ReflectingSACA’S

South Africa’s Culinary

CERTIFICATION & Diver
SACA Code of Professional Ethics for Members DESIGNATION PROGRAMME

This document outlines the overarching religion, disability, sex, age, sexual orien- violations of the SACA Membership Code
code of conduct that members of the South tation, or natural origin of Ethics or other egregious conduct in a
African Chefs Association are expected • Not engage in sexual harassment, manner that protects the rights of individuals
to comply with and abide by as culinary disrespectful or abusive behaviour in while promoting understanding and ethical
professionals. connection with my professional duties behaviour. The Board of the South African
This code of conduct framework encompass- • Show professional respect for all who Chefs Association has the authority to impose
es all employment, and other policies, within work for, with or in supervision of me discipline, including removal of membership
which all work related decisions shall be • Strive to provide objective evaluations where appropriate, and to delegate such
made and actions carried out. of performance for employees and decisions to the Review Panel (s).
All SACA members at every level shall be co-workers, in-service trainees, students,
expected to abide by the principles of professional association members, and/ 1. COMPLAINT
this code of conduct, and encourage the or peers and to avoid bias in any kind of A complaint that a SACA Member has
same level of conduct and professionalism professional evaluation of others allegedly violated any of the codes of ethics
from their employees, stakeholders, peers, • Be alert to situations that might cause a must be submitted in writing to the General
customers, suppliers, third parties and business conflict of interest or have the appear- Manager of SACA on gm@saca.co.za . The
partners. ance of a conflict and to provide full dis- complainant need not be a member of
The principles of the code are statements closure when a real or potential conflict SACA or associated with SACA in any way.
of the legal and ethical obligations of every of interest arises The complaint must be in writing and contain
SACA member and all SACA members will be • Not to promote or endorse products in a details of the alleged activities; the basis
held accountable for applying the principles. manner that is false or misleading for the complainant’s knowledge of these
• Not engage in substance abuse that activities; names, addresses, and telephone
SACA BELIEFS could adversely affect my job perfor- numbers of all persons involved or who might
The following beliefs guide our practice and mance or endanger co-workers have knowledge of these activities; and
provide context for our ethics as chefs in • Strive to comply with all applicable laws whether the complaint has been submitted
South Africa: and regulations concerning the culinary to a court or an administrative body. The
• The services we provide contribute to profession including local, provincial and complaint must also cite the section(s) of the
the health and wellbeing of society government statutes that promote pub- SACA Code of Ethics allegedly violated. The
• Our education and SACA membership lic health and safety of our colleagues complaint must be signed by the complain-
require from us to serve the public by • Support the efforts of other professional ant(s). Anonymous complaints will not be ac-
applying safe food practices, nutrition- cooks and chefs to learn new and inno- cepted, but the Committee may self –initiate
al acumen, healthy and quality food vative culinary techniques and improve complaints based on any factual information.
service techniques to everything we my knowledge and skills
produce and serve the dining public • Not to discriminate in making employ- 2. REVIEW OF COMPLAINT
• Individuals who have intrinsic food con- ment decisions regardless of race, SACA and the appropriate certification staff
cerns, such as allergies, intolerances, or colour, natural origin, gender, religion, will review the complaint to determine if all
specific diet restrictions are responsible age, disability, political beliefs, sexual the required information has been submitted
for their own health, and are entitled to orientation, or marital or family status by the complainant and whether the com-
make choices regarding their health; yet • Not knowingly misappropriate, divert plaint is valid and actionable.
the professional cook and chef will be or use monies, personnel, property, or If a complaint is made regarding alleged vio-
able to support all menu claims when equipment belonging to others for per- lation of SACA-ethics or other actionable con-
they have regard to a person’s health, sonal gain or advantage duct and a similar complaint is already under
digestion or well-being • Not harm others by knowingly making consideration regarding the same individual
• Professional cooking careers are an false statements about a colleague or by a board of examiners, an administrative
essential component of overall hospi- professional peer body, law enforcement authorities, or a court
tality and foodservice and we function • Accurately represent my professional of law, SACA will generally not process the
interdependently with other hospitality training and qualifications and not complaint until a final determination has
providers knowingly permit, aid and abet or suffer been issued.
• All people should have access to quality the misstatement of my training and
hospitality and food services qualification by others
• Not to plagiarise on another person’s 3. RESPONSE
• We are individually responsible for our If it is determined that the complaint is valid
actions and the quality of professional printed audio or visual recordings or
using presentation of them publicly as and actionable, the South African Chefs
services that we provide Association or its certification staff liaison will
original materials, including cook books
that may not be governed by standard notify the respondent (person against whom
SACA CODE OF ETHICS copyright laws and restrictions the complaint is made) and that individual’s
As a SACA member in good standing I employer, if applicable, that a complaint
• Always be dressed in a way to reflect
pledge myself to: has been made and that a Review Panel will
pride and status within the industry
• Conduct myself with honesty, integrity be established to investigate and reach a
and fairness determination. The complainant shall also be
• Strive to provide all services competently ETHICS REVIEW AND notified that the complaint is being reviewed,
• Provide professional service in a manner DISCIPLINARY ACTION but the complainant is not notified of the re-
that does not discriminate against others The ethics enforcement procedures are sults unless the complaint is dismissed or public
on the basis of race, ethnicity, creed intended to permit a fair review of alleged disciplinary action is taken.

