Prof Ben Marx Director The year 2025 marked the formal establishment of the Wiseman Nkuhlu Centre of Thought Leadership, Innovation and Governance (WNCIG). Named in honour of Dr Wiseman Nkuhlu, South Africa’s first Black Chartered Accountant, the Centre was founded to serve as a national platform for advancing research excellence, governance reform, innovation, and professional sustainability within the accounting and auditing profession. WNCIG recognises that complex professional challenges require coordinated responses and positions itself as a thought-leadership hub addressing systemic risks in the auditing and governance landscape. The Centre’s inaugural research focus addressed a critical national concern: the decline in Registered Auditors in South Africa. This issue has far-reaching implications for financial reporting integrity, investor confidence, public accountability, and economic sustainability. The Centre is strategically aligned with the University of Johannesburg’s commitment to innovation, digital transformation, ethical leadership, and societal impact and is framed by the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 4: Quality Education – Strengthening professional education and research capacity. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Supporting sustainable professional employment pathways. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – Promoting innovation in audit and governance systems SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – Strengthening accountability, transparency, and governance. WISEMAN NKUHLU CENTRE FOR INNOVATION, LEADERSHIP, AND GOVERNANCE (WNCIG) School of Accounting 48 College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2025
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