Bojane Segooa

Bojane Segooa, a qualified chartered accountant (CA) and senior lecturer from the Department of Financial Accounting in Unisa’s College of Accounting Sciences (CAS), has been nominated as a Brand South Africa Play Your Part Ambassador for making contributions to the healthcare, education and technology sector. Segooa, who is also a social entrepreneur, was recognised in July 2020 for co-founding the Level Up Foundation NPC, which provides the youth with economic opportunities.

Play Your Part is a nationwide movement created to inspire, empower and celebrate active citizenship in the country. The main objective of this project is to lift the spirit of the country by inspiring all South Africans to contribute to positive change, become involved and start doing something, because a nation of people who care deeply for one another and the environment in which they live is good for everyone.

The role of being an ambassador representing the country is an honour and privilege for Segooa. "To represent Brand South Africa as a Play Your Part ambassador is something I never even dreamt of. I am still in awe." She adds: "Academia is an excellent career path which affords one with dynamic opportunities like this role as an ambassador. I am extremely grateful and will keep the Unisa flag flying high."

Her contributions in education and technology are encapsulated by the LevelsApp. It is an education technology digital career guidance platform aimed at secondary school learners. Segooa says the app is a multi-award-winning career guidance teacher training software that assists learners apply to the university. It is aligned to Goal 4 of the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals. The software is currently used by learners and educators in Gauteng, North-West and Limpopo.

In 2019, Segooa was awarded a Unisa Chairperson of Council Award of Excellence in Community Engagement for her exceptional contribution to society and learners through LevelsApp. She is also among seven black female non-executive directors of a JSE-listed company under the age of 35. "I sit on the board of RH Bophelo Ltd, a healthcare investment company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and cross-listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange. I acknowledge this rare privilege, and this makes me even more committed to discharging my duties to the best of my abilities."

As a chartered accountant and an academic, Segooa believes that the combination of her work has made her a subject matter expert contributing tremendously in her ability to discharge duties as a board member. "Academics have an important role to play in the commerce industry since we are technical experts. We bring our technical insights to practitioners and big businesses. I consider Unisa, my employer, as my most formidable asset as a young professional," she says.

Segooa completed both her undergrad Bachelor of Accounting Science and BCompt Honours degrees at Unisa. She is now a Master’s in Innovation candidate at Wits Business School.

"I believe strongly in the power of education and skills development. This is the basis of the LevelsApp. The Level Up Foundation was founded with this mandate in mind and is a great tool to mobilise resources to deliver the mandate to township and rural schools. We use the Level Up Foundation to disseminate the LevelsApp."

Segooa’s dedication to the SDG of quality education comes in handy as South Africa commemorates annual Women’s Month in August, paying tribute to the thousands of women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women. This career guidance portal is a turning point in showcasing the role women play to bridge the education and technology gap.

* By Lesego Ravhudzulo, Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement