As Youth Month is celebrated, one remarkable individual from Mahikeng, Shaa Bootha, stands out as a true trailblazer. Currently serving as a Group Financial Manager at a Multi-National Shipping Company, Shaa oversees the finance department for the Sub-Saharan Africa region. Notably, he is the youngest person to qualify as a chartered accountant in South Africa and achieved the Honours Roll Top Ten for his SAICA (South Africa's Institute for Chartered Accountants) APC Board exam.
Before joining his current employer, Shaa spent five years with PwC, where he garnered recognition as a recipient of the prestigious PwC Africa Experience Award. This award is bestowed upon a select number of PwC employees across Africa who exemplify the organization's values of care, integrity, making a difference, and reimagining what is possible.
Shaa's academic journey has been equally impressive. He completed grades 8 to 12 in a fraction of the required time. At 18, he obtained his BCom degree, followed by passing his first board exam at 20 and the second at 22, earning a place in the Honours Roll Top 10. Remarkably, Shaa registered as a CA(SA) at 23 in 2016, becoming the country's youngest qualified CA(SA). Additionally, he received the esteemed PwC Experience Award.
Shaa attributes much of his early accomplishments to the support of his parents, who instilled in him the belief to become one of the youngest high school graduates in the country. With his remarkable achievements in finance and his unwavering determination, Shaa Bootha inspires the youth, demonstrating the possibilities that can be achieved through hard work, dedication, and a supportive environment.
