Transport is the backbone of any thriving economy, and in South Africa it is a lifeline that connects people to opportunities, businesses to markets, and communities to essential services. Transport Month, celebrated in October, provides a moment to reflect on the critical role transport plays in our daily lives, our economy, and our future. It is also an opportunity to renew our collective commitment to building an efficient, safe, and accessible transport system for all.

The Food Resilience Unit in the Department of Social Development at the City of Johannesburg recently partnered with Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) at the North-West University (NWU) to host an Intellectual Property (IP) Awareness Workshop. The aim of the workshop was to equip agro-processors and emerging farmers to understand how to protect their innovations. The event was held in Johannesburg on 11 October and brought together these small businesses and experts to engage on how to safeguard innovations and gain competitive advantage through IP protection.

As the NWU delegation’s visit under the leadership of principal and vice-chancellor, Prof Bismark Tyobeka to the North Carolina State University (NCSU) comes to an end, it is great to reflect on the many successful and insightful engagements. What a rewarding experience. The delegation will leave the United States with a reinvigorated purpose, knowing that the NWU is on track to further grow the university’s global footprint.

In today’s fast-paced, interconnected world, the need for strong, adaptable and visionary leadership has never been more crucial. This very theme, "Future Leaders: Embracing Change and Innovating Tomorrow" – set the stage for the second North-West University (NWU) Student Leadership Summit, held from 26 to 27 September at the picturesque ANEW Hunters Rest Lodge in Rustenburg. The summit aimed to equip student leaders with the tools and mindset necessary to navigate the complexities of modern leadership while fostering innovation and positive transformation.

By Karen van den Berg, Senior Psychologist at SCD

It’s exam time, and with that comes a lot of stress and anxiety. Although stress can often be good for you and act as a motivator, anxiety is the dark side of stress and can have a negative impact on how we function.

Investing in transport infrastructure is critical to South Africa’s post-pandemic economic recovery. This is according to Dr Alexander Samuels from the North-West University’s (NWU) Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. By modernising highways, ports, railways and airports, the country can enhance supply chain efficiency, attract foreign investment, and stimulate job creation, all while positioning itself more competitively in global markets.

“Tito Mboweni was a formidable leader, with deep economic insights that greatly shaped South Africa’s post-apartheid policies and structures, such as the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), labour law and Nedlac.”

Reacting to the death of former Finance Minister and SARB Governor Tito Mboweni, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says he was saddened to hear of his unexpected passing over the weekend and sends his condolences to his family.

• The Programme for Forensic Accountancy at the North-West University (NWU) has the biggest group of forensic experts in South Africa who work in the programme full-time.

• The Programme for Forensic Accountancy at the NWU is one of a kind.

• The programme is vital in curbing fraud and corruption.

The North-West University (NWU) continues to affirm its commitment to advancing community engagement through innovative research methodologies.

This commitment was recently exemplified at the African Centre for Training in Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Knowledge for Change (K4C) at Gulu University in Uganda.

• Increasing the air access capacity to South Africa remains a critical aspect of the tourism agenda.

• The tourism industry faces transport challenges such as public transport coverage in rural and remote areas, public transport security concerns and limited railway services.

• The Kruger National Park Airport is an excellent example of how to spread tourists to more remote areas.