Page 1 of 2 Code of Professional Ethics for Members

 ReflectingSACA’S
South Africa’s Culinary
CERTIFICATION & Diver
DESIGNATION PROGRAMME
The notices will be sent from the staff via rules of evidence shall not apply and there shall the option for an appeal. The Panel may advise
certified mail, return-receipt requested or other be no witnesses, cross-examination, or other any other licensing, law enforcement, or other
verifiable means of delivery. The respondent attributes of a trial. The Panel Chair shall make body of final action if the Panel believes health
will be sent a summary of the complaint, SACA all procedural decisions with advice from staff or safety of the public is at issue (but only after
Certification Code of Ethics, a copy of these and/or legal counsel. It is not expected that the time for appeal has run or upon the final
procedures, and a response form. The respon- the member will be represented by counsel, determination on appeal).
dent will have thirty (30) days from receipt of although the Panel may permit counsel to
the notification in which to submit a written participate in the process in accordance with 6. APPEAL TO THE REVIEW PANEL
response. guidelines established by the Panel Chair. The member shall have thirty (30) days from
receipt of the Panel’s determination to appeal
The response must be signed by the respon- 5. DETERMINATION OF VIOLATION to the decision. The written appeal must include
dent. If South African Chefs Association does Upon completion of the investigation, the Re- the stated appeal, the reason for the appeal
not receive a response, the Review Panel view Panel determines whether there has been (including relevant supporting materials), appel-
Chairperson or his/her designee will attempt a violation of the SACA Code of Conduct or lant's membership number, and appellant's day
to contact the respondent by telephone. If whether the member has engaged in other phone number. If there is an appeal to the South
contact with the respondent is still not made, grossly negligent or illegal conduct relevant to African Chefs Association, the Review Panel
a written notice will be sent. Failure to reach the culinary profession, or violated other sub- determination report is prepared under the
the respondent will not prevent a Review Panel stantive requirements of the certification pro- supervision of the Chair and is presented by a
from proceeding with the investigation or cess (such as submission of false or misleading representative of the Review Panel to the South
reaching a decision. information to SACA). The Panel also decides African Chefs Association along with a record of
on the imposition of an appropriate sanction, the Panel’s investigation.
4. REVIEW PANEL including but not limited to the following:
SACA shall appoint a Review Panel of at The Board of Directors reviews the decision of the
least five individuals who may or may not be Censure: A written reprimand expressing Review Panel. The Boards review and determina-
members of the organisation and one member disapproval of conduct. It carries no loss of tion are based entirely on the written record and
to represent the public interest. SACA shall also certification status, but may result in removal the presentation by the representative of the Re-
appoint one of the Review Panel members to from office at the national and local levels and view Panel. The South African Chefs Association
serve as Chair. No one with a conflict of interest from committee membership. Censure may be shall only review whether the determination of
shall participate in any matter addressed by public or private. the Review Panel was inappropriate because of
the Review Panel. 1) material errors of fact or 2) failure of the Panel
Counselling/Probation: A directive to allow
to conform to the published criteria, policies or
for correction of behaviour specified in com-
This Review Panel is charged with investigating procedures.
plaint. It may include mandatory participation
and making an appropriate determination with Only facts leading up to and including the time
