Women

Empowering the next generation of women entrepreneurs through TransformHER

The North-West University (NWU) continues to strengthen its commitment to entrepreneurship development and women's economic empowerment through its participation in the international TransformHER initiative. This is a collaborative project that equips young women with the confidence, entrepreneurial capabilities and networks needed to shape their entrepreneurial futures.

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From the Cederberg to space: Rooibos can take South African tourism further

Rooibos has long helped to place South Africa on the international tourism map. Now, the country’s distinctive indigenous plant is preparing to leave the planet.

In October 2026, rooibos seeds are scheduled to travel to the International Space Station, where they will be exposed to microgravity and cosmic radiation before returning to Earth. Scientists will compare them with control seeds to determine how the conditions affected their germination and growth.

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Social interaction is essential for healthy childhood development

Parents often focus on academic achievement, but one of the most powerful influences on a child's development is something far simpler: meaningful social interaction. According to Linique Hanekom, a speech-language therapist at the Centre for Health & Human Performance in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU), everyday interactions such as talking, playing and responding to children are fundamental to their language development, emotional wellbeing and ability to build healthy relationships.

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How bodybuilding helped Bokang Matsetela find her purpose

What began as a personal search for direction has developed into a series of bodybuilding titles for North-West University (NWU) student Bokang Matsetela. In just two years, the fourth-year economics student has progressed from entering her first competition to standing among the country's top university bodybuilders, proving that discipline can shape more than physical strength.

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Study points to alternative feed additives that help broiler chickens cope with heat stress

As poultry producers face growing pressure to reduce antibiotic use while managing rising temperatures, a North-West University (NWU) study has found that combining probiotics and stimbiotics in broiler chicken diets could help the birds maintain growth and cope better with heat stress without compromising performance, meat quality, health or welfare.

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PhD study develops AI to detect misinformation in South African languages

When false information spreads online in English, artificial intelligence (AI) can often help identify it. But when the same misinformation appears in isiZulu, Sepedi or many other South African languages, the tools are limited. 

A North-West University (NWU) PhD study by Dr Seani Rananga is addressing that gap by developing multilingual AI that can detect misinformation across English, isiZulu and Sepedi, laying the groundwork for safer digital spaces in South Africa.

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Meet Dr Shuping – South Africa’s youngest doctoral graduate in Setswana

At the age of 31, Dr Reoikantse Lucrucia Shuping has become South Africa’s youngest doctoral graduate in African Language and Linguistics (Setswana), following research that addresses the divide between spoken and written Setswana.

Dr Shuping, a Setswana lecturer in the School of Languages at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, received her DPhil degree from the University of the Witwatersrand on 13 July 2026.

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