By: Phenyo Mokgothu and Sthembiso Seyama
North-West University (NWU) law student Tshepiso Given Mabitsela is preparing to take his leadership journey to the international stage after being selected to represent South Africa in Turkey.
Tshepiso will serve as an official delegate at the Istanbul International Model United Nations (IIMUN) conference from 24 to 27 September 2026. The event will bring together students and young leaders from across the world to debate global issues and explore solutions through diplomacy.
It will be a series of firsts for Tshepiso. The conference will mark his first international trip, his first international conference and his first opportunity to represent South Africa abroad.
The IIMUN simulates the work of the United Nations. Delegates take part in committee sessions, debate international issues and negotiate with their counterparts. They also work together to draft resolutions on global challenges.
Tshepiso will research issues before the conference and contribute to formal debates. He will also engage with delegates from different countries and help develop proposed resolutions.
The conference aims to strengthen skills in diplomacy, public speaking, negotiation and critical thinking. It also exposes young leaders to policy development and international relations.
For Tshepiso, the opportunity builds on a leadership journey shaped at the Mahikeng Campus of the NWU.
Alongside his LLB studies, he has served in student leadership, worked as a tutor and represented fellow students. He believes these experiences helped him grow as a young leader.
“The NWU has not simply been the place where I pursued my LLB. It has been a platform that challenged me, equipped me, and gave me opportunities to discover my voice as a young leader,” says Tshepiso.
He plans to carry both the South African flag and the NWU name with pride. He views his selection as an opportunity to represent the university and the country with excellence, humility and responsibility.
Tshepiso also credits his family, friends, mentors, colleagues, fellow students and the wider NWU community for supporting him.
As he prepares to travel from Mahikeng to Istanbul, Tshepiso says the motto of the university, “It all starts here”, reflects his journey. What started at the Mahikeng Campus will now take him onto an international platform where young leaders meet to debate some of the pressing challenges faced by the world.
