In a classroom where calculators are shared and pencils run short, a delivery of 70 branded pencil cases from the North-West University (NWU) Botswana Alumni Chapter landed with purpose. These cases containing pens, maths sets and scientific calculators represent the means to bridge more than just academic gaps.
A call has gone out to stakeholders in the North West Province to be part of the process of unlocking the economic potential of “matekwane” - the Setswana word for cannabis - for the benefit of rural communities.
By Gofaone Motsamai
When South Africa went into lockdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the economic impact was immediate. Informal traders – those who operate without formal registration or protection – were among the most affected. With no income, no access to trading spaces and limited government support, many were pushed into a state of deep uncertainty.
The South African Statistical Association (SASA) has announced the winner of its 2024/25 Honours Bursary Competition. Relebohile Makhanya, a student from North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, has been awarded the bursary valued at R50 000.
The competition is open to third-year students in statistics or mathematical statistics who plan to pursue honours studies at a South African university. It aims to support academic progress and address financial need in the field.
Drama has its uses beyond the stage and screen. It can even be applied to workplace challenges.
In a creative approach to learning, second-year students from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Human Resource Management, Industrial Psychology and Tourism subject groups have been using drama to explore workplace challenges and propose practical solutions.
As part of their Training and Development module, students were tasked with identifying gaps in real-world company training practices and presenting strategic responses through dramatised scenarios.
North-West University (NWU) alumnus Tsholofelo Lejaka has entered the ring as Boxing South Africa’s (BSA’s) new chief executive officer.
Tsholofelo previously served as BSA CEO from 2016 to 2020, and he returned to the organisation in September 2024 as acting accounting officer. His appointment, effective 17 June 2025, follows a comprehensive recruitment process initiated in January 2025 to restore stability within the organisation.
Never underestimate the value of actively participating in student activities while studying. Ntlantla Lucky Kgatlhane, now a senior political reporter at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), is testament to that. He started out at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus radio station, writing for the campus newspaper and generating content for the university’s website.
“I would never choose any other university because for me, the NWU is where it all started, where I built the foundation of my career,” he says.
As Phase 5 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) prepares to place thousands of young education assistants in schools across South Africa, support for their mental and emotional well-being is coming into sharper focus. In the North West province, an academic from the North-West University (NWU) is stepping in to provide such support to the 1 326 assistants allocated to the province.
By Gofaone Motsamai
A social sciences and economics student at North-West University’s Mahikeng Campus is balancing the demands of academic life with running a minicab business.
Maano Rambwa, now in his final year, ventured into entrepreneurship in 2023 when he launched Candy Corner, a small business selling sweets around campus. “I saved the money from that for two years,” he says.
A former NWU Soccer Institute player, Michael Radebe has made the transition from the pitch to the training room, now serving as strength and conditioning coach at Durban City Football Club. The club was recently promoted to the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL).
“Studying sport science at NWU laid a good foundation for my current role,” says Radebe. “The sports science programme helped with theoretical knowledge and practical experience in programme designing and player monitoring, which is one of the critical factors in conditioning.”