Alarming atrocities are perpetrated against our most vulnerable and innocent citizens, our children. We hear of these every day, but how often do we reflect on the scourge of child labour? There will be no child labour when laws that govern access to basic education are strengthened.

The North-West University (NWU) is the community that it serves. This is one of the pillars on which the institution is built and has been one of its mantras since its inception in its current guise in 2004.

A culture of inclusivity and care permeates the various parts that make up the NWU – from the type of research being done to the way it approaches teaching and learning initiatives and student life and so much more.

It is time to buck the dusky trend. The national energy provider, Eskom, is haemorrhaging money at an unsustainable rate and is nearly R400 billion in debt. Equipment is failing, power outages have become the norm, while its energy availability factor (EAF) has fallen by almost 30% in just over a decade.

Change is knocking at the door, loudly enough to draw attention, but yet too softly for everyone to hear. Across the country’s borders the final shots of a war are being fired. The previous regime is gasping for breath, because the world’s sanctions are choking it. The media are being gagged and traitors are being necklaced. It is a discordant symphony of chaos and riots, the conductors are limpet mines, letter bombs and comrades in arms. The prevailing state of emergency is depressing and everyone is spoiling for a fight.

During the recent July USSA competition, bodybuilder and North -West University (NWU) student Penny Sambo finished first in his division and was announced the overall winner of the bodybuilding tournament.

Participants in competitive bodybuilding, such as Penny, demonstrate their developed muscular build with their personal posing routines and certain postures necessary for the competition. Muscularity, conditioning, and symmetry are used to evaluate them.

North-West University (NWU) alumnus Tebogo Edwin Lesoro has been selected as one of the winners of the Education Changemakers programme.

This programme, now running for its second year, was initiated by the Trevor Noah Foundation, in partnership with the Young African Leaders Initiative Regional Leadership Centre Southern Africa (YALI RCLSA) and the University of South Africa.

Tebogo came in sixth in the top 10 best presentations from participants in the Southern African Developing Countries (SADC) region.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s plan to resolve the long-standing electricity crisis in South Africa could be the tipping point in turning around the country’s ability to more successfully meet its energy challenges.

Former North-West University (NWU) and Varsity Football player Xola Mlambo has signed with Premier Soccer League team TS Galaxy for the 2022/2023 season.

Xola was recently released by AmaZulu FC where he plied his trade last season after joining the club from Pirates in 2020.

He will reunite with former NWU teammate and TS Galaxy player, Orebotse Bobo Mongae, who has recently extended his contract with TS Galaxy until 2025.

Xola was part of the NWU team that took part in Varsity Sports first Varsity Football season in 2013.

Two North-West University (NWU) students – Africa Thaba from the Mahikeng Campus and Denise Geel from the Potchefstroom Campus – have been selected to represent the NWU at the 31st Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition. The competition will take place at British University in Cairo, Egypt from 25 to 30 July 2022.

The two final-year LLB students will be accompanied by NWU Faculty of Law representative Advocate Getsia Zazo, who has been helping the two with preparations.

It was unavoidable that a further increase in borrowing costs for business and consumers had to be implemented.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the Business School of the North-West University (NWU), points out that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided with a divided vote to raise interest rates by another 75 basis points on 21 July.