Newsroom - Mafikeng Campus

Setswana academic has a passion for poetry

North-West University (NWU) Setswana lecturer and poet Ogodiseng Mokakale recently published an anthology of 60 Setswana poems, Tswina ya Poko.

Ogodiseng says teaching poetry at schools has lost its way, and that it is difficult to bring university students up to speed when they do not have a proper poetry background.

Fortunately, his passion for poetry motivates him to teach and instil a love and appreciation for poetry in his students.

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NWU reaches out to smallholder farmers

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Geo and Spatial Sciences, in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (KZNDARD) and Wesgrow Potatoes, hosted three farmers’ days for smallholder farmers in Swayimane and Applesbosch in January 2023.

This was to show support to these farmers and to celebrate a successful 2022 summer planting season that led to high potato yields (40 t/ha).

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Academic commends Newsroom Afrika for introducing indigenous language

North-West University (NWU) academic and director of Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) research unit Prof Abiodun Salawu has commended the South African television news channel Newzroom Afrika for expanding its horizons with the launch of its first Nguni-language news broadcast.

Prof Salawu says this is a very heart-warming development.

“I believe this would make information more accessible to Nguni language speakers, and it would go a long way.

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Alumnus joins prestigious law firm in the United Kingdom

North-West University (NWU) alumnus Thato Mashishi recently joined the corporate group of Walker Morris LLP (Walker Morris), the largest single-site law firm outside of London in the United Kingdom.

This corporate group is highly rated according to the rankings of Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 – two leading global research companies.

Thato’s areas of focus at Walker Morris are general corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital.

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Another NWU Soccer Institute player joins a professional team

Another player of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Soccer Institute has been scooped up by a professional team. Tshepiso Mahlangu joined Tuks FC in January 2023.

Tuks FC, a South African Association football club representing the University of Pretoria, currently plays in the National First Division.

Tshepiso, who captained the NWU team during the 2022 Varsity Football tournament is the second Soccer Institute player to be signed by the Pretoria-based team. Thabo Mnyamane joined Tuks FC in 2013.

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NWU staff member is one of the Brightest Young Minds

North-West University (NWU) staff member Mamello Maema has recently been selected as one of the 100 Brightest Young Minds in the World Food Programme (WFP) for Southern Africa.

Mamello says the programme aims to build networks across Africa for young and upcoming leaders from various spheres allowing them to connect, inspire and innovate.

This year’s summit was co-hosted with the World Food Programme Southern Africa. The theme of the event was “Connect, Inspire, Impact: Solutions to Food Systems Challenges”.

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Bank failures in Zimbabwe are due to poor regulatory supervision

The rampant failure of banks in Zimbabwe in the past 20 years has now been explained: a major reason is inadequate supervision of banking institutions by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and other regulatory bodies.

This is according to the doctoral study of Menelisi Ncube, who recently graduated from the North-West University (NWU) as a Doctor of Laws in mercantile law. 

In his study, Menelisi investigated why the banking institutions in Zimbabwe have been failing from around 2002 to date.

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Alumnus: old chilli seeds and new hot sauce make for ‘unique hotness’

North-West University (NWU) alumnus Tlotlo Kokeletso Palai recently launched her own hot sauce brand

The name of Tlotlo’s hot sauce is Deddi’s hot sauce, a name dedicated to her father, who is a farmer.

She says her hot sauce is made using her father’s seeds from 10 years ago. “The chilli itself is unique and so is the hotness.”

Tlotlo, originally from Rustenburg and a Bachelor of Social Science graduate from the NWU, says she started her trials in 2021.

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NWU delegation attends international conference on Russia–Ukraine crisis

North-West University (NWU) academics recently attended an international conference themed "The Russia–Ukraine Crisis and its Impact on Africa".

The conference, jointly organised by the Institute of African Diaspora Studies (IADS) and GLOTAN Research Services at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, took place on 16 and 17 November 2022.

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