Ramphelane Hlakudi is a prominent figure in accounting and auditing, currently serving as the Director of School of Accountancy at Unisa.

He is the Founding Director of Balushi Chartered Accountants Inc. His career, distinguished by roles in both the private and public sectors, showcases a deep reservoir of expertise and global experience. Hlakudi has worked with notable organisations, University of Pretoria, Nkonki Inc., PwC, the Auditor-General of South Africa.

His international experience is extensive, having conducted audits for key United Nations entities such as the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO), the Development Programme (UNDP), and the Office for Project Services (UNOPS), under the oversight of the United Nations Board of Auditors (UNBoA). Additionally, Hlakudi has contributed to local entities including Sedibeng Municipality, Thebe Investments, Tusk Casino and Hotel, South African Airways Cargo, Transnet Group, and Negotiated Business Solutions.

His commitment to the field is also reflected in his affiliations with esteemed professional organizations such as the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA), the Institute of Internal Auditors of South Africa (IIA(SA), and the Association of BEE Verification Agencies (ABVA). Hlakudi’s extensive background and professional connections underscore his dedication to upholding high standards and advancing the accounting and auditing professions.

Khuthadzo 'Magic' Mbedzi is a dynamic and experienced professional with a diverse background spanning finance, auditing, coaching and programme directing.

With experience as an MC, coach, finance expert, internal and external auditor, Khuthi has worked across both the private and public sectors. She is a passionate, energetic and full of life person who enjoys serving and working with and for people to get them to their best selves and
make a success of their lives.

Dr Lumkile Mondi is currently a senior Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand with more than 30 years of experience as a Chief Economist, scholar and senior business executive.

He is a director of Sedibelo Platinum Mines, a lead independent director of Gemfields Group Limited, the chairman of Thelo Rolling Stock Leasing and VM Autos, IDC linked entities and South African Housing Development Fund a PIC linked entity.

He is also a Senior Advisor to the Pallinghurst Partnership and a member of the Group’s Senior Advisory Panel.

Faith Ngwenya is a seasoned professional in accounting, education, and leadership, holding a Master of Accountancy degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, along with BCom degrees from the University of South Africa and the University of Zululand. She is a Professional Accountant (SA) with SAIPA, a Chartered Certified Accountant through ACCA (UK), and a member of several prestigious organisations, including the Institute of Directors (IOD) and ABASA.

Ngwenya’s career spans roles at Unilever SA, Mangosuthu University of Technology, and the University of Johannesburg. She notably served as the Technical & Standards Executive at the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) before taking on the position of Managing Director of the Centre of Future Excellence (CoFE). Ngwenya currently is the Head of Education Unit at the Chartered Institute for Business Accountants (CIBA).

Ngwenya has contributed to various national and international bodies, including IFAC’s Small and Medium-sized Practitioners Advisory Group, the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA), and the Association of Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Professionals (ABP). Currently, Faith chairs the FASSET Working Committee and Hand in Hand Southern Africa -NPC.

Reece Pillay is a skilled finance professional with expertise in public sector auditing and financial management. He completed his articles at the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), gaining extensive experience in auditing municipal, provincial, and national government entities. With a strong focus on financial reporting, compliance, and governance, Pillay has consistently contributed to improving audit outcomes and promoting financial accountability.

As Financial Reporting Manager at Merafong City Local Municipality, Pillay joined when the municipality had a disclaimed audit opinion and played a key role in strengthening its financial processes and controls. He led initiatives to improve financial reporting, ensuring compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and Treasury regulations. By collaborating closely with municipal leadership, finance teams, and external auditors, he helped address audit findings and implemented action plans that resulted in an improved audit outcome.

Prior to this, Pillay served as an Auditor at AGSA, where he conducted financial and compliance audits across various government entities. His role included assessing internal controls, risk management, and governance structures, as well as providing recommendations to improve financial reporting and accountability.

Pillay holds a BCom Accounting degree from the University of Johannesburg and a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences from the Institute of Accounting Sciences. He completed his SAICA articles at the AGSA and is a member of both SAIGA and SAICA. His work has significantly strengthened public sector financial reporting and governance.

Rob Rose is an award-winning journalist and the former editor of the Financial Mail.
He is currently part of Currency news, a news outlet which has positioned itself as a nexus of sharp business and economic insights.

He is also the author of Steinheist and The Grand Scam: How Barry Tannenbaum Conned South Africa's Business Elite.

Rose took on the financial-fraud and corporate-governance beats at Business Day before moving to the Financial Mail in 2007, where he exposed the Barry Tannenbaum Ponzi scheme. He has since worked at the Sunday Times as editor of Business Times and won numerous awards, including the Sanlam Financial Journalist of the Year. Through his career, Rose has consistently demonstrated his commitment to uncovering the truth, and his work continues to shape the landscape of South African business journalism.

Lebogang Thobakgale is an experienced Compliance professional with particular strengths in Financial Crime Compliance (FCC), Monitoring, Presentations and Regulatory Value add.

Currently serving as an Associate Director: AML Compliance Officer at KPMG, Thobakgale has worked for Absa Group as a Financial Crime Assurance vice-president and has garnered experience in the Asset Management and Investment as Senior Compliance Manager and MLRO looking after the Group’s Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) at Alexander Forbes. She has extensive experience of working with stakeholders across the regulatory landscape, including having worked at the Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA) for three years.

She is trained as an internal auditor with KPMG after having completed her B.Comm Honours in Internal Audit through the University of Pretoria. She thereafter factored into Compliance where she obtained her Post Graduate Diploma in Compliance Management through University of Johannesburg.

Thobakgale has earned her accolades in the Financial Services Industry and is currently recognised as the 2024 Mail and Guardian Top 200 Young South African winner under the Business category. She also serves as a National Executive Committee Member of the Associate of Black Securities and Investments Professionals (ABSIP).

Nicky Weimar serves as the Chief Economist at Nedbank, where she leads the Economic Unit, providing strategic insights into South Africa's economic landscape.

With more than 20 years' experience at Nedbank, her experiences in the banking, securities and brokering industries ensured her a broader knowledge of a wide range of fields within economics, including sector analysis, fixed investment trends and the relationship between real economic trends and developments within the financial markets.

Songezo Zibi is the National Leader of RISE Mzansi political party and a member of the South African Parliament (MP).

He is the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) which oversees all government expenditure and works closely with the Auditor-General. The committee oversees the financial management and governance of over 30 departments, agencies and state companies.
Before becoming an MP, he was the founding Chairman of the Rivonia Circle, a think tank based in Johannesburg.

With 23 years of corporate experience as a communication and corporate affairs professional and leader across a variety of industries, including automotive, mining, media, banking and financial services. He also possesses expertise in public policy and political risk analysis and management, with a focus on both global and South African matters.

Passionate about developing and building resilient teams, Zibi is dedicated to creating successful strategies and setting people up for future success. He is also an accomplished author, public speaker, facilitator and strategist.