Research news

Study questions the political inclusion of Malawi’s disabled on airwaves by Mafumane Tlhapi BELINDA BANTHAM Mon, 07/07/2025 - 09:16

Persons with disabilities in Malawi may be tuning in to community radio, but their political voices are not adequately covered.

A recent study led by Dr Muyanga Ziba has raised questions about the role of community radio in promoting the political participation of persons with disabilities in Malawi. Using Mzimba Community Radio Station as a case study, the research found that while general programming for people with disabilities exists, there is no dedicated content focused on political engagement.

“There is a noticeable gap in programming that targets political inclusion,” said Dr Ziba. “The absence of dedicated political content for persons with disabilities means they are not fully represented in public discourse.”

The research focused on four constituencies, namely Mzuzu, Mzimba North, Mzimba Solola and Mzimba East, using listening clubs, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The study drew from theoretical frameworks, including disability theory, framing theory, participatory theory and muted group theory.

Participants reported facing systemic barriers to political participation, including abuse, social exclusion and a breakdown of traditional support systems. Some said even close friends and relatives discouraged their involvement in politics.

“Many of us are seen as incapable,” said one participant from Mzimba Solola. “Even if you speak up, people laugh at or ignore you.”

The study also highlighted how stereotypes are perpetuated through media messaging and the lack of tailored political content. Respondents called for media reform that moves beyond generalised information to targeted, inclusive content.

To address these issues, Dr Ziba recommends that Mzimba Community Radio Station adopt journalism practices rooted in ubuntu and Africanisation. “Western media models do not always fit our context,” he said. “We need approaches that are grounded in our values and communities.”

The study also advocates for journalism of attachment, urging reporters to connect with communities rather than report from a distance. A new participatory communication framework has been proposed to ensure that voices from marginalised groups in villages are not only heard but also represented.

Peace journalism and ubuntu journalism are further recommended to create an environment conducive to political participation by persons with disabilities.

“This is not just about airtime,” Dr Ziba said. “It is about access to platforms that shape democracy.”

Dr Ziba (Middle) with his supervisors Dr Quantro Mgogo (Left) and Dr Tshepang Molale (Right)

Academic shares expertise on sustainable agriculture by Phenyo Mokgothu BELINDA BANTHAM Tue, 07/01/2025 - 13:43

Prof Olubukola Oluranti Babalola from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Microbiology subject group recently visited the National Potato Innovation Centre in Scotland. She delivered a seminar on her pioneering research into rhizosphere microbiomes and their role in developing sustainable agroecosystems.

Her seminar, held in Invergowrie on 23 June, attracted researchers and scientists interested in innovative approaches to agricultural sustainability. Prof Babalola’s presentation outlined how microbial communities in soil can be harnessed to support long-term soil health and food production.

The National Potato Innovation Centre’s mission is to carry out research that helps future-proof the potato industry while supporting economic resilience and growth. It is based at the James Hutton Institute, which is known throughout the world for its work on the environment, agriculture, food security and sustainability.

Prof Babalola also shared insights from her international engagements. She serves as vice-president of both The World Academy of Sciences and the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World, roles that underline her commitment to advancing global scientific collaboration.

Reflecting on the experience, Prof Babalola described her visit as intellectually enriching and personally uplifting. “Engaging with passionate, forward-thinking scientists has reminded me why collaboration across borders matters so much in advancing science.”

Her visit highlights the NWU’s commitment to global research partnerships and to advancing solutions that address critical challenges in agriculture and environmental sustainability.

Prof Olubukola Oluranti Babalola with researchers at the National Potato Innovation Centre in Scotland.

QS ranks NWU among the top eight universities in South Africa by Willie du Plessis MARELIZE SANTANA Fri, 06/20/2025 - 12:00

The North-West University (NWU) is firmly positioning itself as a globally engaged, innovative university committed to excellence and societal relevance. Prime examples of how the strategic priorities of the NWU align with the quest for globally relevant, sustainable solutions are the establishment and proposed establishment of three future-fit academic schools: the Desmond Tutu School of Medicine, the School of Mines and Mining Engineering, and the School of Veterinary Sciences.

