AWCA Newsletter

IN TOUCH

4TH QUARTER BULLETIN

CONTENTS

THE PRESIDENTIAL VIEW
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
PASSION.POWER.PURPOSE POWER TEA
APC PREPARATION WORKSHOP
MAHUBE ROUNDTABLE : PART 1
STUDENT CHAPTER NEWS: WITS UNIVERSITY

AWCA HUMAN CAPITAL
BOOK CLUB

WOMEN AND HEALTH
MOVERS & SHAKERS

CALENDAR

THE PRESIDENTIAL VIEW

Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday when we were welcoming 2017 and yet here we are eagerly awaiting to bid the year farewell and usher in 2018.

No one can dispute that 2017 was a challenging year and with the tough economic climate it brought, came a decline in donor funding for organisations such as ours. It was in
the face of these challenges that AWCA realised that there was a need to refine our operating model to suit the landscape, thus ensuring sustainability. Adding on to the
pressures already brought on by the economic landscape, the CA profession has also faced significant trials that have served as clear reflection of how the scourge of
corruption puts the profession at risk and therefore requires heightened levels of professional scepticism. It’s been disappointing to see the erosion of the credibility and
sanctity of the profession due to the unethical conduct of some of the members in the profession. Such behaviour cannot be condoned as the ramifications for both the
profession and the economy are enormous.

On the upside, AWCA celebrated its 15th anniversary, a milestone marking its contribution to the increase in the number of black female CAs from 1% of the CA population at
inception to 12% to date. AWCA has continued to offer its flagship programmes to members and expanded its offerings through additions such as the Mahube Roundtable
Discussion, a 4-part series brought to you by the AWCA Entrepreneurs Forum, aimed at providing a growth platform for our entrepreneurial members. We have also
supplemented our fundraising efforts by joining the MySchool Programme, so please do contact the office for more information on how to contribute to the AWCA Bursary
Trust by just doing your regular shopping.

AWCA had the pleasure of going full circle with an Out To Lunch hosted by Mr Sizwe Nxasana who, was the inaugural Out To Lunch host when the programme started in 2009.
Education remains a key foundation for success and the work that Mr. Nxasana and the team at Future Nations school are doing is commendable. Another noteworthy
achievement was the APC Preparation Workshop, which reached a record high of over 150 APC candidates registering for the session. Never wanting to be left behind, the
WITS Student Chapter held its very first award ceremony for students, honouring both their academic achievements and those of the organisation. On the regional front,
AWCA KZN held a Celebrate Success in honour of Ms. Nombali Mlambo (CFO of AdaptIT), Ms. Lungi Xaba (Associate Director at Bonakude Consulting), Ms. Futhi Mhlongo
(Business Executive at AGSA) and Ms. Thabang Redman (FD at Imbewu Capital); a heartfelt congratulations to you all on your promotions and appointments. We closed off the
year’s programmes with a Mentorship Power Tea sponsored by Deloitte. Thank you to the speakers, Ms. Tumi Frazier and Mr. Timothy Maurice Webster for availing
themselves to take us through the inner workings of ‘Purpose’. A true embodiment of passion, power and purpose, AWCA wishes Ms. Shadi Chauke the best as she pursues her
love for the performing arts. We are very proud of Shadi and hope to see more of her on our TV screens. We also extend our congratulations to Ms. Basani Maluleke, who will
be taking on the CEO role of African Bank from March 2018. We look forward to further gender diversity in the C-suite across industries.

The final order of events was the AWCA Annual General Meeting that took place on the 22nd of November 2017, the resolutions of which are tabled on pages 6 to 8. With that
said, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all the incredibly talented women who have helped to make this organisation and my term what it is. While there
have been a number of challenges along the way, I am fiercely proud of the effort and time these individuals volunteer for this labour of love.
A heartfelt gratitude to the members and various stakeholders too. Your support has made the work that the leadership team does more achievable and impactful.
I would like to congratulate Ms. Zama Khanyile on her appointment as the incoming President. Ms. Zama Khanyile will be taking the reigns effective February 2018.
As you go on your summer holiday, I pray that you stay blessed, safe and happy. Take a moment to think about all the great things that you have achieved over the course of
the year and enter 2018 with even greater enthusiasm. Happy holidays and a prosperous New Year!

