It is very encouraging that the latest much-better-than-expected gross domestic product (GDP) figures for the first quarter of 2022 show a further strong recovery in the economy following the economic setbacks of the Covid-19 lockdowns and the widespread civil unrest of July 2021.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the Business School of the North-West University (NWU), says the figures that were announced on 7 June 2022 reinforce the 4,9% GDP growth recorded for 2021 as a whole, after the negative -6,4% growth experienced in the previous year.

Ontiretse Motingwa

The All Sports Chapter (ASC) on the North-West University’s Mafikeng Campus recently hosted an inter-residence tournament in support of Student Counselling Development’s (SCD’s) Meal-A-Day project.

Students were invited to donate non-perishable goods in exchange for tickets to attend the finals of the tournament.

The Meal-A-Day project is a food security programme that provides needy students with a monthly supply of non-perishable food and other essentials such as toiletries and clothes.

 Ontiretse Motingwa

The North-West University (NWU) celebrated Africa Day across all three its campuses on 26 and 27 May 2022.

This year the Africa Day theme was “The Year of Nutrition - Strengthening resilience in nutrition and food security on the African continent”.

 “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.

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.