The North West Sports Awards took place on 18 November, and the North-West University (NWU) scored two top spots.

Onalenna Tsae, alumnus and former coach of the NWU boxing team, clinched the title of Sports Administrator of the Year.

NWU student and a netballer of note, Elmeré van der Berg, walked away with the Sportswoman of the Year award.

Onalenna's accolade recognises her contributions, in particular her pivotal role in the women's commission of the North West Provincial Sport Confederation.

The all-encompassing and wide-ranging 178-page diagnostics of the South African economy embedded in the report “Growth Through Inclusion in South Africa”, prepared by Ricardo Hausmann and his team from the Growth Laboratory at Harvard University, is a timely and relevant document.

On 13 November, the North-West University (NWU), in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Higher Health (HH) and the Vuselela Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College, hosted a gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide assembly.

The event took place at the Sanlam Auditorium on the Potchefstroom Campus, and it was aimed at raising awareness of the fight against GBV and encouraging collaboration to eliminate violence on the campuses of higher-education institutions.

Post-apartheid South Africa continues to have many unresolved problems and unfulfilled promises, despite significant progress in certain areas. A recently published book on the work of the late anti-apartheid activist and intellectual, Mzala Nxumalo, aims to make important contributions to the intellectual work that lies ahead for South Africa in current troubling times – particularly in the context of contemporary leftist politics.

In the heart of Small Farms, Evaton, near Vereeniging in the Vaal Triangle, lies the Pilgrim Welfare Centre.

The mission of this drop-in centre is twofold: to combat poverty and to foster education. To achieve this, they have implemented a range of empowerment initiatives tailored to different age groups, ensuring that every member of the community is equipped with the tools for success. Recognised by the Department of Social Development and approved as a section 18A organisation, this centre is committed to making a lasting impact in its community.

by Vukosi Mathale

The North-West University (NWU) has taken significant steps to foster innovation and bring research breakthroughs to the market. Central to this effort is the Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) Office.

The role of TTIS is to help researchers translate their academic research into practical solutions that have a societal impact. Researchers who believe that their research outputs have the potential to extend beyond the university, should submit an intellectual property (IP) disclosure to the TTIS.

They pulled no punches, they were honest in their assessment of the troubles plaguing South Africa and they did not shy away from providing possible solutions. These were some of the hallmarks of the inaugural annual public lecture by Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Suzanne Paxton and Prof Somadoda Fikeni that was hosted by the executive committee of the Convocation of the North-West University (NWU).

The faculties at the North-West University (NWU) are doing exciting work on the research front.

Prof Philimon Modisha is an associate professor in the Faculty of Engineering and his research is centred on liquid organic hydrogen storage. His research is mostly at the Department of Science and Innovation Hydrogen South Africa Infrastructure Centre of Competence, co-hosted by the NWU and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

The chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), Dr Anna Mokgokong, received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 20th annual Top Women Awards in Sandton.

Dr Mokgokong, who is a passionate social activist and champion for women empowerment and transformation, accepted the award during a prestige awards ceremony on 7 November.

The alumni of the North-West University (NWU) continuously shine in their respective fields of expertise, both nationally and internationally. The NWU recognised ten of these remarkable career professionals during the university’s prestigious Alumni Awards of Excellence event in Pretoria on 9 November.

These awards acknowledge exceptional alumni who are making impactful contributions in their careers and to society.