Seven North-West University (NWU) students have earned places among South Africa’s GradStar Top 100 for 2026, putting the spotlight on their potential to succeed in an increasingly demanding world of work.
The GradStar Programme identifies and celebrates some of the country’s most employable, ambitious and promising young talent. It also connects students with employers, mentors and opportunities. According to GradStar, thousands of students from tertiary-education institutions across South Africa participated in the programme this year.
The seven NWU students selected for the Top 100 are Tezianique Saunderson, Thapelo Mametja, Onkarabetse Faith Mmusi, Mary-Anne Monyobo, Relebohile Siyabonga Excellent Motloung, Batsiba Rasekanye and Goratamang Gaedie.
These NWU students represent a diverse range of academic disciplines.
Tezianique is studying towards a BA in Law with Politics, while Thapelo is pursuing a BCom in Chartered Accountancy and Onkarabetse a Bachelor of Laws. Mary-Anne is completing a Master of Arts in Public Management and Governance and Relebohile a BCom Honours degree in Economic Sciences.
The group also includes postgraduate students in the sciences. Batsiba is pursuing an MSc in Microbiology, while Goratamang is studying towards a Master of Science in Astrophysical Sciences.
Their selection places the NWU jointly third on the GradStar university leaderboard, alongside the University of the Free State, with seven students each.
Selection is more than just academic achievement
Reaching the Top 100 requires more than academic potential. Students underwent a comprehensive selection and assessment process focusing on qualities regarded as important for employability. This included grit, resilience, learning agility, curiosity, a growth mindset, communication, leadership and adaptability.
According to the GradStar Programme, those selected demonstrated the character, determination and skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing workplace, as well as the potential to contribute meaningfully to their communities, industries and the broader economy.
For the NWU students, their inclusion among the Top 100 therefore represents recognition not only of what they have achieved academically, but also of their potential beyond the university environment.
The GradStar Awards ceremony will take place on 2 December. The Top 100 students will participate in a full day of workshops and engagement opportunities with employer sponsors before the ceremony.
These interactions will give participating employers an opportunity to connect directly with emerging graduate talent. Ten students who particularly distinguish themselves through their qualities, potential and employability skills will ultimately be selected as the “Ten of the Finest” in the programme.
The awards ceremony will also bring together industry leaders, employers, mentors, university representatives and students to celebrate emerging South African talent.
For the seven NWU students, being named among the GradStar Top 100 provides an opportunity to build connections beyond their fields of study and demonstrate the qualities they could bring to South Africa’s future workplace.
