The introduction of rules will lead to more ethical and responsible behaviour. Correct? Maybe we should think again about what rules can do, what they cannot do, and if rules are always good. There was a recent incident at Stellenbosch University where the rector was charged with nepotistic behaviour for using his discretionary placement power…
If you want to get the most out of your insurance rewards programme, speak to a chartered accountant. While I, a philosophy graduate, was patting myself on the back in February, proudly slurping my hard-earned Kauai peanut butter bomb, my accounting colleagues had already rocketed to Diamond status, were flying overseas for pennies, and basically…
The majority of organisations in the modern era understand the importance of risk management and hence make some effort to manage it. The obvious dimensions of organisational risk are financial, legal, operational, information technology, human resources, and marketing risks. These are usually acknowledged and frequently managed in a structured manner. Often overlooked, however, is the…
We need to find pragmatic ways of working through our social ills and creating a more desirable society. But how do we do this? Lulama Qabaka of The Ethics Institute has a few suggestions. A man promised his children he would buy them new toys at the end of the month because he knew he…
Despite the robust Code of Professional Conduct within the accountancy profession locally and internationally, the reputation of the accountancy profession has received backlash over the years with a number of corporate failures and accounting scandals. Some more well-known corporate failures locally include Steinhoff where accounting irregularities were identified by the auditors that resulted in the…
Hamman Schoonwinkel (29) is a chartered accountant and a lecturer in digital and leadership acumen at Stellenbosch University with a passion for both finance and the performing arts. He is also the chair of the SAICA Community of Best Practice for Digital Acumen. As an avid saxophone player, Hamman Schoonwinkel initially faced a tough decision…
When you think about accountants, cooking is not something you would normally associate with CAs(SA). Enter Joubert Spies … Joubert Spies CA(SA) from Pretoria is not only a proud father of two and happily married to his high school sweetheart, Roné, but he is also one of the contestants in the popular kykNET cooking show…
The beginning of August this year saw the merging of two significant firms in the South African accounting industry, RSM South Africa and Ngubane Johannesburg. The combined business, trading as RSM South Africa, will now have annual billings in excess of R300 million and over 370 staff. The merger will accelerate both businesses’ ambitions to…
In the world of equations and balance sheets, two hearts found their equilibrium. Meet Ané and Sakkie Church, the dynamic duo of the accounting world who not only balance budgets but also each other’s lives in the most endearing way possible. From chance meetings to dream vacations, their love story is an inspiring ode to…
In a world where numbers and spreadsheets often hold the key to financial success, there’s a unique story that beautifully weaves together not only the intricacies of balance sheets but also the delicate threads of love and companionship. Meet Ebrahim Tootla and his wife Aarifah – a power couple whose journey is a testament to…