Latest news with #Potchefstroom
Mail & Guardian
5 days ago
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
Exploring new paths in tackling the big three infectious diseases
Prof Joe Viljoen. Just a few drops of oil and water may be enough to change how the world treats tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/Aids – the 'big three infectious diseases', also known as BTIDs. This was the central message delivered by Prof Joe Viljoen during her inaugural lecture at the North-West University's (NWU's) Potchefstroom Campus on 13 June 2025. Prof Viljoen, from the Faculty of Health Sciences, presented her work under the title: 'Combating the BTIDs using innovative self-emulsification drug delivery systems.' Her lecture focused on how self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDSs) can improve treatment for TB, malaria and HIV/Aids. 'These diseases are mostly treated with drugs that are highly lipophilic (water insoluble),' explained Prof Viljoen. 'That makes them difficult to absorb, especially for patients who are malnourished and unable to take the high-fatty meals required for proper drug uptake.' Harnessing the body's natural movement SEDDSs are oil-based formulations combined with surfactants and co-surfactants. Once swallowed or applied to the skin, they mix with the body's fluids and form fine emulsions without the need for external mixing equipment. 'With just the body's natural movement, for example, peristalsis in the stomach, SEDDSs form into very small droplets that help drugs dissolve and be absorbed more effectively,' she said. These delivery systems further improve bioavailability by enabling drugs to bypass the liver's first-pass metabolism through lymphatic transport. For skin-based applications, Prof Viljoen explained the importance of choosing oils that help the drug pass through the skin where water is limited. 'We have to carefully balance the oily and water-loving components. Natural oils are key, as they help the drug penetrate the skin barrier and are better accepted by consumers due to being viewed as safer.' Challenges in developing SEDDSs include selecting the correct ingredients, ensuring stability and controlling droplet size to regulate drug release. Tools such as pseudoternary phase diagrams help design fixed-dose combinations, especially where drugs have different solubility characteristics. 'These systems are scalable, stable and can be produced at relatively low cost,' said Prof Viljoen. 'They could make a significant difference in the treatment of infectious diseases, particularly in low-resource settings.' The lecture concluded with a call for interdisciplinary efforts to advance the development of SEDDS-based therapies.
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
United Rugby Championship Final - Build-up to Leinster v Bulls
Update: Date: 16:56 BST Title: Post Content: Leinster v Bulls (17:00 BST) Simon ZeboFormer Munster and Ireland winger on Premier Sports The weather conditions turn it into a territorial battle and a set-piece battle where I fancy the Bulls. Update: Date: 16:55 BST Title: Post Content: Leinster v Bulls (17:00 BST) Mark StrangeBBC Sport NI at Croke Park Leo the Lion has just led a thunder clap around Croke Park and the atmosphere is crackling! The weather certainly hasn't dampened anyone's spirits. Update: Date: 16:54 BST Title: 'Everyone loves to hate Leinster' Content: Leinster v Bulls (17:00 BST) Joe McCarthy says Leinster will be using perceived ill will as fuel in their quest for silverware today. Leo Cullen's side beat last year's champions Glasgow Warriors 37-19 at Aviva Stadium last week to book their place at Croke Park this evening. The Irish province have had a point to prove after being stunned at home by Northampton Saints in the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals as they aim to avoid a fourth consecutive season without a trophy. "We know everyone loves to hate Leinster. That definitely drives us on," lock McCarthy told RTE after the Glasgow game. "We've a great fanbase. We don't really care about the outside noise, what you guys [the media] or other people say." Read more. Update: Date: 16:52 BST Title: Post Content: Leinster v Bulls (17:00 BST) They must build them differently in Potchefstroom. RG Snyman and Marcell Coetzee never overlapped at the Bulls but they hail from the same hometown in the north of South Africa. Coetzee is well known to Irish rugby fans as well, of course, after spending five seasons with Ulster and starts at number eight for the visitors. Update: Date: 16:49 BST Title: Familiar faces Content: Leinster v Bulls (17:00 BST) Two-time World Cup winner RG Snyman won the only club medal of his career when lifting this trophy with Munster two years ago, his association with the Bulls goes all the way back to his teenage years. The 30-year-old lock, who starts on the bench this evening, represented the Bulls all the way up to Super Rugby level. Update: Date: 16:48 BST Title: Post Content: Leinster v Bulls (17:00 BST) Mark StrangeBBC Sport NI at Croke Park