STAFF
Akademia has outstanding and vocation-driven staff who contribute to a worldclass learning experience.
DEAN
Prof. Danie du Plessis
DLitt et Phil (Communication Science)
Dean:
Faculty of Humanities
Danie du Plessis is the Dean of Humanities at Akademia and holds a BA in Communication Studies and an MA in Communication Studies from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE), as well as a DLitt et Phil in Communication Science from the University of South Africa (Unisa). As a student, Du Plessis was actively involved in student life, serving, among other roles, as student council chairperson, elected as deputy president of the Afrikaanse Studentebond (ASB), recipient of the PU for CHE Chancellor’s Medal, and the Abe Bailey Scholarship.
Du Plessis’s research focuses on organisational communication, communication technology, communication theory, and rhetoric. His recent published work includes a chapter on interpersonal communication in a handbook and an article on Afrikaans on Twitter in the Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe. He served as supervisor for several master’s and doctoral students.
He served as Deputy Manager of Public Relations at the former Saambou for just over two years and was subsequently an academic at Unisa for 37 years, including eleven years as head of Unisa’s Department of Communication Science, during which he received Unisa’s award for excellence in tuition twice. He was the South African partner in an international study on news values, has been a member of the panel conducting accreditation evaluations for the Council on Higher Education’s quality committee since 2005, and has published numerous articles and contributed to books.
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS
Alida Kok
BAHons (International Relations)
Head of Department:
Social Sciences
Subject head:
Politics
Alida Kok has more than 10 years’ experience in teaching Political Science and previously worked as a lecturer at the University of Pretoria (UP) and the University of South Africa (Unisa). Previously, she also worked as a manager, researcher and analyst in the non-governmental and private sectors, and as a deputy and acting director of the international cooperation programme at the Department of Science and Technology of the national government. Kok regularly comments in the media on South African politics and has been a columnist for Beeld since 2016. Her columns have also been published in Die Burger since 2020. In these columns she likes analysing themes concerned with the decentralisation of state power, the reformation of the state and political revolution. She completed her undergraduate and honours studies (cum laude) in Political Science (specialising in International Relations) at UP. Her master’s degree, that is currently working on, is a critical discussion of the public sphere and action in the political theory of Hannah Arendt where she tries to bring action – or ‘political action’ – back in the relation with the house. She also focuses, in other research, on the relation between the decentralisation and centralisation of state power, multi-level governance studies and the rising of smaller spheres of influence.
Dr Alé Steyn
PhD (Communication Studies)
Head of Department:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
Programme coordinator:
BA (Language Studies) and BAHons (Media and Communication)
Dr Alé Steyn is the head of the Department of Languages and Cultural Sciences. She obtained her master’s and doctoral degrees in Communication Studies (specialising in Journalism) from the North-West University (NWU), and she completed honours and master’s degrees in English Literature at the University of the Free State (UFS) and the University of Cape Town (UCT), respectively. She also obtained a certificate in text editing from UCT. Steyn has over 10 years of experience as a sub-editor, layout artist, journalist, news and content editor, manuscript developer, text editor, and media and advertising practitioner. Previously, she was a senior lecturer in Journalism and Corporate Communication at the NWU’s Potchefstroom campus, where she received recognition for her excellent and innovative teaching. Her research has been presented at local and international conferences, and she has delivered several guest lectures at universities abroad.
Department of Social Sciences
Pierre Muller
BTh degree in Biblical Languages
Lecturer:
Social Sciences
Subject head:
Philosophy
Pierre Muller is a lecturer in Ethics and the Art of Argumentation at Akademia. He obtained a BTh degree in Biblical Studies and an honours degree in Philosophy. He is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in the latter discipline at the North-West University (NWU), wherein he focuses on the relationship between our understanding of free will and the philosophy of science. Muller delivers academic presentations on both a national and international level. He has been involved in university debating as a coach, judge, and speaker; at the 2019 World Universities Debating Championship, he represented the NWU, and later South Africa. He was previously associated with NWU as a part-time lecturer in the School of Philosophy, as well as a part-time lecturer and postgraduate assessor in the Faculty of Theology.
Jean-Jacques Boshoff
BAHons (International Relations)
Lecturer:
Social Sciences
Programme coordinator:
(Politics, Philosophy and Economics)
Jean-Jacques Boshoff is a lecturer in Politics at Akademia and obtained an honours degree in this discipline from the University of Pretoria (UP). He is currently completing a master’s dissertation in political science. Boshoff has eight years of experience in lecturing in Political Science and was previously affiliated with UP and the University of South Africa (Unisa). His research focuses on political marketing and African politics. His most recent published work is an article on the phenomenon of negative election campaigns during the South African national election of 2014. He has also worked as a political consultant for various non-governmental organisations.
Rentia Pretorius
MA (Political Science)
Lecturer:
Social Sciences
Subject head:
Global Politics
Acting subject head:
Politics
Rentia Pretorius is a lecturer in Politics at Akademia. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree, an honours degree in Political Science, a postgraduate Higher Diploma in Library Science, and a master’s degree in Politics from the University of Pretoria (UP). Pretorius’s research focuses on African politics, democratisation, and international relations. Her most recent published works include an article in the journal Studia Universitatis Babes-Boloyai: Studia Europaea’s special edition on international relations in Africa (2019). She was a lecturer in Politics and International Relations at UP for over 30 years.
