Africa does not have to look beyond its borders for every answer to its health challenges. Much of the knowledge, expertise and data needed to find solutions already exist on the continent.
That is the message from North-West University (NWU) physiology professor Lebo Gafane-Matemane, who says Africa's diversity, research expertise and young scholars give the continent a strong base from which to improve health outcomes.
Hope, open conversations and stronger support systems can help save lives. This was the message as health professionals gathered at the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU) to mark Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness Day on 10 September 2026.
By the time this goes to print, the number may have changed again. As I write, at least nine, possibly 10, women have been found dead in and around Kempton Park since mid-July, most half-naked, several with visible bruising, left along the same stretch of the R21 and its surrounding veld.
Refiloe Legodi, a lecturer in the subject group Social Work at the North-West University (NWU), presented her research at the Ubuntu Nursing Colloquium that took place in August at the Groenkloof Campus of the University of Pretoria.
Your kidneys work quietly, filtering waste, balancing fluids and regulating blood pressure every single day. Most people never think about these essential organs until something goes wrong and, unfortunately, statistics show that kidney disease is a growing problem. Millions of South Africans are affected by kidney disease and many do not even know they have it.
The good news is that kidney disease is one of the most preventable and manageable chronic conditions when detected early.
Prof. Welma Lubbe reached a remarkable academic milestone when she graduated with her second PhD from the University of Cape Town (UCT) on Wednesday, 9 September 2026.
Completed under the supervision of Prof. Kirsty Donald, the PhD focused on paediatric neuroscience – a field that complements Prof. Lubbe’s established expertise in neonatal care and neurodevelopmental supportive care.
Dr Mary Uyoga
Fatigue, poor concentration and declining physical performance are easily blamed on stress, demanding schedules or a lack of sleep. For many young women, however, these seemingly ordinary symptoms may point to an overlooked nutritional problem: iron deficiency.
For the Presence research team from the North-West University’s (NWU) School of Nursing, a 10-day visit to the Netherlands became more than an academic exchange. It was an opportunity to listen, learn and share ideas about what it means to provide care with compassion and genuine human connection.
For North-West University (NWU) PhD candidate Dakalo Goitsilwe, presenting her doctoral research at an international conference in Kenya, marked another important milestone in her development as a social work researcher and scholar.
Dakalo represented the NWU and South Africa at the 2026 Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD 2026), held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 26 to 29 June 2026.