Alumni in the news April 2019
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Roundup of Witsie news and views
Several alumni received national orders from the Presidency: Benjamin Pogrund (BA Hons 1971), Mathatha Tsedu (BA Hons 2008), Anthony Trew (BA 1963), Yosuf (Joe) Veriava (MBBCh 1968) and Ari Sitas (BA 1978, BA Hons 1979, PhD 1984). The School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering’s Professor Thokozani Majozi also received the Order of Mapungubwe in Bronze for his outstanding contribution to science.
Wits lost two eminent alumni in April: Dr Sydney Brenner (BSc 1945, BSc Hons 1946, MBBCh 1951, DSc honoris causa 1972), whom we recently featured in Wits Review, and Professor Lorna Jacklin (MBBCh 1973, MSc Med 1998).
South African Medical Research Council President Professor Glenda Gray (MBBCh 1986) received an honorary doctorate from Rhodes University and Wits Chancellor Dr Judy Dlamini (MBA 1999) was similarly honoured by the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The actor Jerry Mofokeng (BADA 1987) is to receive an honorary degree from the University of the Free State in June.
Professor Mike Belfort (MBBCh 1981) led a team that performed an anaesthetic on a foetus – the first such procedure in Africa – so as to operate on the unborn baby’s spine.
Dr Patrick Deane (BA 1978, BA Hons 1979), currently the President and Vice-Chancellor of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, is to become the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, in July.
Wits Art Museum’s new Jack Ginsberg Centre for Book Arts featured in Wanted magazine. Read more about the special opening event for alumni here.
The new appointments to the SABC board include four Witsies: Marcia Socikwa (BA 1994, BA Hons 1995), Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi (LLB 1996, LLM 1998), Saths Cooper (BA Hons 1984) and Benjamin Lekalakala (BA 1992, LLB 1994, HDip Company Law 1996).
Charl Bassil (BSc Eng 1994) has been appointed vice-president of global marketing for Absolut vodka.
Sibanye Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman (BSc Eng 1981) spoke on the The Money Show about his attitude to money.
The Financial Mail got to know Bank Zero CEO Yatin Narsai (BSc 1987, BSc Hons 1989) better in a Q&A.