In an inspiring show of talent, dedication, and the power of inclusive sports development, Rhodes University has once again proven that it is a force to be reckoned with, this time on the netball courts. On the 29th of March 2025, the first round of the Sarah Baartman District Netball Trials saw players dominate the courts, with 17 Rhodes University students selected across five different divisions: Under 19 Females, Under 21 Females, Senior Females, Under 23 Males, and Senior Males.

As exams loom over Rhodes University, a small but meaningful initiative reminded students to pause and prioritise something often overlooked during academic stress: their mental well-being. On a crisp Makhanda morning, a pair of wellness walks, organised by the university’s residence wellness representatives, encouraged students to breathe deeply, self-reflect, and begin their day with intention.

Rhodes University is excited to announce the RU120 Makhanda Community Concert, headlined by the legendary Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse, on the 10th of May 2025 at 15:00, at the 1820 Settlers’ Monument, Guy Butler Theatre, in Makhanda.

In a powerful display of creativity and a commitment to mental health awareness, Wellness Leaders stationed across Rhodes University residences have collaborated with the Counselling Centre to produce a striking piece of artwork. Coordinated by Catherine Parkinson, a psychologist at the University's Counselling Centre, the artwork takes the form of a large semicolon crafted from an array of brightly coloured bottle caps. This initiative, born from an idea conceived during last year's Suicide Prevention Awareness Day, recently graced the Steve Biko Building in late January, having received permission from the Visual Representation & Culture Committee.

The Rhodes University Library officially launched the Siyafundisana eMakhanda project last week at Samuel Ntlebi Primary School—one of four local public schools participating in a literacy initiative aimed at cultivating a love for reading among Grade 1 pupils. Funded by the South African Library and Information (SALI) Trust, the project is a community engagement programme with a long-term vision for educational transformation.

As South Africa continues to grapple with widespread water shortages and service delivery challenges, new research has highlighted systemic challenges in the country’s water governance framework. The study, conducted by Dr Mmaphefo Thwala as part of her PhD at Rhodes University, not only identifies the policy, institutional and operational gaps undermining water resource protection but also offers recommendations to address them.

Rhodes University successfully hosted Career Week 2025 from 14 to 17 April, a dynamic, multi-day event that connected students with potential employers and industry professionals. Designed to prepare students for life after graduation, the initiative provided valuable opportunities to engage directly with recruiters, explore diverse career paths, and gain insight into the professional world. Held at Eden Grove and the Steve Biko Lawns, Career Week featured three themed career fairs—focusing on Computer Science, Accounting, and General Careers—and concluded with an engaging and interactive Career Fun Day.

Rhodes University alumnus and current Master's student Lazarus Kgageng has officially published his debut novel, The Chords of a Hymn, a searing fictional narrative that confronts themes of gender-based violence (GBV), queer identity, parental expectations, and survival. The book was published on 30th March 2025 and is ready to ignite essential conversations around trauma, identity, and healing.

The Society for Freshwater Science (SFS) announced it will present its 2025 Career Award for Environmental Stewardship to Professor Nelson Odume, the Director of the Institute for Water Research (IWR) at Rhodes University.

Following years of sustained water challenges that at times threatened the academic project and the sustainability of the University, Rhodes University is making significant progress in its efforts to reduce reliance on municipal water supply and ensure long-term water security on its campus.

The #RUGrad2025 ceremonies at Rhodes University were a vibrant celebration of academic achievement and a resounding affirmation of the institution's guiding principle: Where Leaders Learn. Notably, this year's graduation recognised 23 accomplished former and current Student Representative Council (SRC) members spanning several years. Their graduation illustrates the University's ability to foster young leaders who succeed in their academic pursuits and make significant contributions beyond the lecture hall.

This graduation season, 2,063 students received their qualifications from Rhodes University. Among them, 107 came through targeted access pathways supported by GADRA Education, the Rhodes University Bridging Programme, and the 9/10ths mentoring initiative. That is 5.2% of this year’s graduating class—one in every nineteen students—who began their academic journey not through conventional routes but through community-rooted partnerships that are changing what access to higher education looks like in Makhanda.

Rhodes University doctoral student Victoria da Graça Gilberto Samboco has been awarded the 2024 African Astronomical Society (AfAS) MSc Prize, a prestigious honour recognising her exceptional contributions to the field of radio astronomy. The award was announced during the AfAS General Assembly and Conference.

Dr Tracy Kitchen’s doctoral journey stands as a testament to resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to equality and equity in education. Balancing the challenging roles of academics, mothers, and wives, she has emerged not only with a PhD in hand but with a research project that holds real promise for addressing South Africa’s literacy crisis.

Sinomhlobo Ndlela’s journey to graduation was anything but straightforward. From being forced to take a gap year due to financial constraints to emerging as a respected leader, athlete, artist, and educator, her story reflects the essence of Rhodes University’s ethos: “Where leaders learn.”

A recent report from the Fourth Edition of the 2030 Reading Panel shows only 32% of teachers currently demonstrate high levels of mathematics proficiency. Coupled with recent reports showing South African learner maths proficiency being amongst the lowest in the world.

In a country battling a literacy crisis, Makhanda is witnessing an exceptional spike in literacy rates.

In what has been a remarkable run since the first installation last year, another Transient Array Radio Telescope (TART) instrument has been deployed in an African Square Kilometre Array (SKA) partner nation – this time, Botswana.

Some events tick boxes, and then some remind you why community matters and why we come together, celebrate, and keep going. The Postgraduate International Graduation Ball, held on the evening of Friday, 5 April 2025, was the latter.

For Tina Sisanda Bikitsha, graduating with a Master’s degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University is not simply an academic achievement but a triumph of love and resilience. As a mother to a non-verbal 10-year-old child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Tina’s research journey was highly personal, filled with moments of both emotional anguish and hope.