Life goes on, death happens: loss and grief in a time of Covid-19

Across the world the Covid-19 pandemic has changed our assumptive worlds drastically, yet life continues to happen. Babies are born, people develop health conditions that are not related to Covid-19, others reach milestone birthdays, while others die.

Dr Nelia Drenth and Prof Alida Herbst of the NWU’s School of Psychosocial Health…

NWU student brings hope during lockdown through song

Vivien Redelinghuys, a second-year BA sociology and labour relations student at the North-West University (NWU), became an overnight sensation after going viral on social media.

Vivien and a family friend, Anthony Hattingh, posted a video of themselves singing their new single, Hallelujah of Hope, inspired by Jeff Buckley’s…

NWU helps staff to cope during lockdown

The North-West University (NWU) is calling on all staff members who are overwhelmed and worried about their loved ones during the current lockdown to participate in their online mental health workshop.

Since the country has been on lockdown the NWU has hosted two webinars for staff members to help them cope with the loss of everyday…

Our hope lies in the power of our people

There is a saying in Tibetan: “Tragedy should be utilised as a source of strength. No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster.”

This quote by the Dalai Lama XIV has perhaps never been more fitting than in the turbulent times in which we find ourselves today. When one…

Further cut in interest rates is a welcome pre-emptive step

“The South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB’s) surprise decision to cut interest rates by another 100 basis points is a welcome move. This will help to support the South African economy as it grapples with a rapidly deteriorating situation as a result of the extended Covid-19 lockdown.”

This is according to Prof Raymond Parsons, a…

NWU assists provincial Health in curbing COVID-19

The North-West University (NWU) and the North West Department of Health (NWDoH) are joining hands in the fight against the deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, known as COVID-19.

The department’s deputy director-general, Mr Polaki Mokatsane, approached the NWU to assist with strategic information, guidance and…

Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic: We are on a knife-edge

* A realistic, optimistic plan of action is needed

“The coronavirus pandemic is a health war that has led to an economic war, so South Africa requires a multidimensional plan to survive.”

Prof Danie Meyer, a development economist and director of the TRADE research focus area of the North-West University (NWU), believes…

NWU researcher advocates paternity leave

South Africa’s employment history has very little written about employed fathers compared to records about working mothers. However, fathers have been out in the workplace, away from home, longer than mothers have.

During the apartheid era, the migrant labour system contributed to this inequality, forcing fathers to work in areas…

NWU to validate new Covid-19 test

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc locally and internationally, NWU’s experts have been roped in to assist with the validation of a new test in the fight against it.

The new test is being developed by a wholly owned South African pharmaceutical company, Austell Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd. It is anticipated that this…

Serving ourselves and humanity during the Covid-19 pandemic

In March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of a new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as a global pandemic. Subsequently many people are overwhelmed by feelings of worry and anxiousness, especially by the constantly changing alerts, media coverage and national lock down regarding the Corona virus.

Two experts from…