Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?
I was born in Springs in the Eastrand and I grew up in the township of Kwa-Thema, Springs. My childhood was okay. I had a good family support system. I had always been an academic achiever since primary school and I was among the top academic achievers in each grade.
Where did the passion for Accounting come from and when did you decide that this is what you wanted to do for a living?
My passion started way back in high school when I received the highest marks in the school in Grade 9 for Accounting at Springs Boys’ High School. This was when I knew that I had to follow a career in Accounting.
What was your proudest moment academically or career-wise?
When I graduated with my PhD in Accounting Sciences in July 2019 and being the youngest person in the country with PhD in Accounting and also a professor. I am currently the youngest professor of accounting also a Deputy Executive Dean in the College of Accounting Sciences at UNISA.
What does transformation mean to you in the South African context?
Transformation means that as a society we need to change those who have access to economic resources, education and be inclusive of those who had been previously disadvantaged. Transformation is about ensuring that all sectors of our economy are reflective of the demographics of the country.
You have achieved so much at such a young age, are you content with you’ve done so far or is there more that you want to accomplish?
I am content with what I have achieved so far and now I wish that more young people can gain access to similar opportunities that I got and for them to study further and reach PhD level like me one day.
How do you balance your professional life with your personal life?
I am passionate about the work that I do, at the same time I love to travel. So traveling is my way of relaxing and taking it easy. I do work hard but I also play hard as well. That is how I maintain the balance.
What do you do for fun?
I enjoy going to gym and doing Yoga to relax my body and brain. I also enjoy watching football and my favourite team is Orlando Pirates.
What was your first job and how much did you earn?
My first job was at Neale Whitecross Chartered Accountants, and I worked an audit clerk. I earned R3000 while doing vacation work during the December holidays for a month.
1What keeps you going?
What keeps me going is the change that we still need to make in the accounting and auditing profession in South Africa. I’m a huge proponent of transformation and we need to create new young black qualified and talented accountants and auditors to join the profession in order to make an impact in our society.