By Gofaone Motsamai

From the village of Leshobo in Taung to the corridors of leadership in the Free State’s Department of Agriculture, Ntombana Dlanga’s life story is one of effort, purpose and the impact of education.

Born and raised in a household led by a single mother who worked as a nursing assistant, Ntombana’s dreams of higher education seemed out of reach after she matriculated in 1997. “There was just no money for university,” she recalls. “So, I went into what I knew – hustling.”

The North-West University (NWU) continues its commitment to inclusivity and support for students with disabilities, with the official handover of newly renovated, state-of-the-art offices to the Disability Rights Unit (DRU) on the Mahikeng Campus.

The handover ceremony, held on 21 July, homed in on the daily challenges of students living with disabilities.

By Gofaone Motsamai and Keaoleboga Motshabi

Final-year students at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus were challenged to think beyond graduation during a public lecture hosted by the Humanities Student Academic Chapter.

The event took place on 24 July 2025, and brought together current students and NWU alumni working across different sectors to share their personal experiences and highlight the importance of planning, networking and mentorship.

Byline: Keaoleboga Motshabi

Bonolo “Miss Faith” Monaisa has transitioned from the student-run studios of NWU FM to the national platform of Motsweding FM, where she now serves as a content producer for SABC Educational Programmes.

Lemogang Moote, secretary general of the South African National Boxing Organisation (SANABO) in the North West, has added another accomplishment to her growing list of achievements by graduating with an MSc degree in agricultural economics from the North-West University (NWU).

The way technology shapes power, and how power defines technology, is the focus of a new study led by Amantle Mothelesi, a lecturer at North-West University’s (NWU) School of Philosophy, which argues that Africa needs a locally grounded philosophy of technology, shaped by post-colonial realities.

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.