-Lesego Sennelo CA (SA)

MYSCHOOL MYVILLAGE MYPLANET

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2017

The African Women Chartered Accountants Forum (AWCA) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 22 November 2017. All resolutions
passed are detailed below, including the following key highlights:
The AGM noted the resignation of current President Ms. Lesego Sennelo with her notice period ending February 2018. The AWCA would like
to thank Ms. Sennelo for the many years of authentic leadership. The commitment and diligence she has displayed during her tenure as
President of AWCA has contributed to the many successes of the organisation. Ms. Sennelo will going forward, serve as a member of the
Advisory Council, a management board’s support structure.
The AWCA is pleased to announce the new President elect Ms. Zama Khanyile, who has served as a board member in
various portfolios within the organisation over the past 6 years, including the Deputy President role.
Congratulations to Ms. Khanyile on her appointment! AWCA looks forward to reaching even greater heights under
Ms. Khanyile’s watchful eye.
The AWCA also bids a formal farewell to Ms. Melanie Elephant, Ms. Thabang Redman
and Ms. Thabiso Foto and relays its heartfelt gratitude for the years they have invested
in serving on the board.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2017

Resolutions passed at the AGM held on 22 November 2017:

• Resolution no 1
The AGM accepted the waiver of notice.

• Resolution no 2
The AGM approved the financial auditor's report on the financial statements for the fiscal year ended 29 February 2016
and 28 February 2017.

• Resolution no 3
The AGM approved the removal of the Company's financial auditor - Motheo Audit Services Inc.

• Resolution no 4
It has been delegated to the Board of Directors to elect a new financial auditor.

• Resolution no 5
The AGM noted the resignation of current President Ms. Lesego Sennelo with her notice period ending February 2018.

• Resolution no 6
The AGM noted the resignation of the non-executive directors:

Name Resignation date continued on next page
1 Melanie Elephant September 2016
2 Thabiso Foto June 2016
3 Thabang Redman February 2017

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2017

Resolutions passed at the AGM held on 22 November 2017:

• Resolution no 7
The AGM noted the appointment or re-appointment of the non-executive directors:

Name T itle Re-appointment
1 Zama Khanyile President Re-appointment
2 Zimkhitha Zatu Board Member
Re-appointment
3 Buhle Hanise Board Member Re-appointment
4 Lulama Booi Board Member Re-appointment
5 Phuthanang Motsielwa Board Member Re-appointment
6 Pumla Molope Board Member Re-appointment
7 Gugu Mayisela Board Member Re-appointment
8 Nokukhanya Sithole Board Member
Re-appointment
9 Mamosa Dlothi Board Member Re-appointment
10 Nonkululeko Shezi Board Member Re-appointment
11 Nirakasha Sookraj-Yagan Board Member Appointment
12 Phetogo Mahlangu Board Member Appointment
13 Vuyokazi Makhubalo Board Member Appointment
14 Lebogang Senne Board Member

PASSIPOONW.PEORW.PEARS.SPIUORNP.OPUSERPOSWEER TEA

Sun, summer dresses and colourful fascinators were the order of the day at the AWCA Power Tea held on 18
November at The Marion on Nicol. This event would not have been possible without the continuous support from
our sponsor, Deloitte.

At this last instalment of the series, we delved deeper into the intricacies of purpose, what this means and some of
the practical things you can do to find your purpose. The session was conducted through a panel discussion with
Ms. Tumi Frazier , Mr. Timothy Maurice Webster and facilitated by the dynamic Ms. Shadi Chauke. Ms. Chauke set
the ball rolling by sharing her meaning of purpose. It meant being able to do your passion whilst ensuring what you
do benefits greater society. Growing up, Ms. Chauke always wanted to be in the entertainment industry and is
now living her purpose as she pursues a career as an actress while being a partner at one of the big four audit
firms in the country.

