Membership of the Wits Council
The following is a list of members of the University Council appointed in terms of the Statute of the University.
| Membership Type | Incumbent | Qualifications | Other Positions/Achievements | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chair of Council | Mr Terence Nombembe | BCom (UNITRA) B Compt Hons (UNISA); CA SA | Independent Non-Executive Director for Nedbank Group Limited, Sibanye Stillwater Limited, Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), and World Wide Fund (WWF) – South Africa; Sole Shareholder and Director of the Terence Nombembe Foundation (Pty) Ltd; Former Auditor-General of SA, and former Chairman of the Auditor-General Advisory Board; Former Chief Executive Officer of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants |
Term ends 31 December 2026 |
| Vice-Chair | Vacant | |||
| Secretary to the Council | Ms Carol Crosley | University Registrar: BA (Witwatersrand) H Dip.Ed (Witwatersrand) Honours (Unisa) MEd (Witwatersrand) |
University Registrar | Ex-officio |
| Ministerial Appointees | Vacant Ms Nasima Badsha Ms Ayanda Dlodlo Dr Stephen Smith *Mr Mandlakayise Thabethe | |||
| M.Sc (Natal); Graduate Certificate in Education (Leeds); B.Sc. (Hons) (London) | Former Deputy Director General in the Department of Education; former CEO of Cape Higher Education Consortium | 01 September 2018 – 30 December 2020 (Term extended to 31 December 2026) | ||
| MBA (MANCOSA), PGDip: Business Management (MANCOSA); HCert: Shipping & Transport (London Institute of Transport & Shipping) | Currently serving as a Director at Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and a Director, OR Tambo School of Leadership. Participated in the anti-apartheid struggle through military training with uMkhonto we Sizwe. Held several Cabinet positions in South Africa, including Minister of State Security, Minister of Communications, Minister of Home Affairs, and Minister for Public Service and Administration. Served as Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister for Public Service and Administration, leading public service wage negotiations with unions. Represented South Africa internationally as Special Envoy to the Open Government Partnership. Appointed Executive Director at the World Bank Group, representing South Africa, Nigeria and Angola. Served on the boards of the Industrial Development Corporation and the OR Tambo School of Leadership. Appointed Special Envoy for South Africa’s campaign for the presidency of the African Development Bank. | Term ends 31 December 2028 | ||
| PhD in Tax Law (UCT), BComm (SA), BComm (Hons), Advanced Taxation Certificate (SA) – Honours in tax law, LLM programme in tax law at UCT for non-degree purposes | Currently: Financial sector policy consultant specialising in finance, tax, social security reform, and infrastructure finance. Commercial Member of the Tax Court of South Africa. Economic Policy Committee Member at Business Unity South Africa. Council Member and Finance Chair at University of Venda. Key Achievements: Led financial sector policy development work for Association for Savings and Investment South Africa. Represented business in national policy forums through Business Unity South Africa and National Economic Development and Labour Council. Contributed to infrastructure finance policy initiatives with National Treasury of South Africa and international partners including the World Bank. Played a role in national social security reform discussions informing the National Planning Commission of South Africa. Recognised tax policy specialist, advising government and industry and contributing to the Davis Tax Committee. Contributed to the establishment of the Solidarity Fund during the COVID-19 response. Portfolio Management, Asset Management, Financial Planning, Investment Management, Planning. Currently: Senior Manager: Technology Enablement at Absa. External Moderator (Part-Time) at University of Johannesburg. Key Achievements: Oversees technical strategy, operational planning, and performance management across technology production and service teams at Absa. Leads technology enablement initiatives, including strategic planning, resource management, financial oversight, and technology integration. Provided strategic ICT leadership and governance while serving as ICT Manager at Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority, including development of IT strategy, policy frameworks, and compliance with financial and governance regulations. Directed ICT operations, digital projects, and knowledge management systems to improve organisational performance and service delivery. Contributed to enterprise architecture, technology standards, and system integration as Senior Technical Architect at Eskom. Led ICT research, strategy development, and knowledge management initiatives as Senior Advisor Information Technology at Eskom. Supports academic quality assurance and assessment through external moderation in information systems and business management at the University of Johannesburg. |
Term ends 31 December 2028 | ||
