African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA) president Lesego Sennelo
JOHANNESBURG – AFTER initially making all sorts of excuses, Gauteng Guardian finally tied down the enigmatic but powerful and erudite African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA) president Lesego Sennelo in Johannesburg’s upmarket surburb Sandton.
Though the interview venue was elegant Sennelo is not that sophisticated when it comes to presentation, preferring to take the simple approach that once could actually mistaken her for a high school teacher because of her self-effacing nature.
Dressed in a modest navy blue dress and wearing no make-up and without a fancy hairstyles as is mostly the case with her peers, Sennelo (LS) showed her classy side in a one-on-one engagement with Gauteng Guardian News Editor, Simba Rushwaya (GG) on the sidelines of AWCA conference at the Radisson Blu hotel recently.
In line with celebrating the Woman’s Month, AWCA organized a seminar that was a harbinger in awarding the 2016 Woman of Substance which was given to outgoing Africa Union (AU) chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
AWCA was formed in 2002 by among others former first lady Zanele Mbeki to champion the cause of the girl child in the accounting profession and transform it from being dominated by the white minority and spread it among blacks.
The number of black female CAs has risen from 407 in 2002 to 4 249 as of July 2015.
Prior to assuming the AWCA presidency Sennelo, (39) was consultant – Projects in the Group Chief Financial Officer ’s office at Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). She was the audit partner for Modipane and Associates having spent time in the banking world – Nedbank (as Head of Credit risk) and First National Bank (Financial Manager).
Between January 2000 and September 2004 Lesego worked for Deloitte & Touche Chartered Accountants as Foundation manager, Audit Manager, Audit Senior and trainee accountant.
Sennelo, who is single is the first born in a family of four with three younger brothers as siblings
The Soweto born entrepreneur, has also served on a number of (company) boards, including JSE-listed companies, has mastered the art of playing to her own strengths to spearhead the growth and development of women’s leadership.
She speaks on this and more.
GG: Firstly can you tell us more about the award that you have just given to Dr Dlamini-Zuma.
LS: The award was launched with two objectives, the primary one is to recognize a woman who is doing very well in her space, taking along others, growing in the professional and personal journey. There is also huge element in community development.
The second objective was to initiate access to funding for aspiring chartered accountants, so this becomes a fund-raiser for bursaries for these young professionals and today is has been able to fund 73 beneficiaries across the country.
We always aim to raise at least R1 million annually, but we don’t have a ceiling because the demand keeps growing for the funds.
GG: Could you briefly describe your personal journey to become of the most powerful women in South Africa and some of the challenges?
LS: It was not easy for any black young woman who was born and bred in Soweto. I decided during my high school years that I wanted to be a chartered accountant and no amount of challenges and prejudices were going to stop me. But there will always be trials for women to make it to the top especially in the corporate world space.
The legacy of a patriarchal society that has been in existence for many years hinders the growth for every women, but I must say things have changed to some extend women are now free to exercise their potential. But to change that paradigm is not easy, what is important is how do you navigate that terrain. As long as your sanity is right, nothing can stop you.
GG: Delegates at the seminar have bemoaned corruption as hindering the progress in the profession and indeed the country as a whole. What is your take on that?
LS: When there is talk of corruption, it compels any responsible leader to do something about it. When things like wasteful expenditure keep perpetuating year-on-year and it keeps growing, then there is reason to be very concerned. There are always two sides to the coin, government must hold to account those suppliers for non-delivery and do it in a brutal way.
If that side of the equation is dealt with excessively and you have made it clear the terms of delivery for the supplier, then we might plug the holes. That decline in the numbers will start to come through. At the moment there are no consequences for flouting the company law and the no discipline. The perpetrators must be dealt with effectively.
-CAJ News
