The University of Fort Hare's Alice campus.
The Nkuhlu Department of Accounting is named after Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu. As part of the faculty of management and commerce at the University of Fort Hare (UFH), our mission statement guides us to “transform the accounting landscape of our continent through inspired teaching and empowered learners”.
In 2016 UFH is celebrating, in the words of vice-chancellor Dr Mvuyo Tom, “100 years in pursuit of academic excellence”. The accounting department is celebrating a decade of accreditation by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica). a 92% pass rate in Saica’s Initial Test of Competence (ITC) in 2016 puts the university at the top. We have achieved this proud moment by holding to Nkuhlu’s values of determination, self-control and a firm, positive outlook.
Sakhumzi Msakatya graduated with a BCom (Accounting) at UFH in 2006, and now lectures Accounting at UFH
Our Saica-accredited programme was initiated in 2002, under the leadership of Professor Gillian Bartlett, in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and supported by Saica’s Thuthuka initiative. Saica provisionally accredited the department in 2006, under her leadership.
Temba Zakuza followed as head of department and worked tirelessly to source funding for the department and our students from the department of labour, the Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa (Abasa) and the auditor general of South Africa (AGSA).
Zakuza also developed a working relationship between UFH and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) that saw experienced NMMU professors mentoring and developing UFH lecturers.
When Professor Lindelwa Majova-Songca took over as head in 2010 she focused on recruiting the right students into the programme and on leading a stable and well-run accredited programme.
Craig Tudhope passed ITC with honours and achieved first place in the country in 2009. “UFH provided me with the edge I needed.”
In 2014 Ntombi Mnconywa took her place as head of department. To determine the next big step for the department she consulted broadly with various parties: the vice-chancellor; previous heads of department; Saica nation-building executive Chantyl Mulder, who facilitated a visit to UJ to meet with the head of the accounting department, Professor Alex van der Watt, to tap into his wealth of experience; the Thuthuka Upliftment Fund Board led by Sizwe Nxasana; the department’s board of advisors and the AGSA. From the input of these wise people the new mandate became clear — to increase the number of students writing Saica’s ITC.
After a number of years of development the department needed to show significant results and to demonstrate to its investors that they had received a return on their investments. This increase in throughput had to be achieved without compromising on quality. The 35 students who passed the ITC in 2016 are testimony to this growth and excellence. The department has matured to a position where it now stands proudly on its own, independent of all of the nurturing relationships that were instrumental in its development.
Akhona Lacky graduated CTA at UFH, and was part of the historic class that achieved a 92% pass rate in ITC in 2016
We would like to acknowledge the parties that have played a significant role in this process:
• The leadership of UFH, ably led by Dr Tom — for their unwavering support and their shared vision of uplifting the country through the provision of scare accounting skills;
• The focus and continued dedication of the staff and the previous heads of department — for their willingness to grow, to be mentored and to attain the current levels of competence. The department also appreciates the support of their families;
• Abasa’s visionary leadership, from the time of Futhi Mtoba and Tsakani Maluleke to the present day leadership — we applaud the deployment of lecturers and role models in the early stages of our accreditation journey, funded by the Professor Nkuhlu subvention fund; they provided the engine and opened many doors that proved to be critical in our journey;
• The resources invested by various stakeholders, in particular the then auditor general Terence Nombembe and the current auditor general Kimi Makwetu — their support for the collaboration with NMMU helped form the solid foundation upon which our current success is built;
• The department of labour – for provided financial resources over an extended period of time, fully supporting the development of our students. They showed true commitment to developing the necessary labour force with appropriate skills to take our country to the next level. The department of higher education and training under the National Skills Fund, which took over this funding responsibility, funding 160 students in 2015 and 130 students in 2016;
• NMMU under the leadership of Professor Derek Swartz — for unwavering support in deployment of a team under the leadership of Professor Frans Prinsloo, to work side-by-side with the then newly accredited team at UFH;
• The board of advisors under the leadership of Eric Tiltmann — for continuing to provide advice and not being afraid to ask difficult questions; they willingly create space for us in their busy schedules;
• The local firms in and around East London — for opening their doors to our learners, exposing them to the practical realities of the work environment, for providing many of our graduates with training after completing their studies, and for spreading the good reputation for our university to prospective students;
• The schools — both urban and rural — for their vote of confidence in us by making our institution their university of choice; we see it in the enthusiasm expressed by their students in our programme; and
• Our students, who work tirelessly to build this department, shown by their commitment and effort in ensuring that they progress from one level to another.
Ntombi Mnconywa is the head of the Nkuhlu Department of Accounting at the University of Fort Hare
Plans for the future
It is true that the right people are an organisation’s greatest assets. As a department we are committed to the vision of the institution and the mission of the department, and we stand by our core values. The department has learnt to depend on God’s grace and to remain calm through tough times knowing that He is in control.
Where to from here? The department has set the following goals for its next chapter:
• To improve its Saica accreditation rating to level 1 in 2016;
• To increase the throughput rate at CTA (certificate in the theory of accounting) level, while continuing to produce quality graduates;
• To develop a strong postgraduate academic team — two lecturers, instead of one, per subject – by sourcing sufficient funding and recruiting strategically;
• To raise new and sustainable funding in 2016 — for student fees, a Thuthuka residence, enhanced IT facilities, a psychologist and a shuttle bus for students;
• To be a Thuthuka-accredited university; and
• To grow from a department into a school of accounting, and to introduce more programmes to address the needs of the country.
On behalf of the department I want to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to all those who have contributed to the success that we are experiencing.