Ethics Matters

Understanding the Gifts and Hospitality Policy

In the first of a five-part ethics series, we break down Transnet’s Gifts and Hospitality Policy and explain what it means for employees. Msimelelo Boltina, Head: Ethics Governance, Policies & Procedures within the Transnet Integrity Management Unit, answers some of the most common questions about gifts, hospitality, declarations and protecting Transnet’s integrity.

Q: Why does Transnet have a Gifts and Hospitality Policy?

The policy helps ensure that gifts and hospitality do not influence business decisions or create conflicts of interest. It provides clear guidelines on what is acceptable and helps protect both employees and Transnet from undue influence, corruption or perceived bias.

Q: What is the Transnet Integrity Management Unit, and what role does it play?

The Transnet Integrity Management Unit (TIMU) promotes ethical conduct across the organisation. The Ethics Governance, Policies & Procedures function, which forms part of TIMU within the Office of the Chief Legal Officer, is responsible for ethics-related policies, including the Gifts and Hospitality Policy, and helping employees understand their responsibilities.

Q: Umbuzo: Yini ethathwa njengesipho noma njengesihe ngaphansi kwenqubomgomo?

Le nqubomgomo ibhekene nokuphiwa nokwamukelwa kwezipho, izindawo zokulala kanye nokubhekelelwa ngokwebhizinisi kubandakanya nezinhlangano zangaphandle  ezinjengabahlinzeki, amakhasimende, osonkontileka kanye nabahlinzeki bezinsizakalo.

Isipho kungaba yinto enjengesevisi noma umhlomulo okungenzeka kunikezwe isisebenzi, kufaka phakathi amathikithi emicimbi, izaphulelo kanye nokusetshenziswa kwemishini noma izinsizakalo. Izindawo zokulala, zifaka phakathi ukudla, ukuzijabulisa, indawo yokulala izehambeli noma okunye okuhlinzekwa mahhala noma okuhlinzekwa ngamanani ahlanganisa izephulelo. Ukubhekelelwa ngokwebhizinisi kufaka phakathi izinto zokukhangisa ezifana namapeni, amadayari namakhalenda.

Le nqubomgomo ayisebenzi lapho izisebenzi ziphana zodwa izipho, izipho ezitholwe kumalungu omndeni wakho, noma izinto ezisemthethweni zakwa-Transnet ezisatshalaliswa emicimbini yenkampani.

Q: How much can an employee give or receive?

Employees may give or receive gifts with a retail value of up to R1 700, while hospitality may be accepted or offered up to 

R5 000.

Employees may receive no more than two gifts from the same supplier, customer or third party within a 12-month period and may give no more than one gift to the same party during the same period. Employees should also not be involved in more than four gift or hospitality events per year.

Q: Does a gift still need to be declared if it falls within the allowed limits?

Yes. All accepted gifts must be declared to your line manager and recorded in the Electronic Gifts Registry System (EGRS). Received gifts must be declared within 14 days, and gifts given within 30 days.

If EGRS is unavailable, a manual declaration form must be submitted. Failure to declare a gift is taken seriously, regardless of its value.

Q: Bakhona na abaqeshwa ekungavumelekanga ukuba bamkele izipho kwaphela

Ewe. Abaqeshwa abasebenza kwicandelo loThengo nakwicandelo loPhicotho lwangaPhakathi akuvumelekanga ukuba banikise ngezipho okanye bazamkele okanye bantendwe ngababoneleli neekhastomara zangoku nezexesha elizayo, kuba kaloku le misebenzi kufuneka ihlale izimele geqe kananjalo ingakhethi cala.

Q: What are the rules during a tender process?

Employees may not accept gifts or hospitality from a prospective supplier during a tender process or within
12 months of the tender being awarded.

Q: Can suppliers pay for overseas travel?

No. Supplier-funded overseas trips are prohibited.

If Transnet needs to visit a supplier’s overseas facility for a legitimate business reason, Transnet must fund the visit and obtain the necessary approvals in line with the Delegation of Authority Framework. Where a current supplier requests that Transnet employees visit its overseas facilities, approval must be obtained from the Group Chief Executive.

Q: What types of gifts or benefits are never allowed?

The policy prohibits:

Cash or monetary gifts of any value.

Bribes, kickbacks and gratuities.

Asking for or soliciting gifts from external parties.

Gifts from training service providers, such as laptops or tablets, offered as part of a training package.

Goods or services offered at prices significantly lower than those available to the public.

These actions may result in disciplinary action and, where applicable, criminal prosecution.

Ipotse jaana:

• A mpho eno e tla ama tsela e ke dirang ditshwetso ka yone?
•  A e tla baka go thulana ga dikgatlhegelo?
•  A e ka lejwa e le maiteko a go tlhotlheletsa tshwetso ya me ka tsela nngwe?

 A ke tla e bega ke sa boife gore ke kile ka e newa?

Fa sengwe se utlwala se sa siama kgotsa o ikutlwa o sa tlhomamisege ka sone, se gane mme o kope kgakololo go mmenejara wa lefapha la gago kgotsa kwa lefapheng le le maleba le go ikobelwa ga melawana.

Know Your Numbers

Maximum gift value (receive or give):

R1 700

Maximum hospitality value:

R5 000

Gifts receivable from the same party per year:

2

Gifts you may give to the same party per year:

1

Maximum gift or hospitality events per employee per year:

4

Time to declare received gifts in EGRS:

14 days

Time to declare given gifts in EGRS:

30 days