Latest news with #NorthWestUniversity
Mail & Guardian
a day ago
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
Pioneer in nuclear medicine: Prof Mike Sathekge receives honorary doctorate from NWU
Professor Machaba Michael 'Mike' Sathekge. South Africa should invest more in nuclear research if it wishes to remain globally competitive and fulfil its responsibility to meet the diverse needs of its communities. This was Professor Machaba Michael 'Mike' Sathekge's message when he received his honorary doctorate in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Philosophiae Doctor, Honoris Causa) from the North-West University (NWU) on Wednesday, 4 June. He emphasised that the wide-ranging benefits of nuclear research in areas such as medical science, energy production, agriculture, food security and environmental sciences should be regarded as a national priority. And he would know. A towering figure at the forefront of nuclear medicine, Prof Sathekge's career has reshaped the clinical and research landscape of cancer and infectious disease treatment in South Africa and beyond. His contributions are both technical triumphs and deeply human victories. Prof Sathekge was raised in Tembisa and later became a standout scholar in Soshanguve, where he achieved the best national results in mathematics. He trained as a medical doctor at Medunsa. He also earned his master's degree there and began his career in nuclear medicine. A scholarship then took him to Belgium, where he obtained a PhD in molecular imaging in TB and HIV. On returning home, he became Head of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital. Under his leadership, a number of firsts have been achieved, including pioneering the use of Selective Internal Radiation Therapy for liver cancer in South Africa, to introducing novel therapies for prostate and neuroendocrine cancers using Lutetium-177 and Actinium-225. His work with PSMA-targeted therapies has gained global recognition, putting South African oncology research at the forefront of international clinical trials. As President of NuMeRI, he leads the continent's only dedicated nuclear medicine research infrastructure, aligning science, health and policy. A prolific academic and dedicated mentor, Sathekge has supervised dozens of post-graduate students and authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications. Awards and widespread respect have been bestowed on Sathekge, who exemplifies how locally rooted research can have a global impact. By fusing compassion with cutting-edge science, he has transformed South Africa's nuclear medicine capabilities and, crucially, improved patient outcomes. He has also challenged conventional care norms, introducing novel radiopharmaceutical theranostics, while maintaining an ethos of healing and academic integrity. Through these efforts, he has changed the way cancer is approached and treated. Prof Sathekge is married to Dr Rachel Sathekge, an orthodontist, and the couple has two sons. The NWU's honorary doctorate recognises not only his achievements, but also the future he continues to shape. • Follow the link to the article here: • Watch an interview with Prof Sathekge and a video of the event
Mail & Guardian
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
NWU Council appoints Prof Hennie Goede as registrar
Prof Hennie Goede. The North-West University (NWU) Council has appointed Professor Hennie Goede, currently serving as the executive dean of the Faculty of Theology, as registrar designate. The appointment was made during an extraordinary Council meeting held on 22 May 2025. The date from which Prof Goede will commence his duties as registrar designate will be determined and communicated very soon to ensure a smooth transition at the Faculty of Theology. On such determination, Prof Goede will work alongside and report to the current registrar, Prof Marlene Verhoef, until 31 December 2025. Prof Goede will officially commence his term as the NWU registrar on 1 January 2026 for a five-year period, concluding on 31 December 2031. The NWU Council extends its congratulations to Prof Goede and wishes him success in his new role. Council is confident that Prof Goede's wealth of knowledge and experience in both academic and faculty administration will make an invaluable contribution to the NWU as it implements the new strategy – taking the NWU forward: 2024 and beyond. As executive dean, Prof Goede has played a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the Faculty of Theology during the past six years. He serves on the university's Senior Management Committee, the Senate and various subcommittees. He currently chairs the Senate task team on post-graduate enrolments and is also a member of the Council on Higher Education (CHE) Review Panel for Private Higher Education Institutions. Prof Goede's association with the NWU began in 2003, when he was appointed as locum tenens in Greek at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education. Between 2008 and 2016, he served as minister in the Reformed Church. Since 2016, he has held various academic and leadership roles in the Faculty of Theology at the NWU, including as senior lecturer, subject chair, acting executive dean and as executive dean since 2019. In 2024, he was promoted to associate professor in New Testament Studies. Prof Goede's academic journey began at the former Rand Afrikaans University (now University of Johannesburg), where he earned BCom and LLB degrees in 1992 and 1995 respectively, after which he practised law as an attorney. He thereafter pursued honours degrees in Theology and Bible Translation at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (North-West University), both completed in 2002. This was followed by two master's degrees, obtained in 2003 and 2005, and a doctoral degree in Greek at the NWU in 2011. Prof Goede's professional career reflects his multifaceted expertise, spanning law, the ministry and academia. In addition to his pastoral and legal experience, he has supervised and co-supervised numerous master's-degree students. His scholarly work has been widely published in academic journals and edited volumes, and he has presented research at both national and international conferences. Once again, I wish Prof Goede well on his new journey at the NWU. The NWU Council has full confidence in his abilities and knows that he will add value to the extensive role of the Office of the Registrar and the NWU, says Bert Sorgdrager, Council Chairperson.
