Universities announce a revised timeline for 2025 NSC admission decisions
Universities January 12, 2026
For the first time in many years, public universities will release application outcomes to prospective first-time entering students only after the official release of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results to learners/schools next week, Universities South Africa (USAf) announced this morning. This change arises from USAf being granted access... Read more
Achieving global recognition: CERI director among Clarivate’s highly cited researchers
ResearchStellenbosch University December 18, 2025
For the second year in a row, the Director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University (SU), Prof Tulio de Oliveira, has secured a spot on the prestigious Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list for 2025, specifically in the Cross-Field category. This remarkable accomplishment places... Read more
UKZN’s Prof Percy Mashige achieves NRF-B rating
ResearchUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal December 16, 2025
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) proudly celebrates Professor Khathutshelo Percy Mashige, Dean and Head of the School of Health Sciences, on his recent National Research Foundation (NRF) B-rating. This distinguished recognition affirms his considerable international standing and acknowledges the high quality, consistency, and impact of his scholarly contributions in... Read more
Sub-Saharan Africa has lost nearly a quarter of its biodiversity
ResearchStellenbosch University December 15, 2025
A new African-led study finds that sub-Saharan Africa has already lost 24% of its biodiversity since pre-industrial times. This means that, on average, the populations of diverse plants and animals across the region have declined by nearly a quarter. Some species, particularly large mammals, have declined much more severely, and... Read more
Under Southern Skies: How stargazing is shaping mental health research in South Africa
ResearchStellenbosch University December 13, 2025
As South Africa’s mental health challenges rise, a pioneering research project is turning to an unexpected ally: the night sky. Researchers from Stellenbosch University’s (SU) CoCREATE Health Hub (a niche in the Division of Health Systems and Public Health) and the International Astronomical Union Office of Astronomy for Development... Read more
WSU appoints deputy vice-chancellor Tlale
Walter Sisulu University December 12, 2025
Walter Sisulu University’s newly appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Support & Development, Dr Nkgatho Tlale, steps into the role with a clarity of purpose shaped by decades of technical and academic leadership experience. For him, joining WSU was not merely a career move, but a commitment to South Africa’s... Read more
WSU study exposes language barriers hindering student success
ResearchWalter Sisulu University December 12, 2025
An investigation by two academics from Walter Sisulu University’s Directorate for Teaching and Learning has revealed a concerning trend: many students struggle to grasp key components of their coursework due to limited English proficiency. In their study, “Overcoming Linguistic Barriers: Assessing the Role of Writing Centres from Students’ Perspectives at... Read more
Two UCT graduates named 2026 Rhodes Scholars
AchieversUniversity of Cape Town December 11, 2025
Excellence and leadership have once again placed the University of Cape Town (UCT) on the global stage, as graduates Thobani Sangweni and Raphael de Sousa are named among the recipients of the 2026 Rhodes Scholarships to study at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes Scholarship is the world’s oldest... Read more
Rhodes Dr Lexy Andati’s scientific software makes raw space data make sense
Rhodes University December 10, 2025
In a quiet corner of Nairobi, a young girl once sat before her father’s old computer, determined to figure out how people got inside the television. When she finally managed to play a movie with sound but no picture, she was thrilled. The screen stayed black, but it didn’t... Read more
Prof Deliwe Phetlhu appointed UFS dean of health sciences
AppointmentsUniversity of the Free State December 9, 2025
The University of the Free State (UFS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof Deliwe Rene Phetlhu as Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences from 1 January 2026. Prof Phetlhu joins the UFS from the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, where she is currently the Head of... Read more
