Meet our members

Sithembiso Freeman Nomvalo’s tenure as SAICA’s CEO has been defined by a series of transformative accomplishments that have solidified SAICA’s position as a vanguard institution in the accountancy profession.

Head of the Department of Accounting Sciences at Walter Sisulu University and Managing Director at SnB Chartered Accountants and Auditors.

Shabir Chohan, the CEO of Al Baraka Bank, has strong analytical acumen, combined with a deep understanding of financial markets and risk management, to lead in a demanding, highly regulated sector.

More than a storied bean counter, Nonkululeko Gobodo CA(SA) is an advocate for racial inclusion and gender equality.

In 2022, Municipal IQ recorded 193 service delivery protests.

Kasthuri Soni, CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, is determined to help find solutions; a goal her organisation is achieving by working with an ecosystem of other change.

Trevor Gosling, the brains behind Lulalend, is extending even more financial assistance to small businesses through his new platform, Lula. Imagine a South Africa without small businesses. Imagine the impact on employment, especially since SMEs are increasingly responsible for job creation. Imagine the sluggishness of the economy, given that these entities contribute no less than…

It’s just a matter of time until fuel-guzzling motor cars are a thing of the past. Everlectric is hastening the arrival of that day with the provision of electric vehicles as a service Ordered anything online from Woolies lately? If you live in Gauteng, chances are your purchase was delivered by an electric vehicle supplied…

Although he came from humble beginnings, Imran Vanker CA(SA) made the most of every opportunity that came his way and today he is a governance, audit, and management specialist with broad experience in private practice and public sector auditing in South Africa and at the United Nations and has forged a path to an illustrious…

When Brett Tromp announced in March 2022 that he and his family were relocating to the Lone Star State, it was a blow to the SAICA community, to which he had contributed for many years. The former chief financial officer for Discovery Health, South Africa’s largest health insurer since 2007, had been with the…

‘A person who is too busy to take care of their health is like a mechanic who is too busy to take care of his tools.’ This is the philosophy Fulufhelo Siphuma lives by; a philosophy which is seeing her emerge as force in fitness as well as finance. The day that Fulufhelo’s grandmother passed…

A child of the townships, Jeff van Rooyen rose above his circumstances through hard work, determination and opportunity. ‘I’ve lost count of the number of times people have counselled me on aiming too high. Most of the time, their advice was that I should lower the bar and set myself what they considered to be…

Mathabo Makhaya CA(SA), group financial manager at Harmony Gold Mining (health) and chairperson of the Investment Committee Mineworkers Provident Fund (MWPF). Mathabo Makhaya (32) Group Financial Manager Health at Harmony Gold Mining; Chairperson of Investment Committee, Mine Workers Provident Fund When…

Twenty-five years after joining Deloitte Africa as a trainee, Ruwayda Redfearn has taken up the mantle of CEO, becoming one of the biggest names in the professional services sector on the continent. Her vision is for the firm to be a trusted global partner in Africa and an employer of choice for top talent across…

To become an international sportsperson and a chartered accountant is beyond the scope of most people’s dreams. Yet that is exactly what Phumelela Mbande CA(SA), goalkeeper and captain of the South African women’s hockey team, has achieved despite countless challenges. Her team competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where Phumelela had the honour of being…

As a 22-year-old student, Professor Kurt Sartorius first set out to South America with an Indiana Jones mindset paddling down the Amazon’s Madeira River. He left describing the experience as one that ‘nearly broke me’. But in July 2022, 50 years later and at the age of 73 years, he found himself returning to paddle the giant river but with his son, Benn Sartorius, Professor Wayne van Zijl CA(SA) and a local Amazonian – and this time with a serious agenda in mind: to fight climate change.

Kovini Moodly (37) multi-hyphenate visionary, chartered accountant, and founder of Boss Babes South Africa grew up in a little suburb south of Durban called Shallcross. Her aim with Boss Babes was breaking barriers and changing narratives around women uplifting each other, as well as recognising and changing stereotypes that women of colour face daily.

