Academic

North West agriculture budget grows overall but research funding declines

While an impressive R1,27 billion has been budgeted for agriculture and rural development in the North West Province for the 2025/26 financial year, the decrease in funding for research and technology services is disappointing. This is the view of Dr Kaya Myeki of the School of Agricultural Sciences at the North-West University (NWU).

Commenting on the budget delivered by Madoda Sambatha, MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, on 24 July 2025, Dr Myeki welcomed the 5,53% increase in the agriculture and rural budget.

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How podcasts are powering indigenous language revival

Mainstream radio combined with social media can do more to preserve South African indigenous languages than either can on their own

A recent study by North-West University (NWU) master’s graduate Gofaone Motsamai explores how Motsweding FM radio is using Facebook to promote Setswana through podcasts and live streams.

“Motsweding FM is not just broadcasting, it’s preserving,” says Gofaone. “Through Facebook, the station connects Setswana speakers across borders, offering accessible and engaging content that supports linguistic and cultural continuity.”

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Global warming places Africa’s wildlife in peril

Drought, intensified by global warming and compounded by human action, has taken a devastating toll on wildlife across Africa and the Amazon between 2023 and 2025. According to a sobering new United Nations report, animal populations are being ravaged not just by thirst and starvation, but by human intervention as fragile ecosystems buckle under climatic stress.

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SADiLaR announces and applauds sponsorship awardees for the 2025 cycle

The South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR), hosted by the North-West University (NWU), is pleased to award a total of seven sponsorships in support of conferences and training events that are closely aligned with its vision to ensure a transformed participative digital future for South Africa’s official languages for people in all walks of life.

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Study questions the political inclusion of Malawi’s disabled on airwaves

Persons with disabilities in Malawi may be tuning in to community radio, but their political voices are not adequately covered.

A recent study led by Dr Muyanga Ziba has raised questions about the role of community radio in promoting the political participation of persons with disabilities in Malawi. Using Mzimba Community Radio Station as a case study, the research found that while general programming for people with disabilities exists, there is no dedicated content focused on political engagement.

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New southern African frog app is making a splash

It is late at night and above you stretches the vast expanse of the Southern African sky that stretches to eternity. You are alone with your thoughts, or at least you think you are. Suddenly, your senses are jolted awake by an unexpected sound. You look around, but see nothing. Then you hear it again: “Ribbit-ribbit… ribbit-ribbit…” You take out your phone – it’s time to discover who your companion is.

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Faculty of Law secures NRF Tier 1 Research Chair in Cities, Law and Environmental Sustainability

A change in leadership has set a new course for one of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) most strategically positioned research chairs. The National Research Foundation (NRF) has officially upgraded the South African Research Chair in Cities, Law and Environmental Sustainability (CLES) to a Tier 1 position and appointed a new chairholder, Prof Oliver Fuo.

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Digitising government procurement could curb fraud and corruption and enhance efficiency

Digitising manual procurement processes in government could assist in curbing corruption and bolster a culture of accountability. This is according to PhD graduate Dr Lawrence Moetapele Mojaki of the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA).

Dr Mojaki is a deputy director for supply chain management at the GPAA and recently completed his PhD in Economic and Management Sciences with Business Administration at the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU).

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