

Explore the connected platform.

Solution

Integrated Assurance

Internal Audit & Combined Assurance

Explore Integrated Assurance → Use Case

Integrated Assurance

XGRC® coordinates internal audit and combined assurance across your organisation, linking every finding to the risk it relates to and the controls meant to manage it. Every line of defence works from the same assurance map.

View use case → Use Case

ESG Reporting

XGRC® is ESG reporting software that enables organisations to collect, manage and report ESG data in a structured and consistent way. It brings environmental, social and governance data into a single platform, providing clear visibility and supporting informed decision-making.

View use case → Use Case

Enterprise Risk Management

XGRC® provides a central ERM platform aligned to ISO 31000, COSO, and King V. Define your risk framework, identify and assess risks across all categories, link every risk to controls and audit findings, and report to the board with real-time visibility.

View use case →
Frequently asked

Common 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.

See King V governance as a structured, evidence-based process.

Book a demo to see how XGRC® supports apply-and-explain governance reporting backed by real risk, assurance, and ESG data.

Book a demo