The Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) office at the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted its first-ever SHAPE innovation impact events across all three campuses. These sessions occurred on 24 July in Potchefstroom, 25 July in Vanderbijlpark, and 28 July in Mahikeng.

Researchers from the faculties of Humanities, Education and Economic and Management Sciences assembled to explore ways to transform SHAPE research into high-impact projects for communities.

Generative artificial intelligence has learnt to mimic the divine. It now produces not only music, prose and images once thought uniquely human, but also digital deities: chatbots that speak in the first person as God. Christianity boasts AI Jesus, Virtual Jesus, Text with Jesus and Ask Jesus. Buddhism has Norbu AI, Islam has Brother Junaid.

Byline: Keaoleboga Motshabi

Bonolo “Miss Faith” Monaisa has transitioned from the student-run studios of NWU FM to the national platform of Motsweding FM, where she now serves as a content producer for SABC Educational Programmes.

Isaac Asimov, renowned science fiction author and professor of biochemistry, once said, “The human brain has been designed to absorb information. The computer has been designed to give it.” And now, at the North-West University (NWU) Library and Information Service (LIS), it gets a little help from three intelligent new friends — Lexi, Sebueng and Lebone.

At the North-West University (NWU), the Library and Information Service team recently took a break from books and databases to enjoy something a little more personal and playful — a series of sip-and-sketch sessions that brought together creativity and conversation.

Hosted on each of the NWU’s three campuses, the sessions started in Potchefstroom, moved on to Vanderbijlpark, and concluded in Mahikeng. Although traditional paintbrushes were nowhere to be found, participants fully embraced the moment with sketchpads, snacks and lots of laughter.

With the 2025 Varsity Football tournament set to kick off on 7 August, the men’s team from North-West University (NWU) say they are mentally and physically prepared for another competitive campaign.

Head coach of the NWU Soccer Institute, Nkululeko Malgas, says the team is entering the season with a solid foundation and the benefit of experience. “They are in the right mental space, having retained almost 70% of the players from the 2024 season. They know exactly what is at stake,” he says.

The Faculty of Humanities at the North-West University (NWU) recently reaffirmed its dedication to societal transformation during a seminar that explored the vital relationship between academic engagement and real-world impact.

The decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) on 31 July to again reduce interest rates by a further 25 basis points (bps) is the right decision for the economy in the present circumstances.

This is the view of Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School. In commenting on the decision, Prof Parsons says the inflation outlook is now still well within the SARB’s target range and the economy is battling with sluggish gross domestic product (GDP) growth of probably less than 1% this year.

The allegations against the South African police minister are indeed serious and damaging, further eroding the little trust that citizens still have in institutions.

According to Thabang Motswaledi, a political analyst at the North-West University (NWU), the allegations have placed the already preoccupied Government of National Unity (GNU) under even greater strain, and put President Cyril Ramaphosa into a position where he must choose between government and party politics.

South Africa’s failure to manage waste properly is no longer just an environmental issue; it is a growing legal, health and human rights concern and without urgent reform, the costs will continue to mount in landfills and lives.

With nearly a third of households lacking access to formal waste removal, communities increasingly rely on open dumping, backyard burning and unregulated landfill use, exposing themselves to serious health and environmental hazards.