The negative gross domestic product (GDP) growth figure of -0,1% quarter on quarter again reflects how difficult it has been for the economy to gain momentum in the recent past.

In commenting on the GDP figures released by Stats SA on 4 June, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says although GDP growth may yet reach about a modest 0,9% in 2024 as a whole, total GDP in the first quarter of 2024 is in fact lower than the peak reached in the third quarter of 2022.

She has been here, in this situation, many times before. She knows pressure – it has been a companion for most of her life. Tazmin Brits stares down the wicket, her focus is pinned on the bowler storming in with the intent of breaking bails, or the batter’s spirit. The crowd’s cheering and the surrounding fielders’ chirps – she hears nothing.

It was another first for the North-West University (NWU) and a day that will live long in the memory of all those who attended it. On Saturday, 1 June, the NWU held its inaugural Gauteng open day at Supersport Park in Centurion.

Learners from schools from across the province were in attendance to get their first taste of what the NWU has to offer. More than 30% of the NWU’s students hail from Gauteng, and the province plays a critical role in the makeup of the NWU, which is one of the biggest universities in the country.

On 16 May Andrew Banda made history when he became the first graduate to receive a PhD in social sciences with a focus on ageing and development in Africa from the North-West University (NWU).

This research PhD is the product of the Optentia research unit and is a first in Africa. It is designed to cultivate a deeper understanding of ageing within the unique context of Sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this degree is to generate evidence, foster knowledge and catalyse transformative change in policies and programmes tailored to the needs of older individuals and communities.

“Against the background of the interim results thus far of the country’s pivotal 2024 elections, South Africa is for now in uncharted and uncertain waters, which is reflected in the initial reaction of the financial markets and the rand.”

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says while the emergence of coalition government, both at national and provincial levels, is not unexpected, the exact configuration of coalition arrangements could have an important impact on South Africa’s economic performance.

The latest Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) statement was again surprise-free, the committee having, for the sixth time over the past year, kept interest rates unchanged.

In commenting on the decision by the MPC to again leave interest rates unchanged, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says that, as expected, borrowing costs will therefore remain higher for consumers and business for longer.

The North-West University (NWU) made a significant mark at the North West Provincial Nursing Awards held on 23 May 2024 at the Sun City Convention Centre.

The event, organised by the North West Department of Health, recognised outstanding contributions and excellence in the nursing profession. These awards also show appreciation for the dedication and selflessness of nurses in the province, and motivate them to uphold and improve the standards of nursing education and practice in the North West province.

Student Counselling and Development on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus showcased the NWU at the recent Career and Workplace Readiness Expo for people living with disabilities that took place at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg.

The event, organised by the Disability Connect Foundation, brought together more than 1 200 high school learners, university students, graduates living with disabilities, as well as representatives from small businesses and leading South African corporates.

In 2024, South Africa is celebrating 30 years of democracy, and Corporate Relations and Marketing, together with the School of Government Studies, at the North-West University (NWU), hosted a panel discussion on 23 May titled 30 Years of Democracy: The power, the people and protecting the way forward.

The event took place on the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus, less than a week before the national elections on 29 May.

North-West University (NWU) student Rahama Metroll Milanzi has been selected as a semi-finalist for Miss World South Africa 2024. If she wins the title, she will represent South Africa in the global Miss World 2024 pageant, competing against more than 100 contestants from around the world.