the national standardisation body, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), is undergoing a sweeping transformation to re-establish itself as a trusted authority.

Under the leadership of acting CEO Lizo Makele, who assumed the role in August 2024, the SABS’s five-year strategy reset will drive reforms to restore trust and support industrial development.

Established in 1945, SABS plays a crucial role in upholding national quality standards.

However, in recent years, the organisation has struggled with outdated systems and declining relevance, with Makele acknowledging the urgent need for agility and innovation.

Makele believes the institution should play a role in economic development, governance efficiency and trade facilitation, while tackling the “pain points” of counterfeit goods, illegal trade and substandard or unsafe products.

In collaborating with partners such as the International Organisation for Standardisation and the African Organisation for Standardisation, as well as becoming more involved with trade discussions, deals and treaties, the SABS seeks to harmonise standards, facilitate the free flow of products under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement and ensure practical implementation of global products.

To promote inclusive growth, the SABS is increasing support for small- and medium- sized businesses. It is also expanding its 7400-strong repository of South African National Standards to include standards in emerging sectors, such as AI, next-generation technology and blockchain.

The reset also includes the optimisation of core processes: the development of standards, product testing and certifications.

Infrastructure upgrades are also currently under way to modernise the SABS’s buildings, laboratories and equipment.

Internally, the SABS is undergoing a cultural overhaul. Notable initiatives include salary harmonisation, staff incentives and leadership development programmes to restore morale and retain its highly skilled, specialised professionals, says Makele.

This cultural shift also includes rooting out misconduct and following recent crises, SABS has taken decisive action.

In August 2024, SABS partially lost its South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) accreditation for cement certification, which resulted in a halt in client onboarding and the suspension of senior managers.

The SABS took a hard stance in correcting the wrongdoing, which has attracted much negativity, with numerous anonymous whistle-blowers coming forward with accusations of corruption and maladministration, Makele explains.

“None of the allegations were supported by evidence,” he assures, welcoming the investigation that started in February 2025.

In November, just as the SABS was preparing for SANAS reassessment, a cybersecurity breach crippled critical systems.

Despite this, the SABS achieved most key objectives for the year, including developing new standards, implementing new test methods and launching a new certification scheme. Further, SANAS reinstated the accreditation of the cement certification scope.

Looking ahead, SABS is laying the foundation for a dedicated research capability to track global trends, assess the economic impact of standards and respond to national policy.