Vimbai Sithandiwe Ndereya CA(SA), 33

Finalist: Transformative Leader | SAICA Top-35-Under-35 Awards 2025

Vimbai Sithandiwe Ndereya is a Chartered Accountant and Technical Training Specialist at the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), where she is redefining what it means to lead with purpose, empathy, and impact. She has become a driving force behind the transformation of public sector training and mentorship. Her clear mission is to invest in people and equip them to be the best versions of themselves.

Since 2022, Vimbai has led AGSA’s Academic Trainee Programme, overseeing the onboarding and development of 46 young professionals transitioning from academia into the auditing profession. Her first cohort of 10 trainees is set to complete their training in 2025, with an impressive 90% expected to qualify as Chartered Accountants. Recognising the challenges faced by new entrants, she pioneered two induction and support initiatives, one of which has since been institutionalised within AGSA’s people strategy.

The first initiative is Bridging the Gap (BTG), a structured induction and development programme that prepares academic trainees technically, emotionally, and professionally. Its success is evident in the achievements of its participants, including a SAICA trainee trailblazer winner and a Deputy Chairperson of the Young Professionals Leadership Forum, to name a few. The second initiative is called the Navigator. This mentorship programme ensures that every first-year trainee has a mentor or peer to guide them through their journey, fostering a culture of support, accountability, and growth.

Vimbai is one of the core national facilitators for the Audit Software Programme (ASP), a digital transformation project that is capacitating over 1,500 auditors across South Africa. Her role in this project is pivotal in transitioning AGSA from legacy systems to smarter, more efficient audit tools, thereby enhancing audit quality and public accountability.

Vimbai’s leadership is also recognised in the broader profession. She serves on the SAIGA Education Committee, where she has contributed to developing the new competency framework for the Registered Government Auditor (RGA) designation. She is also a mentor with SAICA and Thuthuka, supporting the development of aspiring professionals.

Vimbai’s work has earned her numerous accolades, including her participation in the Y20 Working Group on Meaningful Youth Engagement and Reforming Multilateralism for a just future, recognition in AGSA’s Supreme Awards, acknowledgement as part of the Lincoln Mali Leadership Summit, and graduation from the IWFSA/FASSET Middle Management Programme. She also served on the AGSA Women’s Forum Executive (2022–2024), where she championed women’s empowerment under the ethos of “lifting as we rise”.

A strong dedication to people development, strategic collaboration, and inclusive leadership characterises her career. Whether she’s facilitating technical training, mentoring future leaders, or shaping national education frameworks, Vimbai leads with authenticity, courage, and care. Her purpose is clear and unwavering: to leave every space better than she found it and to ensure that those who come after her are empowered to do the same.