The outcome of the ANCs long-awaited KwaZulu-Natal conference was a win for the Thuma Mina crowd. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
The Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants in Southern Africa (Abasa) has, since 2005, had a strong working relationship with the University of Fort Hare. It prides itself in identifying and deploying its members to the university, and then following this up with support to the university, in an effort to attract and retain qualified staff from target groups in the quest for transformation.
Abasa had realised that true transformation of the accounting profession would only be achieved if all universities in the country — in particular those that carry the largest numbers of African learners and arebeing responsive to the social challenges by providing access — were fully capacitated to provide a conducive learning situation for students.
Abasa then focused its energy on the broader transformation of the accounting profession and realised that universities like Fort Hare, carrying many African students who seek the highest academic results and affording them opportunities usually denied them by the previously advantaged universities, had to be supported in their quest for fairness. With hindsight, Abasa is delighted with the stance it took and is happy that the department of labour and auditor general of South Africa also contributed substantial resources to make this dream a reality.
Abasa appreciates the university’s efforts and further commends the university on its stance to provide access to students with potential not fully displayed in their matric results due to the environmental challenges they have endured rather than any fault of their own.
Abasa would like to express its delight at the achievements of the University of Fort Hare. The university has achieved immensely in contributing to the political leadership of the African continent over the last 100 years. Fort Hare has produced world-renowned professionals in accounting, who continue to shine their light for the next generations.
We are proud of Abasa stalwarts such as Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, in whose honour the accounting department of Fort Hare was named, and we are equally proud that the department and its students has held that name in such high esteem through the results it produces. We extend our gratitude to Dr Sizwe Nxasana, who on several occasions has declared his appreciation of the role Fort Hare has played in his professional development. We look forward to many more such stories from the current crop pf students.
We are amazed and pleased with the results that Fort Hare continues to achieve with these students. In 2008, Fort Hare was the second- highest achiever in the Saica examinations — alongside the University of Cape Town — and was second only to the University of Pretoria. It was also among the top achievers for 2011 and now again in 2016. We welcome this development as the department’s maturity brings the accounting profession closer to the people. Well done, Fort Hare. We will always look up to you when we seek answers to the challenges that surround our country.