Section 84(d) of the Constitution vests in the President the authority to convene both Houses of Parliament for a special sitting, a power that is generally interpreted as encompassing, by implication, the delivery of the State of the Nation Address. On Thursday evening, President Cyril Ramaphosa carried out the annual presidential ritual of convening the nation and providing an update on the current situation and the everyday lived experiences of citizens.

If African languages are to thrive in a digital world, it is essential that these languages be part of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution sweeping society.

Natural language processing, which enables computers to understand, interpret and generate human language, could play a significant role in enabling African language speakers to benefit from technology advances.

Ndivhuwo Muvhulawa, a PhD student in Biochemistry at the North-West University (NWU), Mahikeng Campus, received a fellowship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to conduct research at the Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo from January to September.

Plant waste is everywhere, in harvested fields, forestry sites and processing plants. A new study argues it could play a bigger role in the energy economy if it can be processed in a cleaner way.

Leaving their books and computers on campus, students from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus picked up brooms and refuse bags and headed into the community.

At they entered the gates of Mahikeng Primary on 13 February, they rolled up their sleeves and marked the school’s build-up to its 131-year anniversary in August with a clean-up drive.

When Leonard Lekgetho speaks about justice, it is not as an abstract ideal but as a lifelong calling. Appointed as acting head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) by President Cyril Ramaphosa, this North-West University (NWU) alumnus carries with him more than two decades of experience in the fight against corruption, and the values shaped during his years as a student.

Roots in Taung, rise to national leadership

From the quiet streets of the Bodibe village outside Lichtenburg to the helm of a secondary school in Rustenburg, North-West University (NWU) alumnus Itumeleng Joy Molaakgosi embodies resilience, academic excellence and servant leadership.

Itumeleng was born on 19 March 1987 and raised by parents who had no formal education, and his story is rooted in determination and faith in the transformative power of education.

North-West University (NWU) alumnus Thato Mashishi has been appointed head of the corporate and commercial division at Berwins Solicitors Limited in the United Kingdom (UK), marking a significant career milestone.

Thato joined Berwins in November 2025 and took over leadership of the firm’s business arm from founder Paul Berwin as the firm positions itself for expansion.

“My role includes growing my team and the unit. I oversee business development and the introduction of efficiencies, including incorporating technology in the way we work,” explained Thato.

The North-West University (NWU) continues to strengthen its footprint in national and international education spaces following the appointment of Ms Kgothatso Mafiri, project coordinator responsible for community engagement at the Mahikeng Campus, as the national coordinator of recognition of prior learning (RPL).

As the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) pandemic tightens its grip in the Gauteng, North West and the Free State provinces,  the impact is spreading far beyond farms, placing pressure on South Africa’s beef industry, food security and jobs across the agricultural economy.
Dr Kaya Myeki from the School of Agricultural Sciences at North-West University (NWU) said the absence of a centralised, real-time livestock disease database makes it difficult to quantify losses in monetary terms. Yet the effects across the livestock value chain are already apparent.