Purpose according to Ms. Frazier, is what you do even if you had all the money in the world. It is something that
gets you out of bed every morning and people’s lives are changed by it. It is that which you have been created to
do. Purpose is bigger than yourself and it changes people’s lives. Purpose is something that comes natural to you,
that thing that is effortless. By not living your purpose, you rob the world, yourself and your higher power of the
amazing being that you have been called to be. In order to discover your purpose, ask yourself what you would do
if money was not an issue.

Mr Webster introduced a new dynamic to our perception of purpose, he maintains that purpose can be broken
down into two elements that being, social and career. From a career perspective, we have to look at our very own
Ms. Lesego Sennelo who has taken AWCA to new heights speaks very much to her career purpose also driven by
her passion in women development. From a social aspect, he shared a story about his mother that explained how
when there is a push and pull in your life, this provides a gap or opportunity for you to pursue your purpose and
we need to learn to tap into that area during challenging times in our lives. A purpose is something that is bigger
than yourself, it is something that will also have an impact on those around you. We need to learn to find and
listen to inner our voices amidst the culture of ‘busyness’.

PASSION.POWER.PURPOSE

There is one big umbrella of purpose but there are smaller purposes under that umbrella i.e. we
only have one great purpose, however there are other things that you do that assist or enable you
to reach and live your purpose. It is vital that we are continually inspired by what happens in our
lives and that only happens when one is living in purpose.

Purpose also does not have to make you a pauper, discover ways to make money from what you’re
good at. Learn to collaborate with people around you and use your experiences to see how you
can benefit not just yourself but those around you too. You need to find something that is bigger
than you in order to find your purpose, something that will outlive you.

Whatever you do, it will not be easy. Your purpose is something that you have to believe with all
that you have. We tend to define ourselves by what we do and not who we are. Get to know who
you are and use that to find your purpose. We also need to be careful not to confuse purpose with
what we are good at. You could also have things that you love to do and that you are good at, but
it does not mean that those are your purpose. When you find your purpose, passion comes
naturally.

Some of the practical things you can do to keep you going and enable you to live your purpose is
meditation about what you’re grateful for, your challenges and how you will overcome these and
know that your challenges are below you and meditate about your goals. Running, praying,
journaling and mentoring other are also some of the practical ways to keep you going during
tough times and enable you to live your purpose.

Self-discovery is an ongoing journey and we wish all our members clarity, strength, enthusiasm
and resilience as you navigate through your passion , power and purpose.

MMABATHO HANTISE
SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

APC PREPARATION WORKSHOP

The AWCA successfully held an APC preparation workshop on the 11th of November 2017, for
candidates writing the SAICA Part Two examinations (22 November 2017). It was an honor to
have four esteemed guest speakers whose motivation, exam technique and mental
preparation tips for the candidates were invaluable. The room was constantly captivated and
excited by each speaker, and everyone present certainly left with a key take out from each
session.

Ms. Nolo Pududu CA (SA), a Senior Lecturer at UNISA, gave the candidates exam a
preparation toolkit. Her knowledge of the competence levels of the exam and tips on how to
approach the exam before and on the day, provided essential insight for the candidates. She
had an exciting energy and offered motivational tips with the following emphasis:

• Preparation is important
• Know what you want, know your abilities
• Pick yourself up after failure
• Stick to the required and do not information-dump
• Your script is a reflection of you

Mr. Lyndsay Maseko CA (SA) who is a Senior Lecturer at UJ also gave an exam preparation
talk. Candidates appreciated Lyndsay’s realistic view on how the exam is typically approached
versus how it should be approached. An important message which the candidates found
enlightening from his session was the comparison of “Depth versus Coverage”. That is, depth
is more important than coverage and any triggers of new terms noted during the exam
preparation stage should be investigated. Other noteworthy highlights from his talk were:

Spend time on your own – be mindful of balancing group work and individual work
Time management is key
Confidence is also critical and use the tools provided
Know who’s hat you are in when answering the questions – ‘Who am I’ is an important
question for context specific answers

APC PREPARATION WORKSHOP

Ms. Boniswa Madikizela CA (SA), also a Senior Lecturer at UJ, gave an energizing
motivational talk to the candidates. She focused on the topical issue of ethics, and
opened up about some of the ethical dilemmas which she has faced in her career.
Her personal lessons learnt from how she dealt with these situations resonated
with the audience, who found her focus on being true to oneself, one’s story, and
one’s value system particularly helpful. Her link of ethics to the exam preparation
provided the following insights:

