AWCA President Pumla Molope.
South Africa could face a future shortage of ethical financial leaders as mounting financial barriers continue to exclude talented young Black women from pursuing careers as Chartered Accountants (CAs), the African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA) has warned.
Ahead of its Annual Woman of Substance Conference, set to take place in Johannesburg on 6 August 2026, the AWCA is sounding the alarm over what it describes as a growing “pipeline crisis” within one of the country’s most critical professions.
Despite significant progress in transformation over the years, many academically capable students continue to abandon their studies or fail to enter the profession due to inadequate funding, limited access to opportunities, and systemic socio-economic barriers.
According to the AWCA, this is not merely an educational challenge but a national economic and governance concern.