| MCom (Information Systems) (Wits) B Tech (IT) (Technikon Witwatersrand) Ndip (IT) (Technikon Witwatersrand) | Term ends 31 December 2028 | |||
| Members Appointed by and from among the Executive Committee of Convocation (*one of whom must be the President of Convocation) | *Ms Kgomotso Mufamadi Mr Adam Levin | BA (Political Studies and Law) (Wits), LLB (Wits), LLM (Wits), Social Entrepreneurship (GIBS) |
Former Head of Industrial & Employee Relations at BMW Group South Africa; Current President of the Wits University Convocation; An attorney of the High Court of South Africa and a qualified Commissioner with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA); Chief Executive of Lotus Labour Consulting | Term ends 31 July 2027 |
| BA and LLB (Wits) | Currently a Managing Partner and Head of Corporate and Commercial Law at Saltzman Attorneys. Vice-President of the Executive Committee of Convocation at University of the Witwatersrand. Key Achievements: Over two decades of legal practice as a corporate and commercial attorney. Represented medium-sized and listed companies, as well as high-net-worth individuals and families in complex commercial matters. Advised on and structured major commercial transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and financing arrangements. Served as in-house legal advisor at Discovery Limited. Contributed to university governance through service on the Naming Committee and Honorary Degrees Committee at University of the Witwatersrand. | Ex-Officio of Convocation | ||
| Premier’s Appointee | Assoc Professor Mfanelo Ntsobi | PhD: Management of Technology and Innovation (Da Vinci Institute of Technology & Management), master’s in administration (UWC), Bachelor of Administration Honours, Bachelor of Military Science (Stellenbosch) | Chief Executive Officer of Sci-Bono Discovery Centre; Board Chairperson of the Gautrain Management Agency; Interim Board Chairperson of the Transport Authority of Gauteng; Chairs the Council of Ekurhuleni East TVET College. | Term ends 31 December 2027 |
| Donor Electees | Professor Michael Katz | BCom (Wits) LLB (Wits) LLM (HLS) LLD (honoris causa) Witwatersrand) | Chairperson: ENSafrica; Member of the Board of Governors (HUJ), Member of the King Committee on Corporate Governance, trustee of numerous trusts such as the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund | 1 November 2019 - 31 December 2026 |
| Mr James Teeger | BA: Commerce & Honours Accounting (Wits), Chartered Accountant (SA) | Chief Investment Officer of Stockdale Street Ltd. Joined E Oppenheimer & Son as Group Managing Director in May 2005. Former Non-Executive Director of De Beers. Previously worked at RMB, where he was a Management Board Member | Term ends 31 December 2027 | |
| Council Electee | Mr Mr Terence Nombembe Ms Lusanda Kgakololo Ms Tracey Rossini Mr Marthinus Liebenberg Ms Nomfundo Ngcobo Mr Arnold Basserabie Mr Don Saunders |
BCom (UNITRA) B Compt Hons (UNISA); CA SA | Independent Non-Executive Director for Nedbank Group Limited, Sibanye Stillwater Limited, Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), and World Wide Fund – South Africa; Sole Shareholder and Director of the Terence Nombembe Foundation (Pty) Ltd; Former Auditor-General of SA, and former Chairman of the Auditor-General Advisory Board; Former Chief Executive Officer of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants | Term ends 31 December 2026 |
| Bachelor of Science Honours, Bachelor of Science (Microbiology with Distinction) | Strategist; Project Lead for multidisciplinary consulting teams; CXO and Board Advisor | 1 June 2021 - 31 December 2027 | ||
| BSc, Applied Maths, Information Technology (Wits), BA: Commerce, BCom: Quantitative Management & Industrial Psychology (UNISA), Systemic Team Coaching BCompt, BCompt Hons (UNISA), CA (SA) | Innovator; Turnaround Specialist; Business Growth Partner and Startup Creator as driver, executor, strategist, alchemist, and team coach FinCo Chair; Regional Director: CFO Center; Fractional CFO; M&A; Business Broker; Commercial Financing; CA (SA); Business Introducer | Term ends 31 December 2027 Term ends 31 December 2026 | ||
| LLB, Law (Wits), Advanced Company Law (Wits), LLM, Commercial Law (Unisa), Development Economics (Stellenbosch), PGDip, Management (GIBS), MBA (GIBS) |
Current: Trustee, Thandulwazi Maths and Science Academy-NPO, Non-Executive Board Member and Chair of Social Ethics and Remuneration Committee for NIH Pty Ltd, Eyesizwe Mining (RF) Pty Ltd; Nominated onto the General Counsel Power List 2025 and 2026 South Africa; Previously: Member of Wits Convocation, Council and Naming Committee; Non-Executive Director: John Deere Pty Ltd, Emerald Life Pty Ltd, Protea Hotels Pty Ltd, Platinum Hospitality Holdings Pty Ltd, Workers Life Insurance and Assurance Pty Ltd, PGC Pty Ltd, PGC Pty Ltd. |
Term ends 31 December 2028 | ||
| BSc (Maths, Math Stats) (Wits), ASSA (USA Society of Actuaries) and CFP (SA Financial Planning Institute) | Entrepreneur; Non-Executive Director of Kalon Venture Partners Ltd; Non-Executive Chairman of Afrika Tikkun, an NPC; Chairman of Caleo Collective group of companies; Chairman of the WITS Foundation Board of Governors; Non-Executive Director of the WITS Donald Gordon Medical Centre | Term ends 31 December 2026 | ||
