Natural and Agricultural Sciences News
From BIKS graduate to Miss eNetHealth SA Official: Tsakani Mabena’s journey of recognition
For the North-West University (NWU) alumnus Tsakani Mabena, 2026 has marked a significant chapter in her journey as a young advocate for the preservation, promotion and advancement of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS).
Tsakani graduated in 2026 with a Bachelor of Indigenous Knowledge…
Leading NWU actuarial master’s-degree student: Michelle le Roux
This Women’s Month, the North-West University (NWU) is celebrating females in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Michelle le Roux is studying for an MSc Business Mathematics and Informatics (BMI) at the NWU. She is a Golden Key student and was appointed as the best first-year student at the centre for…
Robotics and astronomy ignite curiosity ahead of NWU Vice-Chancellor's Science Day
Science came alive long after the classroom bell had rung as educators, learners and community members gathered at Hoërskool Wolmaransstad for a Pre-Vice-Chancellor's Science Day programme that combined robotics, astronomy and hands-on learning.
The activities formed part of the…
PhD research points to greener ways of detecting water pollution
Communities, municipalities and industries could soon have access to faster and cheaper tools to detect harmful dye pollution in water. Environmentally friendly nanomaterials can outperform conventionally produced alternatives in monitoring water quality, according to the doctoral research of Dr Mokole Seleke, who…
NWU students win seven out of 13 awards at the 2026 South African Institute of Physics conference
By Michelle Hammann
The 70th annual South African Institute of Physics (SAIP) awards ceremony took place at the University of the Western Cape from 6 to 10 July 2026. The North-West University (NWU) took home seven out of 13 prestigious student awards for presentations in the fields of…
Kgodiso Development Fund partners with NWU to advance climate-resilient farming in the North West
The Kgodiso Development Fund (KDF), in partnership with the North-West University (NWU), is making significant progress on a flagship agricultural development initiative aimed at supporting emerging commercial farmers and strengthening food security in South Africa.
The NWU -Kgodiso…
NWU first-year part of the top 22 science and maths students in South Africa
By Michelle Hammann
Every year, the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Brilliants Programme honours 22 top-performing students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related (STEM-related) study fields. For 2026, Caitlin Mans, a first-year Bachelor of Science…
The forgotten cost of food production in South Africa
Opinion piece by Ella Mogashoa, a researcher in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the North-West University (NWU).
South Africans have become all too familiar with rising food prices. Every trip to the supermarket seems to confirm the same reality: the weekly grocery…
Borders and jobs: What the ‘March and March’ debate means for SA’s agricultural labour force
Opinion piece by Ella Mogashoa, a researcher in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the North-West University (NWU).
As dawn breaks across South Africa each morning, thousands of farm workers are already hard at work. Long before most South Africans begin their day,…
NWU researcher advances to the Rising Star Awards semi-finals
Dr Moleboheng Mokhele, a senior lecturer and researcher at the Research Unit for Self-Directed Learning at the North-West University (NWU), has been named a semi-finalist in the Public Service category of the TransUnion Rising Star Awards of South Africa.
The recognition places her…