by Amanda Nonsikelelo Nhlengethwa
The Tshwane University of Technology’s Department of Internal Auditing at the Ga-Rankuwa Campus, under the expert leadership of Prof DP van der Nest, hosted the first-ever Young Leaders Conference (YLC) for all institutions that offer internal auditing in South Africa, which was organised by the Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa (IIA SA). The purpose for the conference that took place on 6 September 2024, was to give internal auditing students a picture on how to become great future Internal Auditors.
The conference highlighted the importance of Internal Auditing as an unbiased, independent assurance and consulting activity that seeks to provide value and enhance an organisation's operations.
Guest speakers from a number of companies included Zanele Maduna, CEO of No-Valo Learning Centre; Jannie Connor from IIA SA; Gift Somokwane, Young Internal Auditor of 2022; and our very own Tshifhiwa Thavhanyedza, Young Internal Auditor of 2023; as well as members from The South African Institute of Government Auditors (SAIGA), ISACA, BDO and Nexia SAB&T.
The CEO of IIASA, Arlene-Lynn Volmink brought a whole crew for the conference, led by an energetic Programme Director, Thabiso Moitoi.
Also speaking at the event was the Chairman of the Board, Tshepo Mofokeng, who highlighted the range of career paths within the internal auditing discipline.
Jubilant young auditors who attended the Young Leaders Conference.
According to Maduna, leaping ahead is the only way forward. “There are three components of leaping ahead. The first is mindset. As a human being, you must cultivate your own self-leadership and growth. You must embrace yourself, stay courageous and focused. Self-reflection is the key to creating this kind of mindset. The quote by Henry Ford for this mindset is 'weather you think you can or think you can't, you are right.’”
Jannor Connor, a teacher and manager, elaborated the foundation of Internal Auditing in South Africa. “Key aspects of Internal Auditing are objective assurance, consulting management, compliance, operational efficiency, engagement planning, field work and reporting. Another important element is the internal audit competency framework, which has four knowledge levels: general awareness, applied knowledge, expert practitioner and a clear professional at every career level.”
David dos Santos, an Internal Auditor at Nexia SAB&T said: “The firm offers internal auditing and accounting, audit and cyber, to name a few. We also provide development opportunities through vacation work on the internal auditing side from June to August, as well as development for underprivileged students.”
He added: “Nexia SAB&T, like the South African democracy, turned 30 in 2024.”
IIASA’s main role is to assist young leaders to follow the right path in their career choice in upholding high standards in the Internal Audit profession. During the conference the Siyakhula Student Membership Programme, tailor-made for ambitious students ready to step into the world of internal auditing and the opportunities it opens for students, were also highlighted.
The conference will in future be hosted annually by different institutions that offer Internal Auditing.
