The 2024 national elections were deemed a turning point for South Africa, with the general public hoping for a new political landscape that will address the longstanding economic challenges in the country. Driven by the desire for change, Khotso Pitso, a final year BA student in politics studies at the North-West University (NWU), worked as a voters’ roll officer at the Slovo Park Clinic in Ekurhuleni.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Student Counselling and Development (SCD) division on the Vanderbijlpark Campus rallied up staff and students to support Slipper Day on 31 May.

Slipper Day is an annual fundraising event organised by Reach For A Dream that sees everyone from school children to corporate teams wear their slippers and Slipper Day stickers – all in support of seriously ill children who are in desperate need of hope and encouragement.

The North-West University (NWU) boasts three finalists in this year’s prestigious NSTF-South32 Awards. The university had a strong showing in the run-up to the awards, receiving eight nominations in the various categories.

The NSTF-South 32 Awards is the largest, most comprehensive and one of the most coveted national awards. It recognises outstanding contributions in science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation by individuals, teams and organisations.

Jerry Bangude knows a thing or two about getting the best out of people. Why? Because he knows how to get the best out of himself.

It is this attribute that has helped shape his career as motivational speaker and author since he graduated from the North-West University (NWU).

“I want to motivate and inspire people, and I want to help people realise their full potential. I want them to unleash their greatness within. Most importantly, I want to help people follow their dreams so that they can live a fulfilled and purpose-driven life,” he explains.

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.