North-West University (NWU) master’s student Letago Kgomoeswana has made it to the national top 20 of FameLab®, one of the biggest science communication competitions in the world.

Indigenous grains, fruits and vegetables could go a long way towards boosting food security in South Africa. What is needed is greater awareness among households and other stakeholders about the value of these plants. 

This is according to two researchers from the North-West University (NWU). Dr Abiodun Olusola Omotayo and Prof Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu are from the research niche area Food Security and Safety and the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centre in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

What is the impact of genetic modification on the elemental composition of plants?

The North-West University (NWU) and the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) hosted the National Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Expo on 17 August 2021. 

South African youth is currently confronted with a myriad of issues, including the high unemployment rate, poor educational results, poverty, and less-than-ideal mental and physical health. According to Stats SA, 20,4 million young people aged 15 to 34 accounted for 63,3% of the total number of unemployed persons in the first quarter of 2020. 

Thabang Vincent Tlale, North-West University (NWU) Student Representative Council secretary-general and NWU Mahikeng Student Campus Council chairperson, was recently elected to serve as a member of the national executive committee (NEC) of the South African Union of Students (SAUS) for the term 2021/23.

Thabang will serve as the chair of the research and community engagement committee during his term.
 “I am planning to make a mark in the transformation of the higher education landscape in South Africa,” says Thabang.

North-West University (NWU) academic Dr Hazel Tumelo Mufhandu presented a public lecture on Covid-19 virus variants and their impact on vaccines as part of a National Science Week

Former Lesotho national football goalkeeper Phoka Matete has recently scored himself a PhD in law at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) June graduations.

The wide range of bacterial species found in ready-to-eat meat sold on the streets of Johannesburg indicates that consumers of this meat could be at risk of food poisoning.

This is according to the findings of a study conducted by Dr Mpinda Edoaurd Tshipamba, North-West University (NWU) master’s graduate in the subject group Animal Health.

The title of his study was “Evaluation of the effect of hygiene practices and attitudes on the microbial quality of street vended meats sold in Johannesburg, South Africa”.

In a water-scarce country like South Africa with growing demands for grazing, cultivated perennial grasses could be the answer to protecting the veld and providing nutrition for animals.

“Droughts, scarcity of rain and overgrazing have caused a lot of degradation of the veld, and therefore veld restoration is a priority for farmers and the animals that depend on grass for survival,” says Ntokozo Msiza, a PhD candidate in animal science at the North-West University (NWU).