White students banned from SA accountancy Olympiad
Anger at exclusion
Organisers of South Africa’s accountancy Olympiad have defended the decision
to exclude white students from taking part, saying the competition is aimed at
changing the demographics of people employed in the profession.
According to the SA Institute of Chartered
Accountants (Saica), the Softline Pastel Olympiad is targeting black pupils
at 40 schools in the Free State province.
Saica was forced to defend the competition after a parent complained that his
daughter was not allowed to take part because she was white.
IOL.com
reported that Rhett Kahn, whose daughter attends Welkom High School in the
Free State province couldn’t believe it when he saw a notice for entry to the
Olympiad which stated: ‘No white students are allowed to enter.’
‘Our objectives are to try to change the demographic over-representation by
whites and Indians in the sector,’ said Natalie Zimmelman, project director for
transformation at Saica.
The winners will be awarded bursaries to study accountancy at university.
Further reading:
More black South Africans taking up accounting
South African accountants await amnesty ruling