Congratulations, congratulations and, once more, congratulations! History will always remember the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Dr Adele Broodryk, a senior lecturer at the School of Human Movement Sciences at the Faculty of Health Sciences, as being the first South African woman to complete the 2022 Comrades Marathon.

She also claimed the overall third position in the women's division with a time of 06:26:35. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that it was the mother of two’s first Comrades Marathon.  

North-West University (NWU) alumnus and Miss NWU 2018 Taahirah Zungu will represent South Africa at the Miss Intercontinental World pageant that will take place in Egypt later this year.

This is after she was crowned as Miss Intercontinental South Africa for 2022 during a pageant held at Gold Reef City on 20 August 2022.

Originally from Mahikeng,Taahirah has completed two qualifications at the NWU, a diploma in sports coaching and a BHSc degree in sports coaching and human movement sciences.

“Preclinical research serves as a bridge to new medicines,’’ says North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Rose Hayeshi, associate professor and director of the DSI/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform (PCDDP).

Preclinical drug development is one of the stages of development for new medicines and her specific interest is in drug metabolism.

Prof Hayeshi says the development of new medicines can be divided into two broad areas – discovery and development.

According to Prof Chrisna Gouws, associate professor at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, inquisitiveness and a vigorous personality have led her to where she is today.

This dynamic researcher has a PhD in biochemistry and is well known in the scientific community for publishing numerous notable scientific papers and reviewing manuscripts for international journals.

Prof Lebo Gafane-Matemane, an associate professor of Physiology at the North-West University (NWU), is paving the way for the next generation of researchers by carving new paths in cardiovascular health research.

Prof Gafane-Matemane, who carries out her research activities as part of the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) and the Medical Research Council Research Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular disease, is making waves in her field. 

Gender Awareness Week (GAW) has become an integral part of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) strategy of promoting diversity and inclusivity among students, staff, and other stakeholders.

GAW takes place from 8 to 12 August 2022, with activities, sessions, and presentations focusing on creating awareness and discussing issues such as gender and identity in diverse contexts. This year’s theme centres around the arts.

Dr Adri du Toit, a member of the research unit for Self-directed Learning, was recently elected as managing president of the South African Association of Family Ecology and Consumer Sciences (SAAFECS) for a period of two years.

This was announced at the bi-annual General Meeting of the SAAFECS organisation, which was part of the SAAFECS Conference.

Minister of Social Development Ms Lindiwe Zulu recently appointed North-West University (NWU) academic Dr Elizabeth Smit as member of the Professional Board for Social Work at the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP). 

Dr Smit, the deputy director in the School of Psychosocial Health in the Faculty of Humanities, says her appointment for a period of five years comes after a nomination process early in May. 

Ontiretse Motingwa

The subject group Microbiology at the North-West University (NWU) recently facilitated an online webinar focusing on World Hepatitis Day.

Dr Hazel Tumelo Mufhandu, senior lecturer and deputy leader of the subject group was the facilitator, and Dr Nishi Prabdial-Sing, a principal scientist and virologist at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in Johannesburg, was the keynote speaker.