When she was only in Grade 7, Buhle Hanise Nomabunga CA(SA), BAIC CFO, decided to become a chartered accountant after she was inspired by Sindiswa Zilwa, the then second black, South African female CA(SA) and others. Today as president of the African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA), she is 100% dedicated to helping other women achieve their dreams too

One of the best reasons – for some, the most important reason – to take on a career in the public sector is the chance to make a positive difference in the lives of others. The sector provides many opportunities for CAs(SA) to do this and can allow you to have a direct impact on the people in your community

Mbali Precious Mabaso CA(SA) is the founder of and mentor at Isikhuthazi, a programme meant to encourage, educate and empower CTA students, ITC and APC candidates. She is also an audit portfolio manager at Nedbank Group Limited

Anisah Patel, 44-year-old CA(SA), started her CA(SA) journey at the age of 29, which is 10 years later than the norm. Today, she is the owner of her own practice in Vereeniging that offers accounting, taxation and advisory services. She never gave up and was not afraid to take calculated risks!

In 2020, two CAs(SA) went to the UK in search of adventure and opportunity, not knowing that a pandemic was about to change the world

‘I may be in the business of understanding numbers, but these are not ordinary numbers. These numbers help to tell the story of how public entities are meeting the needs and aspirations of people in the country. This is what drives me every day,’ says Bongi Ngoma, former AGSA CFO and current national Head of Audit

Driven small-business owner Devaksha Maharaj shares her story on how she was selected to join the Energy Sector Gender Ministerial Advisory Council last year as part of the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality (WEGE) Strategy implementation plan

The internal audit department of the Kannaland Municipality in Ladismith is in good hands. While building up the department as its current head, chartered accountant (CA(SA)) Enrico Kleinbooi is also responsible for the training and development of two young professionals pursuing their Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa internal audit designation. A beneficiary of the Thuthuka Bursary, Enrico shares his story …

Trade benefits (for beneficiaries) + tripple bottom-line reporting benefits (for funders) = NPO success

Sandiso Gcwabe, CFO of the Western Cape Liquor Authority, calls on peers to help bolster and strengthen the civil service.

In 2011, Leticia du Toit moved from her hometown of Phalaborwa to Pretoria to pursue her aspiration of becoming a CA(SA). She had just turned 20 and was thriving in the big new city life. While enjoying the nightlife that Pretoria had to offer, she met her now husband, Benjamin du Toit. In 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, they courageously launched their own firm called Bentich

From the Big Apple, Greg Maslov thinks that when it comes to corruption and dishonesty, South Africa will continue to improve, because the younger generation has a very low tolerance for fraud and misconduct. ‘I think the millennials are very different. They want to take care of the world and its people’

After a perfect stranger changed the course of her life, Mpho Mogoba, regional FM for FNB Commercial for Western and Eastern Cape, worked day and night to not only become the professional success she is today but to also change the lives of others in any way she can. Here is her story …

Nyawa Dikwayo loves numbers because they help identify developmental needs and create accountability.

Some people find the right employer early and stay on to make a success of their career there. Lerato Manti Thato Mathibela (29) has been employed with Nedbank since 2015 and has progressed from being a chartered accounting trainee to holding a leading role in training at the bank today

A CA(SA) entrepreneur who has shown courage over the last 30 years is Lynette Badenhorst. She was born in 1967 and is currently managing director of Probeta Training (Pty) Ltd and the brain behind the online learning platform Akhanani Online Training Solutions

Waterskiing champion Travis Fisher tells of his journey to become South Africa’s co-record holder. High speed and adrenalin – doesn’t sound like a typical day in the life of a CA, right? Unless you’re Travis Fisher, record-holding waterskier, that is.

Imagine a world where anything is possible … That is just what one team of CAs (SA) did. When criticism and disbelief rained down on them, they didn’t allow the perceived impossible to hold them back. Rather, it inspired them to venture forth, break barriers and create something that will quite likely change what the future holds

When Hiten Keshave (33) and Sanjay Soni (50) met through SAICA’s mentorship programme in 2019, they would never have guessed what a big impact they would not only have on each other but on the lives of countless others.

