By Ontiretse Motingwa

Her hard work and perseverance have paid off – Refilwe Tsatsimpe, North-West University (NWU) alumnus and lecturer in the Faculty of Law on the Mahikeng Campus since 2019, was recently admitted to the high court.

Refilwe, who is from Itsoseng, a town near Mahikeng, says she wanted to pursue a career in law ever since she was a young girl, but unfortunately encountered several obstacles along the way.

After a rocky time in high school and a stint studying electrical engineering, she finally had the opportunity to study law, and graduated with an LLB and LLM degree from the NWU.

"I began my articles at the NWU Law Clinic in 2017, and in March 2019 I took my first crack at all four board exams. I failed two and aced two of the board exams and failed the oral exams I also took the same year. The following year, I took the two examinations, only passing one and failing the other," explains Refilwe.

“I have been writing the same exams until February this year, and I finally passed my oral exam in May 2022.”

Refilwe says that being admitted as an attorney means that all she has dreamed of is gradually coming to pass after years of hard work and perseverance.

“What I sometimes thought was unattainable, is now right in front of me. It has been quite a journey and I am happy and grateful to have made it.”

Her hard work and perseverance has paid off – NWU lecturer Refilwe Tsatsimpe has been admitted to the high court.