A soldier takes a bold career shift

By Omphile Mokwena

Siphuma Mphumudzeni

A former soldier in the South African National Defence Force, Siphuma Mphumudzeni, has left the military to pursue a career in academia. He resigned in November 2025 after more than a decade of service to take up a permanent lecturer position at NorthWest University’s Potchefstroom Campus.

The turning point came in 2018, when Mphumudzeni was offered a place on a prestigious reconnaissance course. “I realised then that if I didn’t choose education, I would always wonder what might have been. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was a necessary one,” he said.

He continued to serve full-time while registering in 2019 for a Bachelor of Arts in Communication at NorthWest University’s Mafikeng Campus, despite scepticism from colleagues. “I had always known what I wanted, even when others doubted it. Once I committed to that vision, distractions became irrelevant.”

Growing up in Hamakuya in Limpopo, Mphumudzeni dreamed of a career behind the microphone on Phalaphala FM.

That ambition evolved into a broader interest in communication, storytelling, and teaching. From the start of his studies, he distinguished himself academically, consistently ranking at the top of his class. He also supported fellow students, developing an unexpected talent for teaching.

He said in 2020, he was invited by a lecturer to assist with a module, leading to his appointment as a Supplementary Instructor while still in uniform.

 He said by 2022, he graduated Cum Laude with his undergraduate degree, the only student in a class of more than 140 to do so.

Mphumudzeni balanced military service, postgraduate studies, and part-time lecturing, including the Best Researcher award in the South African Army’s writing competition.

“There were moments when the workload felt overwhelming, but discipline teaches you how to manage pressure, and academia demands the same commitment,” he said.

In 2026, he registered for a PhD in Communication. “Nothing about this journey happened overnight. It was built on consistency, on showing up every day, and on believing that purpose matters,” he said.