The School of Accounting, Economics and Finance in partnership with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) celebrated the School’s top achievers at the annual UKZN-SAICA Students’ Awards Ceremony.
‘In a world of exponential and continuous change, it has become more critical than ever to ensure that chartered accountants remain relevant in the roles they perform,’ said the School’s Dean and Head, Professor Mabutho Sibanda. ‘Technology continues to improve and be more prevalent in the typical Accounting space thus creating both challenges and opportunities for current and future CAs.
‘This is why the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance is redesigning the Accounting curriculum to offer one that is technologically savvy and will be aligned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). We are working hard towards becoming the best performing school in Accounting Sciences,’ said Sibanda.
SAICA’s Regional Executive Mr Naeem Asvat applauded the Dean and the School for its interventions and hard work in an effort to achieve success. Asvat also acknowledged the top achievers for succeeding despite challenges and their parents for supporting them, saying he was looking forward to the valuable contribution the students were going to make in the industry.
Asvat spoke about ethics and how every CA and aspiring CA in the room should uphold the code of professional conduct.
In the drive to produce more African CAs, the following Black African students were awarded for being the top achievers in their respective year of study: Ms Senamile Dlamini, Ms Phumla Bala, Mr Mhlengi Thabethe and Mr Lungani Gcwensa.
Top honours went to Ms Meleshnie Govender, followed by Mr Sriram Maharaj, Mr Dilan Anirudh and Ms Harrisah Abdul.
Senior manager from the Auditor-General’s office Ms Amanda Zuma congratulated the students and advised them to be aware of and use all the resources available to them.
‘What is currently happening in the Accounting profession worries me but when I look at the calibre of students produced by UKZN a part of me says “don’t worry, the future of the profession is in good hands.’
‘You have been set apart from the rest, continue like this and you will reap great rewards,’ said Zuma.
The Auditor General of South Africa’s office sponsored the event with individual prizes sponsored by SAICA, Lexis Nexis, Grant Thornton, BDO, Deloitte, Standard Bank, Moore Stephens, PWC, Sherwood Books.
Words: Lungile Ngubelanga
Photograph: Andile Ndlovu
