EMS

Vanderbijlpark Campus plants trees for a greener future

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus commemorated Arbor Day 2026 by planting indigenous trees and reaffirming its commitment to a greener and more sustainable future.

Held under the theme “Leave a legacy – plant a tree”, the programme brought together campus management, student leadership, academic and support staff, faculties, departments and residences.

Submitted on

Fuel shock reaches far beyond the pumps

Deep pockets will no longer suffice; we now need them to extend all the way down to our knees. The fuel price increases that took effect on Wednesday, 2 September will place further strain on an economy struggling to keep its head above water. Achieving National Treasury’s already modest growth forecast of 1.6% for 2026 will be difficult enough, never mind exceeding it.

Submitted on

It is time for the South African Blue Crane to spread its wings as a national icon

  • More than 99% of the world’s Blue Cranes live in South Africa, yet our national bird remains one of the country’s most underused tourism assets.

  • The Blue Crane is a living part of South Africa’s heritage, yet the species’ ‘Vulnerable’ status shows that national-symbol status does not guarantee survival.

Submitted on

The psychology behind your shopping trolley

South African households are counting every rand, but the retailers competing for their money have a formidable advantage: they understand how people shop, often better than shoppers understand themselves.

From the moment customers collect a trolley, they enter an environment carefully designed to influence where they walk, what they notice and how much they spend. Store layouts, shelf positions, scents, sounds, prices and loyalty programmes all play a part.

Submitted on

NWU celebrates exceptional results in the 2026 SAICA IAC exams

The North-West University (NWU) has achieved an exceptional 99% pass rate in the combined January and June 2026 Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC) examinations administered by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).

The achievement places the NWU well above the national combined pass rate of 73%. In the January examination, the university recorded a pass rate of 97%, compared with the national average of 65%.

Submitted on

Bushmeat poaching: When the wildlife disappears, tourists will follow

South Africa’s wildlife is one of its greatest tourism assets. Every year, visitors travel from across the world to experience animals roaming freely in the country’s national parks, nature reserves and private conservation areas. Yet hidden within these landscapes is a largely unseen threat: bushmeat poaching using wire snares, packs of dogs and other unlawful methods.

Submitted on

Africa’s tourism growth hinges on access, investment and visibility

Africa has the attractions to compete for a larger share of global tourism but sustaining the sector’s recent growth on the continent will depend on making destinations easier to reach, enter and navigate, says North-West University (NWU) tourism expert Prof. Elmarie Slabbert.

Prof Slabbert is director of the Tourism Research in Economics, Environs and Society (TREES) research unit and a professor in Tourism Management at the School of Tourism Management at the NWU.

Submitted on

From classroom to workplace: NWU students explore careers in industrial psychology and HR

Students from the School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management at the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU) had the opportunity to hear directly from professionals about life after university during a panel discussion held on 31 July 2026.

Submitted on

Cape Town’s tourism boom brings rewards – and a warning

Cape Town’s tourism sector is enjoying record visitor numbers and revenue, but its growing dependence on international travellers could leave the city vulnerable if domestic tourism continues to decline.

The Cape Town Tourism 2025 Economic Value of Tourism report found that tourists contributed R24.5 billion to the city’s economy during the year, with international visitors accounting for R19 billion of this expenditure.

Submitted on