These and other innovative, cross-sectoral initiatives exemplify the university’s strategy – Taking the NWU forward: 2024 and beyond – which prioritises internationalisation, partnerships and impact, among other things. This focus on strategic priorities is yielding positive results through the NWU’s consistently good performance in international rankings, cementing its reputation as a competitive, impactful global and local player and a sought-after higher-education partner.

The latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings place the NWU among the top eight universities in South Africa and in the top 16 in Africa. London-based QS published its rankings for top global universities for 2026 on 19 June.

This current ranking encompasses 1 501 universities in 105 locations across the world. It considers survey responses and hard data to calculate a final score for each university. QS is the only ranking of its kind to emphasise employability and sustainability.

This year’s QS World University Rankings also introduce a new unweighted indicator called the International Student Diversity Indicator. This additional metric considers the ratio of international students to overall students and the diversity of nationalities those students represent. In this metric the NWU is in the 801+ ranking category.

These latest rankings follow the QS World University Rankings by Subject, which were published in March this year.

The Rankings by Subject placed four NWU subject groups in the top 850 globally. These are agriculture and forestry (301 to 350 category), environmental sciences (501 to 550), physics (551 to 600) and medicine (701 to 850).

Another recent ranking, released on 2 June, is the Global 2000 list by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), which placed the NWU in the top 4,1% of global universities.

Taking the NWU forward: 2024 and beyond

The university’s new strategy for 2024 and beyond comprises four key strategic priorities to guide the NWU in its continued quest towards excellence. These are results-orientated leadership, systems thinking and policy fluency, private-public value co-creation, and digital and green economy enablement.  

According to Prof Linda du Plessis, deputy vice-chancellor for Teaching and Learning, the NWU’s continued good performance in the rankings affirms the impact of the work that NWU academics, researchers and other staff are undertaking, and that the university’s strategic focus aligns with global trends.

For more information, visit: https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/north-west-university, and for more about the NWU’s performance in various rankings, visit https://www.nwu.ac.za/rankings.

Study finds crop rotation boosts soil health by Phenyo Mokgothu BELINDA BANTHAM Wed, 06/11/2025 - 10:17

Farmers looking to improve soil health and crop yields may find a solution in crop rotation, according to a study by North-West University (NWU) researchers. The study, published in the International Microbiology Journal, reveals that the rotation of crops leads to a more diverse and beneficial microbial community in soil.

Researchers Ayomide Emmanuel Fadiji, Jerry Onyemaechi Kanu, and Prof Olubukola Oluranti Babalola used advanced genetic techniques to compare soil microbes in two different farming systems. They are mono-cropping, where maize is planted in the same field every season, and crop rotation, where different crops are grown in different seasons.

Findings showed that crop rotation resulted in a richer microbial community, with beneficial bacteria such as Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria, as well as fungi like Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Archaea such as Euryarchaeota and Thaumarchaeota were also more prevalent in rotated fields.

Jerry emphasises the importance of these microbes. "Soil microbes play a crucial role in plant health and productivity. A diverse microbial community can improve nutrient availability, support plant growth, and even help control harmful pathogens."

The research also found that soil from crop rotation systems maintained a better balance of beneficial microbes, leading to improved soil fertility over time. "Our results suggest that farmers who practise crop rotation are likely to see long-term benefits in terms of soil health and increased crop yields," Jerry adds.

The findings highlight the importance of sustainable farming practices. Healthy soil supports better crop production, reduces the need for chemical fertilisers, and helps maintain environmental balance.

The researchers hope their study encourages more farmers to adopt crop rotation. "Sustainable farming is essential for food security and environmental conservation. Crop rotation is a simple yet effective way to achieve that," Jerry concludes.

This study provides valuable insights for farmers and agricultural policymakers, reinforcing the benefits of crop rotation for long-term agricultural success.

Jerry Onyemaechi Kanu.

Groundbreaking study gives frogs and reptiles indigenous names by Bertie Jacobs MOIRA MULLER Thu, 05/29/2025 - 12:16

• Researchers have created a comprehensive list of indigenous names for frogs and reptiles in order to promote inclusive conservation
• People are far more likely to protect what they can name
• South Africa’s indigenous languages have long been marginalised in science
• The inclusion of indigenous names in biodiversity literature is not only good science, but also democratic

 

Frogs, snakes and lizards rarely take centre stage in the worlds of language policy and biodiversity, but then again, South Africa is no ordinary place. A new study published in the African Journal of Herpetology offers a compelling insight into how indigenous knowledge and scientific taxonomy can coexist to make conservation truly inclusive and effective.

