Stellenbosch University’s Lungelo Ngobese wins 2018 Student Leadership Summit

Lungelo Ngobese, a 21-year old student from Richards Bay studying at Stellenbosch University, demonstrated this when he clinched the winning spot for his insightful and solution-driven essay detailing the contributions chartered accountants [CAs(SA)] must make to improve the communities from which they come.

‘As a profession that recognises itself as a critical player in creating value for the country and indeed the world, one of SAICA’s main objectives is to instil the value of responsible leadership in all of those who are part of the profession already, as well as in those who are working towards entering it. It is against this backdrop that SAICA launched the SLS a decade ago. Since then, we have been delighted to see just how many of our previous SLS Top 30 are making a positive impact on the world around them,’ explains Chantyl Mulder, a qualified CA(SA) and Executive Director for Nation Building at SAICA.

This year, says Mulder, is no exception.

‘Being responsible and effective leaders is exactly what this year’s SLS Top 30 have shown that they can be. Through their insightful essays and solution-driven approaches to the issues at hand, each one of these students has illustrated that he or she has what it takes to apply his or her mind to issues of national and professional importance. They are thinking about how they, as young professionals, can use their skills to help drive our country forward.’

Through SLS, SAICA reminds chartered accountancy students that leadership is not determined by your title or your technical expertise, but rather by your ability to uphold your values no matter the resistance you may face . SLS does this by inviting students around the country to apply their minds to issues of national and professional importance. They think about how, as young professionals, they can use their skills to help solve these issues. This year’s topics were:

• How to apply ethical standards in business and ensure your leadership style does not inadvertently encourage others to act unethically;
• How to ensure transformation and independence within the chartered accountancy profession with specific mention to mandatory audit firm rotation; and
• What responsibilities aspiring CAs(SA) have in terms of building better communities in their home towns.

Invited to attend the prestigious annual leadership summit held this year from 4 to 6 October, the Top 30 students’ first agenda item was to network, interact and engage with some of the country’s top business leaders at an exclusive SLS business leader networking function and prize-giving sponsored by Deloitte and Pick n Pay. It was here that the three winners of the 10th annual SLS were announced, with Stellenbosch University’s Lungelo Ngobese taking the top spot, Ashleigh Langton from UJ taking second spot and Asanda Mhluzi from UCT coming in third.

‘The quality of entry for the 2018 SLS essay competition was of a very high standard,’ says Teboho Moephudi, project director for SAICA’s university projects, including the SLS. ‘The judges, struggled to 30 students out of the hundreds of entries we received. However, when it came to the winner, their pick was unanimous. Lungelo’s thought leadership piece was so solution-driven and well-thought out, that they all knew they had found the winner upon reading his essay.’

Moephudi continued: ‘Similarly the competition’s two runners-up — Asanda Mhluzi (University of Cape Town) and Ashleigh Langton (University of Johannesburg) — tackled their topics with a high level of foresight, research and innovation.’

Read the winning essays here.

The winners of this year’s SLS walk away with a mix of prizes.,. But these prizes pale compared to the invaluable and intensive soft-skills training, cognitive leadership sessions, and responsible leadership immersion sessions that the Top 30 experience during the course of the three-day summit.

‘On behalf of the SAICA, I congratulate each of the Top 30 for identifying a role to play as future business leaders of South Africa. The thoughts and solutions you have presented in your essays epitomise the concepts that are core to SAICA’s values, and they prove that you are trustworthy beacons of hope for tomorrow. Remember, success is a taking thing; significance is a giving thing. Lead a life that is significant. We look forward to watching each of you go out and change the world,’ concludes Mulder.

The full list of the 2018 Top 30 Student Leadership Summit finalists (in alphabetical order):

Asanda Mhluzi University of Cape Town 3rd place
Ashleigh Langton University of Johannesburg 2nd place
Avela Mihlali Ngcayi Nelson Mandela University
Bianca Malan University of the Free State
Buyisiwe Xaba University of the Western Cape
Cameron Chaplin University of Cape Town
Inge Coetzee University of the Free State
Jani Meintjes University of the Free State
Jerrita Kagisho Mokhele University of the Free State
Karabo Pheko University of the Free State
Khabhira Phephetha University of the Free State
Kwanele Mabuza: University of the Free State
Letlhogonolo Dube University of Cape Town
Lungelo Ngobese Stellenbosch University Winner
Magaritha Van Zyl University of the Free State
Malebo Matjila Rhodes University
Muofhe Maemu University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
Nimrod Mapuranga University of Johannesburg
Njabulo Nkosi University 0f Johannesburg
Nthakoana Kele University of the Free State
Phindokuhle Springle University of the Free State
Phuti Onicca Mabusela University of the Witwatersrand
Samkelisiwe Hlatshwayo: Nelson Mandela University
Sanele Sibeko Nelson Mandela University
Temosho Chuene University of the Free State
Thabo Masuku University of Johannesburg
Tokelo Thaloki Mahlong University of Johannesburg
Tshepiso Moloi University of the Free State
Tshiamelo Mogotsi University of the Free State
Tshwarelo Radinne Unisa

SAICA, South Africa’s pre-eminent accountancy body, is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading accounting institutes. The Institute provides a wide range of support services to more than 46 000 members and associates who are chartered accountants [CAs(SA)], as well as associate general accountants [AGAs(SA)] and accounting technicians [ATs(SA)], who hold positions as CEOs, MDs, board directors, business owners, chief financial officers, auditors and leaders in every sphere of commerce and industry, and who play a significant role in the nation’s highly dynamic business sector and economic development.

One of SAICA’s prime goals is to contribute towards strengthening the country’s economy by playing a significant and leading role in transformation and skills development. The Thuthuka Education Upliftment Project, a pioneering initiative to promote transformation in the profession, was launched in the Eastern Cape in 2002 and has grown into a national project.

Thuthuka’s objective is to transform the demographics of the profession to reflect those of the country in terms of race and gender, and provide educational support to African learners and students for the benefit of the profession, while simultaneously helping to uplift communities. Therefore, SAICA prides itself in leading the chartered accountancy profession as a socially responsible driver of business and skills development by supporting and encouraging enterprise development initiatives.

Ms Karin Jacobsen
Project Manager: Marketing and Communications
SAICA Nation Building Division
Tel: ‪011 621 6913
Email: ***@saica.co.za

Mr Kulani Chauke
Corporate Communications Co-Ordinator, Marketing & Communications (SAICA)
Tel: 011 479 0698
Email: ***@saica.co.za