When the 2025 Comrades Marathon kicked off on Sunday, 8 June, Benjamin Tjiane was running more than just the 90-odd kilometres between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. He was pursuing a goal that had started during the Covid-19 lockdowns. What began as a personal challenge has evolved into something much deeper.

“My first race was 21 km in 2019. After Covid-19, I challenged myself to run 42 and 50 km races, which were qualifying criteria for the Comrades," Benjamin remembers, “and that is how I started running Comrades marathons, realising I have endurance."

In a heartwarming and triumphant celebration of perseverance, passion, and purpose, the Ch@s peer helpers from the North-West University’s Vanderbijlpark Campus made an unforgettable mark during the May 2025 graduation ceremonies. But this was not just any graduation story — this was a victory parade for a group of student leaders whose impact reached far beyond academics.

The annual Beer and Cheese Day, hosted by the School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the North-West University (NWU), is more than just a social gathering – it is a way to ignite the students’ creativity and entrepreneurial spirits.

Students from the North-West University (NWU) recently collaborated with their counterparts from the University of Lincoln (UoL) in the United Kingdom for the Arcademia Global Game Jam, an intense 48-hour competition to create playable arcade games. The "Echoes Across the Arcade" theme urged participants to consider how the past influences the present through gameplay.

The Horizon Residence, specifically allocated to postgraduate students on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus, recently hosted a memorable Alumni Business Venture and Graduation event that brought together a dynamic mix of graduates, alumni and aspiring entrepreneurs for an evening of inspiration, celebration and meaningful connections.

Keaoleboga Motshabi

The North-West University (NWU) Eagles Aerobics team has qualified for the national championships of the South African Sport Aerobics Fitness and Hip-hop Federation (SASAFF). This comes after their recent showing at the provincial championships held at the Kagiso Community Centre in Krugersdorp, Gauteng, on 10 and 11 May 2025.

By Gofaone Motsamai

An air of possibility and curiosity pervaded the campuses of the North-West University (NWU) in May as prospective students, parents and guardians attended a series of Open Day events.

The Mahikeng Campus hosted the first event on 10 May, followed by Potchefstroom on 17 May and Vanderbijlpark on 24 May. Each event offered a glimpse into the academic programmes, student support services and inclusive culture the NWU prides itself on.

By Gofaone Motsamai

As South Africa continues to grapple with high levels of crime, a North-West University (NWU) researcher has highlighted the critical role young people can play in prevention efforts when supported and included in meaningful ways.

Dr Kgomotso Bosilong, a research support coordinator at the NWU and a recent PhD graduate, is focusing her research on how to make the nation’s youth part of the solution to crime.

The Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU), through its Career Services and Alumni Relations Department, has taken a significant step toward enhancing student employability by hosting a lecturers’ breakfast engagement.

This was part of a series of multi-campus events held at the Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark campuses. The event brought together staff and key institutional stakeholders to explore collaborative strategies for better preparing students for the rapidly evolving job market.

By: Mafumane Tlhapi & Keaoleboga Motshabi

The North-West University (NWU) turned into a hub of business ideas and exchanges as it hosted the Youth Entrepreneurship Tour (YET) of the Youth African Entrepreneurs Institute (YAEI) on 24 and 25 April 2025.

The two-day event, held in collaboration with the Amalgamated Banks of South Africa (Absa) and Strategic National Stakeholders (SNS), gave young entrepreneurs a stage to pitch business ideas, receive expert feedback and explore pathways to funding.