With just over fifteen minutes until kick off, the heavens have opened here at Croke Park again. It never stopped on the way down today but had cleared up briefly. However, the grey skies have never gone away and the precipitation is going to play a big part in today's proceedings. Update: Date: 16:47 BST Title: Final times in blue Content: Leinster v Bulls (17:00 BST) All Black Jordie Barrett's time with Leinster has been short and he'll be out to ensure the ending is sweet this evening. The centre has frequently been brilliant for Leo Cullen's side but he'll certainly want some silverware to show for his efforts in the northern hemisphere. Leinster will, of course, miss him next season, although his replacement isn't too bad either given his his All Black team-mate Rieko Ioane will be the next star set for a short stay in Dublin. Fly-half Ross Byrne, who is on the bench, will also have his final game for Leinster this afternoon, although Cian Healy, their most-capped ever player, is not in the 23. Update: Date: 16:46 BST Title: 'It's like playing a fully international side' Content: Leinster v Bulls (17:00 BST) Bulls head coach Jake White speaking on Premier Sports: "We can't be playing Ireland. "I hear Luke McGrath is in now, he's got 231 games for Leinster, 19 Test matches. That's not a bad replacement to have when you lose your scrum-half. "Add Slimani, Barrett and RG, it's like playing a fully international side. "It goes without saying that they must be favourites to beat a provincial side today." Update: Date: 16:38 BST Title: A reminder of those teams Content: Leinster v Bulls (17:00 BST) Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, Ringrose, Barrett, Lowe; Prendergast, McGrath; Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson, McCarthy, Ryan, Baird, Van der Flier, Conan (captain) Replacements: Kelleher, Boyle, Slimani, Snyman, Deegan, Gunne, R Byrne, Osborne. Bulls: Le Roux; Moodie, Kriel, Vorster, De Klerk; Goosen, Papier; Wessels, Grobbelaar, Louw, Wiese, Van Heerden, Van Staden, Nortje (captain), Coetzee. Replacements: Van der Merwe, Tshakweni, Smith, Kiersten, Carr, Burger, Johannes, Williams. Update: Date: 16:34 BST Title: Big blow for Leinster Content: Leinster v Bulls (17:00 BST) There's huge news out of the Leinster camp this morning with Jamison Gibson-Park ruled out of this Croke Park contest. The scrum-half was named to start when the teams were announced on Friday but Luke McGrath will now wear the number nine jersey and Fintan Gunne on the bench. Gibson-Park joins fellow British and Irish Lions Tadhg Furlong and Hugo Keenan on the sidelines just six days before Andy Farrell's side begin their tour by playing Argentina across the city in the Aviva Stadium. Josh van der Flier and Garry Ringrose are back in the starting line-up, though. We'll bring you those confirmed teams in just a moment. Update: Date: 16:30 BST Title: Here we go! Content: Leinster v Bulls (17:00 BST) The United Rugby Championship all comes down to today with Leinster taking on Bulls in the final. Leo Cullen's side have been the standard-setters all season, topping the table with only two defeats from their 18 regular-season games and then seeing off Scarlets and Glasgow in the play-offs. Still, though, there's a sense that they've been off their game since their Investec Champions Cup defeat since by Northampton Saints last month. The Bulls have proven to be tough opposition in the past too - can the Irish province seal a ninth league title this evening? Stay with us to find out!
Irish Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Bulls will look to use raw power to take down Leinster in URC final
The South African podcaster Harry Jones recently posted a video to social media detailing the country's rugby philosophy. A fan, whom Jones labels the Potchefstroom Poet, lays it out for those who have not been initiated in the ways of the 'Bok: 'We f**k them up in front, easy. We make our first-time tackles. And then, we spread the ball. Easy. No nuance in how the Bulls can sack Croke Park this week: back to brutal basics. ~ the Potchefstroom Poet — Harry Jones (@haribaldijones) 'Rugby is not hard.' Libations may have influenced this particular bard when dumbing down the rugby DNA of an entire nation. But he isn't wrong. READ MORE Twice in the last four years, Jake White and his Bulls have faced Leinster in URC knockout games. Twice they have ended Leo Cullen and friends' seasons. The secret sauce? See our lairy lyricist. The Bulls laid siege to Leinster's forward pack in a way which has become stereotypical of South African sides. The Irish province couldn't cope. Should the Bulls revert to type? If they do, are Leinster better equipped to deal with the onslaught? Against the Sharks last week, the Bulls did not just rely on set-piece, forward dominance and an astute kicking game Let's start by succeeding where our muse failed; putting some statistical meat on the bones of the Bulls' success. They fall into the South African blueprint of looking to play without the ball, kicking aplenty and being