Thinus Malan
BAHons (Philosophy)
Lecturer:
Social Sciences
Thinus Malan is a lecturer in Philosophy 3 and Core Integration. He holds a BTh in Biblical Languages and an honours degree in Philosophy. Currently, he is pursuing his master’s degree in the latter discipline at the North-West University, focusing on Alvin Plantinga’s epistemology. His research interests lie in apologetics and formal logic, and he has developed and taught various courses in logic.
Prof. Pieter Labuschagne
DPhil and LLD
Part-time lecturer:
Social Sciences
Pieter Labuschagne is a contract appointment in the field Political Sciences (GPOLI150) at Akademia.
Labuschagne is a full professor in Political Sciences and obtained the following degrees, BAHons (cum laude), MA (cum laude) and DPhil, from the University of the Free State (UFS). He also obtained the LLB, LLM and LLD degrees from Unisa.
Labuschagne was a history teacher for twelve years and after that he was a lecturer at the Department of Political Sciences (Unisa) for thirty years – the last five years as head of the department. He was also a guest lecturer at the University of Pretoria (UP) and the Defence College.
In terms of research, he published 73 full-length scholarly articles in accredited journals, as well as one book and twelve chapters in books. He was placed in the Accelerated Performance Excellence programme for his research at Unisa.
Department of Languages and Cultural Sciences
Dr André Gouws
PhD (Journalism)
Senior lecturer:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
Gouws is an experienced journalist and academic. He has been in academia since 2017. From 2017 to 2018, he lectured in Journalism at the Stellenbosch University (SU). From 2019 to 2022, he lectured in Journalism and Communication at the North-West University in Potchefstroom. In 2025, Gouws obtained a PhD in Journalism from Stellenbosch University (SU). In 2018, Gouws obtained an MA degree in Journalism and Media Studies (with distinction) from Rhodes University. Before that, in 1993, he earned a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Johannesburg.
On 1 March 2023 Gouws was designated as exceptional researcher in the School of Communication at the NWU (Potchefstroom Campus). In 2022, Gouws received the Excellent Teaching Award from the Faculty of Humanities at the North-West University (NWU) for his teaching in the School of Communication. In 2021, he received the Excellent Teaching Award from NWU for the use of information technology in teaching. He was a part of the NWU fellowship programme for open education in 2021 and 2021.
Gouws conducts research on digital media and visual communication, as well as journalism education. He has presented several papers on his research at local and international conferences, and published academic book chapters on journalism education in 2022 and 2024.For over two decades, Gouws has been associated with various media institutions, including Beeld, Die Burger, and Grafika24 (Media24‘s infographic department). He was the founding editor of Grafika24 and held several other editorial positions, including night editor and head sub-editor of Die Burger. Since 2023, he has been the public representative for the Forum for Community Journalists (FCJ) on the Press Council of South Africa. Since 2023 he is a member of SACOMM, the South African Communications Association that represents communications departments from higher education institutions.
Dr Annerie Geyer
DPhil (Communication Management)
Senior lecturer:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
Programme coordinator:
BA (Politics, Philosophy and Economics)
Dr Annerie Geyer is a Communication lecturer at Akademia. She obtained a BA degree, as well as honours-, master’s-, and doctoral degrees (specialising in Communication Management) in this discipline from the North-West University (NWU) and the University of Pretoria (UP). Geyer’s research focuses on organisational communication, with a specific emphasis on relationship management and employee engagement. Her most recent work includes a report on employee engagement presented at the International Research Symposium in Public Relations (BledCom). She practised as a communication consultant for four years and has already been lecturing in the field of communication for eight years.
DJ Cloete
MA (Linguistics and Literary Theory)
Lecturer:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
DJ Cloete is a lecturer in Languages and Cultural Sciences at Akademia and obtained a BA degree in Languages as well as an honours and master’s degree in this discipline at the North-West University. He also obtained his PGCE qualification at Akademia. Cloete has a wide interest in the workings of language and has collaborated on international projects that includes Skryfhulp Afrikaans. Prior to his appointment he was a lecturer in linguistics at the North-West University and was closely involved with projects launched by ICELDA and SADiLaR. The aim of these projects is to create tools that can support students during their academic career and to promote multilingualism within the higher education context. He was also the project manager of a new book on applied linguistics in Afrikaans, titled Toegepaste Taalkunde in Afrikaans (2022). Cloete’s research interests are Variation and Computer Assisted Language Learning.
Dr Hélanie Jonker
PhD (Communication Studies)
Lecturer:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
Dr Hélanie Jonker is a lecturer in Communication Management at Akademia. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business Communication, a master’s-, and doctoral degree (specialising in Development Communication) from the North-West University. She began her career over two decades ago and has work experience as a communication practitioner and project manager in higher education and non-profit organisations. For the past seven years, she has worked as a freelance academic course content writer and lecturer at various private higher education institutions. Jonker’s research focuses on development- and organisational communication. She is a contributing author of the textbook Developing Soft Skills for Success: A guide for Modern Professionals (Publisher: Van Schaik), where she wrote the chapter on professional communication skills.
