By Mafumane Tlhapi and Kealeboga Motshabi

North-West University (NWU) student Tsholofelo Hope Batumile has been crowned Miss Gender-Based Violence (GBV) North West. She is a second-year student in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, pursuing an extended Human Resources Management programme.

Batumile said she entered the competition to raise awareness about GBV and highlight its impact in the region. “I wanted to extend and promote the message of self-love and self-appreciation among individuals,” she said.

Television advertisements influence how society views gender roles, and a new study from North-West University (NWU) explores how women are represented in South African adverts. The research, conducted by Koketso Rabanye from the NWU’s School of Communication, examined both traditional and changing portrayals of women in the media.

With a pen in hand, first-year student Nompumelelo Mphoreng enjoyed the sunrise over the North-West University (NWU) Vanderbijlpark Campus as it created golden reflections on the river. As a fresh voice in the NWU community she found herself fascinated by the essence of her new home.

Medical biological scientist Puseletso Manyaka-Lesofe from the Centre for Human Metabolomics at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU) has been selected as one of Forbes Africa’s 2025 Over 30 Under 50 honourees for her contributions to science and academia.

By Gofaone Motsamai

Bontle Manana, a 34-year-old industrial psychologist and PhD candidate at the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU), is breaking barriers and inspiring women across South Africa.

Hailing from Phola Village in Mahikeng, she recently achieved the prestigious milestone of being named a Mrs South Africa semi-finalist.

A familiar voice, Mogomotsi "Peculiar" Ntehalang, a final-year communication student on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, walked off with the coveted Radio Presenter of the Year Award at the 2024 North West Media Awards in December.

Peculiar has been hosting the NWUFM Maftown Drive show on weekdays from 15:00 to 18:00 since from 2022. The programme features segments such as Ispan Iplan, which provides job insights, and Flash of Thought, which focuses on controversial discussions and factual information for listeners.

Dr Moleboheng Ramulumo, a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Research Unit Self-Directed Learning has been invited by the Disability Cluster of the South African Youth Forum (SAYOF) to represent South Africa at RightsCon 2025, taking place in Taipei, Taiwan, from 23 to 29 February 2025.

When Eugenia March entered the Information Technology (IT) department as telephone coordinator and later as administration secretary at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus 42 years ago, it was a very different environment she recently retired from.

She joined the NWU in 1982 and has played a vital role in the department’s operations over the years, witnessing changes within the university and adapting to evolving processes and technologies.

By Tiyiselani Precious Miyambu

Researchers from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Unit of Environmental Sciences and Management conducted a study on the presence of a widely used herbicide – glyphosate – and its byproduct, AMPA, in South Africa’s water, soil and sediment.

Glyphosate, a key ingredient in many weed-control products, is essential in modern agriculture, particularly in the production of crops like maize and soybeans.

By Phenyo Mokgothu and Lerato Tshweu

The North-West University (NWU) Mahikeng ladies football team is starting 2025 in top form and will be competing in the Varsity Football Tournament for the first time.

Their qualification follows a strong performance at the 2024 University Sports South Africa (USSA) tournament where they finished third out of 19 teams and earned a bronze medal.