In Zimbabwe’s evolving political landscape, where promises of reform have yet to materialise, one unexpected force has emerged – comedy.

While official narratives speak of progress, social media tells a different story, one shaped by satire, memes and skits that turn national struggles into humour. But in a country where dissent carries risks, is laughter merely an escape, or is it a tool of resistance?

The Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) research entity at the North-West University (NWU) will host its annual public lecture at the Mahikeng Campus on 13 March 2025.

The lecture will focus on the role of indigenous languages in media, with veteran broadcaster and NWU honorary doctorate recipient Dr Masego Ezekiel “Easy” Matjila as the keynote speaker.

The absence of fathers in households is more than a family issue, it is a societal crisis with lasting consequences for individuals and communities.

Prof Fazel Freeks from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Theology and Prof Elzahne Simeon de Jager from the subject group Social Work are leading a community engagement project to explore how this phenomenon shapes the lives of children, increasing their vulnerability and need for protection.

Dr Thulisile Bhuda once stood behind the counter at a Tekkie Town store in in a mall, ringing up customers’ purchases. Now, years later, she stands in front of a lecture hall of students at the University of Mpumalanga, sharing her knowledge of culture and heritage, with a PhD in indigenous knowledge from the North-West University (NWU) behind her name.

The North-West University (NWU), in collaboration with the national Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Nyandeni Local Municipality, recently concluded a two-day conference focused on smart villages, themed “Indigenous Knowledge-led Smart Village Regeneration”. This event attracted participation from a diverse group of scholars, researchers, indigenous-knowledge students, traditional leadership and innovators representing various universities both nationally and internationally.

Tomorrow we will not be able to recognise yesterday. The day after, all that came before will seem prehistoric. With the rapid rate at which technology is advancing and infiltrating our everyday lives, adaptability is crucial not only to survive, but to thrive. In this rapidly evolving world, higher-education institutions must continuously adapt to ensure that graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the 21st-century job market.

Television advertisements influence how society views gender roles, and a new study from North-West University (NWU) explores how women are represented in South African adverts. The research, conducted by Koketso Rabanye from the NWU’s School of Communication, examined both traditional and changing portrayals of women in the media.

Instead of further depleting overharvested indigenous plants for medicinal purposes, it might be possible to use the bacteria inside their roots. This would preserve at-risk plants while still allowing access to the medicinal properties associated with them.

Torrential rains have left parts of the North West Province struggling with school closures, damaged infrastructure and impassable roads. Learners in several areas were unable to attend school due to flooded classrooms and collapsed buildings, while scholar transport was affected by washed-out roads.

North-West University (NWU) Head of the African Centre for Disaster Studies, Professor Dewald Van Niekerk, says the rainfall is linked to weather systems that developed over the past month.

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.