ruthlessly efficient when they do earn opportunities to strike. In last year's semi-final at Loftus Versfeld, the Bulls made 112 carries to Leinster's 131. They kicked 42 times in open play, Leinster 37. The South African side's kick-to-pass ratio was 1:3. Leinster's was 1:5. The kicking game worked, the Bulls earning 59 per cent of the game's territory. Just 34 per cent of their possession came in their own half. Despite the deficiency in attacking volume, the Bulls made almost the same number of metres post-contact as Leinster (231 vs 236) while working more line breaks (eight vs six). The identity of those doing the attacking damage is telling. For most sides, the 'best' runners, those who make the most metres, are found in the back three. They often have acres of space to run back kicks against faraway defensive lines. Not the Bulls. In that 2024 semi-final, their top metre-maker was number eight Cameron Hanekom. Their outhalf, Johan Goosen, was number two. Third was another backrow, Elrigh Louw. The most effective back three player was wing Devon Williams, the team's fourth best metre-maker. He made less than half the yardage of Hanekom (39 metres vs 83). By contrast, Leinster's top four carriers that day were James Lowe, Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne and Caelan Doris. The Bulls do spread the ball, as our poet suggested, but only after the big boys do the main damage up front. They have the lowest figure in the URC for number of phases which travel beyond the second receiver (6.1 per cent). The one area not yet referenced is the set-piece. Unsurprisingly, the Bulls love a scrum. Videos of their frontrow battle with the Sharks last week have gone viral. They have historically targeted Leinster's dead ball platform. With good reason. This year, 68.3 per cent of the province's tries have come from set-piece, joint highest in the URC. Next week final will be a good one. But I worry about is the lack of reward for strong scrums in the comp. Bulls will definitely be strong against Leinster next week in the scrum & if they don't get rewarded, could affect the outcome of the game — Scoop 🐻 ☕️ (@Rugby_Scoop) In 2024, the Bulls held Leinster to a 67 per cent scrum success rate. In 2022, the lineout was the problem, Leinster ending with a success rate of 78 per cent. In that 2022 upset at the RDS, unsurprisingly the Bulls outkicked Leinster 31-25. Less predictable was Leinster still earning 70 per cent of territory while only holding 48 per cent of possession. Then, Leinster's profligacy was more of an issue than where the game was played. They coughed up possession 18 times (compared to 13 in 2024). True to form, though, the Bulls' best runner at the RDS was their number eight, Elrigh Louw. Leinster's was Jimmy O'Brien. Here's where things get interesting. Against the Sharks last week, the Bulls did not just rely on set-piece, forward dominance and an astute kicking game. They still kicked plenty (once for every 2.9 passes, more often than their victory over Leinster last year) and let the opposition dominate the ball. Yet they also threw 13 offloads. Four of their top five metre-makers were backs, with wing Sebastian de Klerk leading the way. They also scored an ambitious try off a de Klerk cross-kick. What has just happened 😱 Vodacom — BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) The smart money is for these flourishes to remain precisely that, rather than the dominant gameplan. Can Leinster counteract? They back themselves against anyone when it comes to the strength of the forward pack. In that semi-final defeat last year, Leinster made more dominant tackles (and by default had a better dominant tackle percentage) than a South African side which values strong defence above all else. More recently, Leinster's dominant tackle (9.6 per game) and carry (37.4 per cent) rate leave them mid-table in the global professional rankings this season. The attacking figure is better than the Bulls, the defensive figure worse. Should the Bulls revert to type? If they do, are Leinster better equipped to deal with the onslaught? These stats do include all Leinster games this year, including earlier URC run-outs with weaker XVs. It remains to be seen, though, how strong Leinster will be on Saturday: Caelan Doris is already out, while Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan all remain doubts. Set-piece wise, Leinster are once again middle of the global pack for this season's lineout (83.5 per cent) and scrum (90.2) success rates. The Bulls beat them at both. It remains to be seen if Leinster's improved total of scrum penalties this year - 54, eight behind the Bulls on 62 - represents enough of an uptick. Historical figures give us a fairly solid idea of how the Bulls think they can beat Leinster. More recent numbers present one or two kernels of comfort for Leinster. Other figures could be used to draw a more negative conclusion. As always with damned stats - which have a propensity to lie - we'll have to wait until the game itself to see which argument is proved right.
