Nutrition science targets inflammation to tackle TB and iron deficiency

Nutrition can be used as a tool to control inflammation and address conditions such as tuberculosis (TB) and iron deficiency. In her recent inaugural lecture, North-West University (NWU) Prof Linda Malan drew on findings from years of research to highlight how omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D and iron can influence immune function and offer new…

Celebrating the history of SADiLaR: A testament to heritage and innovation

By Lihle Sosibo

Following Heritage month, the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR) at the North-West University (NWU) proudly turns the spotlight inwards, celebrating its own heritage through its history book titled The Story of SADiLaR.

This publication is more than a record of…

Potchefstroom Campus Staff Sports Club heads to Gqeberha for the USSWSA national tournament

The North-West University (NWU) Staff Sports Club on the Potchefstroom Campus is proud and excited to represent the university at the upcoming University Staff Sport and Wellness of South Africa (USSWSA) national tournament, taking place in Gqeberha from 9 to 11 October 2025. Hosted by Nelson Mandela University, the…

Professor calls for actionable science that can save lives

What happens in the lab should not stay there. That was the central message from Prof Anja Franken of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Health Sciences, who used her inaugural lecture to argue that occupational health research must move beyond academic journals and into workplaces where it can save lives.

“Research must not…

Professor honoured as International Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering

North-West University (NWU) extraordinary professor Linda Godfrey has been elected as an International Fellow of the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) in the United Kingdom.

This is the second key role she has had within the ambit of the RAEng. For the past four years, Prof Godfrey has served on the Board of the Academy’s…

Images and drawings reveal family experiences that words cannot

In a world where numbers and words often dominate research, a North-West University (NWU) scholar is urging academics to “picture it”. During her inaugural lecture Prof Vicki Koen from the Faculty of Health Sciences argued that images, drawings and photographs can unlock new ways of understanding family well-being that traditional methods…

Women Leading for Sustainability: Workshop empowers the next Generation

On 19 August 2025, the university hosted a transformative sustainability workshop aimed at strengthening pathways for female students into impactful careers. With support from the British Council South Africa, the event created an inspiring platform for students to engage with practitioners, explore career options, and build the skills required…

Academic contributes to UN Human Rights Council discussions on children’s rights

Prof Klaus Beiter from the Faculty of Law at the North-West University (NWU) participated in the intergovernmental working group of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva from 1 to 3 September 2025.

During this time the working group evaluated proposals for a fourth Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the…

New book shines light on commercial law and contemporary issues

A timely new academic publication has joined South Africa’s shelves of legal scholarship. Commercial Law and Related Issues: A Review of Contemporary Legal Issues and Regulatory Development in South Africa and Selected Jurisdictions, published by Juta, was officially launched during a recent legal research conference at the Potchefstroom Campus…

‘Where dignity lives’: The story of Mama Vida and her fight for disability rights at NWU

On a quiet morning at the Mahikeng Campus of North-West University (NWU), the halls of the Disability Rights Unit hum with purpose. At the heart of it all is Vida Mutlaneng, a disability coordinator whose presence radiates warmth, compassion and an unwavering commitment to justice.

Affectionately known as Mama Vida or Mother Theresa by…