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.

An award-winning programme of the North-West University (NWU) is changing the lives of imprisoned men and their children by coaching and supporting them to be better fathers.

The Faculty of Humanities at the NWU recently hosted its first-ever Community Engagement Symposium, a milestone for its staff and students. Held over two days in Potchefstroom, the event was filled with dynamic presentations and lively discussions.

“This is an important event for our faculty and signals an exciting step forward in how we think about, approach and implement community engagement in our academic work," said Prof Herculene Kotzé, deputy dean for community engagement, stakeholder relations and business development, in her welcoming address.

Creating and executing supranational regional policies is a critical first step in preparing regions to become core players on the global stage. Such policies seek to modernise and restructure a region’s foundations, promote sustainable development across borders and address economic and social inequalities.

Agriculture is at the forefront of ensuring food security and researchers at the North-West University (NWU) are constantly looking for innovative and more effective ways to enhance this crucial sector.

Associate professor Rojanette Coetzee from the School of Industrial Engineering is focusing on “lean agriculture” to reduce waste and improve the efficiency of agri-systems.

“The lean agriculture approach is adapted from the manufacturing industry, where it is used to reduce waste, improve efficiency and do more with less,” says Prof Coetzee.

The North-West University (NWU) netball team is gearing up for a highly anticipated semi-final showdown against the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in the Varsity Netball tournament.

The two teams previously faced off in round 5, where UJ secured a victory. Now, the NWU is determined to turn the tables and secure a spot in the final.

Reflecting on the upcoming match, head coach Elsunet du Plessis shares insights on the team’s preparations. After losing to UJ earlier in the season, Elsunet and her squad have analysed their round 5 performance closely.

The North-West University (NWU’s) Puseletso Lesofe, a medical biological scientist on the Potchefstroom Campus, was announced the winner in the STEMI category of the 2024 Mail & Guardian Power of Women Awards on 29 August.

This specific award celebrates the accomplishments of women making significant contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (STEMI).

In the final part of our series of articles celebrating Tourism Month, we again look at the phenomenal work the North-West University’s (NWU’s) research unit Tourism Research in Economics, Environs and Society (TREES) is doing to infuse the tourism sector with its expertise, to make the sector visible and to protect our tourism heritage. This is why tourism matters.

South Africa’s place on the global tourism stage: A competitive destination

The North-West University (NWU) is celebrating Tourism Month, and when it comes to tourism experts in the country, the NWU’s research unit Tourism Research in Economics, Environs and Society (TREES) has distinguished itself as a leader in its field.

In our ongoing series of articles, we take a closer look at what TREES are doing to promote tourism in South Africa. This is why tourism matters.
The economic power of tourism: A vital contributor to South Africa’s growth

The widely expected pivot for the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to now commence its interest rate cutting cycle by a modest 25 basis points (bps) is good news for business and consumers.

In commenting on the decision by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) on 19 September Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the Business school of the North-West University (NWU), says that, although the decision remains marginal in terms of present high borrowing costs, it nonetheless represents a positive turning point in the interest rate outlook.