With the announcement by President Ramaphosa on Thursday, 23^rd April 2020, of a move into Level 4 of the phased in return to economic activity, many associations have tried to determine whether the support of their respective professions and professionals would be considered as “supporting other essential services” and whether plans should be implemented to have their teams return to working in person, albeit still under strict health and safety guidelines.

“We need to critically review the safety and well-being of employees and members in assessing the need to return to the office environment,” says Angela Cherrington, Chair of the Independent Professional Body Forum and Director of YourHub. “Association leaders may try justify that their support role is critical to those professionals operating in essential services but is this sufficient justification to move away from the virtual support they are currently providing and expose people to greater risk.”

We have seen the need for the guiding and supporting role that professional bodies have escalate as professionals and practitioners grapple with difficult decisions and adaptation.  From the Institute of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA) helping boards and individual directors navigate their roles, to the Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA) highlighting the need for robust risk management frameworks and clear implementation of business continuity processes, and then the South African Institute of Tax Professionals (SAIT) ensuring that their tax practitioners understand the new SARS tax assistance frameworks and so the list goes on. 

The role of Professional Bodies and Associations remains a crucial one but it will be a long while before we see a return to in person training and development, seminars or networking events, so we need to continue our virtual support and ramp up communications, guidance and our online abilities and activities.

“Now is the time for the association community to stand together, to support each other, share learning, resources and guidance.” says Angela. “We have already seen the power of collaboration in our community with the support of the recent Food Forward SA drive raising R20 million for the distribution of food to vulnerable communities during this COVID-19 crisis.”

As South African professional bodies, we can lead the way through these uncertain times and help in empowering our members and organisations through the unchartered territory.  We need to keep ahead of the game and use the opportunities that are available to us through digitisation and embracing the new normal of working virtually and making sure we communicate well with all stakeholders.

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Mojapelo currently serves as the Acting Executive for Members and Global Alliances
at the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) where he manages
four divisions. He specialises in public finance management, reporting, assurance,
governance, human resources and business development.

A graduate of the University of the Western Cape, he is a chartered accountant and
a member of the IIA SA. He has been at SAICA since 2015 and has previously
served as a senior executive responsible for the public sector. It was here he cut his
teeth implementing and driving projects relating to the management of finances in
government departments, municipalities as well as schools and tertiary institutions.
Mojapelo will officially assume office on June 1. Gourrah said he and the IIA SA
board were impressed by Mojapelo’s energy and intrinsic understanding of the
internal audit sector as well as his knowledge of member-led organisations such as
the IIA SA.

He said: “In addition, we live in uncertain times with Covid-19 changing how we all
function as individuals, organisations and as a society. And, when you throw into the
mix South Africa’s recent crises surrounding maladministration and corporate
malfeasance, we feel he is the right person to lead IIA SA and its members into the
future.”

To this end, Gourrah said, Mojapelo “exhibited the right outlook, authenticity, drive,
passion and competence to integrate into this role and industry effectively”.
He said: “Having come from within the industry, Mr. Mojapelo brings with him an
acute knowledge of the challenges faced by professional bodies in South Africa -
both previous and current - and will be able to leverage his experience, skills and
learning from SAICA into the IIA SA. He is very excited at the opportunity to create
an impact.”

Prior to joining SAICA, Mojapelo was a senior manager at auditing firm Nkonki
Incorporated. He is currently the chairperson of the Public Sector Audit Committee
Forum and sits on the Interim Oversight Board of the African Professionalisation
Initiative.

He is also a social activist passionate about education and works with several
charities and non-profit organisations. He is involved in an initiative to provide extra
tuition for learners in township schools and, as part of his work with SAICA,
developed a school finance management system currently being reviewed by the
education authorities with a view to it becoming standardised.

On his appointment as the IIA SA CEO, Mojapelo said: “I am ready to roll up my
sleeves and lead our members and this fine organisation into what is clearly an
uncertain future. How we do our business, conduct risk and assurance, ensure the
highest form of governance and maintain ethical behaviour when things around us
are being upended by either a public health crisis crippling our economy or
corruption is what we, as the internal audit sector, must now grapple with.”
He said these and other myriad challenges should be viewed positively as it could
necessitate constructive changes to how internal audit is now conducted in fastchanging environments.

“I foresee challenges but I also foresee change for the better. These and other
obstacles will simply make us wiser, more responsive and acting quicker as to how
we do our jobs and ensuring that things are done properly and in the right manner
that benefits all in our society and not just a few.”
Mojapelo takes over from Dr. Claudelle von Eck who left to pursue other interests
after ten years as CEO.

Gourrah thanked Acting CEO, Charles Nel, for his sterling work in running the
organisation in the interim. He said: “Mr. Nel is the head of the technical department
of the IIA SA and his steady hand, leadership and intrinsic knowledge of the
organisation has served us well during this period. We thank him profusely for all his
effort and hard work.”

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