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18 April 2024 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Supplied
Mia Pretorius
Mia Pretorius, one of the accountancy graduates from the UFS Class of 2023, excelled in the SAICA ITC examination, securing the 6th position nationally.

The accountancy graduates of the University of the Free State (UFS), Class of 2023, have showcased their excellence by achieving an impressive 86% pass rate in the January 2024 Initial Test of Competence (ITC) examination administered by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). This achievement underscores the rigorous academic standards and dedication upheld by both the students and the esteemed faculty of the UFS School of Accountancy.

Prof Frans Prinsloo, Director of the School of Accountancy at UFS, expressed profound satisfaction at these remarkable results. He remarked, ‘’This achievement bears testament to the many hours of hard work invested over many years by the UFS School of Accountancy team and its students, and it brings us great joy.’’

Among the shining stars of this accomplishment is Mia Pretorius, a SAICA Audit Trainee at Deloitte in Cape Town and a distinguished UFS alumnus. Pretorius clinched the sixth position nationwide in the exam, surpassing over 2000 graduates across the country. Reflecting on her achievement, Pretorius conveyed her overwhelming gratitude, acknowledging the challenging nature of the examination, particularly the time constraints. She attributed her success to the comprehensive preparation received at UFS, stating, ‘’We wrote some difficult examinations during my time at UFS, so I was well prepared and found the ITC to be a bit easier than some of the exams that were written at UFS.’’

Prof Prinsloo lauded Pretorius’s success as a testament to the effectiveness of the CA programme at UFS, stating,’ Our CA programme not only enables our graduates to pass the ITC examination but, in fact, empowers them also to excel.’’

The significance of this accomplishment extends beyond individual success stories. Prof Prinsloo emphasised that the SAICA ITC examination serves as a crucial benchmark for evaluating the quality of the Chartered Accountancy (CA) programme offered at UFS. He elaborated, ‘’These results signify that the CA programme offered by the UFS not only develops our students’ technical competence in the subject areas of Financial Accounting, Auditing, Taxation and Managerial Accounting and Finance to the appropriate level but also equips them with the essential professional skills.’’

With aspirations for their students to make meaningful contributions to their respective fields and communities, Prof Prinsloo expressed hope that these accomplished students uphold ethical standards and serve as inspiration for our future students.

The achievements of the UFS accounting graduates of 2023 in the SAICA ITC examination underscore the university’s commitment to academic excellence and the holistic development of its students. 

News Archive

Doctors make history with unique heart operation
2012-04-04

 

Cardiologists at the university delivered the first Melody pulmonary valve in Africa.
Photo: Evert Kleynhans
30 March 2012

Academics of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State made history in Africa once again this week with the implant of a special pulmonary heart valve.

“Today we are extremely proud Free State citizens,” Prof. Stephen Brown and Dr. Danie Buys from the UFS Department of Paediatrics and Child Health said after they placed the Medtronic Melody pulmonary valve in two young patients at the Universitas hospital in Bloemfontein.

This is the first time in Africa that the Melody valve is placed.

To date there are currently only 3 000 of these valves place in the world.

“It feels incredible to be part of a team of experts from the faculty.”

The Medtronic Melody valve is delivered percutaneously through a catheter from the groin. This operation is for children and young adults who are born with a malformation of their pulmonary valve.

These children often require open-heart surgery at a very young age and later require additional open-heart surgeries to restore blood flow between the heart and the lungs.

Prof. Brown said that of all congenital diseases, heart disease is most common. A lot of children born with heart disease are diagnosed very late and many die without ever receiving specialised care.

In 2011, Prof. Brown and two other cardiologists from the UFS, Prof. Hennie Theron en Dr JP Theron also reached a medical milestone when they were the first cardiologists in South Africa to do a second generation Medtronic CoreValve implant on an elderly patient.
 

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