Will the budget reflect SONA’s child stunting promises?

Promises were made, but will the chequebook come to the party? During his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that more than a quarter of South African children under the age of five are stunted, increasing their risk of disease and affecting their ability to learn and grow. He further stated that in 2026…

Data analytics drives modern talent scouting at NWU Soccer Institute

The landscape of football talent identification is being transformed by data analytics, and the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Soccer Institute at the Mahikeng Campus is positioning itself at the forefront of this high-tech evolution.

According to Upidkumar Patel, the institute's head of performance and data analysis, leveraging modern…

The President’s annual national address: Was this another box-ticking exercise?

Section 84(d) of the Constitution vests in the President the authority to convene both Houses of Parliament for a special sitting, a power that is generally interpreted as encompassing, by implication, the delivery of the State of the Nation Address. On Thursday evening, President Cyril Ramaphosa carried out the annual presidential ritual of…

Prof. Grobler honoured as longest-serving Economics academic

Few academics can claim a lifelong bond with a single institution; even fewer can say they helped build that institution from the ground up. Prof. Wynand Grobler stands among that rare company. As the longest-serving Economics academic at the North-West University (NWU), he has devoted an extraordinary 35 years to the lecture hall, to visionary…

Amanda Kruger recognised for two decades of dedicated service

With 25 years of distinguished service, Amanda Kruger is widely regarded as one of the most experienced and dependable professionals at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus.

Known as one of the go-to people at the institution, she is recognised for her extensive institutional knowledge, strong professional networks…

Hundzula retreat seeks practical digital solutions for low-resource African language

If African languages are to thrive in a digital world, it is essential that these languages be part of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution sweeping society.

Natural language processing, which enables computers to understand, interpret and generate human language, could play a significant role in enabling African language…

Biochemistry PhD student secures MAECI fellowship at the University of Urbino

Ndivhuwo Muvhulawa, a PhD student in Biochemistry at the North-West University (NWU), Mahikeng Campus, received a fellowship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to conduct research at the Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo from January to September.

Ndivhuwo is under the supervision of Professor SE…

A cleaner way to turn plant waste into fuel

Plant waste is everywhere, in harvested fields, forestry sites and processing plants. A new study argues it could play a bigger role in the energy economy if it can be processed in a cleaner way.

Prof Indra Bahadur, a chemist at the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU), has published a review article in Chemical Reviews (…

Vanderbijlpark Campus shines in PMRafrica excellence awards

Recognised as the highest-rated institution in the prestigious PMR.africa Excellence Awards for the Sedibeng District, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus stood out for its excellence and leadership in higher education and corporate governance.

The awards, based on a survey conducted among CEOs, managing directors…

Mining the future: The NWU’s leap into critical minerals and smart mining

The North-West University (NWU) is positioning itself at the forefront of South Africa’s evolving mining landscape, with a strategic focus on critical minerals, smart mining technologies and sustainable sector development. Through the establishment and expansion of its School of Mines and Mining Engineering, the…