Accounting Students Receive Bursaries from the Auditor-General

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The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) recently awarded full bursaries to eight UKZN accounting students.

The bursaries were awarded after School of Accounting, Economics and Finance’s academic trainee and previous bursary recipient, Ms Harrieth Mabuza, contacted the AGSA’s bursary committee after seeing that many students could not afford to purchase textbooks.

‘A group of students came to me asking for my previous year’s books because they couldn’t afford to buy new ones,’ says Mabuza.

‘Noticing that these requests were increasing and these students didn’t have bursaries and some were using financial aid which only gave R1 000 for books while Accounting students needed about R8 550 for books, I contacted my manager at the AGSA, Mr Gabriel Tenene, who offered to assist. He asked for their academic records, and later told me that the AGSA bursary committee had decided to help the students with full bursaries, which was amazing,’ she added.

Bursary recipients were Ms Hlanzeka Mlawu, Ms Zamandaba Sibiya, Ms Nomzamo Gcabashe, Mr Andile Jubele, Ms Snenhlahla Mkhize, Ms Nonduduzo Mpanza, Ms Nelisa Zulu and Mr Mthembeni Ngcobo.  The grants cover tuition fees, residence costs, books, and meal allowances as well as assisting them when they serve articles at the AGSA for three years after the completion of their studies. 

AGSA’s Manager of the Trainee Auditor Scheme, Mr Gabriel Tenene, who came to the school to orientate the students and their parents on the bursary requirements, said the initiative was one way the AGSA was contributing to the alleviate the shortage of Black Chartered Accountants as well as growing its own timber.

‘By giving out these bursaries we are not only empowering the students financially but educating them on the vital role played by the AGSA as well as making sure they have a place in the working world once they become graduates. We value such opportunities that allow us to link with academia and expose students to the various career opportunities they can pursue at the AGSA,’ he said.

Thandiwe Jumo