Mental-health support and access to basic hygiene resources took centre stage when Khayalethu Residence at the North-West University (NWU) carried out a community outreach project at Molelwane Secondary School, combining a structured mental-health intervention with a sanitary pad-donation drive.
By Mzwandile Ndlovu
A renewed push to translate indigenous knowledge (IK) into practical rural development took centre stage as stakeholders gathered for the Second Smart Village conference in Nyandeni in the Eastern Cape.
Held under the theme “Towards an indigenous knowledge-based smart village model: A multi-stakeholder planning dialogue for sustainable rural development,” the three-day engagement from 24 to 26 March 2026 moved beyond conceptual discussions towards implementation and community participation.
The North-West University (NWU), through its Nano-Environment Incubation Programme (NanoEnv) in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences on the Mahikeng Campus, successfully hosted a Water Week awareness campaign at Mogakolodi Masibi Comprehensive High School in Disaneng Village on 19 March 2026.
Long-term capacity building is required to address perinatal mood disorders which affect more than a third of women in South Africa, negatively impacting individuals and families.
To address this, local, international health care professionals and academics met in Mahikeng from 9 to 13 March 2026. The purpose was to advance a joint programme aimed at improving early detection and management of perinatal mood disorders in rural South Africa. Limited access to specialised mental-health services in these areas continues to affect maternal and child health.
In the true spirit of Human Rights Day, students from Faranani Residence at the North-West University (NWU) turned reflection into action through a heartfelt community outreach initiative in Sharpeville on 21 March. Led by student leaders, the programme focused on restoring dignity, promoting equality, and supporting access to basic needs for young learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Stadt Primary School in Montshiwa Stadt Village, Mahikeng has been privileged to capture the school’s history in a booklet written by Mojuta Motlhamme, a lecturer in the subject group History for Education from the North-West University (NWU).
“The partnership between the university and the school has grown over the years and is blossoming into a fruitful collaboration, with different colleagues from the NWU working on different projects,” Mojuta said at the launch on 21 February 2026.
A two-year initiative aimed at improving the screening and management of perinatal mood disorders in rural communities is being piloted in the North West.
The project, Capacity Building in Managing (Perinatal) Mood Disorders in Rural South Africa (CaBu-PeriMooD), was introduced during a recent meeting and workshop hosted at North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus.
Across South Africa, community spaces are more than just patches of land or playgrounds they are symbols of shared hope, belonging, and care. But when these spaces fall into neglect, they often mirror a fading sense of unity. That is where Retsa Tsela steps in, not only to clean, but to rebuild pride, building tomorrow and creating an impact that matters.
For more than two decades, the African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP) of the North-West University (NWU) has been shaping the future of nutrition leadership on the continent. Since its first programme in 2002, this flagship 10-day residential initiative, hosted annually at the NWU, has developed over 500 professionals from more than 40 African countries. This year alone this flagship programme will reach close to 50 professionals from 10 African countries.