Accounting Olympiad Top 4: Jeewa, Mzila, Jonggryp, Maharaj. Full results

The future of accounting in South Africa looks bright as young minds across the country took part in the National SAICA Sage Pastel Accounting Olympiad. So much so that the winning scholar scored 95% – Sumaiya Jeewa from the Middelburg Muslim school in Mpumalanga. This is music to the ears of those who recognise that South Africa lacks specific skills with accounting not the only area of concern – others include law, medicine, engineering and finance. – Stuart Lowman

from Sage Pastel Accounting

The Accounting Olympiad, which began in 2007 in Bloemfontein as a regional competition driven by Sage Pastel Accounting, has been a national competition since 2010. Focused on recognising youthful accounting talent, and nurturing an interest in accounting as a profession amongst young South Africans, the Olympiad attracts the country’s top accountancy minds from schools nationwide. In line with SAICA’s strategy to transform the profession and grow the number of chartered accountants in South Africa, the Olympiad plays a key role in making a clear link between accountancy as a subject at school and a possible career in an accounting or other business field.

This year’s results are notable for being among the best since the inception of the national competition.

Gugu Makhanya, SAICA’s Project Director for Transformation, Growth and Professional Development, has welcomed the exceptional results, saying that ‘these results reflect the quality of the entrants and the fact that the competition is attracting the very best accounting learners in South Africa. The results also reflect the high level of commitment shown by the accounting teachers at all the schools that enter the competition:  their work makes all the difference in the world and helps spark a lasting passion for accountancy in their learners.’

Daryl Blundell, General Manager for Sage Pastel Accounting, agrees: ‘The Olympiad is one of our most important annual initiatives because of the role it plays in identifying and building young accounting talent. It also helps to popularise accounting as a subject, and highlights the opportunities a career in accountancy offers for the youth. We are always impressed by the passion, dedication and skill we see among the participants and by how the competition grows every year.’

This year’s Olympiad attracted 4,170 grade 11 and 12 learners from 322 schools from around the country.

September 2015 will see a Junior Accounting Olympiad for learners in grade 9 take place for the second year running. The separate competition allows those learners who are still deciding if they want to choose accounting as a subject for grades 10 to12, to stretch their skills.

The Junior Olympiad came as a product of SAICA’s involvement with the capacitating of economic management sciences teachers focusing on accounting better to master both the content and methodology for their subject.

National Results

• Top province – KwaZulu-Natal – 51.45%
• Top school – Butterworth High School – 78.33%

Top 3 learners Nationally

Name	School	Result
1st Sumaiya Jeewa	Middelburg Muslim School, Mpumalanga	95%
2nd Thembelihle Jele	Ladysmith High School, KwaZulu-Natal	94%
3rd Joshua Gonggryp	Westville Boys High, KwaZulu-Natal	93%
3rd Naushaad Maharaj	Rondebosch Boy’s High School, Western Cape	93%

Provincial Results

Eastern Cape

• Top School – Butterworth High (78.33%)

Position	Name	Surname	School	Result
1st	Zusakhe	Mdlankomo	Butterworth High School	91%
2nd	Hayley	Ward	Collegiate Girls High School	90%
3rd	Uyanda	Mjayezi	Butterworth High School	89%

Northern Cape

• Top School – Hoërskool Duineveld (57.2%)

Position	Name	Surname	School	Result
1st	Shannon	Thompson	Kimberly Girls High School	77%
2nd	Cureley	Olyn	Hoerskool Douglas	75%
2nd	Thiven	Padayachy	Northern Cape High School	75%
3rd	Ohentse	Monnedi	Emang Mmogo Comprehensive School	74%
3rd	Marlene	Beukes	Hoerskool Duineveld	74%

North West

• Top School – Potchefstroom Gimnasium (62.53%) 

Position	Name	Surname	School	Result
1st	Esmerelda	Oberholzer	Potchefstroom Gimnasium	78%
2nd	Sumaiya	Sidat	Mafikeng High School	75%
3rd	Tersia	Radley	Hoerskool Lichtenburg	74%
3rd	Rudie	De Wet	Potchefstroom Gimnasium	74%

Mpumalanga

• Top School – Mahlatsi Secondary School (64.9%)

Position	Name	Surname	School	Result
1st	Sumaiya	Jeewa	Middelburg Muslim School	95%
2nd	Sumayyah	Bhayat	Middelburg Muslim School	84%
3rd	Monique	De Abreu	Hoerskool Kanonkop	79%

Limpopo

• Top School – Dendron Secondary School (64.6%) 

Position	Name	Surname	School	Result
1st	Matlonya	Hemelton	Patrick Ramaano High School	87%
2nd	Sekabate	Diale	Dendron Secondary School	86%
3rd	Mmakwena	Themane	Glen Cowie Secondary School	83%

Gauteng

• Top School – King Edward VII School (67.6%) 

Position	Name	Surname	School	Result
1st	Audacious	Murewa	Saheti School	90%
2nd	Ailister	Dimaculangan	King Edward VII School	85%
3rd	Sebastian	Spruit	King Edward VII School	84%

Western Cape

• Top School – Rondebosch Boys’ High School (71.25%) 

Position	Name	Surname	School	Result
1st	Naushaad	Maharaj	Rondebosch Boys High School	93%
2nd	Christopher	Hooper	Rondebosch Boys High School	92%
3rd	Meera	Ranchod	Fairbairn College	91%
3rd	Uzair	Kadir	Rondebosch Boys High School	91%

KwaZulu-Natal

• Top School – Durban Girls’ High School (76.7%) 

Position	Name	Surname	School	Result
1st	Thembelihle	Mzila	Ladysmith High School	94%
2nd	Joshua	Gonggryp	Westville Boys High School	93%
3rd	Thabiso	Mabula	Insikayethu High School	91%

Free State

• Top School – Eunice High School (64.35%) 

Position	Name	Surname	School	Result
1st	Meng-Juan Kathy	Wu	Eunice High School	82%
1st	Busisiwe	Mavundla	St Michael’s High School	82%
2nd	Matseliso	Monnapula	St Michael’s High School	80%
3rd	Salome Arlene	Wessels	Eunice High School	79%