By Prof Ushotanefe Useh
Universities in Africa stand at a crossroads today. While they continue to produce research, award degrees and rank in global academic listings, an uncomfortable question lingers: are they truly serving the societies that fund and sustain them? Are their graduates solving the most pressing problems of the continent, or are they simply joining the long queues of unemployed youth?
In the spirit of compassion and service that defined Nelson Mandela’s legacy, the North-West University (NWU) marked Mandela Day 2025 with a series of impactful community outreach initiatives, focusing on education, animal health, and basic service delivery.
Laying the foundation through early childhood education
The allegations against the South African police minister are indeed serious and damaging, further eroding the little trust that citizens still have in institutions.
According to Thabang Motswaledi, a political analyst at the North-West University (NWU), the allegations have placed the already preoccupied Government of National Unity (GNU) under even greater strain, and put President Cyril Ramaphosa into a position where he must choose between government and party politics.
South Africa’s failure to manage waste properly is no longer just an environmental issue; it is a growing legal, health and human rights concern and without urgent reform, the costs will continue to mount in landfills and lives.
With nearly a third of households lacking access to formal waste removal, communities increasingly rely on open dumping, backyard burning and unregulated landfill use, exposing themselves to serious health and environmental hazards.
By Gofaone Motsamai
In a hall filled with eager students and guests, the air buzzed with anticipation as the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Humanities prepared to host its annual Dean’s Merit Awards.
The Dean’s Merit List recognises students who achieve an average of 75% and above in all their modules. Only 138 students from the Faculty of Humanities– just 2% of the 7 000 enrolled – earned a place on the 2025 list for excelling academically in the previous year.
While an impressive R1,27 billion has been budgeted for agriculture and rural development in the North West Province for the 2025/26 financial year, the decrease in funding for research and technology services is disappointing. This is the view of Dr Kaya Myeki of the School of Agricultural Sciences at the North-West University (NWU).
Commenting on the budget delivered by Madoda Sambatha, MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, on 24 July 2025, Dr Myeki welcomed the 5,53% increase in the agriculture and rural budget.
The North-West University (NWU) recently hosted a transformative STEP train-the-trainer (TTT) programme, further cementing its commitment to cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset among students and communities.
The week-long initiative, held at the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus, brought together educators, trainers and innovation champions to deepen their expertise in entrepreneurship facilitation and expand their collective impact.
In a powerful demonstration of language, heritage and collaboration, university language specialists have partnered with the Provincial House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders to hold a training programme for Dikgosi (traditional leaders).
The Language Directorate of the North-West University (NWU) played a key role in the week-long programme, held in Rustenburg from 2 to 6 June for Dikgosi from across the North West Province.
Mainstream radio combined with social media can do more to preserve South African indigenous languages than either can on their own
A recent study by North-West University (NWU) master’s graduate Gofaone Motsamai explores how Motsweding FM radio is using Facebook to promote Setswana through podcasts and live streams.
“Motsweding FM is not just broadcasting, it’s preserving,” says Gofaone. “Through Facebook, the station connects Setswana speakers across borders, offering accessible and engaging content that supports linguistic and cultural continuity.”
The recent announcement by Cameroon’s 92-year-old President, Paul Biya, that he will seek re-election has reignited debates around prolonged leadership in Africa. Biya, who has been in office for 43 years, would be nearing 100 should he complete another term, making him one of the oldest and longest-serving leaders on the continent.
North-West University (NWU) academic Thabang Motswaledi from the School of Government Studies says Biya’s announcement reflects a larger governance issue in Africa.