Personal message

Greetings! I am Sibusiso Baloyi, a cross-disciplinary student pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Accounting Science with the ultimate goal of becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)). My academic journey is complemented by a parallel pursuit of an Associate Certificate in Applied Software Development at the Southern Labs Institute of Technology (SLABS), in association with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). I am also gaining work experience as the secretary of the Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa(ABASA) WITs Student Chapter.

My academic successes since starting primary school resulted in good results in seventh grade, which led to me being offered a bursary to finish my five years of high school at St. David's Marist Inanda, a school in the heart of Sandton City. This was the most exciting news I had gotten in 2015, as my efforts enabled me to attend such a well-equipped school, relieving my mother of the financial burden of school fees.

As a student of academic rigour, I received various academic awards. My academic successes since starting primary school resulted in good results in seventh grade, which led to me being offered a bursary to finish my five years of high school at St. David's Marist Inanda, a school in the heart of Sandton City. This was the most exciting news I had gotten in 2015, as my efforts enabled me to attend such a well-equipped school, relieving my mother of the financial burden of school fees.

 During my time there, I achieved Top Ten awards for academic excellence, subject prizes for IsiZulu for five consecutive years, recognition for participating in the South African Mathematics Olympiads and the English and Mathematics Independent Examination Board (IEB) exams, and I eventually went on to receive my full academic colours for achieving an aggregate of above 80% in my first term in 2020.

I did not just flourish in the academic space, and I made the most of the opportunity that was given to me by participating in four different sports, joining the choir, the marimba band, playing the piano, partaking in extensive outreach work, taking on a leadership role as a peer counsellor, and running onto the field to assist injured athletes at sporting events after completing a Level 1 CPR course in First Aid. I matriculated with three distinctions, a bachelor's degree pass, and earned a spot in the top 1% of IEB candidates in Business Studies.

 My high school sponsor, the Alexandra Education Committee (AEC), assigned me a mentor for five years. This was the best mentor-mentee pairing. Not only did we have a lot in common, but I also happened to have been paired up with a chartered accountant. My mentor, a seasoned professional in the field, generously imparted his knowledge and wisdom, providing me with a first-hand understanding of the challenges and rewards associated with the profession.

 A highlight during my high school years was the job-shadowing task assigned to me in my Grade 11 Life Orientation assessments. These two days spent in the professional realm alongside my then mentor were nothing short of enlightening. Attending business meetings and having the opportunity to meet the Chief Executive Officer at my mentor's workplace offered me a unique perspective on the dynamic nature of the profession. It was during this immersive experience that my passion for becoming a chartered accountant was not just fueled but crystallized. The clarity gained during this experience and from attending career expos played a part in my decision to pursue a Bachelor of Accounting Science degree.

I come from a single-parent household with several dependents, making going to school a challenge due to a lack of financial backing. I have struggled with food insecurity and keeping up with payments for accommodation. This is still a challenge for me. Tackling a cognitively demanding degree while having to  grapple with basic  needs is something I wish to not to experience this year, especially now that I am doing the final year of my undergraduate degree and working on exceeding the requirements for my honour’s programme.

I am raising funds for myself to cover school and living-related expenses.

These funds will go towards covering my most immediate needs to help me get through the school year: accommodation, textbooks, and meals from school.

 The funds that I raise will be used as follows:

1. Accommodation Shortfall: R9500

2. School meals for the year: R30 375

3. BackABuddy Fee: R2393

The 2024 academic year is an important milestone for me in my CA journey, and I believe that your assistance would contribute greatly to its achievement. Last year, 2023, I picked up from the 232 hours of community service earned during my high school career by taking time to work as a volunteer at the university’s outreach programme. I am planning on paying all this back through continued volunteer work.

Your support would be appreciated.