The University of Limpopo (UL) should be celebrated for its steadfast contribution to the transformation of the accountancy profession and for increasing the number of qualified Black Chartered Accountants in South Africa. This was the sentiment of the Chairperson of the Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa (ABASA) Limpopo Branch, Mr Disego Debeila (CA)(SA), who presented the School of Accountancy at UL with a certificate of recognition for achieving the SAICA ITC top mark for 2022.
ABASA, which was established in 1985 to promote the professional interests of Black persons engaged in the accounting profession, presented the certificate at its Accounting and Professional Excellence Dinner held in Polokwane recently.
The recognition comes after the UL Accounting Class of 2022 achieved a 71% pass rate, exceeding the national average of 59% and the 42% of Black Africans. This takes the students one step closer to qualifying as CAs.
The SAICA ITC exams are rigorous competency exams taken by accounting students who have completed a SAICA-accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy (PGDA) or CTA programme at various universities, and are designed to assess their core technical competence to become CAs.
According to Mr Debeila, the certificate recognises the university’s good work while also encouraging it to do more in the coming years as part of contributing towards the accountancy profession’s transformation and increasing the number of qualified Black Chartered Accountants in South Africa.
“As we awarded the certificate of recognition to UL, we are proud of the work that the university is doing, and we wish them more strength in equipping aspiring accountants with the necessary knowledge and skills to play an impactful role in the country and their communities upon graduation,” Debeila said.
He also committed that ABASA would support the university in maintaining its high pass rate on the SAICA initial test of competency, thereby advancing the interest and number of Black accountants.
Mr Stanford Mutyambizi, Acting Director of the School of Accountancy at UL, stated that the School was grateful and appreciative of ABASA for honouring them with a certificate in recognition of their achievement at the SAICA ITC assessments.
“The recognition by associations such as ABASA is an acknowledgement of the outstanding work being done by academics in the School and the high-quality programmes we offer. We are encouraged to continue our exceptional work which is transforming the accountancy profession in the country,” Mutyambizi stated.
By Reuben Maake