Ethics in important during group work
Exit anything that compromises your value system
Do your due diligence
It is important to recognise who you are and speak your truth

Ms. Mpho Sedibe CA (SA) is a phenomenal business woman, who captivated the
room with her realism and life story. Her story clearly demonstrated that nothing
is impossible, especially for the girl child. Her openness with some of her failures
and successes, gave all in the room valuable lessons on preserving relationships
and taking risks on what one truly believes in. Some of the wisdom she shared
included:

Leverage your relationships
Pride doesn’t always get you where you want to go
Trust the process – the things that are supposed to align will align
The journey works the way it is supposed to

The AWCA would like to thank its sponsor PPS, guest speakers for taking the time
out to talk to the candidates and candidates for trusting the organization with
their limited time amidst the exam preparation.

We wish all our candidates good luck with the exams and hope for a positive
outcome!

NANCY CHAKABUDA
SUBCOMITTEE MEMBER
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MAHUBE ROUNDTABLE : PART 1

The AWCA Entrepreneurs’ Forum has partnered with Thebe Investment Corporation and Kaya FM to present a series
of engagements called the Mahube Round Table Dialogue Series. Mahube, meaning a “new dawn” in Setswana, was
chosen to highlight the significance of entrepreneurship as a key lever in delivering the economic promises of a
democratic South Africa and also refers to the early start of the discussions.

The first of the Mahube Series took place on the morning of 26th October 2017 and was a resounding success. The
keynote speaker, Mr Jerry Mabena, the charismatic CEO of Thebe Services Division and also the patron of the series,
facilitated a conversation on the meaning of entrepreneurship. He offered advice to the entrepreneurs in the
audience on how to best position themselves and their enterprises to win clients and be investor-ready. What added
to the excitement of the morning was the reference he made to his personal story as an entrepreneur, husband and
friend. He took the attendees through a journey on entrepreneurship that was unique to his experience, both as a
businessman and a corporate executive enabling entrepreneurship.

Attendees at the session were highly engaged in the discussion. Many posed questions relevant to their experience as
entrepreneurs. Some offered anecdotes on their challenges. Overall, the morning created a platform for reflection
and surpassed the expectations of the organizing team and the guests.
Feedback about the discussion was positive – the session left AWCA members feeling encouraged to pursue their
business ambitions with more insight on how to be ahead of the pack. A member described the session as “inspiring,
motivating and energizing”, truly capturing the spirit of the morning that she had experienced.

Members of the AWCA can look forward to an exciting programme for the Entrepreneurs’ Forum in 2018. The
partnership between the AWCA, Thebe Investment Corporation and Kaya FM will produce 3 more Roundtable
Discussions during the course of the year. In addition to this, Thebe Foundation has come on board as a sponsor for a
workshop that will be hosted by the AWCA Entrepreneurs’ Forum in the second half of 2018. The latter will be
positioned as a working session for members and partner organizations to provide further opportunities to grow
businesses through networks and access to various value chains.
Since its launch in 2016, the Entrepreneurs’ Forum has proved to be a critical component of Leadership Development
as envisaged by the AWCA “Three Tier Strategy”. The AWCA will continue to develop partnerships that will enhance
the offering for entrepreneur members as it believes in the power of entrepreneurship to deliver the growth required
by the South African economy.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Enterprises that would like to be included in the entrepreneurs’ database are encouraged to get in touch. Profiles can
be submitted to Zea Zama at [email protected] or Gugu Mthonti at [email protected]
__________________________________________________________________________________
Video link to the first Mahube Roundtable Dialogue Series:
https://www.kayatv.co.za/#
How to access the discussion:
-Scroll to “In Sight” and click on “Click Here”/”Video on Demand”
-Select “Talk”

OUT TO LUNCH WITH SIZWE NXASANA

Before attending this Out To Lunch, I had never noticed the sizable building on the corner of Oxford and Rudd Road in Illovo. This building is called the Sifiso
Nxasana Building, home to the fairly new Sifiso Learning Group. The company is an innovative education group which seeks to be the leading African new age
learning group with global reach.

