Prof Linda du Plessis: South Africa’s future depends on rebuilding education

STEM education needs to be put in the spotlight for South Africa to revive its ailing education sector.  The education system is not producing underachievers; it is manufacturing exclusion.  Teaching must be restored to its former prestige, which is a respected, aspirational career rather than a reluctant fallback.  The state…

Empowering teens living with chronic illnesses

By Mzwandile Ndlovu

Teens living with chronic diseases need not be defined by their illnesses but by their potential and determination to succeed.

Dr Kezell Klinck, senior lecturer in the School of Management Sciences at the North-West University (NWU…

Dr Monray Williams is helping to lead Africa’s virology charge

The battle against HIV in sub-Saharan Africa has always been as much about systems and science as about the virus itself. Antiretroviral therapy has turned what was once a death sentence into a manageable condition.

Yet, as Dr Monray Williams of the North-West University (NWU) cautions, “millions of people still face barriers to…

A critical reflection on global university rankings: Power, perception and prestige

By Prof Linda du Plessis

We live in a world obsessed with comparison. From “top performers” to “best universities,” rankings give the illusion of order in complexity. Yet, when it comes to higher education, these lists often conceal more than they reveal. Not everything fits neatly on a list, especially when…

Academic shares advice for 2025 matric exams

Come 26 November, more than 900 000 Grade 12 candidates will be celebrating the conclusion of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

The exams commenced on 21 October with the computer applications technology (CAT) practical paper, one of the 112 examination papers that have been set across the country. This follows…

Writing competition winner calls for urgent action on women’s rights

By Mzwandile Ndlovu

An online writing competition hosted by the Debating Union at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus is keeping the conversation about women’s empowerment alive long after Women’s Month has ended.

The competition, themed “Accelerate action: Rights, equality, empowerment…

Lecture highlights technology benefits for SMME finances

By: Gosego Phutieagae

A public lecture at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus on 1 October 2025 highlighted how telecommunications and information technology are transforming financial management for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), both in business operations and…

Tim Modise calls for broadcast media to reclaim its role in defining South Africa’s cultural identity

By Phenyo Mokgothu and Gofaone Motsamai

Veteran broadcaster Tim Modise returned to Mahikeng, where his media career began, to deliver a public lecture on the evolving role of broadcast media in shaping South Africa’s cultural identity.

The lecture, held on 6…

Turning anxiety into energy for public speaking

By Mzwandile Ndlovu

Many of us have felt a racing heartbeat and shaky breath before speaking in public, but this anxiety can be rechannelled into energy and confidence to take command of the podium.

This is the hope offered by Dr Sumartono Mulyodiharjo, head of the Department of Communication Science at…

Vanderbijlpark Campus hosts “Campus Wedding” to celebrate cultural integration

The Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU) staged a colourful and symbolic “Campus Wedding” on Friday, 26 September, bringing together staff, students and alumni in a celebration of cultural diversity and unity.

The event formed part of the annual Culture Integration Day at the NWU, observed across all three campuses,…