Broadcasting legend Tim Modise to receive NWU honorary doctorate

For more than three decades his distinctive voice has helped South Africans make sense of politics, democracy and a changing nation. Now veteran broadcaster and media personality Tim Modise will receive an honorary doctorate from the North-West University (NWU).

The university will…

NWU mourns the passing of legendary musician and Chancellor’s award recipient

The North-West University (NWU) community is deeply saddened by the passing of the legendary South African musician, composer, and esteemed NWU Chancellor’s Award recipient, Bernard “Babsy” Mlangeni, who passed away on 1 October 2026 at the age of 83. 

In 2012, the NWU’s Mafikeng…

Give our future doctors the home they deserve

South Africa has trained 3 277 doctors in Cuba, but at a current cost of around R1.62 million per student, Prof. Bismark Tyobeka asks whether a programme created 30 years ago still serves the country's needs.

Food and water shortages, overcrowded accommodation and psychological strain…

Consistency and progress underpin the global standing of the NWU

The North-West University (NWU) has once again demonstrated consistency in the latest global university rankings. Its position in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings maintains its standing among the leading universities in the world.

THE published the 2027…

Protest is democratic, but violence undermines student success

Protest is a democratic right, but violence and intimidation threaten the very student success activists seek to protect.

South Africa’s post-school education system faces R59 billion in outstanding debt, placing both students and universities under immense pressure.

When a country starts rationing its future

South Africa’s growing scrutiny of foreign academics may deliver quicker gains in representation while weakening the expertise needed to develop the country’s next generation of scholars.

Localisation determines who occupies existing opportunities. Development determines how many…

The Sydney Sweeney ad controversy: Is this really good ‘exposure’?

Sydney Sweeney’s provocative Novig campaign attracted millions of views, but did it build the betting platform’s brand – or merely make its celebrity partner more famous?

“Attention is the easy part. Attention is not brand building.” Prof. Roland Goldberg examines whether Novig’s…

Is the current AI panic justified?

AI agents acting beyond human control have intensified fears about cyberattacks and catastrophic risks, but is the panic justified?

Prof. Anné Verhoef warns that AI’s greatest immediate threat is not killer robots, but attacks on the digital systems that modern society depends on.

Nuclear power can meet Africa’s and AI’s energy demands

Africa’s AI ambitions will demand vast amounts of reliable electricity. Prof. Bismark Tyobeka believes nuclear power could provide it. 

Nuclear accidents dominate public perception, but the evidence places nuclear among the safest sources of electricity.

GDP setback highlights vulnerabilities in economic recovery

The negative gross domestic product (GDP) growth figures of -0,2% for the second quarter of 2026 confirm the bad knock the South African economy – together with many other economies – took as a result of the recent global energy shock. StatsSA released the latest figures on 8 September.