Note(s): 1. Trainees completing articles Inside Public Practice (TIPP), i.e. audit firms: There has been observable growth over the years, i.e. from 1,389 in 2004 to 2,676 in 2016, of Black trainees completing their articles in audit firms. However, juxtaposing this with the data presented in Table 2 below indicates very poor retention as of 2016. For example, while 2,676 Blacks were in training as of 2016, only 112, representing a mere 4.1% (112/2,676 multiplied by 100%) retention rate, eventually got retained

2. In comparison to white trainees, while there appears to be a decline in the number of trainees over the years (This has been mostly attributed to the overseas migration of a large number of chartered accountants from South Africa (see https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/745255/south-africa-is-running-out-of-accountants/), i.e. from 6,594 in 2004 to 3,071 in 2016, they tend to have a better retention rate. For example, 632 trainees out of the 3,071 in 2016, representing 21% (632/3,071 multiplied by 100%) were retained

3. Trainees outside Public Practice (TOPP) relate to trainees completing articles in broader Commerce and Industry

Source(s): Department of Trade and Industry (2011, p. 212) (https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201904/42417gen244.pdf)