Governance

MEET OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS

(Council membership as at 31 December 2024)

Prof MB Tyobeka (50)

Vice-chancellor

Qualifications: BScEd and MSc (applied radiation science and technology) (University of North West). MSc and PhD (nuclear engineering) (Penn State University, USA), MSc (management) (Colorado Technical University, USA)

Membership of Council committees:
All Council committees (except Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee – not a full member)

Term on Council:
Appointed for a five-year term from 2022 to 2027. Two years, nine months into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
90 meetings I 86% attendance

Directorships: USAf, NWU Property Development
Prof L du Plessis (55)

Vice-principal

Qualifications: PhD (education), MSc (computer science), BScHons, BSc (PU for CHE), Certificate for environmental educators (Unisa), Leadership in Higher Education (Institute for Educational Management Harvard), Certificate in ICT in Education for Policy Implementers (Wits, Oracle University)

Membership of Council committees:
Council Executive Committee (Exco) | Medical School task team | School of Mining and Mining Engineering task team

Term on Council:
Appointed in 2020 for three years which was contractually extended to 31 August 2027. Three years and four months into second term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
56 meetings I 93% attendance

Directorships: None
Prof DM Modise (65)

Elected by Senate

Qualifications: BScEd and MSc BSc (horticultural sciences) (University of Bath), MSc (horticulture) (West Virginia University), PhD (plant sciences) (Nottingham University)

Membership of Council committees:
Student Life Oversight Committee I Honorary Awards Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2022 to 2025. Two years, eight months into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
30 meetings I 87% attendance

Directorships: Accesorise Internal Pty(Ltd), Melodi Farm
Prof AF Kotzé (60)

Elected by Senate

Qualifications: BPharm, MSc, PhD (PU for CHE)

Membership of Council committees:
Student Housing Committee I Honorary Awards Committee I Council representation on the Senate Executive Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2022 to 2025. Two years eight months into second term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
30 meetings I 87% attendance

Directorships: None

Prof AH Verhoef (52)

Elected by Senate

Qualifications: BA (US), BD Theology (US), BAHons Philosophy (US), MTh (US), DTh (US), PhD (Free University Amsterdam)

Membership of Council committees:
People and Culture and Employment Equity Committee I Honorary Awards Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2024 to 2027. One month into second term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
19 meetings I 79% attendance

Directorships: None
Prof PA Smit (63)

Elected by academic staff members

Qualifications: BA (HED) (postgraduate), BAHons, MA, PhD (labour relations management)

Membership of Council committees:
People and Culture and Employment Equity Committee I Student Life Oversight Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2024 to 2027. Three months into second term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
15 meetings I 80% attendance

Directorships: None
Prof N van der Merwe (43)

Elected by academic staff members

Qualifications: BCom Chartered Accountancy, Hons BCom Chartered Accountancy, MCom Management Accountancy, PhD Accountancy

Membership of Council committees:
Transformation Oversight Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2024 to 2027. One year into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
10 meetings I 90% attendance

Directorships: None
Prof NA Kgabi (52)

Elected by support staff members

Qualifications: PhD (Environmental Science) (NWU), MSc (Physics) (UNW), MA (Evangelical and Charismatic Studies) (University of Birmingham), BSc Hons (Physics) (UNW), Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (Wits), BSc Ed (Physics and Chemistry) (UNW)

Membership of Council committees:
None as at 31 December 2024

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2024 to 2027. One month into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
Appointed in November 2024, no meetings

Directorships: WRC Water Board, SADC WaterNet

Ms MH Lekalakala (48)

Elected by support staff members

Qualifications: BCom (accounting) (University of Limpopo). BComHons (business management) (University of Limpopo)

Membership of Council committees:
Social and Ethics Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2022 to 2025. Two years, nine months into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
15 meetings I 100% attendance

Directorships: None
Mr RJ Coetzer (22)

Student Representative Council

Qualifications: Enrolled for LLB

Membership of Council committees:
Student Oversight Committee

Term on Council:
Three months into term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
Six meetings I 100% attendance

Directorships: Vice-Chairperson Project Youth South Africa
Mr O Sefodi (24)

Student Representative Council

Qualifications: Enrolled for master’s degree in Mercantile Law

Membership of Council committees:
Student Oversight Committee

Term on Council:
Three months into term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
Six meetings I 83% attendance

Directorships: None
Mr K Zwane (29)

Student Representative Council

Qualifications: Enrolled for BEd Hons (Language Education)

Membership of Council committees:
Student Oversight Committee | Student Housing Committee

Term on Council:
Three months into term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
11 meetings I 82% attendance

Directorships: None

Ms EP Ramantswana (49)

