Mines are contaminating useful plants in Limpopo

Chromium from mining activities has been found in high concentrations in plant species commonly grown in household gardens in Sekhukhuneland, Limpopo, representing a potential health hazard. These are some of the findings of Sutapa Adhikari, a doctoral student from the North-West University (NWU), who has been studying the contamination of…

How families cope with mental health care issues

The whole family can be affected when living with a family member with a mental disorder, disability or developmental delay. Mechanisms to cope with the resulting stress include escape, avoidance, denial or looking to religion.  This is according to Tshepang Modise, nursing science master’s graduate at North-West University (NWU).…

It’s time to put environmental regulations to work

With calls for safer, cleaner environments, a North-West University (NWU) researcher suggests that local governments use and enforce existing environmental regulations to ensure a better quality of life for all. Maricélle Botes, part of the research team at the Faculty of Law's South African Research Chair in Cities, Law and Environmental…

Plants offer home-grown solutions to healthcare

Approximately 80% of South Africa’s population depend on medicinal plants for their healthcare needs, leading to an increased interest in the commercialisation of plant-based remedies.

Research by Tshepiso Ndhlovu, a PhD candidate at the North-West University (NWU), is shedding light on the potential of medicinal plants in the skincare…

NWU PhD candidate appointed to serve on national ministerial panel

North-West University (NWU) PhD candidate Thulisile Bhuda has been appointed by the Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture Nathi Mthethwa as a member of the Indigenous Knowledge / Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) National Authentication Panel for three years, from August 2021 to July 2024.

NWU Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centre explores ways to assist indigenous communities with commercialisation

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Centre, in collaboration with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the NWU Technology Transfer and Innovation Support office, hosted a hybrid lekgotla on 14 September 2021 to explore ways to assist indigenous communities with the…

NWU trailblazer heads International Society for the Systems Sciences

The world is a mesmerising place filled with interesting events and occurrences. These do not happen in isolation, and to fully understand the intricacies of any given event or interaction, it is necessary to investigate the “bigger picture” surrounding it.

This, in a nutshell, is what systems science is all about. It provides the…

Flexibility and staying positive are key to boosting tourism

A North-West University (NWU) academic at the School of Tourism Management is calling for fresh and innovative thinking to boost the local tourism sector, which has declined by almost 80% since 2019.

Prof Peet van der Merwe says there has recently been a slight increase in international visitors to South Africa, but nowhere near the…

Reading literacy: NWU closes gap between theory and practice

“Teaching reading is rocket science.” This quote by Louisa Moats underlines the importance of reading literacy, and that is why researchers and teacher educators from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Education are taking the lead to promote reading literacy in the foundation phase.

Move to Adjusted Level 2 is positive, but economy not yet out of the woods

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on moving South Africa to Adjusted Level 2 of the lockdown is positive for the economy, whose prospects still need further reinforcement and confidence building.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the Business School of the North-West…