Alumni Bert Sorgdrager and Obakeng Mongale are now at the helm of the NWU Council.
– Willie du Plessis –
Two alumni lead NWU Council
Bert, a seasoned legal professional with more than 30 years’ experience in the private sector, is the sixth chairperson of Council.
His election follows the resignation of the previous chairperson, Dr Bismark Tyobeka, who has since been appointed principal and vice-chancellor of the NWU.
Grateful to be of service
“I am proud to continue serving my alma mater and consider it a privilege to be looking after the interests of the NWU, both currently and in the future,” says Bert.
His association with the university goes back to1977 when he enrolled for his BJuris degree at what was then the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE). He completed this degree in 1979 and an LLB in 1981, also at the PU for CHE.
Bert, currently an attorney at Van Deventer Dlamini Inc, previously served the NWU Council as acting chairperson and deputy chairperson. He has been a Council member since 2017 (elected from the ranks of the Convocation) and a member of the executive committee of the NWU Council since September 2018.
Bert has spent most of his career in banking, specifically at Nedbank, where he served as legal adviser and also held various management positions in risk management.
Ready for his new role
Obakeng, an experienced public servant and the current superintendent general for the North West Department of Health, is also a proud alumnus.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in administration and an honours degree in industrial psychology from the former University of Bophuthatswana, now the NWU. More recently, Obakeng obtained a postgraduate diploma in management and a master’s degree in industrial psychology from the NWU.
He is currently studying towards a master’s degree in philosophy in conflict transformation at the Nelson Mandela University.
“I am honoured to serve as deputy chairperson and am committed to fulfilling this essential role in the Council.”
His previous experience includes serving on various Council committees such as the executive and tender committees, as well as on the medical school task team and the extended exco.
He became a Council member in 2017 after being appointed as ministerial representative, and started serving his second term from September 2020.
Obakeng is a former head of the Department of Public Works in North West, and of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure in the Limpopo provincial government.
Alumni matters are close to his heart
Bert has been deeply involved in alumni matters for the past 10 years.
He has been president of the NWU Convocation since April 2018, chairperson of the NWU Alumni Association since August 2014 and the representative of the Potchefstroom Campus alumni since 2012.
Alumni Bert Sorgdrager and Obakeng Mongale are now at the helm of the NWU Council.
In this video, alumnus Bert Sorgdrager, the newly elected chairperson of Council, talks to Angeline Marokoane, communication specialist from Corporate Communication, about the good work being done at the university, the challenges we face, our finances and the journey towards establishing a Medical School at the NWU.
The NWU Council elected alumni Bert Sorgdrager as chairperson and Obakeng Mongale as deputy chairperson of Council at their meeting on 23 June 2022.
The NWU Council elected alumni Bert Sorgdrager as chairperson and Obakeng Mongale as deputy chairperson of Council at their meeting on 23 June 2022.
– Willie du Plessis –
NEXT PAGE
PREVIOUS PAGE
NEXT
PREVIOUS
SOUND
VIDEO
CLICK
NUMBER OF PAGES
Two alumni lead NWU Council
Bert, a seasoned legal professional with more than 30 years’ experience in the private sector, is the sixth chairperson of Council.
His election follows the resignation of the previous chairperson, Dr Bismark Tyobeka, who has since been appointed principal and vice-chancellor of the NWU.
Grateful to be of service
“I am proud to continue serving my alma mater and consider it a privilege to be looking after the interests of the NWU, both currently and in the future,” says Bert.
His association with the university goes back to1977 when he enrolled for his BJuris degree at what was then the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE). He completed this degree in 1979 and an LLB in 1981, also at the PU for CHE.
Bert, currently an attorney at Van Deventer Dlamini Inc, previously served the NWU Council as acting chairperson and deputy chairperson. He has been a Council member since 2017 (elected from the ranks of the Convocation) and a member of the executive committee of the NWU Council since September 2018.
Bert has spent most of his career in banking, specifically at Nedbank, where he served as legal adviser and also held various management positions in risk management.
Ready for his new role
Obakeng, an experienced public servant and the current superintendent general for the North West Department of Health, is also a proud alumnus.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in administration and an honours degree in industrial psychology from the former University of Bophuthatswana, now the NWU. More recently, Obakeng obtained a postgraduate diploma in management and a master’s degree in industrial psychology from the NWU.
He is currently studying towards a master’s degree in philosophy in conflict transformation at the Nelson Mandela University.
“I am honoured to serve as deputy chairperson and am committed to fulfilling this essential role in the Council.”
His previous experience includes serving on various Council committees such as the executive and tender committees, as well as on the medical school task team and the extended exco.
He became a Council member in 2017 after being appointed as ministerial representative, and started serving his second term from September 2020.
Obakeng is a former head of the Department of Public Works in North West, and of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure in the Limpopo provincial government.
Alumni matters are close to his heart
Bert has been deeply involved in alumni matters for the past 10 years.
He has been president of the NWU Convocation since April 2018, chairperson of the NWU Alumni Association since August 2014 and the representative of the Potchefstroom Campus alumni since 2012.
Two alumni are now at the helm of the NWU Council: Obakeng Mongale serves as deputy chairperson and Bert Sorgdrager as chairperson.
In this video, alumnus Bert Sorgdrager, the newly elected chairperson of Council, talks to Angeline Marokoane, communication specialist from Corporate Communication, about the good work being done at the university, the challenges we face, our finances and the journey towards establishing a Medical School at the NWU.
The NWU Council elected alumni Bert Sorgdrager as chairperson and Obakeng Mongale as deputy chairperson of Council at their meeting on 23 June 2022.