09 Feb 2026
Johannesburg, Monday, 9 February 2026 — The Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA) congratulates the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on the official launch of the Wiseman Nkuhlu Centre for Innovation, Thought Leadership and Governance (WNCIG), a pioneering initiative hosted within the School of Accounting. The Centre represents a significant milestone in advancing ethical leadership, governance, and sustainable development in the accounting and auditing professions.

Named in honour of Professor Wiseman Lumkile Nkuhlu—South Africa’s first African Chartered Accountant and one of the country’s respected academic and business leaders—the WNCIG embodies a legacy of resilience, transformation and service excellence that has shaped generations of professionals.

At the launch event at the Johannesburg Country Club in Auckland Park, Prof Nkuhlu announced that the Centre’s first research project will focus on a critical national priority — the role of the audit profession in serving society, with special emphasis on addressing any potential challenges associated with the declining number of Registered Auditors (RAs) in South Africa.

The IRBA Board has just approved and adopted the IRBA’s Auditor Pipeline Strategy at its most recent meeting. This strategy specifically prioritises impactful collaboration with stakeholders across the profession, in particular the two accredited professional accounting bodies from which registered candidate auditors emanate. Future auditors are drawn from amongst the chartered accountant members of the Association for Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). The establishment of the WNCIG therefore arrives at a crucial moment.

The IRBA is particularly pleased that the Centre’s inaugural research initiative will address fundamental themes central to the future of the profession, including the societal role and value of auditing in South Africa; challenges facing the audit profession both locally and internationally; the decline in the number of Registered Auditors; and policy, education, and professional sustainability interventions for the future.

These research themes mirror the strategic issues articulated in IRBA CEO Imre Nagy’s remarks at the launch. Speaking to distinguished guests and stakeholders, Nagy emphasised that external auditing is essential to maintaining public trust, transparency, and accountability, and serves as a vital pillar of South Africa’s social and economic compact.

Says Nagy: “Although the profession has made significant strides in rebuilding trust and improving audit quality, the ongoing pipeline barriers, attractiveness and retention challenges remain a national concern.

“Independent empirical research is therefore pivotal in identifying real root causes and enabling targeted, evidence‑based interventions across the entire pipeline, from schools and universities to qualifying stages and professional retention at the auditing firms.”

The research to be conducted by UJ under the auspices of the WNCIG aligns directly with the IRBA’s strategic focus—which seeks to grow, strengthen, and transform the RA pipeline. The IRBA as the audit regulator is mandated to develop Registered Auditors and drive audit reform.

Says Nagy: “This partnership enables unbiased academic inquiry that will deepen our understanding of the systemic and structural challenges affecting the RA pipeline; provide us with robust, unbiased evidence to guide policy and regulatory reform; strengthen collaborations between regulators, academia, professional bodies and audit firms; and support the profession’s sustainability and attractiveness for future generations.

The IRBA believes that the WNCIG will serve as a powerful engine in strengthening the auditing profession, enabling meaningful solutions that ensure long‑term sustainability and contribute to public trust and national economic growth.

Concludes Nagy: “The establishment of the WNCIG—and its commitment to independent, evidence‑based research—marks an important step forward for South Africa’s auditing profession. It reinforces the shared responsibility among regulators, academia, professional bodies, and industry leaders to build a strong, ethical, and future‑ready profession capable of effectively serving the public interest.”

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About IRBA:

The Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA) is the statutory body mandated to regulate the auditing profession in South Africa. Established by the Auditing Profession Act 26 of 2005, the IRBA’s mission is to protect the public interest by ensuring the highest standards of audit quality and ethical conduct among registered auditors.