Voices from the Margins: Lived Experiences of Inequality

This study examines the lived economic experiences of CAs (SA) who qualified after 2016 and were educated entirely during the democratic era. Through in-depth interviews, the study examines how mechanisms of social closure and cumulative inequality shape access to the CA profession and influence the career trajectories of aspirants. The findings highlight the multifaceted costs — both explicit and hidden — incurred throughout the CA qualification journey, revealing how these reinforce existing social inequalities and constrain social mobility. By centring participant narratives, this study provides nuanced insights into the persistent struggles faced by aspiring accountants from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and calls for policy and structural reforms to foster a more equitable professional landscape in South Africa.