‘Challenge’ is a word that Portia Ravhuhali knows all too well, having faced one challenge after another before setting up her own practice, Namusi Chartered Accountant INC. Furthermore, as chairperson of Sovereign Africa Ratings (SAR), she is challenging perceptions about how Africa does business.
Portia describes her career as a CA(SA) as a ‘journey’ – and, indeed, it’s been a road filled with twists, turns, and more than one setback.
The first detour came about when Portia left her village in Venda, Limpopo, to study chemical engineering at Mangosuthu Technikon – despite her keen interest in accounting and commerce at school. She may well have continued in this field had it not been for her cousin, Rofhiwa Singo, who was studying accounting part-time, and her husband, Lufuno, a qualified CA(SA), who reminded her of her original interest in accounting, prompting her to enrol at Unisa. Portia passed her first year with the top marks in that year, despite holding down a part-time job to help her pay for her studies. Her next step was admission into a five-year SAICA programme to start articles.
Driven to work even harder now that her goal career was on track to becoming a reality, she settled into articles at the offices of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), where she became fascinated by the workings of the public sector and the impact of AGSA on public accountability. ‘AGSA played a critical part in my journey – it’s impossible to speak of my success and experiences without mentioning the support and opportunities I enjoyed there,’ she recalls.
Falling down and getting back up
This engendered confidence that would help Portia weather the storms of the next years. Having failed her first attempt for the first board exam – a fallout of having recently taken on a new role, post articles, and grappling to balance her responsibilities – she learnt that she would be moving to the United States shortly before she would be able to try again. Not a problem, she thought – she’d simply return to South Africa to write the exam. She hadn’t figured on giving birth just seven weeks before this makeup exam, however. Portia arrived in South Africa to write the exam jetlagged, stressed and exhausted – and, perhaps not surprisingly, failed again.
‘I wasn’t sure I had it in me to try again, but I forced myself to regroup. I could not afford to allow my dream career to slip away.’ Next time around, she made a deliberate effort to arrive in South Africa a few days ahead of the exam and attend a few classes, and the effort paid off.
Now all that was left was to complete her APT to be eligible to sit for her second board exams (which she did part-time, since she couldn’t attend classes in person). Although she passed, more hurdles were in store. ‘By this time, I was expecting my second child. I was so tired that I wanted to quit because I really didn’t think I could succeed, but my husband kept me going.’
Just as before, Portia arrived in South Africa a day before the exam, weary but galvanized by the thought that all her hard work was about to pay off and, a few months later, she may well be a qualified CA(SA). She sat down – only to find that she had brought her cousin’s books with her to the exam and therefore wouldn’t be able to access any reference material during the exam. ‘I was panicking so much that I was shaking,’ she admits. Luckily, her husband was able to drive to the exam venue with her own books after the first break.
The ordeal was to be the last she would encounter. ‘Certainly, it wasn’t easy to get where I am now – but it taught me the value of remaining focused on your goals, no matter what. This is something I remind the people I mentor,’ she says.
Portia remained in the United States for six years after qualifying, joining the country’s Association of Chartered Accountants in the United States (ACAUS), of which SAICA was the only member organisation from Africa. She also successfully completed the American Certified Public Accountants (CPA) exams. ‘I was privileged to be part of ACAUS and proud to be an ambassador for South African CAs. I loved interacting with other professionals and seeing how much weight the CA(SA) brand carries internationally.’
New horizons
Returning to South Africa after her husband’s contract finished, Portia rejoined the AGSA as a manager and later joined the Public Investment Corporation, where she headed the procurement department. She got her first taste of the private sector when she moved on to a medium-sized audit firm. Here, she developed a passion for training young accountants.
Having also grown her business acumen and knowledge of what it takes to run a professional firm, Portia decided she was ready to make her next move forward: opening her own firm. Namusi Chartered Accountants INC was established in 2020, providing auditing and consulting services as well as training. She is proud to be able to use this platform to mentor upcoming accountants. ‘You can change someone’s life simply by giving them a chance. I’m passionate about helping young professionals and giving them someone to look up to. Someone needs to tell these youngsters that, even if you stumble, your story may have the ending you’re hoping for.’
In 2022 Portia took on another mantle: serving as the chairperson of the newly established Sovereign African Ratings. ‘This is the first sovereign credit ratings agency licensed by the FSCA in Africa; a real first for the continent,’ she enthuses, explaining that the organisation’s aim is to ensure that African countries and other emerging markets have access to independent, unbiased credit ratings. ‘This is about rewriting history and challenging the accepted belief that anything originating overseas is superior. Africa is rich in resources – including human resources – but we fail to acknowledge this.’
Portia also oversees SAR’s methodology committee, reviewing the methodology of ratings to make sure they are aligned with global best practice and supported by credible information.
Amongst her other roles, Portia makes use of her experience in chemical engineering by serving as an audit committee member of the CHIETA – a SITA supporting the chemical industries sector by facilitating skills development, education and training.
Her next step? Portia intends to grow her firm to become ‘a force to be reckoned with’ – not for its own sake, but so that it can continue to play a role in fostering growth for young professionals. She’d also like to focus on her own development, studying to further her expertise in leadership and governance.
How Portia keeps motivated
- My faith! Prayer is a daily part of my life that sustains me, especially at times when I feel like I cannot go on.
- My family. They are gems; the support they give me is indescribable. They keep me going.
- People that are looking up to me. They energise and help me to continue when I need the extra push.
- My innate courage and fighting spirit, which pushes me to challenge myself and never settle for less.
- Envisioned future victories. I always imagine what is possible and what victory will taste like.
Author Lisa Witepski & Lynn Grala | Photographer Theana Breugem
