UJ's ABASA team wins the 2025 Joburg Big Debate Competition
In this file picture, UJ celebrates the start of the 2025 academic year at the Soweto Campus earlier this year. In a continued streak of achievement, UJ’s ABASA student chapter recently clinched the 2025 Joburg Big Debate title - inspiring a new wave of student leaders in the process.
Image: University of Johannesburg
The University of Johannesburg’s Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa (ABASA) team claimed the 2025 ABASA Joburg Big Debate Competition crown on Saturday, August 23, defeating teams from Wits and North-West University.
The victory came after an intense series of debates on current economic and social issues, including inflation, entrepreneurship, hybrid work, and the role of the accountancy profession in promoting social mobility.
In the final round, UJ and NWU were given only five minutes to prepare, but UJ’s sharp thinking and collaborative spirit secured the top prize. ABASA UJ also swept several special awards:
- Best Speaker of the Day: Wandisa Maseko, First-Year BCom Accounting
- Best Rebuttal: Ayanda Rongo, Second-Year BCom Accounting
- Best Collaborative Team: ABASA UJ
“I am still on cloud nine after being crowned the best speaker,” said Maseko. “As a first-year student, this opportunity has been life-changing. The support from my mentor and the UJ ABASA committee gave me the confidence to step up and contribute meaningfully to the team.” ABASA UJ Chairperson, Lisakhanya Mkhwambi, noted that the team set out to improve on last year’s second-place finish.
“Winning against our peer institutions and securing four out of five categories reflects the dedication and talent of our students. It also demonstrates the strength of Accountancy@UJ, where students prove they are both academically capable and thought leaders on pressing issues,” said Mkhwambi.
ABASA has been active at UJ for 13 years and has seen its membership grow from 609 in 2024 to 1 300 in 2025. Students first compete in an internal round in partnership with the UJ Debating Union before forming the final team for the inter-university competition.
Professor Ahmed Mohammadali Haji, head of UJ’s Department of Accountancy, praised the achievement. “This reflects the hard work, passion, and professionalism we strive to instil in our students. ABASA UJ continues to make us proud as ambassadors of Accountancy@UJ and of the future of the accounting profession.
"This win highlights how student-led associations such as ABASA not only prepare young professionals for the industry but also provide platforms to debate, challenge, and shape the future of the profession.”