Home / Non-Accredited / Strategy, Risk, Governance & Compliance / Conflict of Interest Training (1 day)
Quick Look Course Summary:Conflict of Interest Training (1 day)
-
Length: 1 day(s)
-
Price (at your venue): 1 Person R 5,654 EX VAT 3 Person R 3,982 EX VAT 10 Person R 2,954 EX VAT
-
Certification Type:Non-Accredited
-
Locations & Venues: Off-site or in-house. We train in all major city centres throughout South Africa.
Get Free & personalised
Training Advice
Conflict of Interest Training (1 day)
Staff and managers who recognise a conflict of interest early, declare it properly and manage it so decisions stay fair and defensible.
A conflict of interest is not misconduct in itself. The damage comes when it is hidden: a manager who scores a tender from a relative's company, an employee with an undeclared side business, a board member who votes on a deal that benefits them. Conflict of interest training teaches people to recognise these situations early and deal with them openly, so decisions are made on merit and can be defended to auditors, regulators and the public.
This one-day workshop covers what a conflict of interest is, the forms it usually takes (financial interests, family and personal relationships, outside work, gifts and hospitality), how and when to declare, and how managers decide on mitigation: recusal, reassigning the work, extra oversight or removing the interest. It also sets out the South African rules in outline, as general guidance and not legal advice: directors' disclosure of personal financial interests under the Companies Act, disclosure and withdrawal by public entity board members under the PFMA, financial disclosure by public servants and the bar on doing business with the state, and declarations of interest in public procurement.
The day is built on case studies and role-play. Delegates practise completing a declaration, raising a colleague's undeclared interest and deciding on mitigation as a manager. Organisations can use the session to launch or refresh their conflict of interest policy and declarations register.
Why this course
For your organisation
- Conflicts declared early, before they taint a decision
- Procurement, hiring and approval decisions that can be defended
- A conflict of interest policy that staff understand and use
- Lower legal, financial and reputational risk
- Better evidence for auditors and governance committees
For your delegates
- A clear test for spotting a conflict of interest
- Confidence to declare an interest without fear
- A step-by-step way to deal with a declared conflict as a manager
- Practice on realistic South African scenarios
What delegates will be able to do
- Define actual, potential and perceived conflicts of interest
- Recognise conflicts arising from financial interests, relationships, outside work and gifts
- Declare an interest correctly, in writing and at the right time
- Apply mitigation options such as recusal, reassignment and extra oversight
- Explain the main South African disclosure rules for directors, public servants and procurement
- Keep and use a register of interests, gifts and hospitality
- Make and record decisions on merit when a conflict is present
Who should attend
Managers and supervisors, procurement and supply chain staff, bid committee members, HR and recruitment staff, finance and approvals staff, directors, trustees and board members, and public sector officials. It suits private companies, state-owned entities, municipalities, schools and non-profit organisations launching or refreshing a conflict of interest policy.
Course outline
Day 1 – Recognising, declaring and managing conflicts of interest
Understanding conflicts of interest
- What a conflict of interest is and what it is not
- Actual, potential and perceived conflicts
- Why conflicts matter: trust, fairness and the cost of getting it wrong
- Values, ethics and organisational culture as the foundation
Where conflicts arise
- Financial interests, shareholdings and side businesses
- Family, friends and personal relationships
- Gifts, hospitality and sponsored travel
- Outside work, directorships and board positions
- Case studies from procurement, recruitment and approvals
Disclosure
- Recognising your own conflicts: the warning signs
- When and how to declare
- Completing a declaration of interest form
- Registers of interests, gifts and hospitality
- Exercise: declaring an interest
Managing a declared conflict
- Options: recusal, reassigning the work, extra oversight or removing the interest
- Deciding proportionately as a manager
- Recording the decision
- Dealing fairly with undeclared conflicts and possible misconduct
- Role-play: a manager's conversation with a conflicted employee
The South African rules in outline
- Directors' disclosure of personal financial interests under section 75 of the Companies Act
- Public entities: disclosure and withdrawal by board members under the PFMA
- Public servants: financial disclosure and the bar on doing business with the state
- Declarations of interest in public procurement
- Your organisation's own policy and code of conduct
Building a culture of disclosure
- Leaders who model disclosure
- Making declaration routine rather than suspicious
- Annual and ad hoc declarations
- Personal action plan and close
How it is delivered
One day, 08:30-16:00. In person at your offices anywhere in South Africa, at a BOTI venue, or live online. One delegate or a group of up to 20; scenarios tailored to your sector on request. Workbook, case studies, a sample declaration form and a register template included. We deliver it at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and anywhere else in South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online for teams in different places.
What our clients say
“We were particularly impressed by the quality of facilitation and the practical relevance of the content presented. The programme was delivered with professionalism, clarity, and a strong emphasis on real-world application”
“All training sessions were well-coordinated, professionally delivered, and aligned with our scheduling requirements. We were particularly impressed by the high standard of facilitation and the depth of expertise demonstrated throughout the programmes.”
“All training sessions were well-coordinated, professionally delivered, and aligned with our scheduling requirements. We value the partnership and look forward to continued collaboration with Business Optimization Training Institute in the future.”
Frequently asked questions
Can you run this workshop at our offices?
Yes. We train at client premises anywhere in South Africa, at a BOTI venue, or live online.
How many people can attend?
From one delegate to a group of about 20. The price per delegate drops as the group grows – see the price table, or ask us for a quote.
Is the course accredited?
No. It is a non-accredited short course, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
Can you use our own conflict of interest policy?
Yes. Send us your policy, declaration form and gifts register beforehand and the facilitator builds the exercises around them, so the session doubles as a policy roll-out.
Does this course cover conflict between colleagues?
No. This course deals with conflicts of interest – situations where a personal interest could influence a work decision. For disagreements between people, ask us about our conflict management and conflict resolution courses.
Is it suitable for the public sector?
Yes. The disclosure rules for public servants, public entity boards and public procurement are covered in outline, and in-house sessions can focus on them.
Related courses
Get your price – the more delegates, the less each pays
Change the options to see your price per person, then email yourself the quote and course outline.
Contact us now – we reply within 15 minutes during office hours
Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00. After hours, we reply on the next working day – or call 011 882 8853.