Daily Maverick
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Performance management in crisis: can South Africa's governance rise to the challenge?
A few days before Mother's Day I came across a meme that encapsulates the spirit of my mom. It said: 'For Mother's Day my mom would like the activism of her youth to not be for nothing.' I let out a soft chuckle to myself as I shared the meme with my family, knowing the no-nonsense firecracker my mom was in her days as a young political activist, which she continues to be now in her sixties. She is a woman who does not suffer fools and is uncompromising in her pursuit of what is right and equitable. I hosted Mother's Day this year and had my parents and brother over for lunch. The conversation turned to the state of politics in our country and globally as we lamented the general sad state of things. Chief among the problems is the absence of visionary and accountable leadership, which is needed to guide us out of this dark chapter of political regression. Our conversation became spirited as we turned our attention to the lack of performance management and monitoring and evaluation in our country's governance. Dr John Bester, a senior lecturer in the Department of Public Administration at North West University, defines performance management as a 'systematic approach for improving service delivery through evidence-based decision-making, continuous organisational learning as well as a focus on accountability for performance to achieve improved results for the public'. It is hard to believe that we have a Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation to do just this, when scant evidence exists of its work and what it has achieved since its establishment in 2010. Ironically, this department was introduced by our most calamitous president, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma. According to the department, its vision is to be a catalyst in achieving national development outcomes and impact in society. Among its values it lists: being a learning organisation; being a dynamic and development-oriented organisation, which continuously strives for excellent performance standards in serving the citizens; being implementation-focused and results-oriented; creating an enabling environment for staff to grow and be innovative; promoting integrity, honesty and ethical conduct among public servants; being disciplined, professional and committed to the fight against corruption; and practising the Batho Pele principles. Although there may be glimpses of this in the work of dedicated civil servants daily battling the odds to try to keep our government functional, evidence of the consistent application of these values is missing as our country limps from crisis to crisis. Our government departments, parastatals and Chapter 9 institutions could certainly all use a shake-up in fostering a performance culture that will ferret out those not meeting their primary objectives of serving the people of South Africa according to standards of excellence and with integrity. The question remains, is our minister of monitoring and evaluation bold enough to decisively meet the imperatives of her department? DM This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
The Citizen
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
International relations expert says Ramaphosa should not antagonise Trump
Ramaphosa will hold discussions with Trump when he visits the US on 19 and 20 May. The Presidency is optimistic that President Cyril Ramaphosa will be able to resolve the impasse between South Africa and the US during his upcoming talks with President Donald Trump. Also, the country's highest office has strong hopes that Trump will attend the G20 Summit of Heads of State in November and participate in the rest of the G20 activities underway in the country. Hopes of the US president's attendance were dashed when he reiterated his statement that he would not come. Trump's threats to boycott G20 summit In April and as recently as Monday, Trump threatened to boycott the international gathering because of unfounded claims of genocide of Afrikaner farmers and the confiscation of their land, including alleged land expropriation. These were all denied by the South African government and many Afrikaners who questioned the basis of the claims, saying farm attacks are a crime that affects both white and black farmers. During a media conference on Monday at the White House, Trump once more threatened to boycott the summit, telling journalists, 'I don't know how we can go unless the situation is taken care of'. Trump continued to call the situation 'genocide' and accused the media of not wanting to write about the 'terrible thing' taking place where farmers are being killed. 'They happen to be white, but whether they are white or black, it makes no difference to me. White farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated in South Africa,' Trump said. ALSO READ: Genuine genocide or a farce? What farmers at Nampo think of Trump's refugee offer But analysts across the board had denied the claims of genocide since Trump first made them in April. Some Afrikaners distanced themselves from the right-leaning groups who spread the news of genocide and land grabs, saying the misinformation portrayed Afrikaners in a bad light. It makes them seem like people who refused to embrace South Africa's democratic change. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit the US on 19 and 20 May. During this time, he will hold discussions with Trump at the White House in an attempt to resolve the differences between the two countries. Ramaphosa indicated he would discuss the Afrikaner matter, and he denied the genocide allegations. SA 'must agree to some US demands' International relations expert, Dr Jan Venter from North West University, said South Africa should engage the US in friendly terms rather than display antagonism, as it doesn't have the muscle to stand up to Trump. 