South Africa’s great municipal experiment

South Africa is preparing the most sweeping reconfiguration of local government since 1996. Velenkosini Hlabisa, the minister of co-operative governance and traditional affairs (CoGTA), has unveiled a plan to reduce dysfunction, shore up finances and restore public trust in the country’s 257 municipalities. At least 35 of these are now deemed…

Zoe Idemudia: Living Beyoncé’s words and thriving in Tech

Zoe Aidomo Idemudia certainly does not shy away from that answer. From coding challenges to life lessons, she’s proving that girls really do run the world. With a sparkling energy that matches her brilliance, she has made waves in a world that, until recently, felt overwhelmingly male. Zoe obtained her Bachelor of…

Breaking barriers: Prof Suranie Horn on science, sustainability, and women in STEM

When a research paper leaps from the quiet world of academia into the glare of public debate, it is rarely accidental. For Prof Suranie Horn of the North-West University (NWU), that moment arrived when she and her colleagues revealed that HIV antiretrovirals (ARVs) such as lopinavir and efavirenz were not only saving lives but also seeping into…

Dr Maryke Schoonen is ensuring that rare diseases meet science, not neglect

Genomic medicine promises to revolutionise healthcare, but Africa remains dangerously underrepresented in the data that drives it. This gap leaves thousands of families without answers and, too often, without hope. At the North-West University’s (NWU) Mitochondria Research Laboratory and the National Metabolomics Platform, Dr Maryke Schoonen is…

Lulama Mabala: It is time to rethink retirement

South Africans tend to think of retirement in rands and cents. Yet, research by Lulama Mabala suggests that what people do with their time after leaving work is just as critical as how they fund it.

Mabala is an expert in leisure, physical activity, wellness, successful ageing and community engagement at the North-West University’s (NWU…

NWU strengthens support for postgraduate studies (honours, master’s, and doctoral)

The North-West University (NWU) is pleased with the overwhelming response to the announcement by our principal and vice-chancellor, Prof. Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka, regarding the financial support for qualifying postgraduate students (honours, master’s, and doctoral).This intervention is crucial in ensuring that we…

Fanie Roos makes history as the only PGA professional to earn a PhD in SA

In a sport defined by discipline, patience and relentless pursuit of perfection, Dr Fanie Roos has done what no Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) professional has ever done before. He did not just break par, he broke barriers.

Dr Roos, a husband, father, coach and academic, has become the only PGA golf professional in South Africa…

Dr Rorisang Machailo named finalist in 2025 HEWL Awards

Dr Rorisang Machailo, senior lecturer and deputy director at the School of Nursing at the North-West University (NWU), has been recognised as a top 3 finalist in the Women in Academic Administration category of the 2025 Higher Education Women Leaders (HEWL) Awards.

This honour highlights her outstanding leadership and dedication to…

Dr Mariaan Wicks shaping the future of public health with NutriRank™

The North-West University (NWU) Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) office is proud to celebrate the achievements of Dr Mariaan Wicks, a senior lecturer in Dietetics and a woman innovator whose work is transforming the way South Africans understand their food.

Dr Wicks is the developer of NutriRank™, a web-based nutrient…

Prof Erica Derbyshire empowers small and micro enterprises

In celebration of the Women’s Month 2025 theme of the North-West University (NWU), “Empowered to Lead: NWU Women Shaping the Future”, the Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) office proudly showcases the achievements of women innovators who are transforming society through practical solutions. Leading this charge is Prof Erica…