Karien Brits
MA (Setswana)
Lecturer:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
Karien Brits is a lecturer in Sepedi and Language Practice. She holds a degree in Business Communication, as well as honours and master’s degrees (cum laude) in Setswana from the North-West University (NWU). Brits’ research focuses on multilingualism and language planning, but she is also interested in language acquisition, morphology (Sotho languages), language technology, and onomastics. Her academic awards include the best honours student in the Faculty of Arts at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. She has been involved in higher education for two decades and has worked at the North-West University, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan (Poland), and the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
Landi Slatter
MA (Communication)
Lecturer:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
Landi Slatter obtained a BA degree in Communication Studies from the North-West University (NWU), as well as her BA Honours (specialising in Journalism) and Master’s degree in Communication Studies (specialising in Journalism) (cum laude) at the same university. Slatter began her career at Maroela Media and later joined Rapport‘s newsroom in Pretoria.
Dr. Rilette Swanepoel
PhD (English)
Senior lecturer:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
Dr Rilette Swanepoel is a lecturer in English and Theory of Literature at Akademia. She holds a PhD and an MA in English literature from North-West University and a BA Honours and BA (with Law subjects) from Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education. Swanepoel’s research focuses on postmodern fiction in English. She has published in internationally and nationally accredited journals. Her most recent article was published in Safundi. Swanepoel has delivered papers at conferences in Italy, Ireland, Poland, Greece, Scotland and locally in South Africa. In 2018, she obtained a Y2 rating from the National Research Foundation, and a C3-rating in 2024.
Yolandi Groenewald
Bachelor in Business Communication
Lecturer:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
Yolandi Groenewald is a lecturer in the field of Journalism at Akademia. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communication from the North-West University (NWU). Groenewald is a seasoned and award-winning environmental- and business journalist with 20 years of experience in the media industry. She has worked for publications such as Mail & Guardian, Rapport, and City Press, the Vrye Weekblad, and numerous international publications. She was also the bureau head of Fin24.
Lucia Poolman
BAHons (Afrikaans Linguistics)
Junior lecturer:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
Lucia Poolman obtained a BA degree in Languages with specialisation in Journalism from the University of Pretoria (UP), as well as an honours degree in Afrikaans Linguistics from the University of South Africa (Unisa). Poolman started her career at Beeld, and worked at various publications, amongst others, as editor of the tvplus. As freelance journalist and communication officer, she has done something of everything, from writing to public relations, marketing, the compilation of Beeld in the night office and also made TV programmes. She still writes for Huisgenoot and does research for TV series.
Angelika Johannes
MA (German)
Part-time lecturer:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
Angelika Johannes is a part-time lecturer in German at Akademia. She obtained a binational master’s degree at the University of Leipzig, Germany, as well as at Stellenbosch University (SU), both cum laude. She also obtained her PGCE, honours, and BA degree at the University of Pretoria.
Hanneli van Vuuren
Part-time lecturer:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
Hanneli van Vuuren is a lecturer in field Languages and Cultural Sciences at Akademia, and obtained a B degree in Business Communications in this discipline at the North-West University (NWU). She is an entrepreneur and is the owner of a successful small business specialising in practical brand awareness, for the past eighteen years.
Dr. Louisa Stoker
PhD (Pastoral Counseling)
Part-time lecturer:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
Dr Louisa Stoker is a part-time lecturer in Education at Akademia. She obtained a BA degree in Psychology, German and Tourism as well as a BTh degree in Pastoral Counselling. Furthermore, she holds a BScHons degree in Clinical Psychology, a master’s and doctor’s degree (cum laude) in Counselling as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with Life Orientation and Afrikaans as major subjects. She obtained these qualifications at the North-West University (Potchefstroom campus) and UNISA respectively. Stoker’s research focusses on emotional manipulation as part of different types of abuse in interpersonal relationships. Her most recent work is as speaker at the International Cultic Studies Association’s annual international conference, whereafter she will submit a paper with the following theme: “How divorce counselling could be used to navigate the emotional turmoil and practical implications when a client is divorcing a cult member, and there are children involved”. She also talks as an expert on various television and radio programmes. Her academic awards include the following: the Special accomplishment award for an exceptional master’s degree; the Accomplishment award for the best student in Afrikaans didactics; and the Pro Reformando Trust award. She practised as a teacher and/or lecturer for ten years and as a councillor and/or mediator.
Mia-Louise Nel
MA (French)
Part-time lecturer:
Languages and Cultural Sciences
Mia-Louise Nel is a part-time lecturer in French at Akademia. She is passionate about teaching the French language on a high-school and tertiary level. She has completed two master’s degrees (Université Lumière-Lyon-II (Lyon II) and University of Cape Town (UCT)) as well as an honours degree (University of Pretoria (UP)) in this discipline. She has also passed her BA degree at North-West University (NWU) and PGCE certificate at the AP Akademie cum laude.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS
Corina Jamieson
Designer:
Online learning
