Water pollution is a significant environmental issue with far-reaching impacts on society. It is not confined to local or regional boundaries and is exacerbated by climate change, leading to human health risks.

In dealing with such unprecedented risks to our water resources, what is needed is innovation – the kind of innovation embodied by the Water Research Group of the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management at the North-West University (NWU).

The ongoing influence of colonialism can be seen across the world, as it has had a lasting impact on societies and cultures. In South Africa, the repercussions of colonialism have been particularly profound, marked by periods of Dutch and British rule.

Ten million tiny pieces of plastic are estimated to be lying on the lawn in front of the North-West University (NWU) Law Faculty in Potchefstroom, and the soil in the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds also has high levels of plastic pollution. This is the downside of the celebrations that are often held in these spaces, where glitter poppers and fireworks leave a lasting legacy – unpleasantly so.

Grade 12 learners are on the brink of adulthood, facing decisions about their future careers and lifestyles. The weight of these decisions and expectations from parents, teachers and society can be overwhelming.

Amid their stresses and worries, they can count on the support of mentors such as Prof Fazel Freeks, associate professor and coordinator of community engagement at the Faculty of Theology of the North-West University (NWU).

Prof Binu Luke is a distinguished health expert and extraordinary associate professor at AUTHeR in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU). In February 2024, the South African Medical Association (SAMA) gave due recognition for his exceptional contributions by nominating him for the prestigious Extraordinary Service to Medicine Award at the SAMA Merit Awards 2024. This award acknowledges Prof Luke's outstanding dedication and expertise in the field of medicine.

The postgraduate students (honours and master’s degree) of the Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics (CBMI) were treated to a transformative workshop on emotional intelligence on Friday, 8 March 2024. The workshop is part of a series of engagements presented by ABSA to assist the North-West University (NWU) in preparing the students for the work environment.

By Kangwa Nkonde

An initiative by Dr Willem van Niekerk, a senior lecturer in the North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Mechanical Engineering, aims to assist the community in turning waste into compost.

On the corner of Ds Abrey Beukes Drive and Jan de Klerk Way in the suburb of Oosterville you find the words: “Persevere and Conquer”. This is the motto that learners of the Duineveld High School in the sizzling Upington see every day. This is what Sanmarie Visser of the North-West University (NWU) does on the netball court every day.

Languages with origins from across the world were heard, and the tennis courts at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds at the North-West University (NWU) became a global village during the recent hosting of two junior ITF tournaments.

The upsurge in the number of tennis tournaments hosted by the NWU has been something to behold, and can be attributed to the new clay courts at the Potchefstroom Campus as well as the superlative organising and coaching team.

“While most analysts believe that, barring shocks, rates have now peaked in South Africa, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) for understandable reasons still sees inflation risks as being on the upside.”

In commenting on the decision by the MPC on 27 March to again leave interest rates unchanged, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist at the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says it was widely expected that interest rates would be left unchanged.