South Africa’s femicide rate is five times higher than the global average, and one in three women has experienced gender-based violence (GBV) in her lifetime. Increasingly, this violence is no longer confined to physical spaces. It has migrated to digital platforms such as social media, messaging apps and online forums, where abuse is amplified, often anonymously, and even across country borders.

From Ghana to South Africa, similarities in health, education and social policy programmes have raised questions about how public concerns over foreign nationals shape solidarity across the continent.

On a quiet morning at the Mahikeng Campus of North-West University (NWU), the halls of the Disability Rights Unit hum with purpose. At the heart of it all is Vida Mutlaneng, a disability coordinator whose presence radiates warmth, compassion and an unwavering commitment to justice.

Affectionately known as Mama Vida or Mother Theresa by the students and university staff, it was not by chance that she came to lead this critical unit. In fact, her journey was both personal and providential.

By Phenyo Mokgothu and Ntokozo Maseko

The North-West University (NWU) Eagles battled hard to secure a 55-41 victory over Maties in a tightly contested Varsity Netball clash.

The first quarter of the match set the tone for a physical encounter as both sides pushed to establish dominance. The NWU showed composure in front of goal and edged ahead 13-9 by the end of the quarter.

Zoe Aidomo Idemudia certainly does not shy away from that answer. From coding challenges to life lessons, she’s proving that girls really do run the world. With a sparkling energy that matches her brilliance, she has made waves in a world that, until recently, felt overwhelmingly male. Zoe obtained her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics degree with 29 distinctions out of 31 modules, and an impressive 86% GPA.

Women in leadership positions should strive to be role models for younger women coming up through the ranks, always standing for ethics and integrity. This was the message from top women leaders who spoke at an event hosted by the North-West University (NWU) Business School to mark the conclusion of Women’s Month.

The celebration of women in leadership, with a particular focus on women shaping the public sector with courage and integrity, was held at the Mahikeng Protea Hotel on 29 August.

Dr Rorisang Machailo, senior lecturer and deputy director at the School of Nursing at the North-West University (NWU), has been recognised as a top 3 finalist in the Women in Academic Administration category of the 2025 Higher Education Women Leaders (HEWL) Awards.

This honour highlights her outstanding leadership and dedication to advancing mental health education and equity in South Africa’s higher-education sector.

The North-West University (NWU) Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) office is proud to celebrate the achievements of Dr Mariaan Wicks, a senior lecturer in Dietetics and a woman innovator whose work is transforming the way South Africans understand their food.

In celebration of the Women’s Month 2025 theme of the North-West University (NWU), “Empowered to Lead: NWU Women Shaping the Future”, the Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) office proudly showcases the achievements of women innovators who are transforming society through practical solutions. Leading this charge is Prof Erica Derbyshire, a chartered accountant and academic, whose pioneering research has resulted in the Financial Literacy Survival Toolkit, a practical resource designed to equip owners of small and micro enterprises with essential financial skills.

By Nikelo Mehlomakulu

The bold march by 20 000 women against apartheid laws in 1956 is still reverberating today. That march was the inspiration behind the Women’s Month event that the North-West University’s School of Governance hosted at the Mahikeng Campus on 21 August.