Violent crime in South Africa is rampant, with the country frequently ranked as one of the most dangerous in the world, as well as among the most unsafe in Africa. Citizens are afraid, and justifiably so, adapting to crime as though it is no longer temporary, but permanent. This fear has for decades quietly been redesigning suburban South Africa.

The North-West University (NWU) has launched a new Law School to Law Firm series aimed at bridging the gap between academic theory and the practical realities of the legal profession.

The initiative, led by the Law Students’ Academic Chapter (LSAC), is designed to equip final-year and postgraduate law students with the tools, insights and confidence needed to enter the workplace.

South Africa does not suffer from a knowledge deficit. It suffers from a translation deficit. The country produces knowledge at scale as universities generate research, publishing extensively and graduating thousands of students each year. Yet, despite this intellectual productivity, graduate unemployment remains high, critical skills shortages persist and a divide remains between what graduates know and what they are able to do.

A cut-down piano that emits a single high-pitched note drew students and academics into a discussion on memory, absence and artistic practice when the North-West University (NWU) hosted one of the country’s leading art awards.

The university hosted the Helgaard Steyn Award for Sculpture 2025 at the NWU Gallery, bringing together artists, academics and representatives from the Helgaard Steyn Trust. The award, regarded as the largest art prize in South Africa, forms part of a four-year cycle that alternates between sculpture, painting, musical composition and literary arts.

A team of North-West University (NWU) students will represent South Africa at the 5th International Soil Judging Competition, scheduled for June 2026 in Nanjing, China. This will place the institution on a global platform for soil science training and research.

The team, led by NWU lecturer and research scientist Angelique Daniell from the School of Geo- and Spatial Sciences, includes Wehan Voges, Heike Steinberg, Botha du Plessis and Sebastian Burger, who will compete against teams from 23 countries.

The FNB North-West University (NWU) Eagles booked their place in the 2026 Varsity Cup Final in emphatic fashion, dismantling FNB Maties 50 – 10 in a blockbuster semi-final fixture at the Fanie du Toit Sportsgrounds on Monday, 6 April. The dominant victory extends the Eagles’ unbeaten home run and avenges their 26 – 30 defeat to Maties in their round-six clash at the Danie Craven Stadium on 23 March.

Twelve years ago, Prof. Liezl van Dyk, executive dean of the Faculty of Engineering, came to the North-West University (NWU) on a mission: to play a central role in developing industrial engineering as an impactful discipline at the university. Her daughter, Karla, was 10 years old at the time. Now, on 31 March this year, Prof. van Dyk experienced the fruits of her labour first-hand when Karla graduated as an industrial engineer.

The FNB North-West University (NWU) Eagles secured a dramatic, hard-fought 56 -53 victory over the FNB University of Cape Town (UCT) Ikeys on Monday, 20 March in front of a boisterous crowd at the Fanie Du Toit Stadium. In a game of two halves, defined by moments of magic and mistakes, the Eagles were waiting in the wings.  

North-West University (NWU) student Makatu Mashanyu has been selected as one of the 100 South African Shining Stars by Inside Education for his contribution to education in disadvantaged communities.

“Being recognised among the 100 South African Shining Stars is both humbling and deeply encouraging. Personally, it reminds me how far I have come as both as a student, while keeping me grounded in the understanding that there is still so much to learn and become,” says Makatu, a PhD candidate in chemical and mineral engineering at the NWU.