Alumni

NWU alumna appointed CEO at NewSpace Systems

Tanya Lerm never imagined herself in the aerospace sector. But nearly seven years after joining NewSpace Systems, she now leads it.

“Stepping into the role of CEO at NewSpace Systems has been one of the most significant moments of my career, both professionally and personally,” said Tanya, who holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the North-West University (NWU). “It is a company I have grown with, a team I believe in, and an industry that never stops pushing boundaries.”

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Multilingualism shapes online communication

Languages clash, blend and connect users across the North-West University (NWU) Mahikeng Campus Updates Facebook Group, revealing how multilingualism drives communication in a digital student space.

Ontiretse Motingwa, an NWU graduate, led a study that examined how language choice, ethnicity and power relationships influence communication patterns on the NWU Mahikeng Campus Updates Facebook Group. The group, moderated by NWU students, functions as a platform where members post, comment and engage in various languages, including indigenous ones.

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Real men cry too: Alumni workshop breaks the silence on men’s mental health

By Gofaone Motsamai and Nikelo Mehlomakulu

It was not just a gathering; it was a breaking of the silence around men’s mental health struggles. On 26 June 2025, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus became a space where men exchanged ego for honesty, and bravado for openness.

The NWU alumni men’s mental health workshop brought together graduates, professionals and mentors for a conversation about what it means to be a man in a society that teaches boys to hold back pain.

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Vanderbijlpark Campus hosts Inaugural Alumni and Friends Sports Day

The North-West University’s (NWU) Vanderbijlpark Campus burst into life on June 16 as it welcomed back former students, staff, and community partners for its inaugural Alumni and Friends Sports Fun Day. The event, held on Youth Day, blended athletic energy with heartfelt reconnection, marking a new chapter in alumni engagement through the unifying power of sport.

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Digitising government procurement could curb fraud and corruption and enhance efficiency

Digitising manual procurement processes in government could assist in curbing corruption and bolster a culture of accountability. This is according to PhD graduate Dr Lawrence Moetapele Mojaki of the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA).

Dr Mojaki is a deputy director for supply chain management at the GPAA and recently completed his PhD in Economic and Management Sciences with Business Administration at the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU).

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Alumnus appointed CEO of Boxing South Africa

North-West University (NWU) alumnus Tsholofelo Lejaka has entered the ring as Boxing South Africa’s (BSA’s) new chief executive officer.

Tsholofelo previously served as BSA CEO from 2016 to 2020, and he returned to the organisation in September 2024 as acting accounting officer. His appointment, effective 17 June 2025, follows a comprehensive recruitment process initiated in January 2025 to restore stability within the organisation.

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Alumnus excels as senior political reporter

Never underestimate the value of actively participating in student activities while studying. Ntlantla Lucky Kgatlhane, now a senior political reporter at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), is testament to that. He started out at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus radio station, writing for the campus newspaper and generating content for the university’s website.

“I would never choose any other university because for me, the NWU is where it all started, where I built the foundation of my career,” he says.

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