The first Comrades marathon was run in 1921 by Vic Clapham (a WW1 veteran) and 34 other runners, who initiated it as a reunion. Clapham wanted to commemorate those who had fallen in the war by the ultimate testing of body and mind. Today, many run the marathon to support different causes all over the…
Accounting and Financial Advisory raising sights Accounting and Financial Advisory (AFA), an SMP based in Rosebank, is one of the major players in South African accountancy. Its directors, Sumendra Naidoo and Shaun Govender, place a premium on relationships and high-quality employees. Sumendra Naidoo and Shaun Govender, the incumbent directors at Accounting and Financial Advisory (AFA),…
Mava Shude CA(SA), the CFO of Langeberg Municipality, has had a remarkable journey. His story showcases the transformative power of seizing unexpected opportunities. From attending a SAICA camp to becoming a distinguished chartered accountant, Shude has embraced his role in the public sector with passion and determination. But he did not choose to become a…
Queen of Tech – With her smarts for audit technology and automation, Bidvest’s Lauren Berrington is lauded as the woman behind ALICE™. She’s only just hit her stride. Lauren Berrington CA(SA) joins me virtually from the back porch of her house and we make small talk before easing into the conversation. She’s self-effacing, which is…
It’s important for you as a member to feel valued, supported and connected to your professional community, because you have worked hard to be a part of it. And that is exactly what the Member Engagement team wants to achieve. The Member Engagement team is passionate about knowing that each member is fully engaged and…
The opportunity to enter the Top 35-Under-35 competition in its maiden year came with a lot of anticipation and surprises for the first group of finalists. For Cindy McKay, this opportunity inspired her to expand her business aspirations and cemented the fact that she was capable to achieve much more than what she thought she…
Having plied her trade as a national training manager, Vianca Pretorius CA(SA) swears by coaching and mentorship. The capacious lobby at SAICA’s national headquarters is a scene of veritable busyness: scouting videographers on the hunt for perfect shots, a keen make-up team on standby … and Vianca Pretorius, SAICA Top-35-Under-35 alumnus, is a picture of…
Desperate times call for unconventional skills that can transform the public sector, writes Msizi Gwala, Project Director at SAICA. South Africa is facing a myriad of challenges. There are concerns acout audit outcomes, lack of accountability, world-leading inequality and service delivery protests. There were early signs of issues, such as the early struggles of state-owned…
Internal controls are the first line of defence against fraud, waste and abuse and help public sector institutions to deliver on their mandates. Furthermore, a robust control system, comprising effective internal control, risk management and audit, is fundamental to better governance, safeguarding of taxpayers’ money, and preserving public trust in government. However, the lack of…
The use of consultants in public finance management and reporting has become a significant cost to the fiscus, with stakeholders such as the Auditor-General raising concerns about its sustainability. Management consulting is the practice of providing consulting services to organisations to improve their performance or assist in achieving organisational objectives. Organisations utilise the services of…