in remedial programs. Failure to successfully
respect to valid and actionable complaints. of the Panel’s determination shall be considered
complete these programs may result in other
At least two members of the Review Panel will during an appeal. The appeal shall not include a
disciplinary action being taken. It carries no loss
handle the investigation and make a recom- hearing or any similar trial-type proceeding. The
of certification status. Counselling/ probation
mendation to the full Panel for action; those South African Chefs Association may accept, re-
may be public or private.
investigators will not vote on the determination. ject, or modify the Panel’s determination, either
Suspension: Temporary loss of certification with respect to the determination of a violation
The Panel may be assisted in the conduct of
and all benefits and privileges for a specified or the recommended sanction to be imposed.
its investigation by staff or legal counsel. The
time. At the end of the specified suspension The Executive Committee will render a written
Chair exercises general supervision over all
period, certification benefits and privileges are determination, specifying the reasons for its
investigations. Both the individual submitting the
automatically restored. Suspension is a public decision, if applicable, and citing any provision(s)
complaint and the member who is the subject
action. of the SACA Code of Conduct that may have
of the investigation (or his or her employer) may
be contacted for additional information with Revocation of Certification/ Designa- been violated or other conduct that has resulted
respect to the complaint. The Panel may at its tion: Loss of certification/designation; loss of all in disciplinary action. The written determination
discretion contact other individuals who may benefits and privileges. Upon revocation, the will be communicated within 14 days of the
have knowledge of the facts and circumstanc- former member shall return be removed from Commitee’s decision to the member and to the
es surrounding the complaint. The Panel may the Certification and Designation Data base of member’s employer, if applicable.
also use experts to assist it in reviewing the com- the South African Chefs Association. Specified
plaint, response and determining further action. time for re-application to be decided on a 7. CONFIDENTIALITY PROCEDURES
case-by-case basis, but, at minimum, current The procedures have been developed to pro-
The confidentiality of the matter will be re-certification requirements would need to be tect the confidentiality of both the complainant
maintained unless otherwise required by law met. A credential will not be re-issued until the and the respondent in the investigation of a
or upon advice of legal counsel. The decision Review Panel determines that the reasons for complaint of an alleged violation of the SACA
of the Panel may be made at an in person revocation have been removed. Revocation is Code of Conduct. The need for confidential-
meeting or by telephone or video conference a public action. ity will be stressed in communications with all
and shall be based on majority vote of those parties.
Panel members participating. The deliberation The Panel staff liaison shall notify the South
of the Panel shall not include a hearing or any African Chefs Association and the member of 8. RESIGNATION
similar trial-type proceeding. The member is the determination in writing within 14 days from If the member resigns membership in South
not permitted to address the Panel in person the determination. The written summary of the African Chefs Association or accreditation, the
or by telephone or video conference, unless Panel’s determination will include the reason Committee may retain jurisdiction to take any
approved by majority vote of the Panel. The for the decision and also advise the member of appropriate disciplinary action at its discretion.

This Code of Conduct has been written by SACA with reference to the American Culinary Federation Page 2 of 2 Code of Professional Ethics for Members