College of Economic & Management Sciences

Unisan honoured with ultimate HR accolade

Share

Dr Mochabo Moerane, Chair of the Department of Human Resource Management in the College of Economic and Management Sciences (CEMS) at Unisa, has been honoured with the prestigious Premier Lifetime Achievement Award by the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP). As South Africa’s recognised professional body for human resources (HR), the SABPP is committed to professionalising the HR function and ensuring that it becomes an increasingly respected and credible profession nationwide.

IMG_8133_body_.png

From left: Dr Mochabo Moerane, Chair of the Department of Human Resource Management, Prof Nthabiseng Moraka, Director of the School of Management Sciences, Xolani Mawande SABPP Chief Executive Officer, and Dr Betty Maphala, Chair of the Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology

"Getting a lifetime award is a great achievement on both a personal and professional level. Most people are honoured posthumously; I feel excited to be getting these flowers while I am still alive," said Moerane.

Recognised for over 30 years of impactful contributions to the HR profession, Moerane has played a pivotal role in advancing the professionalisation of HR management in South Africa. One of his academic achievements was the introduction of the first-ever BCom Honours degree in Human Resource Management at Unisa, a significant milestone in the university’s 152-year history.

Moerane’s influence extends beyond academia. His extensive governance experience includes serving on the board of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, chairing the Gauteng Children’s Rights Committee, and chairing the SABPP's Professional Registration Committee for ten consecutive years during his tenure on the 13th and 14th boards.

Xolani Mawande, SABPP Chief Executive Officer, praised Moerane’s lifelong dedication, saying: "Dr Moerane has been a cornerstone of the HR profession in South Africa. His professionalism, leadership and vision have made an indelible impact on the field."

Prof Nthabiseng Moraka, Director of the School of Management Sciences at CEMS, described the SABPP Premier Lifetime Achievement Award received by Moerane as "a testament to his dedication to the field of human resource management, to which he contributed through more than 35 years in the HR profession". Moraka added: "I feel incredibly proud and inspired to witness such a prestigious recognition being awarded to someone I have had the privilege of working closely with. Seeing Dr Moerane honoured in this way reaffirms the values we strive to uphold as a team, such as impact, excellence and service."

Moraka further stated that the award is testimony to the strong team spirit in the School of Management Sciences, highlighting that the support of an excellent team of academics and administrative staff in the Department of Human Resource Management was integral to this achievement.

Moerane started his professional journey in Soweto as a social worker, advocating for youth during apartheid. He later held senior positions in the mining, banking and local government sectors before entering academia. He holds multiple professional designations, including master HR practitioner, social worker, and industrial and organisational psychologist. Most recently, he completed his LLB, adding to his PhD in Consulting Psychology.

"Throughout my life, I have been motivated by adding value to people's lives," Moerane reflected. "I have always seen myself as a social justice activist and a change agent. This recognition is not the end, it is an encouragement to continue striving for a fairer society through education, human rights and professional leadership."

This recognition coincides with a significant academic accreditation milestone. On 17 and 18 September 2024, the SABPP engaged formally with Unisa’s Departments of Human Resource Management (HRM) and Industrial and Organisational Psychology (IOP). This engagement formed part of an external quality assurance process to evaluate academic programmes in the departments, in line with the SABPP’s mandate to promote academic rigour, industry relevance, and professional standards in HR development and practice. On 16 April 2025, SABPP representatives conducted a follow-up visit to Unisa to present the outcomes of the evaluation: a five-year accreditation of ten Unisa qualifications. The qualifications are as follows:

IOP Department HRM Department
BCom Industrial and Organisational Psychology Diploma in Human Resource Management 
BCom Honours Industrial and Organisational Psychology  BCom Human Resource Management 
Postgraduate Diploma in Organisational Development  BCom Honours Human Resource Management 
Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychometry  Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management 

MCom Industrial and Organisational Psychology – Course Work 

 Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Development

* By Tebogo Mahlaela, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Economic and Management Sciences

Share

Publish date: 2025/05/09

Unisa Shop