In communities across the country, frustration is quietly building. What begins as a missed service or delayed response often grows into something deeper, a sense that the system meant to serve the people is no longer working for them. The failures of local government are no longer distant policy concerns or abstract debates. They are lived, daily realities, and for many, it is not just about the lack of services but about a loss of trust.

An opinion piece by Dr Lesiba Tumishang Ledwaba, deputy director of the School of Social Sciences and a senior lecturer in History at the NWU.

The brutal massacre of Sharpeville residents by racist, trigger-happy apartheid policemen on 21 March 1960 continues to be a part of societal discourse that highlights apartheid hegemony that was cemented and immensely reliant on extreme violence for its existence and unjustified longevity.

The Riverside Hotel in Vanderbijlpark recently buzzed with intellectual energy as academics, students, policymakers and thought leaders from across Africa gathered for the North-West University (NWU) Trio Conference on Afrocentric Governance, Multilingualism and Transformation.

Over three days, participants from South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malawi and Lesotho and beyond convened to reimagine the development of Africa through an Afrocentric lens – grounded in indigenous knowledge, African languages and cultural values.

By Mzwandile Ndlovu

For South Africa to prosper municipalities must become engines of social justice that engage with citizens, deliver on services and sustainable development and are held accountable for their governance.

Opinion piece by Dr Mabutho Shangase and final-year master’s degree student Masungulo Khoza

The May 2024 national and provincial elections in South Africa were more than a routine democratic exercise; they were a revealing test of the electoral resilience of the country under mounting social and political strain.

Recognition for academic and community impact has placed the North-West University (NWU) in focus after one of its academics and two alumni were named among Inside Education’s 100 South African Shining Stars.

Dr Benjamin Rapanyane, a senior lecturer in political science at the NWU, was selected for his contribution to education in disadvantaged communities and his academic work in African political studies.

The North-West University's (NWU) Faculty of Law hosted a seminar which provided an in-depth exploration of the Companies Tribunal and its essential role in alternative dispute resolution, offering students a closer look at real-world legal practices.

The seminar, held across the Potchefstroom and Mahikeng campuses, was specifically tailored for final-year law students enrolled in the Specific Contracts module (IURI413) and timed to coincide with national and global Consumer Week.

With South Africa preparing for the 2026 local government elections, the role of the media in strengthening democracy and drawing in younger voters is under focus as analysts warn that low youth turnout remains a concern for the credibility of the electoral process.

Police dogs are among the most effective yet underutilised crime-fighting tools available to South African law enforcement.

There was a gentle sense of celebration in the air as guests gathered at Kleinbosch Wedding Venue for the launch of Happiness, Unhappiness, and Chance by Anné Hendrik Verhoef.

Friends, colleagues and members of the university community came together not only to celebrate a new book, but also to reflect on one of the most enduring questions in life: what does it really mean to be happy?