Research news

Indigenous languages key in fight against crime by Mzwandile Ndlovu BELINDA BANTHAM Thu, 04/16/2026 - 10:23

As crime continues to ravage communities across South Africa, a North-West University (NWU) researcher has highlighted how indigenous languages play an active role in strengthening crime prevention efforts through communication strategies in rural areas.

Dr Kgomotso Bosilong, a research support coordinator at the NWU, is focusing her research on how indigenous languages are being used by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to communicate safety and crime prevention messages in rural communities. She examines how the choice of language influences understanding, engagement and participation in crime prevention activities.

“Crime prevention depends on effective communication that is easily comprehensible, engaging and trustworthy for communities. When safety information is shared in a way that reflects the language, culture and everyday realities of the community, people are more likely to pay attention, respond appropriately and take proactive steps to protect themselves and others,” says Dr Bosilong. “When safety messages are delivered in indigenous languages, they reflect the lived experiences of the people they are meant to reach.”

Her study draws on secondary data to explore how SAPS engages rural communities. she investigated how safety and crime prevention messages are conveyed and understood among community members.

According to Dr Bosilong, indigenous languages influence how different political and social actors participate in crime prevention efforts. “Language affects how messages are received,” she says. “It determines whether people relate to the information shared with them.”

Her research found that communication in local indigenous language supports dialogue between the police and residents. “Indigenous languages create shared meaning,” Dr Bosilong explains. “They enable communities to engage in discussions about safety and crime prevention.”

Recognising the role of indigenous languages can strengthen communication between SAPS and rural communities. “Language forms part of the broader strategy to address crime,” she says. “It connects institutions and the communities they serve.”

Dr Kgomotso Bosilong

Research flags regulatory gaps in tailings dam management by Phenyo Mokgothu BELINDA BANTHAM Fri, 04/10/2026 - 13:37

Thousands of abandoned mining tailings dams across South Africa continue to expose gaps in environmental regulation, placing communities and ecosystems at risk.

Researcher Thandolwakhe Mokotedi from the Faculty of Law at the North-West University (NWU) says that “the regulation of tailings dams in South Africa remains an area of environmental law that requires immediate attention.” According to her research, there are an estimated 6 000 abandoned and unrehabilitated tailings dams posing a persistent environmental challenge.

Thandolwakhe explains that mining, while central to the economy, remains a major source of environmental harm. “Mining activities are also considered the largest producers of solid waste,” she says, linking this to the growing number of tailings dams and associated risks.

Tailings dams are large, engineered structures designed to store large amounts of fine-grained waste from mineral processing. Thandolwakhe adds that these dams often contain hazardous substances and have the potential to cause catastrophic environmental and human harm in the event of structural failure.

Despite legislation such as the National Environmental Management Act, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act and the National Water Act, Thandolwakhe says there are structural weaknesses in the system. “The current mining environmental law framework is characterised by a lack of coordinated and integrated legal framework,” she says.

This lack of coordination has consequences for enforcement. Fragmentation results in ineffective governance and inefficient arrangements between organs of state, weakening accountability. In some instances, Thandolwakhe observed that no one was willing to take accountability, even when environmental risks were known.

Communities living near tailings dams continue to face health risks, with Thandolwakhe reporting that they were adversely affected by the dust from the tailings dams, which led to respiratory problems, skin and eye infections.

She says the mining industry is considered one of the main contributors to water pollution in South Africa with tailings dams contributing to acid mine drainage and contamination. She notes that acid mine drainage is “one of the most serious and enduring environmental problems.”

The research is grounded in constitutional principles, and South Africa, says Thandolwakhe, recognises the right to an environment that is not harmful to health and well-being, which must be supported by reasonable legislative and other measures.

She highlights the role of broader stakeholders, stating that: “Civil society organisations, institutions are important to the regulation and management of environmental tailings dams.”

The findings focus on the need to strengthen enforcement, improve coordination and ensure accountability in the management of tailings dams as mining continues to shape the country’s economy.

Thandolwakhe Mokotedi

International partnership targets perinatal mental health care in rural South Africa by Phenyo Mokgothu MARELIZE SANTANA Tue, 03/31/2026 - 11:43

Long-term capacity building is required to address perinatal mood disorders which affect more than a third of women in South Africa, negatively impacting individuals and families.

To address this, local, international health care professionals and academics met in Mahikeng from 9 to 13 March 2026. The purpose was to advance a joint programme aimed at improving early detection and management of perinatal mood disorders in rural South Africa. Limited access to specialised mental-health services in these areas continues to affect maternal and child health.

The initiative, Capacity Building in Managing (Perinatal) Mood Disorders in Rural South Africa (CaBu-PeriMooD), is a collaboration between Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital in Mahikeng, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Germany, and the North-West University (NWU) School of Nursing.

The programme focuses on healthcare workers, strengthening screening systems, and developing research cooperation to support mental-health care for mothers before and after childbirth.

Chief executive officer of Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital, Molefi Monokoane, said the partnership reflects a shared responsibility among institutions to improve patient care.
“Now that we have established this partnership, we are one. The aim is to work together to improve outcomes for patients and strengthen services in the province,” he said.