'The best way would be to engage with America, find out what it is that they want and what we can do for them. 'We must give them an idea that we are going to agree to some of their demands,' Venter said. ALSO READ: Will Trump embarrass SA at White House meeting? The Presidency has voiced optimism about the Ramaphosa-Trump discussions and is confident the US will participate in the G20. Addressing students in a public lecture she delivered at the Soshanguve campus of the Tshwane University of Technology on Friday morning, Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, indicated the visit would bear fruit. Ramaphosa to 'address misinformation' with Trump She said Ramaphosa will not only address the misinformation about the country, but the visit will ensure the US's participation in the current G20 and 'ensure there is a smooth handover of the South African [G20] presidency to the US. 'More than anything, we are very confident in President Ramaphosa's ability and the envoy he has sent to the US, to ensure the current impasse that is there, that is really informed by misinformation… will be resolved,' Mhlauli said. In the lecture, Mhlauli said that in terms of the G20, Africa is working in tandem to create not only a better Africa but also a better world. The G20 comprises 19 countries and two regional governmental organisations – the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) – with South Africa as the only African country represented. It focuses, among other things, on global trade and governance matters. The body forms 85% of the world's GDP, 70% of the global trade and encompasses two-thirds of the world's population. Mhlauli said the South African Presidency is focusing on inclusive growth, industrialisation, and employment and showcasing that 'South Africa is open for business'. She said Africa's G20 priorities included the reform of the international financial architecture, food security, just energy transition and climate change. The leaders' summit, at which Ramaphosa is expected to hand over the G20 presidency to Trump, will take place in November at the Nasrec Expo Centre. NOW READ: Trump lashes out at SA again as AfriForum thanks US president
Zawya
16-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Online webinar: Navigating economic stagnation in South Africa
South Africa's unemployment crisis remains a serious challenge. Prof. Gabila Nubong, economist and senior lecturer at North-West University According to Statistics South Africa, the official unemployment rate dropped slightly to 31.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024, down from 32.1%. Despite this small improvement, around eight million people were still without work by the end of the year. The expanded unemployment rate, which includes discouraged job seekers, remained high at 41.9%. Youth unemployment, one of the country's most pressing issues, also dipped slightly from 45.5% to 44.6% among those aged 15 to 34. These numbers show a tiny step in the right direction, but they also make it clear: bold, focused action is urgently needed to grow the economy and create jobs. Join our upcoming webinar 'Navigating Economic Stagnation in South Africa' featuring Prof. Gabila Nubong, a respected economist and senior lecturer at North-West University. He will unpack the root causes of economic stagnation, break down the challenges behind these statistics, and explore real, workable solutions. We'll also look at how emerging markets and youth entrepreneurship can help drive South Africa toward a stronger, more resilient future. Webinar details - Date: Wednesday, 21 May 2025 - Time: 12pm to 1pm (SAST) - Teams meeting link: - Duration: One hour, including a 20-minute Q&A session For more information, please email Angeline Marokoane at Prof. Gabila Nubong bio Prof. Gabila Nubong is a political economist with a master's in economics and PhD in International Relations from the University of Pretoria. He is currently an associate professor at the School of Economics of the North-West University, South Africa. His research interests span across this nascent area of developmental regionalism and comparative regionalism with a focus on European Union and African Union integration processes. He has published articles and book chapters on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA) focusing on drawing lessons from the European Union Integration experience. His current research is on the drivers on regional integration in the SADC region, focusing on trade, market integration, industrialisation, and peace and security. He also has a keen interest in pan Africanism and the African renaissance discourse with a focus on African growth and economic development questions focusing on the African Union integration and developmental processes and programmes. His recent publications have covered the areas of developmental regionalism, the African Continental Free Trade Area, political and economic institutions, foreign direct investment, and regional economic integration. Before joining the university, he worked as an economist for the European Union Delegation to South Africa, and as a project officer at the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) in Maastricht, The Netherlands. He has served as a consultant for the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program on the socio-economic response to Covid-19 for Guinea Bissau and the African Union and NEPAD on capacity imperatives for the implementation of the SDGs in selected African countries.
