South Africa’s struggle to contain the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is exposing a deeper problem than the outbreak itself. The country’s response remains firmly state-led, yet the state’s capacity to execute that response is increasingly in doubt.

Much of this gap between control and capability appears to stem from the government’s reluctance to involve farmers in its decision-making processes. The state needs to reconsider its insistence on control and acknowledge that it does not have the capacity to execute corrective measures effectively.

When graduates apply their knowledge to solve real-world challenges, the results can be transformational, according to Prof. Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of North-West University (NWU).

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” he said, using the inspiring words of former President Nelson Mandela to address graduates attending the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences’ graduation ceremony at the Mahikeng Campus on 28 April.

According to North-West University (NWU) principal and vice-chancellor Prof. Bismark Tyobeka higher education institutions have a role to play in supporting governance reform at local municipalities - many of which are in disarray.

“Universities can contribute to the rehabilitation of local government through research, skills development and evidence-based policy input,” he said during a public lecture by Dr Ben Bole, head of the Department for North West Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) on13 April.

Siviwe Tyobeka steps onto the stage at the Sanlam Auditorium. She walks with calm confidence, but behind it is a journey filled with effort and growth.

Today, that journey shows. At the centre stage, her father and principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), Prof. Bismark Tyobeka, is seated. But at that very moment, he is simply a proud father watching his daughter reach yet another milestone as she receives her BSc honours degree in biochemistry.

The nuclear sector remains an important economic growth driver that can support job creation, skills development and industrial expansion in South Africa, according to North-West University (NWU) principal and vice-chancellor Prof. Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka.

Speaking at the NWU Nuclear Alumni Engagement held on 19 March 2026 in Sandton, Prof .Tyobeka said nuclear development should be viewed as part of the country’s broader economic strategy as the sector contributes to electricity generation, research, manufacturing and specialised training.

The role of nuclear science in energy security, skills development and national partnerships took centre stage when the North-West University (NWU) hosted its Nuclear Alumni Engagement in Sandton, bringing together graduates, industry leaders, government representatives and academics to strengthen collaboration in the sector.

Sunflowers stretching towards the sky and rows of green maize plants swaying in the breeze set the tone for a day rooted in growth, learning and possibility at Pienaarskamp Farm.

Just a day earlier, the farm had already made an impression. Prof. Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), had taken members of the NWU Council on a tour of Pienaarskamp. They left inspired by what they saw, a space where vision is not only imagined, but actively lived out.

The North-West University (NWU) reaffirmed its commitment to internationalisation on 23 March 2026 by engaging in high-level discussions with the National University of Science and Technology MISIS in Moscow, aiming to expand its global academic and research footprint.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and universities are central to solving South Africa’s skills crisis, bridging the gap between practical training and academic knowledge to drive economic growth.

It is within this context that the North-West University (NWU) and Vuselela TVET College held high-level talks on 23 March 2026, setting the stage for a strategic partnership aimed at reshaping skills development, strengthening research collaboration and expanding socio-economic impact.