Appointed by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Qualifications: BCom (University of KwaZulu-Natal), BComHons (Business Management) (University of KwaZulu-Natal), MBA (University of KwaZulu-Natal) Membership of Council committees: Finance Committee | Assets Committee | Investment Committee | Medical School task team

Membership of Council committees:
Finance Committee | Assets Committee | Investment Committee | Medical School task team

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2023 to 2026. One year, two months into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
Nine meetings I 100% attendance

Directorships: None

VACANT
– 3 positions appointed by the Ministers of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Mr MSJ Thabethe (50)

Appointed by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Qualifications: National diploma (information technology), BTech (information technology) (TWR), MCom (information systems) (University of the Witwatersrand)

Membership of Council committees:
Technology and Information Governance Committee I Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee I Social and Ethics Committee I Executive Committee of Council (alternate) I Extended Exco

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2023 to 2026. One year, two months into third term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
26 meetings I 92% attendance

Directorships: Sihlasi Technologies
Mr JJ Bezuidenhout (62)

Elected by the Board of Donors

Qualifications: B Com (NWU), Honours, MCom (UFS)

Membership of Council committees:
Technology and Information Governance Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2024 to 2027. Six months into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
Three meetings | 100% attendance

Directorships: None
Ms PS Moleke (57)

Elected by the Board of Donors

Qualifications: Honours (economics) (University of the Witwatersrand), master's degree (economics) (Georgia State University), BA (education) (Vista University)

Membership of Council committees:
Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee I Finance Committee I Investment Committee | Assets Committee | Tender Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2022 to 2025. Two years, two months into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
25 meetings I 96% attendance

Directorships: None

Mr CO van der Rheede (60)

Elected by the Board of Donors

Qualifications: School of Music diplomas in Advanced Piano and Singing, a Higher Education Diploma in Music Education, BA in Psychology and Afrikaans (UWC), qualifications in Human Resource Management, Marketing, Financial and Management Accounting, General Business Management and an honour’s degree in Public Leadership, Public Administration and Development Studies (US Business School), master’s degree in Public Leadership and Administration (US School of Public Leadership)

Membership of Council committees:
People and Culture and Employment Equity Committee | Transformation Oversight Committee | Human Rights Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2024 to 2027. 10 months into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
Seven meetings I 100% attendance

Directorships: ATKV, AgriSeta, Kgadiso Trust, Casidra
Mr A Sorgdrager (65)

Elected by the Convocation
Chairperson of Council

Qualifications:BIuris and LLB (PU for CHE), international executive programme (INSEAD Business School)

Membership of Council committees:
Executive Committee I Remuneration Committee I Finance Committee I Honorary Awards Committee I Student Oversight Committee I Senate I Medical School task team I Extended Exco | Mining and Mining Engineering task team

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2023 to 2026. One year, five months into third term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
63 meetings I 100% attendance

Directorships: Vaalrivier Steiltes Aandeleblok I Florida Buitemuurs I Nedbank Zimbabwe
Prof TP Venter (69)

Elected by the Convocation

Qualifications: Master’s degree (political science) (PU for CHE), master’s degree (comparative politics) (State University of New York)

Membership of Council committees:
Technology and Information Governance Committee I Medical School task team | Mining and Mining Engineering task team

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2022 to 2025. Two years, eight months into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
19 meetings I 68% attendance

Directorships: None
Prof JJ Janse van Rensburg (73)

Elected by the Convocation

Qualifications: ThD New Testament Hermeneutics

Membership of Council committees:
Student Life Oversight Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2024 to 2027. Three months into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
Three meetings I 100% attendance

Directorships: Noordelike Helpmekaar Studiefonds NPC, Village of Golden Harvest

Dr JJ Faul (55)

Elected by the Convocation

Qualifications: PhD (NWU), MBA (Management College of South Africa), Master’s of Law (Sports Law and Practice) (De Montfort University)

Membership of Council committees:
Tender Committee | Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2024 to 2027. One month into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
Appointed on 22 December 2024

Directorships: Titans Cricket Union, Titans Cricket Pty (Ltd)
Pastor PM Tlhabanyane (61)

Appointed from the community leaders

Qualifications: Dip PA, BPA, BAHons (theology)

Membership of Council committees:
Executive Committee I Student Life Oversight Committee I Student Housing Committee I Social and Ethics Committee | Independent Student Electoral Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2023 to 2026. One year, nine months second term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
70 meetings I 97% attendance

Directorships: None
Ms S Britz (63)

Appointed from the community leaders

Qualifications: Matric, NQF5 Real Estate

Membership of Council committees:
Executive Committee I People and Culture and Employment Equity Committee I Assets Committee I Transformation Oversight Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2023 to 2026. One year, nine months into second term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
42 meetings I 100% attendance

