He was a visionary thinker, an activist against an oppressive regime, but also a forgotten figure. No longer. Wits University Press recently released the book Rick Turner's Politics as the Art of the Impossible to universal acclaim, with it even being named News24’s Book of the Month for August.

Gideon van Riet, a senior lecturer in Political Studies and International Relations at the North-West University (NWU), served as one of the editors of the book.

Education uplifts, it enriches lives, and it creates opportunities. Language should not be a barrier to accessing education of the highest quality, and here the POLOKELO project as implemented by the Language Directorate of the North-West University (NWU) is playing a leading role in the promotion of African languages in academic spheres.

History is more than just a collection of dates and events; it forms the foundation of our collective identity and guides us in making informed decisions. By teaching history, we ensure that past lessons are preserved.

To this end, the History subject group at the North-West University (NWU) started a seminar series, initiated by former colleague Dr Laura Phillips, to provide researchers with a platform to present their work to internal and external audiences, to foster new networks and to enhance the university's reputation.

Researchers across the faculties at the NWU continue to produce exciting work in their fields of expertise.

We introduce the work of two researchers - Tumi Ledwaba, a lecturer in History, and Prof Tycho Maas, extraordinary researcher in the School for Ancient Language and Text Studies.

Fortune Tsutsa’s master’s-degree research on the use of social media for newsgathering and reporting by the Potchefstroom Herald exemplifies the power of modern technology in journalism.

Energy supply is a critical driver of socio-economic development in African nations as they strive to bridge the gap with developed countries. However, the continent faces significant challenges due to energy poverty and inadequate responses to the ongoing energy crisis.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Humanities, in collaboration with the School of Philosophy, will be hosting a public lecture by Prof Bernard Matolino from the University of Pretoria on 6 September 2024. 

The title of his lecture is “Governments of National Unity (GNUs) and the African polity: Insights from the 2024 South African electoral outcome”. 

On 15 August 2024, the Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) research niche area at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus hosted renowned Kenyan author and scholar, Prof Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o.  

The North-West University's (NWU’s) School of Government Studies proudly hosted the first of three legs of the Strong Nations for Africa Fellowship Programme from 28 July to 2 August 2024.

The programme, co-designed and co-delivered by the Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG) in Singapore and the African Association of Public Administration and Management (AAPAM), is tailored for senior African public sector leaders. It aims to build a community of leaders committed to enhancing the quality of national governance in their respective countries.

By Loveness Hulwane

The Arts unit at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus recently hosted a 2024 Vaal July event, themed “Celebrating 20 Years of Greatness: Student Life Edition”.

This event aimed to honour two decades of excellence by bringing innovation and a commitment to sustainability to life through fashion and performances. Students were tasked to showcase their creativity by creating garments made from recyclable materials.