By Keaoleboga Motshabi and Phenyo Mokgothu

Renowned radio broadcaster and cultural advocate Lucky Tlale, widely known as Hala Hala LTK, recently visited the School of Communication at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus to share insights with undergraduate broadcasting students.

In Zimbabwe’s evolving political landscape, where promises of reform have yet to materialise, one unexpected force has emerged – comedy.

While official narratives speak of progress, social media tells a different story, one shaped by satire, memes and skits that turn national struggles into humour. But in a country where dissent carries risks, is laughter merely an escape, or is it a tool of resistance?

Uncertainty springs eternal in the South African political landscape, or so it would seem. The Government of National Unity (GNU) has yet to find its feet, and cohesion has not been one of its hallmarks.

According to Professor Kedibone Phago, Director of the School for Government Studies at the North-West University (NWU), there is much to be done if the country is to be defined by its successes rather than its failures.

The state of SOEs: A broken backbone

Dr Thulisile Bhuda once stood behind the counter at a Tekkie Town store in in a mall, ringing up customers’ purchases. Now, years later, she stands in front of a lecture hall of students at the University of Mpumalanga, sharing her knowledge of culture and heritage, with a PhD in indigenous knowledge from the North-West University (NWU) behind her name.

South Africa is at a breaking point. The political landscape is shifting, economic pressures are mounting, and trust in government is waning. Dr Sysman Motloung, a political analyst and academic at North-West University (NWU), has spent years studying the nation’s fractures: how power is won, wielded, and too often squandered. His research spans electoral behaviour, constitutionalism, and the politics of water, an issue he argues is central to the country’s long-term stability.

The School of Government Studies at the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted a thought-provoking discussion on the dynamics of urban conflict in South Africa, featuring conflict resolution expert Andre Vlok. Dr Seshupo Mosala, a lecturer in the School of Government Studies, and Katlego Mbali Sekwele, part-time lecturer at Vuselela TVET College, were the discussants.

Television advertisements influence how society views gender roles, and a new study from North-West University (NWU) explores how women are represented in South African adverts. The research, conducted by Koketso Rabanye from the NWU’s School of Communication, examined both traditional and changing portrayals of women in the media.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to play an increasingly important and prominent role in our lives, the North-West University (NWU) has established the NWU AI Hub to serve as a coordinator and facilitator for all things AI at the NWU. No sphere of the university environment has been left unaffected by the AI revolution, and with the creation of the NWU AI Hub, the university is implementing the necessary structures and guidelines to navigate the pitfalls and opportunities that this groundbreaking technology holds.

By: Gofaone Motsamai

The rich linguistic diversity in Africa has always posed challenges and opportunities for the media, particularly for radio. A new book, Reconceptualising Multilingualism on African Radio, seeks to redefine multilingualism on African radio broadcasting by proffering epistemological ways to solve the African language problem.

In times of escalating tension between states, cool heads and calm words are crucial, says North-West University (NWU) academic Dr Pumlani Majavu.