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BUSINESS NEWS & VIDEO - The George office of an international name in the accounting world – PKF – celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
Celebrating a half century of history, PKF George office rolled out the red carpet for personnel and clients who have been by their side for decades.
The evening of 11 April was filled with glamour and glitz, stylish trimmings and splendour. It was also a real-life testimony to their close relationship with clients of whom some have been with the firm between 20 and 50 years.
The Du Toit brothers of Herold were among the speakers who shared their stories, intertwined in the roots of PKF George.
"It was such an honour to celebrate with people we've known and helped for many years," said Cobus Goosen, one of the firm's three directors. Stef Lategan and Ruché Sieberhagen complete the trio.
From their humble beginnings as Alwyn Burger and Associates, the development of PKF George can be followed through the achievements and growth of its founding members.
Their accumulated knowledge and experience over the past 50 years root PKF George in firm soil.
Global brand, local identity
As one of the largest mid-tier accounting firms in South Africa, PKF George is fully independent, but leverages off the strength and recognition of the global PKF brand with access to resources in 150 countries across five regions.
"We're a global brand with a local identity," said Goosen. "The PKF network collaborates to deliver high-quality audit, accounting, tax and business advice. Globally relevant, grounded in local knowledge."
Rich in history
Alwyn Burger started a small accounting and audit practise in George. He was soon joined by Niel Metelerkamp and they established a branch in Knysna.
During the 1980’s Hennie Scholtz, Francois Conradie and Jannie Venter joined the firm as partners of the Mossel bay, Oudtshoorn and Plettenberg Bay offices.
A decade later, in the 1990’s, the firm was joined by Skutte Maasdorp, Adolf Grobler, Francois Slabber and Gerhard Barnard.
When Charles Minie joined the firm in 1996, the old Alwyn Burger and Co was renamed to BMS Chartered Accountants - a shortened name for Barnard, Minie, and Slabber.
Nine years later, in 2005, BMS Chartered Accountants merged with Compendium Auditors. Cobus Goosen and Jaco Hugo joined as partners in the new firm, named BMS Compendium Auditors.
In 2010 the three partners, Minie, Goosen and Hugo decided to join the PKF Network. In that same year Stef Lategan merged his private accounting firm with the PKF George office.
Three years later, in 2013, the four partners of PKF George were made an offer by Grant Thornton to join their network. The firm traded as Grant Thornton Southern Cape for five years.
When Grant Thornton joined Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobbodo in 2018, a decision was made to move back to the PKF Network. “We decided that it would be the best fit for our staff and clients,” said Goosen.
Charles Minie retired at the end of 2018. Since late 2018 PKF George office is managed by Cobus Goosen, Jaco Hugo and Stef Lategan. Jaco Hugo resigned in 2022 to join a long-standing client of the firm and Ruché Sieberhagen, audit manager, replaced Jaco as partner of the firm. Records of current clients of the firm goes back to 1974.
VIDEO: PKF George celebrates 50th anniversary
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