North-West University (NWU) alumnus Keorapetse Mashimo has been selected as one of the 100 South African Shining Stars  by Inside Education for his contribution to sport in his community.

This was announced during a function hosted by Inside Education and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) on 20 October in Johannesburg. 

This annual event recognises young individuals – nominated by their peers and organisations – for giving their time and talent to make their communities, and also country, a better place to life.

By Ontiretse Motingwa

“As a complicated and ever-evolving field, science requires scientists and researchers who are resilient, determined, and knowledgeable. They must also have a great willingness to learn and use new skills and scientific concepts without bias or conformity to what society deems acceptable.” This is according to Khanyisani Ziqubu, a PhD biochemistry candidate at the North-West University (NWU).

By Phenyo Mokgothu and Nolwazi Xulu

North-West University (NWU) academic in the Faculty of Theology, Prof Alfred Brundson, presented his inaugural lecture on 13 October 2022 at the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus.
The title of the lecture was “Are we there yet? Probing the notion of contextualising practical theology and pastoral care in a post-Covid glocal African context.”

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Lifestyle Diseases research niche area and Stadt Primary School hosted an International Child Health Day at Barolong Ratshidi Hall on 14 October 2022.

According to Prof Sonia Swanepoel, deputy vice-chancellor for community engagement and Mahikeng Campus operations, the purpose of the event was to raise awareness about lifestyle diseases and the prevalence thereof in primary schools of the North-West province.

By Onitretse Motingwa

“Little attention is given to the mental health of those affected by divorce,” says Dr Lebogang Philda Selahla, a North-West University (NWU) PhD alumnus.

Dr Selahla who recently obtained her PhD, conducted research on mental health issues of men and women who are affected by divorce. Her thesis is titled “Psychosocial predictors of the mental health of divorcees and efficacy of intervention”.

One of Mahikeng’s well-known journalists, Sosty Rammutla, received a BA communication degree during the North-West University (NWU) graduation ceremony on 11 October 2022 at the Mahikeng Campus.

Sosty says he is truly grateful and proud of this achievement.

“I would like to thank God for His grace, and I dedicate this qualification to my wife who stood by me, to my mother who has been my anchor all my life, and thirdly, to the man that gave me this opportunity in the first place – Prof Dan Kgwadi,” says Sosty.

The Drama Society on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus will be hosting a theatrical event on 20 October 2022 in the Great Hall.

The aim of this event is to showcase what the NWU Drama Society is all about. The society wants to make a long-term difference in the lives of students by addressing student life issues and bringing hope through their performances, and by encouraging students to develop their talents.

By Ontiretse Motingwa

Dineo Nakedi, a North-West University (NWU) transport economics honours graduate, conducted research on the need to establish efficient public transportation in non-metropolitan areas.

The title of her study is “Identifying the challenges faced by a commuter train in non-metropolitan areas with specific reference to Mahikeng”.

“It can be argued that the lack of commuter trains in non-metro areas negatively affects the mobility of daily commuters as it denies them access to various economic activities,” says Dineo.

According to Statistics South Africa, the demand for air transport has been increasing for the past decade in South Africa. This is due to an increase in physical activity and major economic development in different cities across the country.

North-West University (NWU) transport economics graduate Amantle Gaokgorwe investigated the determinants that authorities can look at to revive the Mahikeng Airport.

The North-West University (NWU) in collaboration with WATERnet and Baleware (Bridging Africa, Latin America, and Europe on Water and Renewable Energies Applications), is hosting an International Water-Climate Summer School from 4 to 18 October 2022.

The summer school is a hybrid, interactive, transdisciplinary event aimed at strengthening capacity to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 – “Ensure access to water and sanitation for all”, and SDG 13 – “Climate action”.