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

Presidential Award for NWU’s Dr Molepo

It is almost that time of the year again for the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Dr John Molepo and a number of graduates to hit the streets of Potchefstroom, Pretoria and Polokwane draped in their graduation regalia.

This year will be more sentimental as they walk between hundreds of cars, asking motorists for donations for the #…

The current situation of the DA and the power of coalitions – an expert opinion

The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s main opposition party, has undergone some major changes and developments over the past few weeks.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Prof André Duvenhage, a political analyst, recently had an in-depth discussion with the NWU Business School’s Theo Venter about the DA’s current situation…

Moody’s: SA must get its house in order to avoid universal junk status

“Moody's decision to reduce the outlook for its credit rating of the South African government from 'stable' to 'negative' is not unexpected in the light of the country’s weak economy and deteriorating public finances.”

This is according to Prof Raymond Parsons, a well-known economist and academic from the North-West University (…

Prioritising physical activity on a global level

During the second congress of the BRICS Council of Exercise and Sports Science (BRICSCESS) recently held in Cape Town, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Prof Hans de Ridder was named as the new president of this global organisation. 

The purpose of BRICSCESS is to promote communication, interaction and cooperation among all…

Latest medium-term budget policy statement confirms grim nature of SA’s fiscal challenge

“Given the domestic and global headwinds facing the South African economy, the medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) strongly shifts the narrative towards recognising the grim nature of the fiscal crisis that has to be addressed in the country.”

This is according to Prof Raymond Parsons, a well-known economist and academic…

With Brexit extension UK can avoid “crashing out”

“The European Union’s (EU’s) decision to again extend the UK-EU Brexit deadline from 31 October to 31 January 2020 was not unexpected in current circumstances.”

This is according to Prof Raymond Parsons, a well-known economist and academic from the North-West University (NWU) Business School.

“Although regionally South…

Pierrefect pitch

It can be a warzone. Imagine 22 elite athletes able to hit a granite hard field hockey ball to speeds in excess of 100 km/h. Imagine having to fend off the opposing team’s hockey sticks, while chasing after and protecting that precious ball. Broken bones and shattered noses are common.

It sounds like a warzone, but for 21-year old…

NWU is the proud host of this year’s Child Health Priorities Conference

The late President Nelson Mandela said: “Our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation. They will be the leaders of our country, the creators of our national wealth, those who care for and protect our people.” There can be no truer words than that.

The North West University (NWU)…

Confirmed incident of bacterial meningitis at NWU Potch

On Monday, 21 October 2019 a fourth-year student on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom was admitted to a local hospital after which a case of bacterial meningitis was confirmed on Tuesday morning, 22 October 2019.

The student is not involved with a residence and all indications are that it is an isolated…

Even engineering students sometimes wear superhero capes!

One of Albert Einstein’s most famous quotes is: “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

This is certainly the mind-set of second-year students at the Faculty of Engineering at the North-West University (NWU) who recently had their first taste of the engineering world when they had…