We met on 11 October 2017 with the Founder and Executive Chairman, Mr. Sizwe Nxasana over lunch. Mr. Nxasana left his employ with the First Rand Group in
2015 and stated that his plan was to join his family business. I remember being very excited to find out what shape this family business would take.
Mr. Nxasana took us through their business and operating model, as well as future plans. Alongside him, was the COO, Ms Sonqoba Maseko, as well as their Head
of Capital Markets, Ms. Akua Koranteng. There was a buzz in the room as we all admitted that this is definitely a ground breaking model, something

that perhaps a lot of people have been craving for in the market.

Among the core elements that was well received were that:
-They have a 97% African staff complement,
-The Head of their Mathematics department is a young African man,
-They have African history as part of their curriculum in all grades,
-They have plans to expand in the short term and have managed to secure
funding in this regard.

Mr. Nxasana spoke about the immense progress that has been made as a country in terms of access to
education for our citizens. He also highlighted the vital challenges that need to be actively dealt with. To
that effect, outside of that, he is the Chairman of NSFAS, and also sits on a number of public sector education
committees to find sustainable solutions to some of the challenges facing the country. Ms. Maseko took us
through some of the challenges they had faced as a startup. The afternoon was very refreshing, with many
mothers in the room indicating that they would definitely be enrolling their young children into the school.

PHUTHANANG MOTSIELWA
AWCA BOARD MEMBER
STRATEGIC ALLIANCES

STUDENT CHAPTER NEWS

On the 15th of October, the AWCA Wits Student Chapter, held a prize giving event at
Allan Gray in Rosebank. The objective of the event was to show appreciation to our
members and officially welcome the incoming executive team of 2018.

Ms. Oletilwe Mogashoa of Allan Gray opened the event and addressed the students
about the importance of being financially liberated. Her presentation was educational
and the financial literacy talk opened our minds on how to manage finances wisely.
Owing to the importance of the financial literacy subject, AWCA Wits has invited Ms.
Mogashoa to conduct additional talks on the subject on campus in the coming year.

Please see below recipients of awards presented on the night:

Unathi Ntlanganiso – Caterpillar Award
Adelaide Shongwe – Active Participation Award
Zintle Madonono – Support and Advocacy Award
Nomvuyo Sangqu – Support and Advocacy Award
Avuyile Dume – Most Artistic, Creative and Inspirational Member Award
Cathrine Sefara – The Founder of AWCA Wits Student Chapter Award
Vonisile Baloyi – Subcommitee Member Award
Luyolo Somane – The AWCA Wits SC Ambassador – 2016
Ronewa Musetsho – The AWCA Wits SC Ambassador – 2017
Zimkhitha Zatu and Gugu Mthonti – Certificate of Appreciation for the continuous
support

AWCA WITS
STUDENT CHAPTER

AWCA HUMAN CAPITAL.

Our first year launching the AWCA Human Capital office in Gauteng, has been both challenging and rewarding in equal
measure.
Having established this base we are pleased with our progress to date. Meeting and interacting with AWCA members to
establish the best career opportunities for them has been a great pleasure.
We have successfully made some key placements this year for AWCA members. We share some of them below. We
have also had a number of requests from clients for senior positions such as Chief Financial Officers and other board
positions.
We are confident in the potential of AWCA Human Capital to continue to grow and provide a valuable service to the
AWCA members.
Below are the profiles of recent AWCA members’ placements:

Nobuhle Mbonambi (CA) SA
Appointed as Senior Finance Manager at Imperial Retail Logistics.
Nobuhle joined Imperial Retail Logistics from SAB Miller where she held the
position of Regional Commercial Manager and Financial Planner prior to that.

Mapeta Huma (CA) SA
Appointed as Financial Accountant at Mpact (Pty) Ltd.
Mapeta joined Mpact from AFGRI where she held the position of Financial
Analyst.

Vimbainashe Macheka (CA) SA
Appointed as Financial Manager at Econo-Heat (Pty) Ltd.
Vimbainashe joined Econo-Heat from Scarlet Dawn Trading where she held the
position of Accountant.

