Aspiring Chartered Accountants Receive Malegapuru W. Makgoba Scholarship

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Two Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) have been named among the top five academic achievers in the College of Law and Management Studies, earning the Malegapuru W. Makgoba Scholarship.

Mr Yaseen Ali and Mr Muhammed Bux, both currently in their second year, are united not only by academic excellence and a shared institution - but also by a common ambition: to qualify as Chartered Accountants (CAs).

The Malegapuru W. Makgoba Scholarship, one of UKZN’s most competitive merit-based awards, is granted to the top five undergraduate students in each College who have completed at least one full year of study. For both Ali and Bux, this recognition goes beyond academic performance - it is a symbol of discipline and determination in the face of personal and structural challenges.

For Ali, a Durban-born student and former learner at Orient Islamic School, the journey has not always been straightforward. 

“One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced, and still reflect on, was the fear of failure. During my early high school years, my only goal was to simply pass. But over time, I realised that I needed to strive for excellence, not only for myself but also for the future I wanted to build.

“From fearing failure to being recognised as one of the top five achievers has felt surreal and it validates every challenge I’ve overcome,” he said.

In addition to his academic achievements, Ali is the founder of Skill Spark, a YouTube-based academic platform designed to simplify the BCom Accounting syllabus. Since its launch in early 2023, the channel has uploaded over 200 educational videos, covered 13 modules, and reached more than 2 000 subscribers, accumulating over 700 000 minutes of watch time. 

“The aim was to use my own learning journey to help others through accessible online education which has been incredibly fulfilling,” he said.

Ali is driven by a clear long-term goal: qualifying as a Chartered Accountant - a title that to him represents not just a career milestone, but also a marker of personal growth, technical discipline, and professional credibility. 

Bux, who is also a second-year BCom Accounting student and a fellow alumnus of Orient Islamic School, shares similar aspirations. 

Raised in Musgrave, Durban, Bux faced one of his greatest challenges during matric - a year he describes as “overwhelming” due to academic pressure, university applications, and family financial strain.

That strain intensified when his family’s business was looted during the 2021 KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) unrest, creating financial uncertainty just as he was preparing for university. 

“Receiving this scholarship has been a huge relief for my parents, it’s not just about covering fees it’s about hope and shifting our focus from survival to building a future,” said Bux.

Despite these challenges, Bux remained focused and disciplined, crafting strict study schedules and reaching out for academic support. The scholarship, he says, is a shared achievement.

“My family is incredibly proud and happy about this achievement. They’ve seen first-hand the amount of work I’ve put into my studies, so receiving this scholarship felt like a shared victory,” he said. 

Like Ali, Bux has set his sights on qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. “I’ve always had a head for numbers and a deep interest in how businesses operate. This qualification is the key to building a stable and impactful career - and eventually, giving back to others the way I’ve been supported. Since achieving the PWC floating shield in Grade 11 and Grade 12, I have been determined to achieve my goal of becoming a Chartered Accountant,” he said.

As both students continue their studies at UKZN, they do so with a renewed sense of purpose - not just to earn a professional designation, but to uplift, lead, and inspire.

Words: Ayanda Radebe

Photograph: Andile Ndlovu