He has a recipe for success, and he knows how to collect the trophies. One of South Africa’s favourite sons, Dr Rassie Erasmus, was a welcome sight back at the North-West University (NWU) when he delivered his first guest lecture since being awarded an honorary doctorate in 2024.

The lecture, entitled From the Sidelines to the Spotlight: Insights from a Back-to-Back World Cup Winning Coach, was hosted by the NWU’s Faculty of Health Sciences – School of Human Movement Sciences in partnership with NWU’s Centre for Human Health and Performance (CHHP).

By Gofaone Motsamai

In the dry, sandy soils of southern Africa, a rugged survivor stands tall: Vachellia erioloba, more commonly known as the camel thorn. Once classified under the genus Acacia as Acacia erioloba, this hardy tree is also called the giraffe thorn, mokala tree, or kameeldoring in Afrikaans.

By Michelle Meixieira Groenewald

On 13 February 2025, the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU) hosted a heart-warming Long Service Awards ceremony at Tsebonokeng Hall, coinciding with the official academic opening of the university. The event was a fitting tribute to the unwavering commitment and dedication of employees who have played a vital role in shaping the university over the years.

By Gofaone Motsamai and Phenyo Mokgothu

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Governance Studies hosted a panel discussion on Friday, 14 February 2025 on the Mahikeng Campus.

The discussion aimed to critically analyse President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), focusing on key themes, omissions and broader political implications.

The North-West University (NWU) emphasised its dedication to supporting the North West Dragons as the franchise’s title sponsor for the 2025 domestic games.

The partnership was officially unveiled during a special launch event held on 12 February at the NWU Potchefstroom Campus. North West Cricket (NWC) proudly revealed the team’s newly branded NWU kit, symbolising a strengthened relationship between the institution and the franchise.

The unprecedented decision by the Government of National Unity (GNU) Cabinet to postpone the Budget until 12 March because of disagreement over tax increases will inevitably have unintended consequences for South Africa’s political economy.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the NWU Business School, says if the eventual Budget in March turns out to be truly committed to growth and job creation (as was outlined in the recent GNU Medium Term Development Plan) the delay would have been worthwhile if the GNU gets agreed trade-offs and better outcomes for the economy as a whole.

Three North-West University (NWU) innovators have earned a place in the highly competitive Emerging30 Innovators Programme, an initiative led by the Young African Entrepreneurship Institute (YAEI). Their journey began during the 2024 Youth Innovation Challenge, held as part of the YAEI & ABSA Entrepreneurship Week on the Potchefstroom Campus.

This challenge provided a platform for young entrepreneurs to pitch their groundbreaking ideas, ultimately paving the way for their participation in the prestigious 12-month incubation programme.

A mindset change in favour of self-directed learning could solve many of the problems in education and possibly in the workplace too, according to award-winning North-West University (NWU) expert Prof Elsa Mentz.

The Education Association of South Africa (EASA) awarded Prof Mentz the EASA Medal of Honour during its annual conference at Sun City in January.

Prof Mentz is the director of the NWU Research Unit for Self-Directed Learning– believed to be the only such unit in the international education research community.

By Oscar Mosiane and Precious Miyambu

A partnership between the Barolong Boo Ratlou Ba Ga Seitshiro tribe and the North-West University (NWU) is taking shape.

On 11 February the NWU’s Global Innovative Forefront Talent (GIFT) research niche area hosted a delegation led by His Majesty Chief Charles Moshoette of the Barolong Boo Ratlou Ba Ga Seitshiro tribe at the Mahikeng Campus.