The University of Pretoria’s (UP) newly appointed Deputy Director of Student Affairs, Dr Lekwa Mokwana, is all about ensuring that students not only have access to higher education but thrive within it.

Dr Mokwana, who’s been at UP for just over two months, has a strong track record in education. In his role as Deputy Director of Student Affairs in the Department of Student Affairs, he is tasked with overseeing and managing holistic student leadership development, governance, wellness, well-being and access for students with disabilities.

On a typical day, Dr Mokwana participates in strategic and operational engagements to enhance the student experience. Some of these meetings focus on conceptualising innovative solutions to day-to-day challenges that students face. He also attends meetings where issues affecting students are reported and collaboratively addressed. 

“I also engage with external partners who support or collaborate with Student Affairs, fostering relationships that contribute to student empowerment initiatives,” Dr Mokwana says. “Internally, I engage with heads of various units in Student Affairs to ensure alignment and progress in our ongoing work focused on holistic student development.”

His career began 15 years ago, when he was a mathematics and physical science teacher at Himalaya Secondary School in Centurion. He soon became a departmental head at two other schools in Limpopo’s Department of Basic Education. Dr Mokwana then moved on to the University of Limpopo as a lecturer, which was followed by a promotion to senior mathematics education lecturer.

“My move was motivated by a desire to make a broader impact by training school teachers to help improve the chances of learners accessing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers,” explains Dr Mokwana, who holds a PhD in Mathematics Education.

His commitment to opening up careers in STEM continues to be at the centre of his life. Even outside of work, he continues to champion in-service teacher development and learner academic support. As a result, he was recognised in the Sunday World Unsung Heroes 2021, earning him the Unsung Hero in Education accolade.

South Africa is grappling with a shortage of qualified STEM subject teachers, which poses a threat to future skills development and limits career prospects for young people. Currently, 464 public schools are unable to offer mathematics as a subject, making the kind of support that Dr Mokwana provides critical.

His career in higher education shifted from academic to professional when he assumed the role of head of programme and later Assistant Registrar and Head of the Postgraduate Office at the University of Limpopo. He went on to serve as Director of Learning Development at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha, before joining UP.

Dr Mokwana’s mathematics background has also proven to be helpful in his current role, enabling him to adopt a data-driven approach to his work.

“We analyse trends, challenges and performance indicators to design support initiatives that are both relevant and responsive to students’ needs,” he explains. “This allows us to proactively offer advising and coaching to incoming cohorts, ensuring they receive timely and targeted support.”

The most rewarding part of his career thus far has been hearing testimonies from students about how their journeys were positively shaped by the support they received from Student Affairs offerings.

“Simply put, my greatest joy comes when students attest that our work has truly made a difference in their lives.”

In his free time, Dr Mokwana unwinds by gardening and cooking for family and friends, giving them a taste of the various dishes he experiments with.