It is with great sadness that the North-West University (NWU) has taken note of the untimely passing away of Adv Ilyayambwa Mwanawina on 10 July 2024. He was a practicing advocate in the High Court of South Africa and was employed at the Duma Nokwe Group of Advocates in Sandton.

As a leader he left an indelible mark on the NWU. His kindness and commitment to justice in all its forms reflected the exceptional person he was. As a community we are poorer without him, but the many lives he enriched will never forget the impact he had on their lives.

Advocate Mwanawina obtained his LLB, LLM and LLD from the NWU during the period 2011 to 2014 and was the President of the Student Representative Council for the period 2010 to 2011.

He served in various positions at the NWU since 2014, including associate professor at the Faculty of Law, acting executive director for student life, and house parent. He also served on various committees at the university, and at the time of his passing away, he was a member of the NWU Council’s Human Rights Committee as external expert. He served as the chairperson of the Independent Students’ Electoral Commission from 2021 to 2023, overseeing the election process of the Students’ Campus Councils.

During the time that he was employed at the NWU he received various awards for teaching and learning as well as research.

He will especially be remembered for his commitment to ploughing back his expertise into various aspects at the NWU.

His family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers.

Adv Ilyayambwa Mwanawina.