Mail & Guardian
09-06-2025
- General
- Mail & Guardian
NWU honours Prof Christa Rautenbach with the Chancellor's Medal
Prof Christa Rautenbach. Her transformative leadership through her editorship of the Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal stands as a beacon of achievement in the vision and mission of the North-West University (NWU) to be a pre-eminent university in Africa. Her achievements in legal academia and journal development have earned Prof Christa Rautenbach the NWU Chancellor's Medal. She received this honour during a graduation ceremony on 6 June. The Chancellor's Medal is awarded to people who show exceptional merit or have made significant contributions to society. Under Prof Rautenbach's editorship, the Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal has evolved from a modest local publication to a globally recognised platform for legal scholarship. The journal is South Africa's top-cited, internationally accredited, open access law journal. This has amplified the NWU's international standing. 'Receiving the Chancellor's Medal is an immense honour that humbles me deeply. It is recognition not only of personal dedication but also of the collective effort behind building a platform that amplifies African legal scholarship on the global stage. This award affirms the value of perseverance, innovation and mentorship in academic publishing, and it strengthens my resolve to continue fostering inclusive, high-quality legal research that advances justice and scholarship within and beyond South Africa,' says Prof Rautenbach. Her career is marked with astounding achievements. Driven by a passion for justice and legal scholarship, she achieved 46 distinctions across her BIuris and LLB degrees, and further excelled while earning her LLM and LLD degrees. From public prosecutor to professor Since 1994, Prof Rautenbach has transitioned from being a public prosecutor to being a professor at the Faculty of Law of the NWU. Her ascent in academia was swift, rising from lecturer to senior lecturer, to associate professor and ultimately to professor in 2005. A globally recognised researcher, she holds a B3 NRF rating, which she received in 2021. Since 2002, and especially as editor-in-chief since 2012, Prof Rautenbach led the exponential growth of the Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal – from an in-house publication with a limited authorship and readership to a respected global platform with over 1 000 published articles from authors around the world. The journal has achieved indexing in major databases such as Scopus and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), gaining the DOAJ seal of approval. She introduced sustainable financial models, secured international funding and spearheaded the digital transformation of the Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal using open source publishing software. Another significant milestone was securing participation in a pilot project of the Kulisa Platform, which is hosted by the Academy of Science of South Africa, in 2015. This initiative uses the open source software of the Public Knowledge Project Open Journals Systems for managing peer-reviewed journals. Prof Rautenbach navigated the intricacies of developing the journal site and overseeing online journal processes. This included the meticulous task of uploading historical content. Despite facing initial challenges with limited training and expertise, Prof Rautenbach took the initiative to develop and maintain all content on the journal's webpage. This comprises vital information, policies, layouts, templates and more. Her recent inclusion of an artificial intelligence (AI) policy made the journal one of the first to do this. Her commitment extends beyond publishing. Prof Rautenbach mentors young scholars and editors, trains teams across all three NWU campuses, and promotes diversity and excellence in academic publishing. Her hands-on approach ensures every submission meets high standards, and her editorial guidance supports emerging researchers and authors. • Follow the link to the article in English here: • Volg dié skakel vir die artikel in Afrikaans: • Watch an interview with Prof Christa Rautenbach and a video of the event
Mail & Guardian
04-06-2025
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine breaks new ground
Prof Bismark Tyobeka – turning of the sod. The countdown has begun. On Tuesday afternoon at precisely 12:46pm, Prof Bismark Tyobeka, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), turned the first sod at the Potchefstroom Campus construction site of the NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine. This ceremonial gesture marked the official commencement of construction of South Africa's 11th medical school, with the first cohort of students expected to enrol in 2028. With this milestone, the NWU sets a firm course towards addressing the critical shortage of medical practitioners in the North West Province and across the country. It also heralds the start of a journey that will see the university navigate new frontiers in medical education. 'This ceremony marks the symbolic start of construction and the laying of the cornerstone for a bold vision, one that aims to transform lives, uplift communities and reshape the healthcare landscape of our nation,' said Prof Tyobeka. 'It represents the formal launch of a scholarly pursuit of the highest order: the establishment of a premier centre for medical education, research and professional training.' The state-of-the-art facility, scheduled for completion in 2027, will serve as a flagship academic and intellectual hub at the university. It will house the foundational years of medical training, eventually expanding to include clinical platforms at Tshepong and Klerksdorp hospitals. 'It is here,' he continued, 'that we will shape the minds and characters of future physicians and individuals who will shoulder profound responsibilities with dignity, scientific excellence and an unwavering commitment to service.' Prof Tyobeka also expressed gratitude to the university's government partners, regulatory bodies, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu IP Trust, and local community leadership, whose guidance, support and faith in the NWU's vision have been pivotal. 'This is not merely an infrastructure project,' he concluded. 'It is a promise to future generations, a commitment to educate, to heal and to uplift. As we break ground today, let us do so with purpose. And let us always serve with compassion. Thank you, and may the Almighty bless this endeavour and all who contribute to it.' • Follow the link to the article here: • Watch the video of the event
