NWU academic publishes book on mathematical modelling

North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Patrick Tchepmo Djomegni, Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics has added an important scholarly contribution to the field of applied mathematics with the completion of his new book on mathematical modelling techniques, a project that reflects both academic excellence and deep personal meaning.…

Why are we going back to the Moon?

Roughly 384 400 km from the pale blue dot we call Earth hangs an orb that has fascinated humanity for millennia. The Moon is our planet’s only natural satellite and is about a quarter of Earth’s size. Only 12 people set foot on it between 1969 and 1972, but more than 50 years later the Artemis programme aims to add to that number.

In…

SONA 2026: What to expect — and what not

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his 2026 State of the Nation (SONA) address on Thursday 12 February, and he will do so in a world starkly different from that of a year ago. Political uncertainty, strained international relations and domestic pressures mean the president is operating in a political climate that is no longer simmering but…

The All Blacks are coming, and so are the bucks!

It’s been 30 years since the New Zealand All Blacks last toured South Africa for a traditional rugby test series, but 2026 will see the old foes meet for three tests in the Republic and one abroad.

For rugby fans at home and in the Land of the Long White Cloud, The Greatest Rivalry Tour – which includes provincial matches between the…

Law students head to India for elite global criminal law moot competition

From 13-15 February 2026 three North-West University (NWU) law students will argue some of the world’s toughest criminal law questions in a premier mooting event in New Delhi in India.

Potchefstroom Campus students Lindiwe Ngophe, Ethan van Wyk and Connor Anderson will represent the NWU at the University of Delhi’s 22nd KK Luthra…

FMD outbreak sends shockwaves through South Africa’s beef industry, warns NWU scientist

As the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) pandemic tightens its grip in the Gauteng, North West and the Free State provinces,  the impact is spreading far beyond farms, placing pressure on South Africa’s beef industry, food security and jobs across the agricultural economy. Dr Kaya Myeki from the School of Agricultural Sciences at North-West…

Alumnus turns military discipline into academic success

By Mzwandile Ndlovu

Mphumudzeni Siphuma, a North-West University (NWU) alumnus, has swopped his military fatigues and rank for civvies and the title of lecturer in Communication, Journalism and Media Studies at the university’s Potchefstroom Campus.

His career change began in 2019 when he decided to…

Support for Groenewald and the VF Plus confirms the conjunctural and fluid nature of South African politics

An opinion piece by Dr Mabutho Shangase

There appears to be a growing trend of advocacy and political support for Dr Pieter Groenewald and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) among black users of social media platforms. Although the overall scope of the campaign has not yet been precisely defined, its presence is…

NWU researcher earns global recognition for advancing science in Africa

For Dr Modupe Stella Ayilara, science has always been about more than research. It is about people, communities and finding solutions that matter.

That purpose came into sharp focus on 11 December 2025 in Johannesburg, when she was named one of just 30 laureates of the L’…

Psychosocial support in schools is an urgent priority

The Department of Basic Education’s commitment to increasing psychosocial support for learners and teachers has the potential to deliver long-term gains for education and the country.

At the release of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results, South African education officials, including the Minister of Basic Education,…