Portia Mkhabela shares how her role as Cluster Head of Southern Africa allows her to fulfil her life’s purpose - introducing young people to the world of accountancy and inspiring a love for education. Through this, she not only imparts knowledge but also brings hope for a brighter future.

Portia Mkhabela shares how her role as Cluster Head of Southern Africa allows her to fulfil her life’s purpose - introducing young people to the world of accountancy and inspiring a love for education. Through this, she not only imparts knowledge but also brings hope for a brighter future.

Portia, Hello! Let’s start at the beginning. Where did you grow up?

I was born in Pretoria in a place called Atteridgeville, which is in Gauteng. When I was 9 years old, mum moved us to Limpopo, a homely province in South Africa where my dad came from. It’s a place of milk and honey, most of the fruits that we eat come from there. But it’s also a place where education comes first. The people that I grew up with now hold high positions in different places because of their love for education.

What did you study? 

After school, I did a diploma in information technology and then moved to Gauteng for work experience, before obtaining my degree in training and skills development (from North-West University). I did this alongside work because my mum was a teacher with three kids and didn’t have the funds to cover the costs. She gave me a start and I funded the rest myself.

Do you have a professional passion?

I live and breathe skills development. I started working in training and development at Telkom South Africa in 1998, but my passion emanates from my mum, who was a teacher and a principal. I gained a lot from her. My purpose is to bring hope - it's the heart of my journey and truly essential to me.

What do you like about your job?

Every day I wake up energised, driven by the impact of my work. While challenges are inevitable, the positives far outweigh them. In South Africa, we have transitioned to independence with people of colour taking leadership positions, yet many remain disadvantaged due to a lack of formal qualifications. My mission is to change that by equipping children with knowledge, training, mentorship and coaching.

In rural South Africa, most children have never used a computer or been exposed to accounting. I’m passionate about providing career guidance, breaking down artificial barriers and creating opportunities - helping them realise that they could become an accountant if they choose to.

Tell me about your journey at ACCA so far.

It’s been a journey of feeling at home and knowing I’m never alone - there’s support all around. Working with colleagues in the Southern African market, across the continent and globally has broadened my perspective. When I first joined, I struggled to grasp the UK team’s tonality, but before long, I adapted to their different pronunciations. Working with them has also helped me master time management - I now understand that 10 o’clock truly means 10 o’clock! ACCA is an incredible organisation, but success here requires the right mindset - one that embraces learning and says, ‘I may not know this field yet, but I’m ready to understand it as much as possible.’

What challenges are you facing in Southern Africa?

It’s a growing market, especially with our recent IRBA accreditation, which opens up the Registered Auditor pathway. 

Competition will always be there, but what sets us apart is that we manage the ACCA Qualification ourselves. This gives us the flexibility to adapt and make changes quickly, and our professional insights position us as thought leaders in the industry. 

We’re also continually adapting our approach to ensure members receive the support they need.

What do you love doing outside of work?

I’m a homebody, and family means everything to me. We’re a big group. My late mum had three daughters and now we have children and grandchildren. I have a 21-year-old daughter who’s at university.

I love hosting and when my family visits, they don’t have to lift a finger in the kitchen - I take care of everything. Cooking for a crowd is my way of showing love. I’m quite versatile too - I can make traditional African dishes, Italian and Indian. It all depends on the mood of the day!

To unwind, I love hitting the road on weekends - music on, exploring new places. While I appreciate the beauty of Limpopo, the sea breeze in Cape Town feels especially refreshing and spiritually grounding. I also have a deep love for gospel music, from African and international artists to traditional South African gospel - anything that speaks to my soul. Singing runs in my family; my mother was a musician and choir conductor, and while I’m not bad, my daughter is a true star with an international music qualification!