The study, titled Naming South African frogs and reptiles in nine indigenous languages, is a multilingual feat led by Dr Fortunate Phaka of the North-West University (NWU), alongside collaborators from Belgium and across South Africa. It addresses a significant yet overlooked issue in South African science: the near-total absence of frogs and reptiles named in the country's nine official indigenous languages.

The problem is more than linguistic. Scientific names, which are often in Latin or Greek, are intended to be consistent across the globe, but they are largely incomprehensible to the local communities who live among the species and who are often central to their conservation. This disconnect can be more than a minor inconvenience, it can result in miscommunication, poor policy implementation, and a general lack of public engagement with biodiversity efforts.

Phaka's research is groundbreaking in both scope and intent. Using online surveys, social media outreach and field interviews, the team compiled a list of over 4 800 indigenous names for all 543 species of frogs and reptiles officially recognised in South Africa, extending the names originally used to group multiple species together. These names span the country’s linguistic diversity and include languages such as isiZulu, Xitsonga, isiNdebele and Tshivenda. Where no specific name for a species existed, the researchers created new names based on familiar descriptive traits, as scientists do with newly discovered organisms.

Why does this matter? Firstly, it makes conservation more accessible. People are far more likely to protect things they can name, especially if those names are rooted in their own language and cultural understanding. For example, a Xitsonga speaker may not relate to the scientific name Ptychadena anchietae, but the name “Mabhruku”, inspired by the frog’s long legs and springy leap, may inspire a different kind of curiosity and care.

Moreover, the research reveals that indigenous naming systems often reflect an intuitive ecological logic. For instance, the Xhosa and Zulu words Ixoxo and Isele group frogs based on the texture of their skin. While not strictly scientific, this classification still captures a meaningful distinction. This folk taxonomy often aligns with scientific classifications at higher taxonomic levels (family or genus), though rarely at the species level. The mismatch, or “under-differentiation”, as the authors describe it, is not due to a lack of insight, but rather reflects the observational priorities of communities whose engagement with these animals is shaped by cultural, utilitarian or ecological familiarity.

The implications stretch beyond taxonomy into social justice and language policy. South Africa’s indigenous languages have long been marginalised in science, a space still dominated by English and, to a lesser extent, Afrikaans. As Phaka argues, including indigenous names in biodiversity literature is not only good science, but also democratic. It enables speakers of these languages to engage with conservation as informed contributors rather than passive recipients. In short, it is a step towards epistemic equity.

The fact that this project emerged from a collaboration between the North-West University and international institutions such as Hasselt University speaks to the global relevance of local knowledge. While the frogs and reptiles are mostly endemic to South Africa, the model of integrating folk and formal taxonomies and embedding local languages in scientific discourse is exportable. Countries ranging from Brazil to Pakistan have grappled with similar issues, and Phaka’s work could serve as a valuable template.

There is still work to be done. Why do some species have names, while others don’t? What role do cultural taboos, visibility, and perceived usefulness play in shaping folk taxonomy? These are questions for future research. In the meantime, however, the simple act of naming a frog, lizard or snake in a language that has endured generations is a profound act of cultural and scientific synthesis.

Ultimately, it turns out that what you call a frog does matter. Especially when that name could be the key to saving the species.

• Dr Fortunate Phaka can be contacted at 071 463 6065 and mafetap@gmail.com. 

 

Digital lifeline: how a community newspaper keeps language alive by Mafumane Tlhapi BELINDA BANTHAM Fri, 05/23/2025 - 19:57

Can a digital platform save a language from fading away?

A recent study by Phenyo Mokgothu, a master's graduate and communication practitioner with the North-West University (NWU), has shown that digital community newspapers can indeed preserve language and culture, even in the shifting landscape of online media.

"Every issue is published in an indigenous language, it’s not just about news; it’s about preserving local indigenous language," says Mokgothu, who led a study examining the role of digital community newspapers in safeguarding indigenous languages and cultural heritage in South Africa.

