MBA and PhD graduates from the NWU Business School were honoured for their hard work in pursuit of excellence this past Monday, June 1 during a decorated graduation celebration.

The theme was Black and White Soirée and was held at the prestigious The Feather Hill venue, as graduates, lecturers, directors and top management celebrated the tremendous achievements.

Yvette Labuschagne won two prestigious awards for “Best Mini Dissertation” and the MBA Top Achievers for 2026.

Thabiso Mabina won the award for best MBA Student Ambassador. The Alliance Group and the Lions Group won awards for Best Company Projects.

20 PhD recipients were also honoured during the event as they reached a major milestone with a new degree and a title to add to their names.

The principal and vice-chancellor of the NWU, Prof. Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka, motivated the graduates with a moving keynote address.

“Questions will be answered, not through speeches, but through daily decisions.  The ethical decision when no one is watching, the courageous decision when pressure mounts, the innovative decision when systems fail, the humane decision when power tempts arrogance,” he stated.

“An MBA is not mastery of business alone, but mastery of responsibility. Congratulations once again to each of you, to your families, and to the North-West University. May you lead with courage, with wisdom, and may you help build a South Africa and an Africa that future generations deserve.”

See more photos here: (Photos: Wouter Pienaar)