Ubuntu approach can strengthen support for learners’ mental health

Refiloe Legodi, a lecturer in the subject group Social Work at the North-West University (NWU), presented her research at the Ubuntu Nursing Colloquium that took place in August at the Groenkloof Campus of the University of Pretoria. 

Her presentation, titled “Ubuntu in action:…

Appreciate your kidneys, protect your future

Your kidneys work quietly, filtering waste, balancing fluids and regulating blood pressure every single day. Most people never think about these essential organs until something goes wrong and, unfortunately, statistics show that kidney disease is a growing problem. Millions of South Africans are affected by kidney…

Second PhD marks the beginning of a new chapter

Prof. Welma Lubbe reached a remarkable academic milestone when she graduated with her second PhD from the University of Cape Town (UCT) on Wednesday, 9 September 2026.

Completed under the supervision of Prof. Kirsty Donald, the PhD focused on paediatric neuroscience – a field that…

Iron study seeks answers for young South African women

Dr Mary Uyoga

Fatigue, poor concentration and declining physical performance are easily blamed on stress, demanding schedules or a lack of sleep. For many young women, however, these seemingly ordinary symptoms may point to an overlooked nutritional problem: iron deficiency.…

Presence beyond borders: NWU nursing team strengthens global partnerships in the Netherlands

For the Presence research team from the North-West University’s (NWU) School of Nursing, a 10-day visit to the Netherlands became more than an academic exchange. It was an opportunity to listen, learn and share ideas about what it means to provide care with compassion and genuine human connection.

The NWU team joined colleagues from the…

Should South Africa keep under-16s off social media?

As more countries restrict social media access for children, should South Africa follow suit, or find a solution better suited to its own realities? Social media may expose children to cyberbullying and harmful content, but its developmental cost could also lie in the conversations, play and sleep it displaces. “The issue is not simply…

PhD candidate takes her research to global social work platform

For North-West University (NWU) PhD candidate Dakalo Goitsilwe, presenting her doctoral research at an international conference in Kenya, marked another important milestone in her development as a social work researcher and scholar.

Dakalo represented the NWU and South Africa at the…

Prof. Kruger helps shape the first hypertension guidelines for Africa

The recent launch of the first comprehensive hypertension guidelines developed specifically for Africa marks an important step in addressing one of the continent’s most significant health challenges. Among the experts who contributed to the guidelines is Prof. Ruan Kruger, a researcher in paediatric hypertension and…

Child nutrition in Africa: Parents cannot serve food they cannot afford

Even the cheapest nutritious foods can cost two to ten times more per calorie than maize meal.

Watery porridge may fill a child’s stomach without providing the nutrition needed for growth.

Two-thirds of Africa’s population cannot afford a healthy diet,…

Research chair aims to take results from the laboratory to the community

South African researchers are increasingly looking for innovative ways to improve health outcomes, particularly as the country faces rising rates of obesity, diabetes and other metabolic diseases. A new research chair, the first for biochemistry at the North-West University (NWU), aims to make an impact on the lives…