North-West University (NWU) academic in the African Centre for Disaster Studies, Prof Livhuwani Nemakonde says the heavy rainfall experienced in South Africa in recent weeks is due to a combination of factors.

“Climatologists have indicated that this is because of the La Niña phenomenon. La Niña (Spanish for little girl) is the opposite of an El Niño (little boy), which usually predicts low rainfall for South Africa.

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.

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.

The North-West University (NWU) Debating Union on the Mahikeng Campus was recently invited to take part in the SA FM University Debate Challenge against the University of Pretoria.

The invitation is the result of the union's exceptional performance, despite this being their first venture into participating in external competitions.

The North-West University (NWU) has welcomed the United States Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben E Brigety II, during a function at its Mahikeng Campus on 4 October.

The ambassador, who officially arrived in the country eight weeks ago, was accompanied by the US Consul General in Johannesburg, Mr Vincent Spera.

NWU principal and vice-chancellor, Dr Bismark Tyobeka, said the ambassador’s visit was important as the university was considering partnering with the Colorado School of Mines to assist in establishing an NWU School of Mining.

North-West University (NWU) coach Karabo Masehela says they are ready to reclaim the Varsity Football cup from the University of Johannesburg when they meet in the semi-final at the UJ Stadium on 15 September 2022.

“UJ beat us in the fifth round-robin game of Varsity Football by two goals to one, and my boys are ready to go all out to take revenge for this loss.

“Once beaten, twice shy... we are going out there to reclaim what is ours,” says coach Karabo.

“Preclinical research serves as a bridge to new medicines,’’ says North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Rose Hayeshi, associate professor and director of the DSI/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform (PCDDP).

Preclinical drug development is one of the stages of development for new medicines and her specific interest is in drug metabolism.

Prof Hayeshi says the development of new medicines can be divided into two broad areas – discovery and development.

North-West University (NWU) coach Karabo Masehela is confident that the NWU Eagles will bounce back from their third-round loss to the University of Pretoria (UP) in the Varsity Football tournament.

He says the 2-1 loss against UP was difficult to digest. “We had not anticipated such an outcome, but it served as a wake-up call for us. It shows that we cannot relax.

North-West University (NWU) alumnus Advocate Dineo Mongwaketse has recently been appointed as the first-ever female manager for the Mahikeng local municipality, and assumed office on 1 August.

Advocate Mongwaketse recently graduated with an LLM degree from the NWU. She also holds an LLB and MBA degree from the NWU, as well as a BTech in internal auditing and a national diploma in internal auditing from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. After completing her LLB degree, she served pupillage at the North West Bar Association.

The North-West University (NWU) Eagles earned their second victory in the 2022 Varsity Football tournament when they defeated the University of the Free State (UFS) in a nail-biting match at the NWU Mahikeng stadium on 28 July.

Omphile Shuping scored the game's opening goal in the 68th minute after a wonderful play with Lehlohonolo Mohlabai.

Lehlohonolo scored the second goal – an out-of-the-box long-range shot – in the 77th minute.