“Master”. That is a title few can lay claim to. Best of the best. That is when a profession becomes a calling and is then developed into an art. Terseus Liebenberg definitely falls into this category.

Over more than three decades his knowledge and skill have taken athletes with talent and transformed them into global stars.  

In the recent 2021–2022 SA Athletics Annual, a publication of the SA Athletics Statisticians (SAAS), Liebenberg was named the top coach of the readmission era by the executive committee of the sports body.

Three years and 21 games. That is how long the senior team of the North-West University (NWU) (this is now not the Varsity Cup team) has been undefeated.

On Saturday afternoon in Potchefstroom the NWU beat a star-studded Wits by 37–19 to remain undefeated in this, their eighth victory of 2022 in this year’s Predator Competition.

The second team won by 21–7, the third team by 64–12, the under 21s by 45–35 and the under 19s by 43–0.

It is clear that the NWU’s senior team has found a dream partnership in coaches Burger van der Westhuizen and Leon Boshoff.

Getting a degree, let alone an honours degree, is surreal for Meshan Letsoalo. By all accounts, he should not be where he is today, as the odds were stacked against him from birth.

During the month of May, then acting vice-chancellor Prof Linda du Plessis hosted multi-campus events to thank the frontline staff members for working hard during the registration period amidst Covid-19 challenges.

It was a blissful day for Prof Ntate Dan Kgwadi, former North-West University (NWU) principal and vice-chancellor, as his only child Ofentse Kgwadi graduated recently.

Ofentse was among the droves of NWU graduates who were conferred degrees at a graduation ceremony held at Kompas Gemeente in Vanderbijlpark. 

Unfortunately, due to work commitments, Prof Kgwadi, who was expected to be part of the NWU graduation procession, could not witness the moment. Prof Kgwadi recently assumed office as vice-chancellor at the Vaal University of Technology.

Oldrin Masowa

The whole world is truly an art gallery. From 6 to 13 April 2022, the North-West University (NWU) Art Gallery hosted the official opening of a public art exhibition in Potchefstroom. The exhibition featured paintings from the ages of colonialism to modern society. The opening was presented in both the NWU Main Gallery and NWU Botanical Gallery.

The numbers speak for themselves: a vast number of women in South Africa are living in danger. According to a study by Statistics South Africa, one in five (21%) women with partners has experienced physical violence by a partner in their lifetime, and 6% have experienced sexual violence. The prevalence of physical violence is the highest among women in the Eastern Cape, while the North West province has the highest rate of women who have experienced sexual violence (11,8%).

According to German economist Klaus Schwab, the Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to empower individuals and communities, as it creates new opportunities for economic, social, and personal development.

Werner du Toit, house parent of the Kgosi Dick Montshioa and Mbada student residences on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, embraced this wholeheartedly.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, in conjunction with the North West Premier’s office, will be hosting the official launch of the renaming of the Provincial Bursary Scheme to the Victor Thebe Sifora bursary scheme on 1 June 2022.

The renaming of the scheme is aimed at promoting and preserving the legacy of VT Sifora as an academic, activist and struggle veteran.

The bursary scheme will provide financial support to prospective students from poor backgrounds to grant them access to various institutions of higher learning.

“The slightly better news on the unemployment front is a welcome trend, as it comes after a prolonged period of persistent deterioration in South African employment levels in recent times.”

In commenting on the latest unemployment figures for the first quarter of 2022, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the Business School of the North-West University (NWU), says to a large extent this development follows South Africa’s strong economic recovery in 2021 from the pandemic lockdowns, and should be viewed in the light of the inevitable time lags.