Ayanda Vabaza-Mvandaba’s measure of success is not monetary wealth, but shaping a better society.
As a chartered accountant (CA) who completed her BAcc and BAccHons degrees at SU, she founded Kwandiso Consulting in 2019. The consultancy offers financial services solutions to small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs), drive financial inclusion, and show entrepreneurs that CAS are not only for big corporates, but an essential part of the economic sustainability of smaller ventures too.
“SMMEs play an integral part in economic growth, and their success and sustainability depend on our services as CAs,” Ayanda explains. “l identified a need to offer affordable services to these enterprises, especially those owned by women and run by families. I spotted the opportunity to teach them the tools they need to ensure good governance, attain financial freedom, and unlock the next level of growth.”
Ayanda grew up in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape. She chose this career path in the hope that she would be able to provide for herself and her family and unlock certain opportunities that previously would not have been available for, or accessible to, people of colour.
After obtaining her honours degree, she completed her articles at KPMG, where she was a bursary holder. “l passed both board exams at the first attempt and was promoted to supervisor. Shortly after qualifying as a CA, I went into asset management. I struggled with my health, and when I finally recovered, I left formal employment in socioeconomic upliftment and community- based solutions. “Through my business, I employ young people. I also co-founded the Langa Siphe Foundation, which supports, advocates and raises funds for marginalised women and abandoned children. Through the organisation, we promote financial literacy and facilitate the provision of health care, clothes and food, and financial assistance for school attendance,” she says.
She serves on the audit and risk committees of Equal Education, Wesgro, the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and the Western Cape Provincial Government, as well as on the board of African Phoenix Investments Limited.
In 2021, Ayanda was recognised as one of Africa’s Brightest Young Minds. The next year, she was a finalist in the Gender Mainstreaming Awards of RMB, Accenture and Business Engage in the category “Positive role model”. Also in 2022, she was named one of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants’ top 35-under-35 CAS – a competition that celebrates people who strive to stand out from the crowd, be exceptional, and push themselves in pursuit of excellence. In 2023, she received recognition as a finalist in the Woman of Stature Awards in the category “Woman in community”. “It is an incredible feeling to be recognised in this way because it reaffirms that I am on the right path,” she says. “My dream is to leave a lasting legacy,” Ayanda adds. “When I imagine how future generations will remember me, I hope they’ll say: ‘There was a brave woman and started Kwandiso Consulting.” Ayanda is also a social entrepreneur, and the initiatives she pursues are driven by an interest named Ayanda, who lived beyond herself. She left a legacy of love, acceptance and provision. She left the world a better place than she had found it.”