Concerns over mental-health training

During discussions on nursing education, Prof. Rorisang Machailo from the NWU’s Faculty of Health Sciences outlined the structure of the nursing curriculum in South Africa. Participants noted that recent curriculum revisions reduced the time allocated to psychiatric nursing, limiting the level of training received by undergraduate students.

Stakeholders indicated that current Bachelor of Nursing students receive introductory exposure to psychiatry, potentially widening the gap in mental health expertise. This may contribute to shortages of trained personnel in mental-health services, particularly in rural areas where specialist support is limited.

Addressing healthcare professionals during a multidisciplinary seminar, Prof. Patience Kovane, a researcher in perinatal mental health at the NWU, said the programme responds to the high prevalence of perinatal mood disorders in South Africa.

“Research shows that close to 39% of mothers experience perinatal mood disorders, with the burden higher in rural communities where access to specialised care is limited,” she said.

The CaBu-PeriMooD project, explained Prof. Kovane, will introduce validated screening tools, structured training and a task-sharing model that allows nurses and community health workers to identify symptoms, manage and early referral of patients for further treatment.

“If we want sustainable solutions in healthcare, we must work together across disciplines, institutions, and countries. This partnership allows knowledge to be shared while ensuring that training remains relevant to local conditions,” she said.

The collaboration reflects the university’s commitment to research that responds to community needs, said Prof. Kovane, noting that the NWU continues to expand its international partnerships while strengthening work in public health.

Training and research collaboration

Dr Angel Phuti, research associate from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, presented the objectives of the CaBu-PeriMooD project. She encouraged stakeholders to actively participate in the initiative, training and research activities linked to the programme.

A clinical session led by Dr Nthabiseng Morwe, psychiatrist at Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital, shed light on perinatal mental health. Participants indicated prior lack of awareness on perinatal mental-health conditions. This may contribute to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Dr Morwe emphasised the urgent need for broader awareness, not only among healthcare professionals but also within communities.

An interprofessional roundtable discussion, led by Dr Motsei Melford Moloto from Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital and Dr Stieglitz from Charité, fostered meaningful engagement. The session highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in effectively addressing perinatal mental health challenges and identified key considerations for the project’s future direction.

Discussions during the engagement centred on strengthening training, improving screening at the primary-care level and aligning the programme with existing provincial health services. Participants agreed that long-term capacity building is required to ensure that rural facilities can identify and manage perinatal mood disorders.

The CaBu-PeriMooD collaboration is expected to continue through follow-up training, joint research and the development of materials for use in public healthcare facilities, with the aim of improving support for mothers, infants and families in rural communities.

Management members of the Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital in Mahikeng management, visitors from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany, and academics from the NWU’s School of Nursing came together to discuss the advancement of a joint programme aimed at improving early detection and management of perinatal mood disorders. 

NWU researcher earns global recognition for advancing science in Africa by Belinda Bantham BELINDA BANTHAM Sun, 02/01/2026 - 08:00

For Dr Modupe Stella Ayilara, science has always been about more than research. It is about people, communities and finding solutions that matter.

That purpose came into sharp focus on 11 December 2025 in Johannesburg, when she was named one of just 30 laureates of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents Award. Selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants across 18 African countries, the recognition celebrates early-career women scientists whose work shows both excellence and the potential to change lives.

For Dr Ayilara, the moment was deeply personal.

“It was humbling,” she reflects. “But it also reminded me why I do this work. Science must speak to the realities around us.”

Currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at North-West University (NWU), she is part of the Food Security and Safety Research Area, where her work focuses on microbial biotechnology, sustainable agriculture and environmental resilience. Her research is rooted in the urgent need to strengthen food systems while protecting the environment, especially in communities that face ongoing challenges.

Receiving the award also opened the door to a different kind of learning experience. As part of the programme, she joined fellow laureates for an intensive training week hosted by the Fondation L’Oréal. The sessions went beyond the laboratory, focusing on leadership, negotiation, research ethics, public speaking and navigating gender bias in science.

“It was empowering to be in a space with other women who are equally passionate about making a difference,” she says. “You realise that you are not alone in the challenges you face, and that there is strength in sharing knowledge and experiences.”

At the NWU, Dr Ayilara’s days are filled with more than experiments and data. She contributes to supervising students, publishing research and building collaborations that align with the university’s focus on sustainability, innovation and societal impact. Her work reflects a balance between scientific rigour and a deep awareness of the communities her research serves.

This recognition has strengthened her resolve.

“It encourages me to keep pushing boundaries and to contribute to science that is inclusive and impactful,” she says.

Her achievement not only shines a spotlight on her individual excellence, but also highlights NWU’s growing footprint in cutting-edge research that responds to real-world challenges.

As Africa continues to invest in science and innovation, stories like Dr Ayilara’s serve as a powerful reminder of the talent driving progress across the continent  and the importance of creating platforms that recognise and support women in science.

Dr Modupe Stella Ayilara