By Gofaone Motsamai and Phenyo Mokgothu

The memory of the late Dr Aziz Pahad, liberation struggle veteran and diplomat, lives on. The North-West University’s (NWU) Mahikeng Campus hosted the inaugural Provincial Memorial Lecture in his honour on 25 February 2025.

The theme of the lecture was "The insurgent diplomat: lessons from the life and legacy of Aziz Pahad”, and the event brought together government officials, academics, students and community members to reflect on his contributions to South Africa’s liberation and foreign policy.

With a pen in hand, first-year student Nompumelelo Mphoreng enjoyed the sunrise over the North-West University (NWU) Vanderbijlpark Campus as it created golden reflections on the river. As a fresh voice in the NWU community she found herself fascinated by the essence of her new home.

Prof David Luke, professor of Practice and strategic director of the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa, gave a thought-provoking public lecture hosted by the TRADE research focus area at the North-West University (NWU).

In his lecture Prof Luke emphasised the importance of regional trade and economic integration to Africa’s development. He stressed the necessity for African countries to trade more with one another rather than relying largely on external markets by drawing on lessons from a book he had edited, How Africa Trades.

On 18 February 2025, a distinguished group of academics gathered at the Fireroom, Montecasino, for the exclusive AICPA & CIMA event, Accelerate & Lead: Dinner with Academics. Hosted by Simon Bittlestone, FCMA, CGMA, President of CIMA and Chairman of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the evening provided an invaluable platform for thought-provoking discussions on the evolving landscape of financial education and the role of academic institutions in shaping future financial leaders.

He has a recipe for success, and he knows how to collect the trophies. One of South Africa’s favourite sons, Dr Rassie Erasmus, was a welcome sight back at the North-West University (NWU) when he delivered his first guest lecture since being awarded an honorary doctorate in 2024.

The lecture, entitled From the Sidelines to the Spotlight: Insights from a Back-to-Back World Cup Winning Coach, was hosted by the NWU’s Faculty of Health Sciences – School of Human Movement Sciences in partnership with NWU’s Centre for Human Health and Performance (CHHP).

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Siya Kolisi Residence was officially opened on Monday, 24 February by South Africa’s iconic Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi.

His coach and mentor, Dr Rassie Erasmus, was also in attendance to unveil the university’s new Invictus Residence.

The Siya Kolisi Residence will primarily be used by students affiliated with the NWU Rugby Institute, with Invictus being a multi-sport residence.

By Michelle Meixieira Groenewald

The North-West University (NWU) emphasised its dedication to supporting the North West Dragons as the franchise’s title sponsor for the 2025 domestic games.

The partnership was officially unveiled during a special launch event held on 12 February at the NWU Potchefstroom Campus. North West Cricket (NWC) proudly revealed the team’s newly branded NWU kit, symbolising a strengthened relationship between the institution and the franchise.

The unprecedented decision by the Government of National Unity (GNU) Cabinet to postpone the Budget until 12 March because of disagreement over tax increases will inevitably have unintended consequences for South Africa’s political economy.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the NWU Business School, says if the eventual Budget in March turns out to be truly committed to growth and job creation (as was outlined in the recent GNU Medium Term Development Plan) the delay would have been worthwhile if the GNU gets agreed trade-offs and better outcomes for the economy as a whole.

Three North-West University (NWU) innovators have earned a place in the highly competitive Emerging30 Innovators Programme, an initiative led by the Young African Entrepreneurship Institute (YAEI). Their journey began during the 2024 Youth Innovation Challenge, held as part of the YAEI & ABSA Entrepreneurship Week on the Potchefstroom Campus.

This challenge provided a platform for young entrepreneurs to pitch their groundbreaking ideas, ultimately paving the way for their participation in the prestigious 12-month incubation programme.