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

Bianca Blomerus: on track for success

North-West University (NWU) alumna and IT boffin Bianca Blomerus’ balanced approach to work, relaxation, and the ability to seize opportunities, has put her on the fast track to success as an engineer at South Africa’s state-owned freight rail operator, Transnet.

Through her hard work and tenacity at school, Bianca was awarded a…

Unemployment is now the “cruellest tax” on a vulnerable population

A new record high (34,4%) in the South African unemployment rate in the second quarter of 2021 confirms the destructive impact that the Delta variant of the coronavirus and the accompanying lockdown restrictions have had on the economy and the labour market.

Prof Raymond Parsons…

Liezl Gouws is ready to make her Paralympic mark

She has proven her resolve more than anyone of her age should have, and Liezl Gouws is ready to prove it again. This fourth-year pharmacy student from the North-West University (NWU), who has cerebral palsy after suffering a stroke as a five-year-old, will represent South Africa at the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Liezl will compete…

NWU student shares his Global Enterprise Experience

North-West University (NWU) student, Martin Nkgodi Maupa, is beaming with pride. Martin, who is a team president of the Young Entrepreneurs Business Organisation, now represents the NWU as Community of Practice (CoP) member in the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme, after recently competing in the 2021 Global…

Prof Lubbe’s pioneering work is being recognised internationally

In the light of Women’s Month, we are proud of one of our own frontierswomen who is being recognised internationally for her groundbreaking work in the rainbow nation. Prof Welma Lubbe, professor in the School of Nursing Science at the North-West University (NWU), was recently approached by the Developmental Observer, the official newsletter of…

The price of bullying

Some children can easily process the impact of bullying behaviour, while others struggle with the aftereffects of these traumatic events for years. Tebello Mabusela, a counselling psychologist and psychology lecturer at the North-West University (NWU), discusses some of the consequences and the real price of bullying for some victims. She says…

When you think of engineering, think of Africa

When you think of engineering, German engineering in particular comes to mind, while it is extremely uncommon to think of Africa. This is the opinion of Mia Mangaroo-Pillay, an industrial engineer and lecturer at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Industrial Engineering. Through her PhD thesis titled “A Lean implementation framework…

NWU engineering student scoops awards for Covid-19 innovations

Karin Schutte, a third-year mechanical engineering student at the North-West University (NWU), recently walked away with R35 000 worth of prizes at the Mahlale Innovation Consortium (MIC).

The MIC is an alliance of five higher education institutions, formed in response to a request…

NWU trailblazer in diatomology scoops prestigious award

Dr Roksana Majewska, a postdoctoral fellow at the North-West University (NWU), has been recognised as a trailblazer and groundbreaker in the marine biology and diatomology fields.

At the recent Africa Genome Challenge 2021, Dr Majewska walked away with first prize in the Invertebrates and Microbes category.

The Africa…

Become a language technologist and be a wizard with programming, languages ​​and information systems

Did you know that language and computer programming can be a match made in heaven? Register now at the North-West University for the recurriculated three-year degree in language technology to explore the possibilities of this unusual combination.

This field of study specialises in…