A record number of black chartered accountant (CA) candidates passed the final exams in 2007, the Association of Black Accountants of Southern Africa (Abasa) said on Friday.
More than 300 (67%) black candidates passed the final qualifying exam, compared with 64% the previous year, Abasa said in a statement.
This was extremely encouraging in view of the severe skills shortage in the industry, particularly among black South Africans.
According to the latest figures of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), only 12% of CAs were black — less than 1 000 people.
Abasa was attempting to boost these numbers through, among other things, mentorship programmes and lectures at historically disadvantaged universities. — Sapa