Research flags regulatory gaps in tailings dam management

Thousands of abandoned mining tailings dams across South Africa continue to expose gaps in environmental regulation, placing communities and ecosystems at risk.

Researcher Thandolwakhe Mokotedi from the Faculty of Law at the North-West University (NWU) says that “the regulation of tailings dams in South Africa remains an area of…

International partnership targets perinatal mental health care in rural South Africa

Long-term capacity building is required to address perinatal mood disorders which affect more than a third of women in South Africa, negatively impacting individuals and families.

To address this, local, international health care professionals and academics met in Mahikeng from 9 to 13 March 2026. The purpose was to advance a joint…

NWU researcher earns global recognition for advancing science in Africa

For Dr Modupe Stella Ayilara, science has always been about more than research. It is about people, communities and finding solutions that matter.

That purpose came into sharp focus on 11 December 2025 in Johannesburg, when she was named one of just 30 laureates of the L’…

A decade of dialogue and discovery at the SSIRC Conference

The 10th  Social Sciences  International Research Conference (SSIRC)held from 6 to 7 November 2025 at the Radisson Blu in Umhlanga, Durban, marked a significant milestone celebrating a decade of impactful dialogue, innovative research, and academic collaboration in the fields of social sciences and international research.

This…

NWU Excellence Awards acknowledge staff excellence across disciplines

The North-West University (NWU) honoured its exceptional staff at the annual NWU Excellence Awards ceremony, held in Potchefstroom on 20 November.

More than 150 staff members received recognition for their outstanding contributions to the university’s key focus areas of teaching and…

Building leaders to tackle hunger and malnutrition across Africa

For more than two decades, the African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP) of the North-West University (NWU) has been shaping the future of nutrition leadership on the continent. Since its first programme in 2002, this flagship 10-day residential initiative, hosted annually at the NWU, has developed over 500…

Dr Monray Williams is helping to lead Africa’s virology charge

The battle against HIV in sub-Saharan Africa has always been as much about systems and science as about the virus itself. Antiretroviral therapy has turned what was once a death sentence into a manageable condition.

Yet, as Dr Monray Williams of the North-West University (NWU) cautions, “millions of people still face barriers to…

Study develops health-promotion strategies for caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans

Caregivers of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS carry responsibilities that shape family stability and community support. A new study has produced health-promotion strategies to strengthen their ability to care and sustain their own well-being.

Led by Dr Boitumelo Joy Molato, a PhD graduate from the North-West University (NWU), the study…

NWU Research Paper featured in Institute of Physics collection

After long days of teaching English in South Korea, Marcel van der Westhuizen would often find himself pondering the biggest questions imaginable: How will the universe ultimately end? His persistence and curiosity have now paid off.

The Institute of Physics (IOP) has published a special collection of papers featuring the research paper…

Cannabis tourism raises interest In Mahikeng community – and Portugal

By Gofaone Motsamai

When tourism researcher Dr Jean Manaliyo began asking people in Mahikeng what they knew about cannabis tourism, many were curious about how it could shape their community and economy. That curiosity has now taken his research across borders.

The North-West University (NWU) researcher…