New southern African frog app is making a splash

It is late at night and above you stretches the vast expanse of the Southern African sky that stretches to eternity. You are alone with your thoughts, or at least you think you are. Suddenly, your senses are jolted awake by an unexpected sound. You look around, but see nothing. Then you hear it again: “Ribbit-ribbit… ribbit-ribbit…” You take…

Faculty of Law secures NRF Tier 1 Research Chair in Cities, Law and Environmental Sustainability

A change in leadership has set a new course for one of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) most strategically positioned research chairs. The National Research Foundation (NRF) has officially upgraded the South African Research Chair in Cities, Law and Environmental Sustainability (CLES) to a Tier 1 position and appointed a new chairholder,…

Human movement science students to gain hands-on exposure

In a partnership that aims to provide students with hands-on experience and practical exposure aligned with their academic curriculum, the School of Human Movement Science at the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU) has embarked on a transformative collaboration with the North West Provincial Department of Art, Culture, Sports and…

Digitising government procurement could curb fraud and corruption and enhance efficiency

Digitising manual procurement processes in government could assist in curbing corruption and bolster a culture of accountability. This is according to PhD graduate Dr Lawrence Moetapele Mojaki of the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA).

Dr Mojaki is a deputy director for supply chain management at the GPAA and recently…

Enhancing premarital counselling to increase marriage stability

The institution of marriage in South Africa is quietly collapsing. Many marriages that were once full of promise and joy are crumbling all too quickly, causing heartache, isolation and unstable connections within families. This reality has deeply concerned Pastor Gugulethu Ndlovu, a PhD student at the Faculty of Theology at the North-West…

Celebrating purpose, passion and progress with Khululwa Shibani

As South Africa commemorates Youth Month – a time to reflect on the courage, resilience and vision of young people – we turn the spotlight on Khululwa Nosipho Shibani. At just 29, she is not only shaping young minds as an educator at Christiana School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, but also contributing to groundbreaking community…

Floyd Shivambu and the fight for his political future

Enigmatic and erratic, bold and belligerent. Floyd Shivambu walks the line between chaos and command like few other South African politicians do, with both his detractors and supporters asking: What is next for Floyd?

As has become the norm, Shivambu has recently evoked the ire of yet another of his political homes – the MK Party (MKP…

Community lekgotla explores cannabis commercialisation

A call has gone out to stakeholders in the North West Province to be part of the process of unlocking the economic potential of “matekwane” - the Setswana word for cannabis - for the benefit of rural communities.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Centre recently facilitated the Matekwane Community…

Struggles and shifting realities of informal traders during Covid-19 offer lessons for future crises

By Gofaone Motsamai

When South Africa went into lockdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the economic impact was immediate. Informal traders – those who operate without formal registration or protection – were among the most affected. With no income, no access to trading spaces and limited government…

Teacher education project launches in Italy

Florence, the Italian city made famous by Renaissance artists such as Michaelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, is also a modern-day hub for leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

In May this year, the city ushered in a new phase in STEM teacher education as global partners gathered to launch the…