Speaker profiles 

Judge Bernard Makgabo Ngoepe 

​Tax Ombud 
Judge Bernard Makgabo Ngoepe 
B.JuR, LLB, LLD (h/c) LLD (h/c) LLD (h/c) 

Judge Ngoepe has a stellar record for his participation in and contributions to human rights and the rule of law in South Africa and abroad. As Judge President of the High Court of South Africa, North and South Gauteng High Courts, the Judge heard and decided seminal cases, including business and tax matters, and was responsible for assigning judges to the Tax Courts. He has also acted for a term as a Constitutional Court judge. In 2006, he was appointed as part-time Judge of the African Union’s African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights. He is presently Vice-President of the Court. 

The Judge has a solid academic background which includes the following: B.Juris (UNIN); LLB (UNISA); LLD (h/c UNIN); LLD (h/c UNISA); LLD (h/c UNIVEN). Before assuming his role on the Bench, Judge Ngoepe practised as an attorney until 1983 when he was admitted as an advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa. In 1994, his career reached another zenith when he was appointed Senior Counsel (SC).

Judge Ngoepe has been a member of many landmark democracy-building fora such as the Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Court of Military Appeals (Chairperson), the Magistrates Commission (Chairperson), the Judicial Service Commission, the Appeals Panel of the Press Council of South Africa (Chairperson since February 2013), the Appeals Board of the South African Council for Medical Schemes (Chairperson since 2012) and as Chancellor of the University of South Africa since 2000. 

Judge Ngoepe has been awarded the following accolades: Honorary Captain of the South African Navy, Honorary Professor, University of Limpopo, and three honorary Doctor of Laws degrees. He has also received many leadership and human rights awards.

Ettiene Retief

started his studies in financial accounting and auditing, with under graduate and bachelor studies in accounting, corporate procedure, and forensic auditing; with post graduate studies in the interpretation and drafting of contracts, trust law, taxation, and international tax. 
With more than a decade and a half of experience as a practicing financial accountant and tax practitioner (started working in commerce in 1994), Ettiene was a partner of, and the financial director for Financial Tax & Remuneration Services from 2000 till 2009. Ettiene also serves on the Technical & Standards Committee of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants.

During 2009, Ettiene started his own practice, which allows him the flexibility to provide personal corporate and tax law advice and assistance to his clients.

Ettiene was the chief editor and co-author of the Practical Tax Handbook for SMMEs (2003 - 2010); technical editor for SAIPA’s Professional Accountant magazine (since 2010); a regular speaker at update and training seminars, and regular contributor to various publications and media. 

Chairman of the National Tax and Stakeholders (SARS and National Treasury) Committees and member of the Technical and Standards Committee of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants, actively involved in the SARS Joint Stakeholder Committees, and specific sub-task force teams.

Was an elected member for two years to the FASSET (SETA for Finance, Accounting, Management Consulting and other financial services) Management Board, Chairman of the Finance Committee, also serving on the Remuneration, and Executive Committees.

Member of the working group for the development and drafting of the financial reporting standards for Non-Public Entities (also referred to as Micro-GAAP) as issued by SAICA and ECSAFA.
​
Ettiene holds membership with the Institute of Directors and South African Institute of Professional Accountants. Registered with SARS as a tax practitioner, and registered as a FSB (Financial Services Board) compliance officer.

Professor Jannie Rossouw

Professor Jannie Rossouw is Head of the School of Economic and Business Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand.
​
Professor Rossouw, an NRF C2-rated researcher, pursued his tertiary studies at the University of Pretoria where he obtained an MBA and an MCom in Economics. He was awarded a PhD by the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2008. He started his professional career as a lecturer in the Economics Department at UNISA, before joining the private sector. Professor Rossouw served as Head: Currency Management at the SA Reserve Bank. Professor Rossouw is a prolific writer and has authored and co-authored numerous articles in a wide variety of media, focusing mainly on the accuracy and credibility of inflation figures and on South Africa’s looming fiscal cliff. He is Vice-President of the Economic Society of South Africa, Chairperson of the Audit Committee of the Afrikaans Language Museum and Monument in Paarl and is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the South African Academy for Arts and Culture

Depika Singh CA (SA)
​

​Depika is a qualified Chartered Accountant she holds a Bachelor of Accounting, Hdip in Accounting and Mcom Taxation. In a year 2000 after completing her articles she joined Natal Technikon as lecturer in Auditing and Tax division. In June 2002 she Joined University of Witwatersrand school of Accounting as lecturer in Taxation Division until December 2005. In February 2006 she joined UKZN School of Accountancy as Senior Lecturer in the Auditing Division. She re-joined University of Witwatersrand as Senior Lecturer in Taxation Division from September 2008. In December 2014 she was appointed Head of Tax Division at University of Witwatersrand, School of Accountancy. In 2015 she was further appointed as the Head of Operations for the School of Accountancy at Wits university  
Apart from being actively involved with lecturing ,she is also involved with a lots of committees which includes ; 
•    Social Committee 
•    Member of SAICA ITC marking team since 2008. 
•    Also appointed as assistant umpire and now an umpire.
•    Was a member of  IRBA marking team from 2008 to 2010
•    Member of SAIPA Exam Panel
•    Member of SAIPA Syllabus Panel 
•    Member of numerous selection panels within the Faculty
•    Was a member of Faculty  and Council Re-admissions Committee 
•    Evaluator for Accounting and Commerce related programmes for CHE
•    Judge on external tax competitions for E&Y and Deloitte
•    Facilitator for Project Achiever for SAIPA and Presenter for seminars for SAIPA