In a world where innovation meets wellbeing, Chantel Muller is proving that the two can powerfully coexist. A published author and senior lecturer in marketing research and sports marketing at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus, Chantel is redefining how technology can transform health — and she’s doing it from right here at the NWU.

North-West University (NWU) academics Prof Kgaugelo Lekota from the School of Biological Sciences and Prof Lebo Gafane-Matemane from the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) were recipients of Research Excellence Awards for Early Career/Emerging Researchers at the 2025 National Research Foundation (NRF) Awards.

By Gofaone Motsamai

From the village of Leshobo in Taung to the corridors of leadership in the Free State’s Department of Agriculture, Ntombana Dlanga’s life story is one of effort, purpose and the impact of education.

Born and raised in a household led by a single mother who worked as a nursing assistant, Ntombana’s dreams of higher education seemed out of reach after she matriculated in 1997. “There was just no money for university,” she recalls. “So, I went into what I knew – hustling.”

The STEM education specialist behind Renewable Rangers, a digital educational game designed for children aged 4 to 6, has been selected as one of South Africa’s Forty Under 40 leaders for 2025 in the Education category.

Dr Moleboheng Mokhele-Ramulumo is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education and a member of the Research Unit for Self-Directed Learning at the North-West University (NWU). The official Forty Under 40 awards ceremony will be held on 18 October 2025 at the Marriott Hotel in Johannesburg.

Professor Welma Lubbe from the North-West University’s (NWU) Quality in Nursing and Midwifery (NuMIQ) Research Focus Area has been appointed Associate Editor of the International Breastfeeding Journal, a leading open-access, peer-reviewed publication dedicated to advancing knowledge and practice in breastfeeding.

Byline: Keaoleboga Motshabi

Bonolo “Miss Faith” Monaisa has transitioned from the student-run studios of NWU FM to the national platform of Motsweding FM, where she now serves as a content producer for SABC Educational Programmes.

Growing up in the Eastern Cape, Eniswa Kandzi, an engineer in training at Lesedi Energy Engineering, developed an early interest in electricity. This interest now drives her work in renewable energy, where she helps design solar systems that power homes and industries across South Africa.

• Breastfeeding is every person’s first start in life, yet millions of South African mothers stop within weeks.
• A simple change in position or early expert support can make the difference between quitting and success.
• Myths, short maternity leave, and lack of workplace facilities are costing babies their best food.
• Supporting breastfeeding isn’t just good for health – it’s good for the economy and the planet.

Lemogang Moote, secretary general of the South African National Boxing Organisation (SANABO) in the North West, has added another accomplishment to her growing list of achievements by graduating with an MSc degree in agricultural economics from the North-West University (NWU).

The Faculty of Humanities at the North-West University (NWU) recently reaffirmed its dedication to societal transformation during a seminar that explored the vital relationship between academic engagement and real-world impact.