IQAA is an independent agency (PBO), established according to best international practice in educational quality assurance. IQAA has been in existence since 2004 and has evaluated independent schools belonging to several independent schools’ bodies, as well as a number of state schools and other organisations. IQAA quality assures schools in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia and Mozambique.
Umalusi is a South African statutory body which prescribes requirements for accreditation of independent schools and other private providers. It is mandatory for independent schools to comply with these requirements.
Umalusi’s and IQAA’s quality assurance roles and processes are not in conflict, but complement each other. IQAA’s approach assists schools to develop self-evaluation and quality improvement capacity, while meeting Umalusi's statutory requirements.