5 minute read
MJ ACCOUNTANTS
from The Crest 105
It's a matter of PRIDE
IF YOU RESEARCH ACCOUNTING FIRMS, YOU ARE LIKELY TO FIND THEIR LOGO, VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS CENTRED AROUND NUMBERS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS. BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH GILLITTS-BASED ACCOUNTING PRACTICE, MJ CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS. BUSINESS OWNER AND CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT MELISSA JACOBS EXPLAINS WHY
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Melissa’s love for nature, especially lions, started in her childhood and unbeknown to many, the lion population has declined over the years and lions are now seriously endangered. Melissa and her team want to make a difference and have pledged to do their part in supporting conservation projects aimed at saving this majestic animal.
The MJ team are an allfemale team – lionesses united under one mission. They are fiercely focused on the needs of their clients and their slogan One Team, One Roar gives them daily purpose to carry out their mission. The business has grown significantly over the last three years proving that purpose-driven businesses almost always outperform those without real purpose.
It is difficult to comprehend why the majestic African lion is in trouble. For most, lions are the top predator to see on any safari bucket list. From the magnificent black-maned male lion whose majesty raises a tingle in the spine of most, to the affectionate females and their adorable cubs.
It is extremely difficult for anyone to estimate exactly how many lions there really are left in the wild. It is incredibly
You Can Help
Melissa’s passion is only growing, and she is committed to contributing further as and when her circumstances permit. If you are wanting to help or get involved with this project or in any other way, please get in touch with Melissa on melissa@mjacc.co.za
challenging for censuses to give accurate numbers and they are often biased by the agenda of whoever has commissioned them. The most widely accepted figure is an estimated 20 000 lions in the world; substantially less than the estimated 23 000 rhinos and the 400 000 elephants. Statistics that have shocked many.
We need to act now if future generations are to have any hope of enjoying the sound of a wild lion’s roar at dawn.
Most wild lions are now primarily confined to areas under formal protection, their dramatic drop in population driven by conflict with people over the threats that lions pose to humans and livestock, natural prey depletion, habitat conversion and the illegal wildlife trade in lion body parts.
The Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA), which includes the Kruger National Park (KNP) in South Africa, the Limpopo National Park (LNP) in Mozambique, and Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, is one of only 10 remaining lion strongholds in Africa. However, recently published evidence suggests that the GLTFCA
strongholds may be under serious threat. Poaching of lions within the conservation area has increased over the last decade, possibly due to a rising demand for body parts.
SANParks, Endangered Wildlife Trust, National Administration of Conservation Areas in Mozambique, and the Peace Parks Foundation, with funding from the UK Government through the International Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund (IWTCF) and the Lion Recovery Fund, have embarked on an ambitious partnership to understand and protect the population of Africa’s most iconic species within the GLTFCA.
A vital component of the project involves monitoring lion prides across the GLTFCA using GPS satellite collars. The aim of the monitoring is to identify areas with recent lion activity and produce habitat priority maps indicating habitat, landscape features and other resources used regularly by lions, which may also be identified by poachers and enable them to target lions more effectively over time.
The information provided by the collars will aid antipoaching teams to focus their protection efforts in space and time rather than trying to secure large swathes of potential lion habitat. The collars will also be used to check on the lions more frequently to identify missing individuals more promptly and then track their movements back in time to identify potential poaching activities.
Melissa and her team are working closely with Marnus Roodbol from Endangered Wildlife Trust to help in any way possible with the pending disaster. They have committed to donating R20 000 towards an operation where specialised collars that have already been installed, need their batteries replaced. This project will be actioned early this year. ”
ABOVE: From left, Dr Louis van Schalkwyk, Dr Lufunu Netshitavhadulu, Marnus Roodbol and Craig Williams.
GIVE US A CALL
to discuss your current tax, accounting or auditing needs. Contact Melissa
melissa@mjacc.co.za; 087 821 7110; www.mjacc.co.za
MJ
CHARTERED
ACCOUNTANTS
If it is to be, it is up to me!
Hillcrest High School has served the local community since 1976, providing exceptional physical and social environments in which all learners have the opportunity to be the best they can be. Offering premium education at an affordable cost, we invest in Honour (character and leadership) and Hard work (academically, culturally, sport), so we can Serve and influence our communities positively. The HHS family is shaped by strong leadership, staff who go above and beyond and students who show true grit and adaptability. Their continued achievements over the last two challenging years in particular, are a testament to their efforts across sporting, cultural, community service and leadership fields. Hillcrest High has a strong community spirit and is proud of their holistic approach to education.
RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS:
• WESSA Eco-Schools Green Flag status • Awarded the prestigious PASCH Schule German Partnership status • E-learning systems and technology expansion • Past pupil association growth including the school Trust scholarship programme • Students achieving national and international representation • Past students achieving international and Olympic representation • Past students who are Rhodes Scholar achievers • Consistent winners of the PADSSA Chess league • Currently the only public school in D&D A League co-ed swimming gala