Directorships: iDUC NPC I Tlokwe Crisis Centre
Ms PP Thebe (37)

Appointed from the community leaders

Qualifications: BCom, PGCE

Membership of Council committees:
Student Life Oversight Committee I Human Rights Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2022 to 2025. Two years, six months into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
16 meetings I 100% attendance

Directorships: None

Mr N Omar (37)

Appointed by Council for specific expertise

Qualifications: CA(SA) (Unisa)

Membership of Council committees:
Investment Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2022 to 2025. Two years, six months into first term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
11 meetings I 100% attendance

Directorships: Snap Consulting
Ms RA Kenosi (53)

Appointed by Council for specific expertise
Deputy Chairperson of Council

Qualifications: BComp Accounting, BComp Accounting (Hons), CA(SA) (Unisa)

Membership of Council committees:
Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee I Executive Committee I People and Culture and Employment Equity Committee I Remuneration Committee I Extended Exco | Mining and Mining Engineering task team | Medical School task team | Tender Committee

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2024 to 2027. Nine months into second term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
53 meetings I 100% attendance

Directorships: Fraudsmiths Pty Ltd I Bridging Concepts Financial Services Pty Ltd
Mr TV Mokgatlha (49)

Appointed by Council for specific expertise

Qualifications: BCom (accounting) (University of North West), HonsBcompt/ Certificate of theory in accounting (CTA) (Unisa)

Membership of Council committees:
Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee I Assets Committee I Remuneration Committee I Extended Exco

Term on Council:
Appointed for a three-year term from 2022 to 2025. Two years, six months into second term.

Number of committee meetings attended as Council member and average attendance:
19 meetings I 98% attendance

Directorships: Yebo Yethu (RF) Limited I Yebo Yethu lnvestment Company (RF) (Pty) Limited I l MTBG Investments (Pty) Ltd I South African Blood Services NPC (SANBS) I Stokfella (Pty) Ltd I I Baphalane Siyanda Chrome CompanyI Atomatic (Pty) Ltd I Baphalane Property Holdings I His Crown Apostolic Ministries I BBMIH Food (Pty) Textiles (Pty) Ltd Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd I Hyprop lnvestment Ltd I | Philasini (Pty) Ltd | BBMIH (Pty) Ltd | Baphalane Property Holdings (Pty) Ltd

Our Council members have a variety of valuable skills and experience in these fields:

legal
forensics
strategic planning
governance and ethics in general
higher education governance
student management and governance
general management, business and industrial psychology
science/innovation, technology and engineering
communication and languages
general legal expertise
psychology and theology
labour relations
risk management, audit, accounting and financial management
theological expertise.

When filling vacancies on the NWU Council in 2024, we focused on particular skills that match our required skills set:

General legal expertise
Environment, land and indigenous law
Global engagement expertise
Data analytics expertise
Audit and accounting expertise
Investment expertise
Fundraising expertise
Finance and business expertise (medium to macro enterprises)
Business administration and/or strategy expertise
Governance and ethics expertise
Corporate communication expertise
Information technology expertise
Technology transfer expertise
High positive public profile – science
High positive public profile – community engagement
Arts/people management.

Council sets transformation targets for its membership. It aims to achieve the following equity targets by January 2025:

A specific requirement is that Council should have two members with disabilities. There are none currently.

As of 31 December 2024, the equity profile of Council was as follows:

There were no members with disabilities.

* Three external members appointed by the Minister of Higher Education

The following table gives a summary of Council’s value-creating decisions and how these might affect future value creation.

Strategy and structure

Council decided the new NWU structure should be implemented on 1 June 2025. Council also approved the top structures for the NWU.

How this governance decision could affect future value creation:

As Council we are confident that the ongoing implementation of the strategy, structure and brand is shaping the NWU’s operations and efficiency. We remain confident that the realisation of the strategic agenda of the NWU adds to the improved positioning of the university in the South African higher education landscape.

Policies and rules

Council approved 13 policies and one framework in 2024.

Click here for the list of approved policies.

How this governance decision could affect future value creation:

By drafting and revising policies and rules on an ongoing basis, the NWU ensures it adopts responsible risk-embracing strategies and transformational practices.

Financial and infrastructure matters

Council approved the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.

In addition, here are some of key financial approvals of 2024:

Approval of the Residence Report on 31 March 2024 for submission to the DHET.
Approval of the Revised Capital Programme Budget.
Approval of the 2025-2027 budget, subject to the principle that the budget would need to be adjusted when new information is received from the Minister on subsidy and fee increases.
Approval of the 2025 tuition fee inflation adjustment on all campuses.
Approval of 2025 cash advances to students funded by NSFAS as recommended by the Finance Committee.

Click here for the list of approved policies.

