Bonga Mriga - SAICA Top 35-under-35 Competition 20222

Bonga Mriga is an investor relations manager at Old Mutual which is listed in five exchanges, including the JSE and London Stock Exchange. Having grown up in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, he completed his studies at the University of Cape Town. After having started his articles at Nkonki Inc., Bonga left to begin afresh on the Old Mutual Chartered Accountant Training (OMCAT) Programme, as he wanted to pursue a career in non-audit corporate. He is eternally grateful for the financial support from Sindi Zilwa throughout his studies.

Having qualified as a CA(SA) at the beginning of 2016, Bonga has grown to be a well-rounded professional with experience in investments and financial management. He is proud to have been accepted into the OMCAT Programme with its tight qualifying criteria, and also going on to qualify as a chartered accountant having began schooling in a rural village of Mpindweni A/A. His proudest moment professionally is when he was given the opportunity to be a portfolio manager for the Citadel Preference Share Model Portfolio and client portfolios.

Being a true product of ‘umntu ngumntu ngabantu’ (one’s becoming built up by contributions from various people), Bonga takes giving back to society very personally. That is why he served on Fun Learning for Youth (FLY) as a tutor for grade 10s between 2015-16 in Gugulethu.

Bonga is now a mentor on the Qhakaza Kukhanye Foundation (QKF). QKF is finalising a pilot programme where QKF partnered with a high school in Mbizana, Eastern Cape, to provide academic and lifeskillls support to promising learners in the rural areas with a goal of closing the gap to typical ‘model C’ schools.

At Old Mutual, Bonga is part of the Young Board, a structure comprising 8 young professionals in Group Finance established by the CFO, Casper Troskie, to drive and run with initiatives that shape culture within our department and thereby the broader Old Mutual group. He is also in the running to be part of Joint Management Committee representing Old Mutual employees in Superfund.

It is an honour to be recognised by the body that manages the profession that adds onto the purpose of my life. In 2021, I ran a YouTube channel, Bongezile The Nest, that sought to provide a support to young professionals entering the workplace. He now mentors Khanyisa Martins on the OMCAT programme, giving back what Craig Botes gave to him.

First published on SAICA's events page: https://www.top35-under-35.saicaevents.co.za/wp/2022/09/30/bonga-mriga-33/ in 2022