15 Notable alumni of North-West University
Updated: June 22, 2026 EliteDegrees
North-West University is ranked #921 in the world and #8 in South Africa by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 15 notable alumni from North-West University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with North-West University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Tomasz Kamusella
1967-. (aged 59)
historian
political scientist
university teacher
Tomasz Kamusella FRHistS is a Polish scholar pursuing interdisciplinary research in language politics, nationalism, and ethnicity.
2. Franco van der Merwe
1983-. (aged 43)
rugby union player
Franco van der Merwe is a South African rugby union footballer. His regular playing position is lock, although he can also operate as a flanker. Previous clubs include Irish side Ulster in the Pro12, London Irish in Premiership Rugby, the Lions in Super Rugby and the Leopards and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup.
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3. Johan Heyns
1928-1994 (aged 66)
theologian
Johan Adam Heyns was an Afrikaner Calvinist theologian and moderator of the general synod of the Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK) in South Africa. He was assassinated at his home in Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria.
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4. F. W. de Klerk
1936-2021 (aged 85)
minister
lawyer
politician
Frederik Willem de Klerk OMG DMS was a South African politician who served as final state president of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and as deputy president alongside Thabo Mbeki under President Nelson Mandela from 1994 to 1996. As South Africa's last head of state from the era of white-minority rule, he and his government dismantled the apartheid system...
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5. Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters
1995-. (aged 31)
model
beauty pageant contestant
Demi-Leigh Tebow is a South African model, author, anti-trafficking advocate, and beauty pageant titleholder best known for winning the title of Miss Universe 2017. She was crowned Miss South Africa 2017, and the second Miss Universe winner from South Africa, following Margaret Gardiner, who was crowned Miss Universe 1978.
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6. André Brink
1935-2015 (aged 80)
linguist
writer
translator
university teacher
literary scholar
André Philippus Brink OIS was a South African novelist, essayist and poet. He wrote in both Afrikaans and English and taught English at the University of Cape Town.
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7. Marike de Klerk
1937-2001 (aged 64)
politician
Marike de Klerk was the First Lady of South Africa, as the wife of State President Frederik Willem de Klerk, from 1989–1994. She was also a politician of the former governing National Party in her own right. De Klerk was murdered in her Cape Town home in 2001.
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8. Pieter Groenewald
1955-. (aged 71)
politician
Petrus Johannes "Pieter" Groenewald is a South African politician who is currently serving as Minister of Correctional Services since July 2024. He served as the Leader of the Freedom Front Plus from November 2016 until February 2025. He started his political career by being elected Mayor of Stilfontein in 1988. He relinquished the position in 1989 due to his election...
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9. Mamokgethi Phakeng
1966-. (aged 60)
mathematician
university teacher
Rosina Mamokgethi Phakeng GCOB OIG is a South African professor of mathematics education who in 2018 became a vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town (UCT). She has been the vice principal of research and innovation, at the University of South Africa and acting executive dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology at UNISA. In 2018 she was...
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10. Pieter Mulder
1951-. (aged 75)
university teacher
politician
Pieter Willem Adriaan Mulder is a South African politician and the former leader of the Freedom Front Plus. He served as the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the Cabinet of President Jacob Zuma from 2009–14.
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11. Yvonne Mokgoro
1950-2024 (aged 74)
judge
Jennifer Yvonne Mokgoro GOB was a South African jurist who served on the Constitutional Court of South Africa from October 1994 to October 2009. She also chaired the South African Law Reform Commission between 1995 and 2011. She qualified as a lawyer in the former Bophuthatswana and was a legal academic before she was appointed to the bench by President...
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12. Johan Deysel
1991-. (aged 35)
rugby union player
Johan Deysel is a Namibian professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Pro D2 club Colomiers and captains the Namibia national team.
13. Cornell du Preez
1991-. (aged 35)
rugby union player
Cornell du Preez is a South African-born Scottish rugby union player. He currently plays as a loose forward for Toulon in the Top 14 and represented Scotland internationally.
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14. John Perumbalath
1966-. (aged 60)
teacher
John Perumbalath is a British retired Anglican bishop. He became Bishop of Liverpool in the Church of England Diocese of Liverpool in January 2023. He had previously been Archdeacon of Barking (2013–2018) and the area Bishop of Bradwell (2018–2023), both in the Diocese of Chelmsford.
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15. Connie Mulder
1925-1988 (aged 63)
politician
minister
Cornelius Petrus Mulder was a South African politician and cabinet minister.