How this governance decision could affect future value creation:

We are confident that the right decisions have been taken in the short term to enable the university to realise the goals in the Annual Performance Plan and to continue pursuing its strategic agenda. However, Council is on record that it expressed concerns on the medium and long-term effects of the national uncertainties around the sustainability of South African higher education. These uncertainties relate predominately to the funding of public higher education.

Tender matters

Council approved five tenders for printing, construction, professional consulting services and the leasing of student accommodation.

Click here for details of the tender amounts and successful bidders.

How this governance decision could affect future value creation:

As Council we ensure that the university procures services by means of a process that is fair, equitable, transparent, cost- effective and competitive, while also ensuring the realisation of transformation objectives. We are confident that the tenders that were awarded adhered to the principles laid down in relevant legislation.

Appointment of office bearers

Council oversaw the process of appointing senior office bearers and approved the following:

Appointment of Ms Busisiwe Ramabodu as Executive Director: People and Culture (designate) with effect from 1 June 2024.
Election of Dr Anna Mokgokong as NWU Chancellor for a second term.
Appointment of Mr Milton Nyamadzawo as acting Executive Director: People and Culture until a substantive appointment was made.
Appointment of Prof Linda du Plessis as deputy vice-chancellor: Teaching and Learning.

How this governance decision could affect future value creation:

We made sure that the appointment of these office bearers was informed by the Statute and relevant rules. The calibre of those who have been appointed was and is key to achieving the NWU’s strategic objectives.

Governance matters

Council approved revised terms of reference for the Human Rights Committee, Technology and Information Governance Committee, Assets Committee, Student Housing Committee, Extended Executive Committee and Remuneration Committee. Amended rules for the Board of Donors were approved, as was the appointment of Council members nominated by Exco to serve on Council committees.

Concerning the Vanderbijlpark Students Campus Council (SCC), Council approved the dissolving of the SCC, along with procedures guiding the appointment of a new SCC in accordance with the Institutional Rules on Student Governance. The list of eight SCC candidates for the campus’s SCC was then approved.

Approval was given for the awarding of honorary doctoral degrees to Prof Sir Hilary McDonald Beckles, Mr Peter Monametsi Chiepe, Prof Raymond Parsons and Prof Toyin Falola. Council also approved the awarding of the Chancellor’s Medal to Prof Christa Rautenbach and Brigadier Steven Moodley.

Click here for the complete list of Council approvals, here for a list of significant matters recommended by the NWU Senate.

How this governance decision could affect future value creation:

Through sound governance principles and practices, we create an ethical environment in which the NWU can realise its strategy.

Twice a year, in August and December, the NWU pays an honorarium to external members of Council and Council committees as a token of appreciation for their time and effort.

The following table shows the honoraria paid for each meeting attended in 2023 and 2024:

Position	Honorarium 2023	Honorarium 2024
Council chairperson	R7 310	R 8 152
Council-appointed external expert, but not a Council member	R5 483	R 6 114
Chairperson of a Council committee that fulfils a statutory role (Reporting Regulations) Finance Committee Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee Remuneration Committee Tender Committee Technology and Information Governance Committee	R5 483	R6 114
Chairperson of a Council committee	R4 604	R5 134
Deputy chairperson of Council for each Council meeting	R5 483	R6 114
Council chairperson or deputy chairperson as an ordinary member of a structure	R3 658	R4 079
Council member	R3 658	R4 079

Governance at the NWU is aligned with the King IV report, as shown in the next table.

King IV requirement	Integrated Report content element	Relevant governance structure
Leadership and ethics	Stakeholder engagement and relationships; governance	Council Social and Ethics Committee
Performance and reporting	Strategy and resource allocation; performance; outlook	Exco Finance Committee Senate Council
Governance structure and delegation	Governance and remuneration	Council Exco Remuneration Committee
Risks and opportunities	Stakeholder engagement and relationships; risk and opportunity	Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (ARCC) (as primary committee for oversight purposes) Other committees of Council (for risks and opportunities relevant in the identified area of oversight) Senate Council
Technology and information	Governance, risk and opportunity; strategy and resource allocation	Technology and Information Governance Committee ARCC Exco Council
Compliance	Governance	ARCC Other committees of Council (for compliance – matters relevant in the said area of oversight) Council
Remuneration	Stakeholder engagement and relationships; remuneration	Remuneration Committee Council
Assurance	Governance; basis of preparation and presentation	ARCC Finance Committee Senate Council
Stakeholder relationships	Stakeholder engagement and relationships	Social and Ethics Committee People and Culture and Employment Equity Committee Transformation Oversight Committee Student Life Oversight Committee Institutional Forum Student Representative Council Convocation Board of Donors Council Human Rights Committee

MEET OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS

VACANT