The North-West University (NWU) is pleased to introduce Dr Joe Molete as the new deputy vice-chancellor (DVC) designate for Student Life, Transformation, People and Culture (SLTPC), with responsibility for the NWU Mahikeng Campus.

As a seasoned academic leader with more than two decades of executive experience spanning academia, research, industry and international institutions, Dr Molete brings to the NWU a rich blend of scientific training, innovation leadership and a deeply personal commitment to people development.

A journey shaped by crucibles

Promises were made, but will the chequebook come to the party? During his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that more than a quarter of South African children under the age of five are stunted, increasing their risk of disease and affecting their ability to learn and grow. He further stated that in 2026, the state will embark on a mission to end child stunting by 2030 and tackle malnutrition among young children.

Section 84(d) of the Constitution vests in the President the authority to convene both Houses of Parliament for a special sitting, a power that is generally interpreted as encompassing, by implication, the delivery of the State of the Nation Address. On Thursday evening, President Cyril Ramaphosa carried out the annual presidential ritual of convening the nation and providing an update on the current situation and the everyday lived experiences of citizens.

Few academics can claim a lifelong bond with a single institution; even fewer can say they helped build that institution from the ground up. Prof. Wynand Grobler stands among that rare company. As the longest-serving Economics academic at the North-West University (NWU), he has devoted an extraordinary 35 years to the lecture hall, to visionary leadership and to the relentless pursuit of excellence in economic sciences.

If African languages are to thrive in a digital world, it is essential that these languages be part of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution sweeping society.

Natural language processing, which enables computers to understand, interpret and generate human language, could play a significant role in enabling African language speakers to benefit from technology advances.

Ndivhuwo Muvhulawa, a PhD student in Biochemistry at the North-West University (NWU), Mahikeng Campus, received a fellowship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to conduct research at the Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo from January to September.

Plant waste is everywhere, in harvested fields, forestry sites and processing plants. A new study argues it could play a bigger role in the energy economy if it can be processed in a cleaner way.

Recognised as the highest-rated institution in the prestigious PMR.africa Excellence Awards for the Sedibeng District, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus stood out for its excellence and leadership in higher education and corporate governance.

Female academics from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus Science Centre once again confirmed that mathematics and science can open up limitless career opportunities for girls and young women.

“The opportunities in chemistry are endless. You can work in environmental science, start your own business, or even create products like perfumes because you understand the materials and how they interact,” said Chemistry lecturer Dr Naledi Raleie.

Leaving their books and computers on campus, students from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus picked up brooms and refuse bags and headed into the community.

At they entered the gates of Mahikeng Primary on 13 February, they rolled up their sleeves and marked the school’s build-up to its 131-year anniversary in August with a clean-up drive.