The Faculty of Management Sciences: Department of Accounting and Auditing in partnership with the International Audit firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) held the sixth Annual Business Ethics awards on 22 May 2018. The Business Ethics Awards Project was established in 2012.

The main objective of this event is to expose students to real-life issues and create awareness on the role of business to cultivate and maintain high ethical standards and practices among students in the faculty.

PwC plays a critical role in guiding these students to understand the importance of business ethics and accepted standards of practice within their scope of the profession, where integrity is an essential element of moral principles that guide businesses through the complex dilemma.

Through this project, students are expected to assimilate their theoretical knowledge with the real-life issues. This is to ensure that they learn to work in groups, think outside the box, and track all South African media platforms including social media and newspapers. The project also teaches them about effective time management and dynamic and professional debates among themselves in a safe learning environment.

The final assessment and selection were adjudicated by an interdisciplinary panel of judges who are experts in governance and business ethics. The evaluation criterion was based on creativity, application of theoretical knowledge, thorough research on the topic, synergy and good presentation skills.

Mr Gerhard Geldenhuys, Director: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Central Region sponsored R18 600 in cash prizes allocated as follows: all member of the winning team (1^st place group) received R1 000, the 2^nd place group received R700 each and R500 each for the 3^rd place group. A further R1000 went to the best presenters and this year; there was a draw.  The best presenters of the day prize went to Bacela Refiloe Zimbini of the winning group It wasn’t Me and Chapatso Jabulile Dimpho of The Daily Talk group.

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1:  Winners of the competition It wasn’t me group won the 1st place. They presented on Life Esidimeni scandal. All group members received R1 000 cash prize.

2: The Hawks took the 2^nd place with their presentation on Medical Aid Fraud. The members each received R700.

3: 3^rd place went to Guardians of Ethics who presented on Environmental Ethics in the 21^st Century. The group were awarded a R500 cash prize.