Mokgothu’s research, titled “The role of digital community newspapers in indigenous languages and culture preservation: The case of Seipone Madireng”, found that digital community newspapers do more than report local stories; they serve as cultural anchors for their readers. "We wanted to understand how users see the role of this platform. They told us it reflects their daily experiences and traditions in a way that national outlets do not," Mokgothu says.

The study also revealed that community newspapers promote cultural preservation through active community engagement, bilingual advertising and educational initiatives. "Publishing advertisements in both English and the indigenous language bridges cultural gaps and ensures inclusivity," Mokgothu adds. The research highlighted that this approach not only strengthens community bonds but also promotes pride in linguistic heritage.

Investing in digital literacy could boost newspapers’ sustainability

However, Mokgothu’s findings also pointed to significant challenges faced by community newspapers, including limited financial support, weak digital infrastructure and minimal visibility in mainstream media. Accessibility issues and the imbalance between cultural preservation and technological adaptation were also noted. Despite these barriers, Mokgothu remains optimistic. "There is a clear link between digital access and cultural survival. Community media must be part of future language strategies," he says.

To overcome these obstacles, the study recommends investing in digital literacy programmes to equip indigenous communities with the necessary digital skills, enhancing community engagement through regular feedback, and collaborating with government bodies, cultural organisations and educational institutions for financial sustainability. According to Mokgothu, such collaborations could provide critical funding and resources to support digital community newspapers that protect indigenous languages.

The findings suggest that sustaining indigenous languages in the digital age demands more than community effort; it requires broader investment and strategic support.

More about Phenyo Mokgothu

Phenyo Mokgothu is a chartered public relations practitioner (CPRP) member of PRISA and a corporate communications practitioner at the North-West University (NWU). He has more than ten years of experience in the field of marketing and communication. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate Communication. An Honours degree in Media and Journalism, a master’s degree in communication and currently pursuing a PhD in Communication.

Phenyo Mokgothu

How to make young people part of the solution to tackling crime in communities BELINDA BANTHAM Thu, 05/22/2025 - 09:58

By Gofaone Motsamai

As South Africa continues to grapple with high levels of crime, a North-West University (NWU) researcher has highlighted the critical role young people can play in prevention efforts when supported and included in meaningful ways.

Dr Kgomotso Bosilong, a research support coordinator at the NWU and a recent PhD graduate, is focusing her research on how to make the nation’s youth part of the solution to crime.

With more than 12 years of research experience at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), she has contributed to initiatives aimed at enhancing the criminal justice system through technology-driven solutions. Her efforts are aimed at empowering local communities and law enforcement agencies to foster safer living conditions.

Untapped agents of change

Dr Bosilong believes the youth are not just victims or perpetrators of crime, but also untapped agents of change within their communities. She says young individuals often express a desire to participate in enhancing the safety of their communities. However, they frequently experience feelings of exclusion or insecurity and lack trust in protective systems.

Her recent study focused on youth perceptions of crime and their participation in crime prevention activities. She found that crimes such as robbery, rape, substance abuse and knife violence are often linked to patterns learned during childhood and adolescence.

“These behaviours reflect gaps in support during a young person’s formative years,” she explains. “Intervening early in a child’s life can reduce their chances of becoming involved in crime later on.”

However, fear of victimisation, unemployment and poverty, as well as a lack of trust in law enforcement, are some of the barriers that discourage youth from engaging in prevention activities.

“Young people feel vulnerable,” says Dr Bosilong. “Without the assurance of safety and without opportunities for growth, they are left idle and exposed to negative influences.”

Existing community structures such as community policing forums (CPFs) and neighbourhood patrols show potential but often lack the resources and support needed to make a long-term impact.

To tackle these challenges, her research suggests the establishment of community-based collaborations that offer mentorship, early intervention programmes, skills training and recreational opportunities. These initiatives would enable young individuals to play a proactive role in enhancing community safety and fostering social unity.

Partners in building safer communities

Dr Bosilong emphasises that solutions must be designed with young people, “We need to involve youth as partners in building safer communities. When they feel heard and supported, they are more likely to become part of the solution.”

While her study focused on Mmabatho Extension 39, a South African peri-urban residential community in the Mahikeng Local Municipality (MLM), North West Province, she believes the insights are widely applicable. “Across South Africa, young people are ready to contribute. What is missing is the structure, trust and investment to help them lead change,” Dr Bosilong concludes.

Dr Kgomotso Bosilong