The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) announced the winners of the 2019 Top 35 and under 35 Chartered Accountants in which our very own Ms Hlengiwe Ndlela, Auditing lecturer and researcher within the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, made the cut.
The 32-year-old was selected at the beginning of August as a finalist at SAICA’s Top 35 under 35 as part of a group of phenomenal chartered accountants (CAs) who boast exceptional achievements and are doing great work to change their communities for the better.
On Thursday (3 October 2019), the winners were announced in Johannesburg, with Ndlela scooping The Power of Professional Thinking Award, which included a R35 000 cash prize for her and a charity of her choice – the 1Woman1Girl Mentorship Programme where she currently serves as chairperson.
On this achievement, Ndlela said getting national recognition serves as confirmation that what she does out of passion is indeed good for the community.
‘Being a CA(SA) Top 35 finalist out of hundreds of applications processed, and winning, is for me a lifetime achievement; something I will forever treasure and be proud of. Most importantly, I hope that this achievement serves its purpose for my mentees on the Thuthuka Programme, my young sisters and brothers at UKZN, my hometown Inanda, and every African child in South Africa, that regardless of your background, you can achieve whatever it is you set your mind and effort towards.
‘This has motivated me to push even harder towards my PhD. I have no choice but to make it work and be Dr Hlengiwe Ndlela CA(SA),’ she said.
For more on Ndlela’s journey towards this achievement, visit: https://youtu.be/7fbvA2m-VFg and https://bit.ly/2nnk6Kf
Words: Lungile Ngubelanga
Photographs: Supplied