If you care about your community, working in the public sector can give you a deep sense of satisfaction. It has for Annalene Marais.

The journey to becoming a CA(SA) is never easy, but Ahmad Karolia (28) from Lenasia in Johannesburg proved he has what it takes when, against all odds, he successfully completed his CTA in 2019 after being paralysed due to a rare condition called transverse myelitis. Never did he even consider giving up on his dream of becoming a qualified CA(SA), and he is still going strong.

Zanele Maduna CA(SA) says that SAICA’s Thuthuka programme has changed her life. We spoke to her about the journey that brought her to her career success.

Zahid and Zahida Fakey, are both CAs(SA) and far from the typical couple. They have taken a unique journey to find their ultimate purpose in life and today we listen to their extraordinary story.

What makes someone leave a twenty-year career at a global organisation for a post at an eight-year-old start-up? The answer, according to Paul Stedall, recently appointed Chief Financial Officer (aka master of coin) at King Price, is simple: it all comes down to a dynamic culture and exciting opportunities.

Garth Pretorius believes that 2020 brought about significant introspection not only for himself but for innumerable others. He found himself taking stock of where he was within his career and where he saw himself in the years to come, and ultimately he decided to take the leap and start something of his own.

Vusi Mpofu AGA(SA) says how his life in financial services for the past 25 years can best be described as a ‘beautiful accident’.

In 2010 South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup and Tyron Barnard was acutely reminded that sport has the power to unify, and most importantly to inspire. As a passionate storyteller, he saw the need for the ‘lesser’ sports to have their stories told.

With so many negative news stories, it’s easy to forget that there are plenty of positive tales too. Earle van der Watt has built a very successful business in the heart of the agricultural sector and thrives at what he does. He describes how one of his favourite tasks is visiting the various farms.

Grant Greeff (30), currently the CFO of Drone Ops Group, has experienced an unusual CA(SA) story thus far and relishes the opportunity to share his learnings as well as his philosophy around leadership and business life.

After attending a conference in Amsterdam, Kalene Smalberger had a lightbulb moment when she realised how great the need was for entrepreneurs to understand the basics of finance. She landed back in South Africa and has since launched various financial courses that are making an incredible difference, right from kids to entrepreneurs, on how to work with their money

At 29, Khuthadzo Mbedzi believes we ought to be the best versions of ourselves in all we do. Currently, she serves as the chief financial officer at GC2T, a South African-owned company providing turnkey-enabled awareness solutions to defence, security and related technology customers.

Let’s face it: most people would rarely put ‘accounting’ and ‘social’ in the same sentence. However, with billions of social media users today, social media platforms have become an integral part of life, with more than half of the world’s population having at least one social media account.

Mpho Makoko-Hottie is a successful CA(SA) thriving in her role as a B-BBEE business analyst. She has sound advice for youngsters aspiring to become CAs(SA).

In a world full of stiff-collared, number-crunching chartered accountants, Dr Gideon Botha stands head and shoulders above the rest. As futurist and thought leader, he offers fresh, unexpected insights and perspectives and if you listen to him long enough, your whole paradigm might just shift.

Richard and Yvonne Starkey (both 39) decided to pack their bags and move to Kotor, a small, secluded coastal town in Montenegro with a population of about 13 512 − where they started their careers, met and got married.

Living life with purpose and endeavouring to be inspirational, Tshwarelo Legae is focused on winning, determined to be successful, constantly moving and improving, and nothing will stop him from reaching the top floor of life.

Ipfani Hope Singo’s journey to becoming a chartered accountant has not been easy for her. Thankfully she had Thuthuka to hold her hand

Obtaining the CA(SA) qualification is tough – anyone can tell you that. But not everyone finds themselves dealing with the challenges thrown up by the course while struggling with chronic pain. Despite it all, Ryno’s strong determination to write his APC and APT has been inspirational. Here is his story.

Johannesburg, 15 May 2018 - When it comes to choosing your school subjects, the reality is many learners and perhaps parents do not understand the importance of the choice or the difference between mathematical literacy and mathematics. But pick the wrong one and the consequences for your child’s future can be disastrous.