By Ontiretse Motingwa

World Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually on 5 October in recognition of and to show appreciation for the critical role teachers play in contributing to education and development across the globe.

This year’s theme is “The transformation of education begins with teachers”.

“This year’s theme reminds me of the Bible verse 1 Timothy 5:8 – in short – charity begins at home,” says Ellen Nkwe, North-West University (NWU) Setswana lecturer.

Oldrin Masowa

By Phenyo Mokgothu and Ontiretse Motingwa

Prof Muchativugwa Liberty Hove presented his inaugural lecture on the evening of 30 September 2022 to a hall filled with luminaries, friends and family.

He started the lecture with what he considers a timeless poem, A Dream Deferred (also known as Harlem), penned by African American poet, Langston Hughes.

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.

By Ontiretse Motingwa

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Law hosted its annual cross-campus public speaking competition on 23 September.

This year marked the fifth Ubuntu Ambassadors Public Speaking Competition, which aims to improve students' public speaking abilities and raise knowledge of Ubuntu and human rights. This year the competition focused on the themes inclusiveness, inclusion and cancel culture.

By Ontiretse Motingwa

Fourth-year Setswana students on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus celebrated Heritage Day by embracing the Setswana language as future Setswana educators.

The celebration aimed to remind students of their heritage, to encourage them to learn more about other cultures and to recognise the importance of languages.

“We celebrate our heritage by embracing our different cultural beliefs and using our different languages,” said Ellen Nkwe, Setswana lecturer.

On, Wednesday, 28 September 2022, the NWU chancellor Dr Anna Mokgokong and NWU principal and vice- chancellor, Dr Bismark Tyobeka, met with the French ambassador.

The delegation was led by Mr Aurelien Lechevallier, French ambassador and Ms Nelly Hazelbrouck, general secretary  for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs at the French Embassy.

Naledi 2.0, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) solar car won the Structural Design Award presented by Euro Steel during this year’s 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge. 

The challenge took place from 9 to 16 September, covering an estimated distance of 2 500 km from Johannesburg to the finish line in Cape Town. 

Recent crime statistics show that 898 women were killed in South Africa from January to March 2022, and 282 cases of attempted murder against women were reported. During this period 10 818 women reported rapes, of which 4 653 took place at the home of the rape victim or the home of the rapist.

North-West University (NWU) academic Otsile Maditsi says indigenous mining has a space to influence conventional mining.

“Indigenous mining is one of the 16 disciplines identified under the Indigenous Knowledge Act no 6 of 2019 as an early scientific method by indigenous communities of South Africa,” he says.