By Gosego Phutieagae

As the world commemorates International Diabetes Day on 14 November, the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening awareness on diabetes prevention and management. In the weeks leading up to the global observance, the Obesity and Metabolic Disease Research Group (OMDRG) at the Biochemistry department in Mahikeng, under the leadership of Prof. Sithandiwe Mazibuko-Mbeje, hosted a successful Diabetes Awareness Drive on 23 October 2025.

While cities in Africa expand rapidly and the pressure for economic growth is increasing, the protected areas on the continent face a complex challenge: how to conserve nature and empower people.

At the North-West University (NWU) the Protected Areas Research Group, led by Prof. Reece Alberts, Prof. François Retief, Prof. Claudine Roos and Prof. Dirk Cilliers, is working to find exactly that balance.

The Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA) has appointed Dr Lindikhaya Myeki, a senior lecturer in the School of Agricultural Economics and Extension at the North-West University (NWU), as secretary and/or treasurer.

Dr Myeki’s appointment, effective from 1 October 2025, was confirmed by the AEASA management committee following a nomination that recognised his commitment, professional integrity and contribution to the field of agricultural economics in South Africa, The appointment is for a two-year renewable term.

Fodder beet is gaining attention as a key livestock feed crop in South Africa, and new research from the North-West University (NWU) shows how nitrogen fertiliser and planting season shape its growth and nutritional value.

Zabesuthu Sithokozisiwe Mngomezulu investigated how two fodder beet varieties respond to different nitrogen levels during winter, spring, and autumn. The study focused on growth traits, yield, and nutrient profiles.

By Gofaone Motsamai

When water gushes from a rural borehole, many see purity, but beneath that clear stream could lie invisible fungal organisms capable of causing serious infections. To protect public health, South Africa should introduce inclusive microbial monitoring, according to a North-West University (NWU) study.

Recognising prior learning in indigenous knowledge (IK) will ensure that people and communities who have preserved traditional knowledge for generations are included in South Africa’s national innovation agenda.

This is the intention of the national Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), which in partnership with the North-West University (NWU) and several other universities, is facilitating the development of norms and standards for IK as a discipline.

After long days of teaching English in South Korea, Marcel van der Westhuizen would often find himself pondering the biggest questions imaginable: How will the universe ultimately end? His persistence and curiosity have now paid off.

By Gofaone Motsamai and Phenyo Mokgothu

When students from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus gathered for the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences-in-Action event on 7 and 8 October 2025, they joined an initiative that brought academia and industry together.

Under the theme “Connecting academia and industry through science”, the two-day event created a space for students, academics and professionals to engage with organisations working across various scientific fields.

South Africa’s pursuit of sustainable development remains uneven, with economic growth often taking precedence over environmental and social considerations, and while laws and policies highlight sustainability, practice tells a different story.

“Economic growth dominates the discourse,” said Dr Fredua Agyemang, a postdoctoral research fellow under the SARChI Chair: Cities, Law and Environmental Sustainability at the North-West University (NWU).

“Social sustainability is often reduced to consultation exercises, and environmental concerns are treated as secondary.”

An independent advisory panel of agricultural experts is at the helm of one of South Africa’s most ambitious experiments in sustainable farming. This panel plays a decisive role in shaping the vision, trials, and daily operations of the North-West University’s (NWU) new Centre for Sustainable Agriculture—a bold initiative designed to meet the country’s urgent need for resilient, productive, and environmentally responsible farming systems.

What sets this panel apart is not only its independence from the university but also the breadth and depth of its expertise. It includes: