On 30 July, industry leaders gathered to discuss all things tax with UP students at an event hosted by Tax@Tuks. The aim of the evening was to inform, inspire, and prepare students for the tax industry and all its complexities. Part of the power panel was Chenai Makumba, Executive Director of the Tax Justice Network Africa, Annette Morgan, co-founder of the Curtin Tax Clinic at Curtin University, and Keith Fogg, Clinical Professor and Director of the Federal Tax Clinic at Harvard Law School. The conversation followed the panelists’ different career paths, most of which were non-linear and unconventional. Makumba shared that after university, she barely knew anything about tax. As someone who studied International Relations, she had no prior knowledge of tax, but stepping into the industry slowly moved her towards tax justice, policy, and its real implications on life. Most students pursue careers around what they studied, but the event revealed that discovering a career path does not have to be narrow.
The skills and resources you acquire at university will always be at your disposal in whatever career you choose – you just have to be passionate and be a lifelong learner. The panel co-ordinator said, “Search for career paths that feel more safe to yourself and you will find your place.” This reassured students who raised concerns about the saturated job market. Morgan shared wisdom, drawing from her experience as a professor: “Showing you works better than telling you. That is why I always advise my students to work on what they are studying. Every student is different and has different circumstances, and it is important to expose them to different situations. That is why I expose students to tax in action to spark their passion.” She further shared that having an empathetic nature is important in the tax industry, which is why she encourages integrated learning. Fogg said, “Take every opportunity, [and] do not be frightened to say yes, I will do that. Your degree is only the beginning.”
Tax on the Table proved to be a phenomenal event, with the panel discussion offering students an insightful look into the diverse opportunities available within the field of taxation. The event brought together students at different stages of their academic journeys who left with new perspectives on taxation, career possibilities, and the importance of understanding the broader impact of the profession.
PDBY spoke to Bathabile Mzwandile Nare, a second-year Accounting Science student, who described the event as one of the most impressive events she had attended. “Overall, Tax on the Table was a phenomenal event. The panel discussion proved to be extremely informative. I do not recall ever being in attendance for an event of that calibre.” For Nare, the calibre, qualifications, and experience of the speakers stood out, but so did the compassion they demonstrated in their work. Her biggest lesson was discovering just how broad the field of taxation can be as a career. “What I thought in my head is not what I heard from the speakers. The roads and paths tax professionals walk are so different globally.” Although she entered the event with high expectations because of the panelists involved, Nare said that those expectations were exceeded. Her most important takeaway was not simply about building a successful career, but about developing compassion and using one’s career to make a meaningful difference. “The speakers not only loved tax, but got that far through their love of people. They identified different needs and took the onus on themselves to fix it. It pushed me to not just build my career on wanting a two-comma salary.”
PDBY also spoke to Amogelang Sambo, a final-year BCom student, who also found the event insightful because of the range of perspectives represented on the panel. Going into the event, Sambo hoped to gain a better understanding of the different career paths available within taxation and the opportunities beyond the traditional roles she had previously been exposed to. “I was genuinely surprised by just how diverse the taxation space is.” Sambo explained that she had previously associated taxation primarily with organisations such as the Big Four firms and SARS. However, hearing from a panel member involved in tax advocacy across Africa changed her perception of the profession and highlighted the broader impact taxation can have. “It opened my mind to the broader impact that taxation can have and the many ways one can contribute to the field beyond conventional tax roles.” For Sambo, the event also answered a question she had been carrying with her: “Where to next?” She said that the discussion gave her a clearer sense of direction and helped her identify possibilities she had not previously considered. “It not only met my expectations but exceeded them by challenging my perception of what a career in taxation could look like.”
Nakisani Thukutha, a BCom Honours in Taxation student, also shared her perspective, “The event was very insightful and encouraged me to [not] limit myself to local tax matters, but to think more broadly about taxation. I particularly developed an interest in the rights of taxpayers, which I realised many people are not fully aware of.”
Rachel van Rooyen, an Honours in Taxation student, reflected not only on the panel discussion but also on the process of bringing the event together. For Van Rooyen, the experience reinforced the importance of remaining calm when things do not go according to plan. “I learnt to not panic when things go wrong and that there’s always a plan to be made. Our teamwork and ability to think on our feet and compromise made the event possible.” However, the panel discussion itself also challenged her expectations. While she expected the panel to be interesting, one of the speakers particularly stood out and introduced her to a career path she had never previously considered. “I expected to find the panel interesting, but my expectations were exceeded when I found one of the panelists inspiring and it opened my eyes to a potential career path I never knew about.” Listening to the different experiences of professionals within taxation allowed Van Rooyen to see how varied careers in the field can be. She highlighted Mukumba in particular: “Listening to the different experiences and career paths people took was interesting and opened my eyes to many careers I did not know about. Ms Mukumba was especially interesting to me as she exposed me to a career path that I think would suit me very well.”
Across the different reflections, one message emerged clearly: taxation is far broader than many students initially imagine. For some, the event offered a new understanding of the global opportunities within the profession. For others, it highlighted taxpayer rights, advocacy, compassion, and the possibility of using a career in tax to create meaningful change. Ultimately, Tax@Tuks did more than introduce students to the technical side of taxation. It challenged them to think differently about where the profession can take them and perhaps, more importantly, what they can contribute once they get there.
