Black CAs to help SA 'to next level’

Cape Town. 150525. Dr Iqbal Surve with frm frnt left, Donavan Van Der Byl, Co vice chair of ABASA and Nokukhanya Sithole from SANLAM at the CTICC for the ABASA graduation. Graduates seated in the background. Reporter Siya. Pic COURTNEY AFRICA

Cape Town. 150525. Dr Iqbal Surve with frm frnt left, Donavan Van Der Byl, Co vice chair of ABASA and Nokukhanya Sithole from SANLAM at the CTICC for the ABASA graduation. Graduates seated in the background. Reporter Siya. Pic COURTNEY AFRICA

Published May 26, 2015

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Cape Town - The Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa (Abasa) has congratulated a group of more than 100 students for qualifying as chartered accountants.

They were honoured during a ceremony at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Monday night.

The students, who were mainly from disadvantaged communities, passed their final exams recently

.The association creates awareness in poor communities of its work and the accounting profession. It was established in 1985 to promote the interests of black people in the accounting profession.

Congratulating the new accountants at the gala dinner, Abasa board member Imtiaaz Hashim said: “For those who are candidates, you will know the journey can be a very interesting one.

“And for those who are not, trust me, it can be an emotional roller-coaster; hard work, late nights, dedication, focus, discipline, patience, sacrifice and anxiety.”

Independent Media executive chairman Dr Iqbal Survé, who delivered a keynote address at the occasion, said the contribution of the new chartered accountants was needed in making South Africa a better country.

“I know it has been a difficult journey, but an important one because our country needs clever people who can take it to the next level.

“I think it is important what Abasa has done. At this point in time, we have many challenges – transformation of society, of communities is not uniquely a South African phenomenon,” he said.

Globally, marginalised communities demanded to know what happened in their countries, Dr Survé added.

“I think Abasa has a valuable role to play, in that it is very easy to look at transformation at a short-term point of view. Transformation isn’t about technology. It is about the culture of a society and an organisation.

“We saw in our own country what happens when people’s needs are not met.”

Cape Times

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