Vanderbijlpark Campus News

NWU alumnus wins prestigious Rural Cricketer of the Year award

One of the most renowned cricketers in the Vaal Triangle has shown that talent, temperament and a love for the game can take a player to great heights. Wikus Botha, the former NWU Vanderbijlpark director of Cricket, was named the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Rural Player of the Year at the 2026 awards ceremony.

This is an incredible achievement for 39-year-old Botha, who successfully balances his role as a player with that of a renowned cricket coach who has a passion for investing in young players.

Read more

PhD study re-theorises linguistic vitality

Jean-Louis Ndoutoume Mendene received his PhD in education management at the recent Autumn Graduation Ceremonies of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark.

Professional development may prove quite difficult if one is based far away from the institution where you want to study. In his thesis entitled, “Guidelines for…

PhD study paving the way to higher education for inmates

We tend to forget that the purpose of incarceration is not only for justice to be served, but also to rehabilitate offenders and ensure that they can rejoin society as contributing members of their communities.

Hazel Buyisiwa Petula Matiwane understands this well, and it was this understanding that earned her a PhD at the recent Autumn…

TRENDS – a dynamic hub of research activity

The importance of forecasting, tracking and analysing trends – both nationally and internationally – are vital to the development of contemporary business and growth within the consumer environment.

This is according to Prof Ayesha Bevan-Dye, research leader of the newly established research group, TRENDS, in the North-West University’s (…

Study examines pressures of young adult diabetes

The challenges that come with adolescence and the pressure of school is well known. Add a chronic illness that requires constant management, and this will certainly add to the load.

Marietjie Willemse recently obtained her PhD degree at the Autumn Graduation Ceremony North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark with a study that…

Investigating the heartbeat of social support for cardio patients

Quality healthcare remains a concern in our country, even more so against the backdrop of the disadvantaged facing day-to-day socio-economic constraints. The study that lead to a PhD degree for Piet Phillip Nhlanhla, took a step in addressing some of these concerns. 

Piet obtained his PhD at the recent Autumn Graduation Ceremony of the…

Study investigates the importance of the ring

It is every girl’s dream to say “I do”! Negotiating the lobola and showing off a big diamond ring is certainly part and parcel of the entire process. But how many of these girls end up truly happy? Victoria Bukelwa Segami obtained her PhD at the recent Autumn Graduation Ceremonies on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark…

NWU alumna named as first Burke scholar

The inaugural Burke Scholarship, aimed at advancing democracy by developing promising young journalists, has been awarded to Khethokuhle Ayanda Mthethwa, from Tsakane, Gauteng. Ayanda is an alumna of the North-West University (NWU) and obtained her BA Communication degree at the university’s campus in Vanderbijlpark.

“Journalism is a…

Master class workshop on sport psychology

“Whether you work with individuals and teams on school, national or international level, the aim is always to exercise the most important muscle in the human body, namely the brain.”

With these words Janko Kotze and Ian Chauvet from Human Interest – a leading business consulting firm, welcomed the master’s students of the School of…

Passion for environment culminates into insightful doctoral study

Irene Muller obtained her PhD degree in development and management at the recent Autumn Graduation Ceremonies of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark. Irene’s passion for the environment culminated into an insightful study.

In her thesis titled “A citizen science water quality monitoring project’s contribution to…

Study explores resilient children from divorced homes

They say that children are the ones who suffer most when a couple goes through a divorce. This however, does not need to be the norm.

During the recent Autumn Graduation Ceremony of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark, the focus fell on the doctoral thesis of Carla Bezuidenhout – a PhD graduate who scrutinised ways…