VHA Accounting Solutions

Understanding the Public Interest Score (PIS) in South Africa

Good afternoon, it’s Vidyanth Bhola, your host for the VHA podcast, podcast number seven. I’d like to thank everyone for the lovely feedback that I’ve been getting about the podcast that I’ve been doing. I know the podcasts are not perfect, but as I said, they’ll be getting better and better with time.

In today’s episode, we are diving into a crucial aspect of corporate governance in South Africa, The Public Interest Score, or PIS as it’s known. This matrix is a key for any company operating within the country as it determines compliance obligations and how a business should handle its regulatory duties.

We’ll break down what the Public Interest Score is, how it is calculated, and the implications it can have on your company’s compliance needs. The PIS is a measure used to gauge the level of public interest in a company, ensuring that businesses with a significant social and economic footprint adhere to strict governance and transparency standards.

The episode also details how the PIS is calculated annually based on the number of employees, third-party liabilities, turnover, and beneficial shareholders. We discuss the compliance requirements based on different PIS ranges and the importance of monitoring your public interest score to ensure your company meets its regulatory obligations and maintains strong corporate governance practices.

Stay informed and proactive about your PIS to keep your company compliant and uphold high standards of governance. Until next time, this is Vidyan Pola, your host. I look forward to my next podcast which will focus on professional conduct and how to conduct yourself as a professional accountant or chartered accountant. Cheers until next time.

Kashveer Mathura

Accounting Portfolio Manager

kashveer@vhaaccounting.com 078 882 9783

Adrian Surjoo

Quality Control Manager, SAICA

Credentials:

  • National Diploma in Cost and Management
  • Accounting
  • Advanced diploma in Accounting Sciences
  • Professional Accountant (S.A.)

Bongumusa Zondi

Director

Bongumusa Zondi, a senior accountant, blends business advisory with expertise in financial reporting and taxation. With just under a decade of experience in accounting and taxation, his career journey began by obtaining a National Diploma in Cost and Management Accounting and an Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences at the Durban University of Technology and University of South Africa, respectively. This was followed by a Junior Bookkeeper position at City Printing Works (Pty) Ltd. He began his SAIPA articles at Dobeyn Accounting Soultions and currently leads a dynamic accounting team and manages a sizeable portfolio of clients at VHA Accounting Solutions where he also completed his SAIPA Articles. Apart from assisting clients update their books and stay compliant with relevant authorities, he is fully interested in adding value through business advisory. Helping clients solve their financial problems and provide guidance on potential growth opportunities is his biggest passion. He has been driven by philosophies of teamwork and collaboration.

Notable achievements include qualifying as a Professional Accountant (S.A.) through SAIPA. Beyond the numbers, he enjoys watching sports, tutoring grade 12 learners, playing the piano and listening to classical music composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and George Frideric Handel, adding a well-rounded dimension to his professional life.

bongumusa@vhaaccounting.com 082 359 4536

Karishma Bhola

Director

The VHA Accounting Solutions team is excited to announce a new insurance service offering headed by Karishma Bhola. Karishma is an accredited financial advisor and has 18 years of experience in the finance industry and expertise in marketing/foreign exchange and business management. As a seasoned financial guru, she prides herself on delivering excellent client service every time.

Vidyanth Bhola

Director / CEO

Passionate about exceptional client service, Vidyanth Bhola serves a wide client base as an advisor and accountant.Vidyanth focuses on tax planning and estate and succession planning, which he approaches with enthusiasm for human relationships and a penchant for teamwork, to achieve outstanding results. In addition to being VHA Accounting Solutions Inc founder and as director of the Bhola group of companies, Vidyanth is involved on the board and advisory level with several non-profit organisations and other initiatives. Vidyanth obtained his BCom degree and H Tax Diploma from the University of South Africa after which he worked at Colenbrander Inc, as a Accounting Portfolio Manager. In 2018, Vidyanth found the accounting firm VHA Accounting Solutions Inc. Vidyanth is a family man and avid rugby fan. He enjoys learning about Aviation and flew a Boeing in the flight simulator in Dubai. Vidyanth also works on various charity organisations and is involved in various food drives. Vidyanth is a member of the South African Institute of Tax Professional (SAITA) and the Southern African Institute for Business Accountants (SAIBA).