Experts

Prof. Olubukola Babalola ranked among world’s leading plant scientists

Prof. Olubukola Oluranti Babalola from the North-West University (NWU) has been recognised among the world’s leading researchers in plant science and agronomy after being ranked 448th globally and fifth in South Africa in the 2026 edition of the Research.com rankings.

Prof. Babalola, who is based on the Mahikeng Campus, also received the 2026 Research.com Plant Science and Agronomy in South Africa Leader Award in recognition of her contribution to research in the field.

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South Africa’s government is drowning in its own complexity

  • The South African government is becoming trapped within layers of accumulated complexity.
  • The government therefore appears simultaneously hyper-present and absent.
  • Complex systems create discretion and discretion creates power.
  • Economic success becomes tied less to productive capability and more to proximity to administrative systems.
  • The crisis no longer lies in the absence of rules or oversight, but in the growing burden of managing complexity itself
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NWU celebrates European patent for stress and stroke innovation

On 14 May 2026, the Technology Transfer and Innovation Support Office (TTIS) at the North-West University (NWU) hosted a commemorative event to celebrate the granting of a European patent for a novel method to determine the risk of chronic stress and stroke.

The event brought together members of the Faculty of Health Sciences, family, friends and former colleagues of Prof. Leone Malan and her late husband, Prof. Nico Malan, whose decades of research underpin the invention.

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Auditor-General addresses the causes of service delivery failures

Communities across South Africa continue to face water shortages and power cuts, but Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke says the reasons behind these failures are simpler than most people think.

Speaking at the Public Financial Management guest lecture, hosted by the School of Government Studies on Monday 11 May, she said that municipalities mainly collapse due to poor financial management, the wasteful use of resources, human behaviour, and procurement failures.

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Alumni relations and economic experts drive critical conversations on leadership and SA’s future

Alumni Relations at the North-West University (NWU), together with the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, recently hosted an Alumni and Friends gathering at the NWU’s Vanderbijlpark Campus.

The event brought together leading academics, analysts, business leaders and media personalities for a robust dialogue on governance, economics, leadership and social development.

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Research and Postgraduate Support celebrates prestigious global certification

The Research and Postgraduate Support (RPS) directorate at the North-West University (NWU) celebrated the university’s successful attainment of the Good Financial Grant Practice (GFGP) Platinum Tier certification during an event held in Mahikeng on 22 April.

By Oscar Mosiane and Koach Ndlovu

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NurseLead: A groundbreaking initiative to transform nursing leadership in South Africa

Prof. Siedine Coetzee and Dr Mirriam Matandela

A powerful new chapter in South African nursing leadership began on 5 and 6 May 2026, when the National Department of Health and the North-West University (NWU) officially initiated the groundbreaking NurseLead programme – a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to empower current and emerging nurse leaders across the country.

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The NSFAS Crisis: When leadership ignores evidence

  • The tragedy of the NSFAS story is that it reflects more than an institutional crisis; it reflects a deeper tension in public leadership in South Africa.
  • NSFAS has grown from a support mechanism into the dominant driver of higher education spending.
  • The most disturbing dimension of the NSFAS crisis is the erosion of ethical leadership. 
  • NSFAS did not fail because of one decision, one leader
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DSTI hands over key hydrogen and energy innovation facilities at North-West University

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) marked a significant milestone in South Africa's clean energy transition with the official handover of two strategic energy research, development and innovation (RDI) deployments at the North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom Campus.

The handover forms part of the Department's contribution to South Africa's just energy transition, the hydrogen economy and the country's long-term net-zero carbon ambitions.

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Prof. Louis du Preez to receive prestigious Havenga Prize

His name is synonymous with groundbreaking research and innovation, with many honours over the years acknowledging the impact of his work. Now, another prestigious honour will soon be awarded to Prof. Louis du Preez, amphibian conservationist and amphibian parasite diversity expert of the School of Biological Sciences of the North-West University (NWU).

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