Young Difference Makers S03 Ep 03 Empowering Communities: Senzo Ndlangamandla's Advocacy for a Better Future

My journey to becoming a child accountant actually started in an unplanned way , in the sense that I actually wanted to be an auditor , but my high school teacher advised me that in South Africa , of course back at the time , for one to become an auditor , they needed to be a trade accountant .

So then that's how I then pursued the trade accountant's career , which then enabled me to then become an auditor . But of course , I mean , I've seen that there's so much value in actually just becoming a trade accountant , regardless of what else you can then do outside of that profession . So how I'm currently making a difference in my community and profession .

So , number one , I am in the community .

I currently lecture at a university that's in a rural community , and for me , sacrificing a good life in big cities and actually be in that rural space , I take that as community work , so we are able to , you know , have students coming from really disadvantaged communities coming into the university and we are able to transform them and see them become child

accountants as well . So yeah , for me that's my big community work that I believe I'm doing outside of other small activities that I also participate in and in the profession . I do participate in the marking of one of the professional examinations that candidates get to write post-university and in other activities within the professional body , psych-r .

I think I've always had a passion of imparting knowledge , which started from way back in high school . I remember you know there'll be days when one of the teachers perhaps is not at school and I would actually go in front and start teaching . You know that particular subject .

But even when I was at university I was a tutor , I did mark for certain modules and I think that's when I realized that I actually have a passion for developing another human being . That's when then I decided , immediately after becoming a trial accountant , that I need to go back to that space where I can contribute to one's obtaining of education .

So SAICA has various awards and one of them is Top 35 Under 35 , where they recognize the top 35 trial accountants under the age of 35 .

So one colleague of mine nominated me into that and there's various stages in the process , where you submit a portfolio of evidence , there's adjudication by the judges , you , you get invited , you know , for a judging day where you make a presentation and , um , you know , there's that session and then there's a ceremony where they then announce the overall winner and

I was , was fortunate enough , or even privileged and honored , to be then named , you know , the overall winner of that top 35 , under 35 competition , and one of the prizes of being the overall winner is , you know , being able to come and attend this prestigious summit .

In terms of where I see myself in the next 10 years , near future , you know , I never just see myself outside of that , the space where I'm currently at , which is the university and that specific university . But whether or not , you know , I'll stay there forever , that's another question , you know .

I guess you know time will tell , but as things stand , I remain very committed in that space . But I do also want to engage in other community projects , especially those that are looking at addressing inequality .

I know we usually look at inequality from probably just the aspect of gender , but I am of the view that inequality is very broad and those are the aspects where I really just want to , you know , engage in and make my contribution in addressing that .

I do think that if we fix things at a foundational level , regardless of your background , if you can get good quality education , I think that positions you well , you are able to compete equally with your peers , and if we can get that right , I do think that we will live in a better world . I think some of the critical skills that future accountants require .

Number one is being versatile and not want to do things the same way we've been doing things . So that's one , but number two , I think the ability to collaborate personally , that you know when you bring in other people in what you're doing , you know the impact is then far greater than wanting to . You know own that space where you you are participating .

So I think the ability to collaborate with , with others , um , I think , yeah , those are the two skills that just come at the top of my head . Of course , technology , I mean we really need to embrace it .

We need to really upskill ourselves , you know , and be aware of all the latest technologies and see how we can bring them in to enable us to be more effective and efficiently in what we do .

Creating a change in our communities is everyone's responsibility , regardless of who you are , the level at which you are , you know your profession . I think each one of us has a responsibility to make an impact on someone else's life , has a responsibility to make an impact on someone else's life .

So my advice would really be for young professionals to really own to that responsibility . I mean it can be , you know , just identifying someone within your community that you can see that probably is struggling and see how you can support , you know that particular person . You know , because sometimes I know we want to .

You know , do big things , but you can just start small , just one person at a time . I think you know over time then you know the impact would be far greater . We all have a part to play in transforming the world and make it really a better place to live in , one step at a time , obviously .