| Certified Director Certificate (in progress) – Institute of Directors South Africa; Data Analysis Certificate – University of Cape Town; Certificate in Project Management – Stellenbosch University CA(SA) – South African Institute of Chartered Accountants; BCompt (Hons) & CTA – Walter Sisulu University; BCompt – UNISA |
Current Positions: Liquidator at the University of Zululand Foundation. Trustee on the Bishop Board of Trustees under Cotswold Fenns Homeowners Association. Advisor to the Board of Trustees of the Project Preparation Trust. Non-Executive Director and Chairperson of the Audit and Risk Committee at Intersite Asset Investments, a subsidiary of PRASA. Council Member, Finance Committee Member, and Audit Committee Member at University of the Witwatersrand. Key Achievements: Served as Managing Partner and Director at SizweNtsalubaGobodo (later SNG Grant Thornton), growing the KZN office significantly in revenue and staff capacity. Secured and managed major audit and advisory clients including Durban University of Technology, University of Zululand, Transnet entities, Foskor, Umgeni Water, and NERSA. Established and developed the external audit division at the Cape Town office of SizweNtsalubaGobodo and served as a training officer accredited by South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. Built strategic relationships with the Auditor‑General of South Africa as key account liaison and engagement partner. Served on governance structures including the Policy Committee and REMCO at SizweNtsalubaGobodo, contributing to firm strategy, governance frameworks, and remuneration policies. Contributed to the accounting profession through leadership roles within the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants regional council and public sector committee. Served as independent audit committee member of the Nelson Mandela Museum. Founded entrepreneurial ventures including Dreamworld Property Investment Company and DONCAST Consulting and previously owned a Wimpy franchise. | Term ends 31 December 2028 | ||
| Business & Labour Nominee | Mr Gavin Hartford | Bachelor of Social Science Hons in Industrial Sociology | An Industrial sociologist and Labour Relations and Stakeholder Strategy Specialist | Term ends 31 December 2026 |
| Vice-Chancellor and Principal | Professor Zeblon Vilakazi | BSc (Univ of Manchester), MSc (Wits), PhD (Wits) | Chair of Senate | Ex-Officio |
| Vice-Chancellor's Appointee (SET) | Professor Ruksana Osman | BA, HDipEd, BEd, MEd, PhD | Vice-Principal | Ex-Officio |
| Senate Electees | Professor Sarah Nutall Professor Mfaniseni Fana Sihlongonyane *Professor Uma Kollamparambil Professor Nosipho Moloto | DPhil – University of Oxford, England MA in Literary Studies – University of Cape Town, BA (Hons) in English – University of Natal, BA – University of Natal |
Professor of Literary and Cultural Studies at WISER at Wits | Term ends 31 December 2028 |
| BA PGCE, MSc(DP), PhD(OXFORD) | Professor of Development Planning and Urban Studies | Term ends 31 December 2026 | ||
| PhD in Economics (Jawaharlal Nehru University), M Phil Applied Economics (Jawaharlal Nehru University), MA Development Economics (Calicut University), BA Economics (Calicut University) | Professor in School of Economics | 01 January 2023 - 31 December 2028 | ||
| BSc, BScHons, MSc, PhD (Wits) | SARChi Chair: School of Chemistry | 01 January 2022 - 31 December 2026 | ||
| Deans' Electee | Professor Jason Cohen | BComHons, PhD (Wits) | Professor of Information Systems; Dean of the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (CLM) | Term ends 31 December 2027 |
| Academic Staff Electee | Professor Joel Quirk | BA, BAHons, PhD (Australian National), GDipIR | Professor in the Department of Political Studies | Term ends 31 December 2027 |
| Non-Academic Employee Electee | Dr Taariq Surtee | PhD in Financial Mathematics (Wits); MBA (Wits) BSc (Hons) in Applied Mathematics for Industries and Finance (Wits); BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science (Wits); Certificate – Institute of Islamic Banking and Insurance, Wembley, Middlesex, GB |
Currently a Head of Wits eResearch Office; Member of Wits Council (governing board) Achievements: Senior Manager overseeing ICT programmes and computer network services at Wits University. Led business intelligence, projects, and information management initiatives. Served as course coordinator and lecturer in Electrical Engineering and Accounting Information Systems. Acted as Programme Manager for a provincial government program. Deputy Director at Programme Management Unit (PMU) and Centre of Innovation (Gauteng Shared Service Centre), driving operational efficiency and innovation. Worked as Specialist Manager and Data Scientist at Liberty Life, applying advanced analytics and data-driven solutions. | Term ends 31 December 2028 |
| SRC Electee (SRC President) | Mr Gilbert Nchabeleng | Student | Term ends September 2026 | |
| PGA Electee – Postgraduate Chairperson | Mr Mahloromela Seabi | Student | Term ends 28 February 2027 |