President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his 2026 State of the Nation (SONA) address on Thursday 12 February, and he will do so in a world starkly different from that of a year ago. Political uncertainty, strained international relations and domestic pressures mean the president is operating in a political climate that is no longer simmering but rapidly reaching boiling point.

By Mzwandile Ndlovu

Mphumudzeni Siphuma, a North-West University (NWU) alumnus, has swopped his military fatigues and rank for civvies and the title of lecturer in Communication, Journalism and Media Studies at the university’s Potchefstroom Campus.

An opinion piece by Dr Mabutho Shangase

Opinion piece by Dr Mabutho Shangase

Dr Mabutho Shangase, a senior lecturer in Political Studies and International Relations at the North-West University (NWU) is of the opinion that the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has reached the zenith of its political existence and is currently engaging in actions that will undermine and diminish its future electoral prospects.

What began as a digital footprint in South Africa has grown into a continental voice, one strong enough to earn North-West University (NWU) alumnus John Nchoe an honorary award at the prestigious Icons of Africa Awards.

Nchoe, a social media entrepreneur who holds a BA and BA Honours in Communication from the NWU, was recognised for his growing influence in digital strategy, content creation and thought leadership across Africa’s media and tourism sectors.

South Africa can learn a great deal from China, not by copying its politics but by understanding how it builds relationships, trust and social harmony. That is the argument made by Dr Casper Lötter, a conflict criminologist at the North West University, who believes China’s way of thinking offers practical lessons for a deeply divided South Africa.

The North-West University (NWU) is the headline sponsor of the 2025 North West Media Awards. This marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts of the university to support media development, ethical journalism and professional growth in the province.

The partnership reinforces the commitment of the NWU to fostering collaboration between academia, the media industry, government and the private sector.

• The Centre for Digital Humanities was born out of the realisation that the humanities are central to creating equitable digital futures for South Africans. 
• “As digital humanists, we understand that technology exists within a network of human and more-than-human relationships,” says Prof.

By Gosego Phutieagae

When final-year social work students at the North-West University (NWU) gathered for their annual conference, their message was clear: transformation begins with small acts of service.

The subject group Social Work hosted the event to showcase how students have translated classroom theory into real-world community engagement, demonstrating their readiness to serve as ethical and responsive professionals.