By Mzwandile Ndlovu

A renewed push to translate indigenous knowledge into practical rural development took centre stage as stakeholders gathered for the Second Smart Village conference in Nyandeni in the Eastern Cape.

Held under the theme “Towards an indigenous knowledge-based smart village model: A multi-stakeholder planning dialogue for sustainable rural development”, the three-day engagement from 24 to 26 March 2026 moved beyond conceptual discussions towards implementation and community participation.

By Mzwandile Ndlovu

For South Africa to prosper municipalities must become engines of social justice that engage with citizens, deliver on services and sustainable development and are held accountable for their governance.

Opinion piece by Dr Mabutho Shangase and final-year master’s degree student Masungulo Khoza

The May 2024 national and provincial elections in South Africa were more than a routine democratic exercise; they were a revealing test of the electoral resilience of the country under mounting social and political strain.

The North-West University (NWU) continues to embrace innovative teaching approaches that prepare students for the demands of a rapidly evolving workplace. This commitment was recently demonstrated through an engaging classroom initiative designed for first-year Human Resource Management (HRM) students, where technology and real-world application took centre stage.

The North-West University (NWU) Mahikeng Stadium has been approved to host matches in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, underlining the university’s ability to provide facilities that comply with the requirements for professional football in 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 programme aimed at improving early detection and management of perinatal mood disorders in rural South Africa. Limited access to specialised mental-health services in these areas continues to affect maternal and child health.

Nkululeko Khwezilomso Malgas, manager of the North-West University (NWU) Soccer Institute, has obtained a CAF A coaching licence, a development he says will strengthen player training and coaching standards at the institution.

Nkululeko linked the achievement to the institute’s mandate of producing players ready for the professional game.

In a time of multi-media and content creators, the critical role of indigenous languages in shaping inclusive and meaningful media content was explored during a lecture at the North-West University (NWU).

Itumeleng Bahetane, South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) North West regional operations manager, returned to the NWU where his media journey began, to deliver a public lecture on the importance of preserving and promoting indigenous languages.

Appointed the new Public Service Commissioner for the North West Province, North-West University (NWU) alumnus Advocate Neo Sephhoti is determined to strengthen accountability in the province.

Her appointment was confirmed during a sitting of the North West Provincial Legislature in March where the Speaker, Dr Desbo Mohono, introduced her following a recruitment process conducted by an ad-hoc committee to fill the position that had been vacant for several years.

Governments across the world are turning to digital policing systems to improve crime detection, manage information and respond faster to security threats, but North-West University (NWU) legal expert Advocate Justice Khoza say the expansion of these technologies is raising new questions about privacy, accountability and constitutional rights.