Thapelo Moshe secures third place at National SABPP Marius Meyer Award Best HR Student Competition
Mr Mojalefa Titisi, Lecturer, Thapelo Moshe, 3rd year student and winner, and Ms Maraka Lefera, Lecturer.
The Human Resource Management programme is celebrating the outstanding achievement of Thapelo Moshe, third-year Human Resources Management student who secured third place in the 2026 SAHRUF/SABPP Best HR Student Competition in South Africa. He received a Juta book voucher as well as a R10,000 cash prize.
The competition required students from different higher education institutions across South Africa to present on the theme, “From Classroom to Career: Applying People-Centred Leadership.” Students were required to connect a module from their qualification with relevant SABPP HR professional standards or competencies.
The top three students were announced during the South African Human Resource Universities Forum (SAHRUF) Annual Conference, hosted from 1 to 2 October 2026 at the University of Johannesburg. Thapelo was selected to represent the university at national level after going through a competitive internal selection process.
Thapelo’s third-place achievement reflects not only his individual commitment and professional potential but also the importance of connecting academic learning with professional HR standards and contemporary workplace expectations. Furthermore, it provides a powerful indication that the knowledge and competencies developed through the HR programme can be translated into a competitive professional context. For the HR programme, Thapelo’s success serves as a testament to the programme’s relevance to industry needs and its alignment with professional expectations.
The competition’s emphasis on people-centred leadership is particularly significant in a rapidly changing world of work. Students were required to reflect on what people-centred leadership means within the South African workplace and to identify a practical action they would implement as future HR professionals. This approach reflects the idea of an HR programme that seeks to produce graduates who are not merely job seekers but emerging HR professionals capable of becoming strategic contributors, ethical practitioners, and people-centred leaders.
Reflecting on his achievement, Thapelo said receiving third place in the Marius Meyer Award is an incredibly humbling and meaningful achievement for him. “Representing my university at the SABPP × SAHRUF platform and being recognised for my contribution to the Human Resources profession is something I will always be proud of. This award is a reminder that dedication, consistency and a willingness to learn can open doors to meaningful opportunities. I am deeply grateful to my lecturers Mr Mojalefa Titisi, Ms Maraka Lefera, CUT, SABPP, SAHRUF and everyone who has supported me throughout my journey. This achievement has strengthened my commitment to becoming a purpose-driven HR professional who makes a meaningful impact in the workplace and beyond. I am grateful for the recognition, proud to have represented CUT, and excited for the journey ahead”. said Thapelo.
In her congratulatory remarks, Dr Lineo Dzansi, Head of Department, praised Thapelo Moshe for his remarkable achievement. “We are extremely proud of Thapelo Moshe for this outstanding achievement. Securing third place nationally in a competition that brings together HR students and is adjudicated by academics and industry professionals is a significant accomplishment. His achievement reflects not only his individual commitment, thorough preparation and professional potential, but also brings great pride to the HR programme and the institution,” said Dr Dzansi.
Thapelo’s achievement extends beyond a competition result; it reflects the relevance, quality and industry alignment of CUT’s Human Resource Management Programme. It also highlights the programme’s commitment to developing competent, future-ready HR professionals equipped to make meaningful contributions to the world of work.
