Potchefstroom Campus News
Prof Hans du Plessis: A literary giant passes away
He was of a different ilk. His immense literary stature cast a shadow under which so many South Africans found solace and comfort. Now, it is with sadness but also gratitude for the many contributions he made both culturally and academically, that the North-West University (NWU) has to say farewell to Prof Hans du Plessis, who passed away on Friday 24 October at the age of 79.
Prof Hans was a beloved NWU faculty member since his appointment in 1981 as a professor in Afrikaans at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education.
He was an esteemed writer,… Read more
Paving the way for the next generation
Prof Lebo Gafane-Matemane, an associate professor of Physiology at the North-West University (NWU), is paving the way for the next generation of researchers by carving new paths in cardiovascular health research.
Prof Gafane-Matemane, who carries out her research activities as part of the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) and…
“Attached to the Soil” ― NWU experiences Fulbright scholar’s touching exhibition
An exhibition capturing the hopes and dreams of South Africans living in a democratic country since 1994 is currently touring six of South Africa’s university campuses. Members of the management, staff and students of the North-West University (NWU) attended a walkabout at the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus where they could experience Fulbright…
NWU Gender Awareness Week encourages getting comfortable with the uncomfortable
Gender Awareness Week (GAW) has become an integral part of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) strategy of promoting diversity and inclusivity among students, staff, and other stakeholders.
GAW takes place from 8 to 12 August 2022, with activities, sessions, and presentations focusing on creating awareness and discussing issues such as…
NWU academic elected as president of SAAFECS
Dr Adri du Toit, a member of the research unit for Self-directed Learning, was recently elected as managing president of the South African Association of Family Ecology and Consumer Sciences (SAAFECS) for a period of two years.
This was announced at the bi-annual General Meeting of the SAAFECS organisation, which was part of the SAAFECS…
Sediba Talk “Imbizo” focuses on the strength of women
Ontiretse Motingwa
Lebogang Mosidi, vice-primaria of the Sedibeng residence on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, recently hosted a talk at the Sedibeng recreational hall in preparation of women’s month.
“A strong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but a woman of…
Dr Anja graduated and stood out from the rest
The famous French fashion designer Coco Chanel said to be irreplaceable, one must always be different and that was definitely the case when Dr Anja Erasmus received her PhD in Environmental Science on 29 July 2022. She stood out by wearing a dress with her research printed on it.
Her journey at the NWU started in 2012 where she enrolled…
From the newsroom to a PhD in law
The story of Dr Elfas Torerai is a classic case of focus, determination, persistence and success personified. He started off as a rookie journalist, plying his trade in community newspapers. Before long, he joined the mainstream media where he rose to become the provincial correspondent of the now defunct The New Age/AfroVoice.
In…
NWU researcher triumphant against all odds
Ontiretse Motingwa
North-West University (NWU) Prof Ferdinand Potgieter, a professor and sub-area leader for discipline in the research unit Education and Human Rights in Diversity (Edu-HRight), recently received notice of his C2-rating as an established researcher from the National Research Foundation (NRF).…
Drive to end child labour: South African curriculum should respond to this human rights violation
Alarming atrocities are perpetrated against our most vulnerable and innocent citizens, our children. We hear of these every day, but how often do we reflect on the scourge of child labour? There will be no child labour when laws that govern access to basic education are strengthened.
This was the statement made by Department of Basic…
It is time for Eskom to switch on private sector initiatives
It is time to buck the dusky trend. The national energy provider, Eskom, is haemorrhaging money at an unsustainable rate and is nearly R400 billion in debt. Equipment is failing, power outages have become the norm, while its energy availability factor (EAF) has fallen by almost 30% in just over a decade.
Up to 13 July, South Africa had…