Please contact AWCA Human Capital for assistance with your next career move.
Selaelo Maluleka - 010 012 3328
Nellie Ngwenya – 010 012 3327

BOOK CLUB

Personal brand intelligence (PBQ) looks deeper into the science of personal brand intelligence and influence,
offering you a smarter way to conduct your relationship with yourself and the world. PBQ’s purpose is to elevate
your thinking so you can position yourself to live your destiny. PBQ is a pioneering collection of thought leadership
from a bold, but accessible thinker who isn’t afraid to push you to the edges of your purpose. You will leave this
book able to frame your brand, create thriving collaborations and influence your world in a way that not only makes
you successful, but leaves a meaningful personal brand legacy.

(https://www.exclusivebooks.co.za/product/9781868428489)

This book focuses on the increase in female leadership over the last fifty years, and the concrete benefits and
challenges this leads to in organizations. It moves beyond the typical focus on developed, Western contexts and
answers the call for research on how women in emerging markets rise above the proverbial “glass ceiling”.

The authors integrate two underdeveloped topics that are highly relevant to modern business: women in
leadership roles, and women in emerging markets. They examine how women leaders in a range of professional
services―including accounting, consulting, law, engineering and medicine―have managed to navigate their
careers while considering the role emerging markets play in their work. Based on cutting-edge research, the topics
are brought to life through examples and profiles of leading women across Africa, the Middle East and the Far
East. These narratives, told in the leaders’ own words, are key to understanding women’s achievements and the
barriers they face.

Students of leadership, diversity, gender studies, and human resource management will learn much from this
insightful book.

(https://www.amazon.com/Women-Leadership-Emerging-Markets-Featuring/dp/1138188964)

WOMEN & HEALTH

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against
Women and Children campaign will take place from 25
November to 10 December 2017. This year the
campaign will be held under the theme: “Count Me In:
Together Moving a Non-Violent South Africa Forward”.

Over the period government will convene a series of It is important that the 16 Days Campaign is not viewed as a stand-alone event. It
dialogues on violence against women and children to is another leg of the #356Days of Activism Campaign and #CountMeIn, which
focus on the problem, discuss the causes and to find aims to mobilise members of society, especially men to join hands with
appropriate solutions. Through the dialogue sessions government in the fight to curb Violence Against Women.
government will interact with community members
who experience violence and abuse. What can you do?
-Support the campaign by wearing the red ribbon during the 16-day period.
From 26th November 2016, the Department of -Participate in the various 16 Days of Activism events and activities.
Women has managed to lead community dialogues in -Volunteer in support of NGOs and community groups who support abused
Limpopo, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga provinces to women and children.
understand and address causes of gender based Speak out against woman and child abuse. Encourage silent female victims to
violence. talk about abuse and ensure that they get help.
Report child abuse to the police. Encourage children to report bully behaviour to
The ultimate objective is for the dialogues to also be school authorities.
rolled out in the rest of the country, accordingly the Seek help if you are emotionally, physically or sexually abusive to your partner
next edition of the community dialogues are going to and/or children.
be held in the Eastern Cape to mark the 16/365 Days Call the Stop Gender Based Violence helpline (0800 150 150).
campaign. Join community policing forums (CPFs)

The dialogue sessions respond to the NDP Vision for (Source: www.women.gov.za/)
2030 which emphasises “building safer communities
through an integrated approach”. It also responds to
several outcomes identified in the MTSF (2014 –
2019).

MOVERS & SHAKERS



EVENTS

❖ 11/01/2018- ITC Preparation
Workshop

❖ 01/02/2018- Celebrate Success
❖ TBA- Stakeholder Engagement

THE PR ANDMARKETING
TEAM

Pumla Molope Zodwa Mlangeni Chio Sakatukwa Vuyo Nomvalo

Londeka Shezi

Fhatui Nembudani Nosipho Shongwe Bathokozile Msimango

Ramz Cheune

MEMBERSHIP CONTACT US

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support all the ‘3 tier
strategy’ @myawca
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by the AWCA. @awca_sa