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Office Bearers and Eminent Persons

Office Bearers and Eminent Persons include the Officers of the University, Honorary Graduates, Professors Emeriti, and Former Officers of the University.

Officers of the University

List of Officers

Chancellor

Dr NJ Dlamini

MBChB (Natal) DBL (Unisa) MBA (Witwatersrand) IEC (USA)

Vice-Chancellor and Principal

Professor Z Vilakazi

BSc (Manchester) MSc PhD (Witwatersrand) MASSAf, FAAS, FRS

Chairman of Council

Mr I Shongwe

BA (Wesleyan) MPhil (Oxford)

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)

Professor R Osman

BA (Witwatersrand) HDipEd BEd (Unisa) MEd PhD (Witwatersrand) MASSAf

Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Research and Innovation) 

Professor Lynn Morris

BScHons (Witwatersrand), DPhil (Oxford) 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Systems and Operations)

Professor Ian Jandrell

BSc(Eng) GDE PhD (Witwatersrand) IntPE(SA) PrEng FSAAE FSAIEE SMIEEE

Registrar

Ms CG Crosley

BA HDipEd (Witwatersrand) BEd Hons (Unisa) MEd (Witwatersrand)

Dean of Student Affairs

Mr JAP September

BA MPhil (Cape Town)

President of Convocation

Kgomotso Mufamadi

BA LLB LLM (Witwatersrand)

Faculty Dean(s):

 

Commerce, Law and Management

Professor J Cohen

BComHons, PhD (Witwatersrand)

Engineering and the Built Environment

Professor Thokozani Majozi

BSc(Eng), MSc(Eng), PhD, PrEng, MASSAf, FWISA, FSAAE

Health Sciences

Professor SA Madhi

MBBCh MMed PhD (Witwatersrand) FCPaeds(SA)

Humanities

Professor Mucha Musemwa

BAHons, MA, PhD (Minnesota)

Science

Professor N Chetty

BSc Hons (Natal) MS PhD (Urbana-Champaign) MSAIP MASSAf

Honorary graduates

These are academic degrees that Wits awards for which the usual requirements are waived. It is awarded honoris causa (Latin: "for the sake of the honour"). Visit the Alumni website for a list of honorary graduates over the years.

Former Officers of the University

Chancellors

1922-1938: HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught
KG PC KT GCMG KCVOCB Governor-General of the Union of South Africa

1939-1948: Hon Jan H Hofmeyr
BA BSc MA (CGH) MA (Oxon) HonDSc (Cape Town) HonDCL (Oxon) MP

1949-1961: The Hon Richard Feetham
CMG QC MA (Oxon) HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1962-1974: The Hon Oliver Deneys Schreiner
MC MA (Cantab) HonLLD (Witwatersrand, Cape Town)

1975-1982: Bertrand Leon Bernstein
BAHons LLB HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1982-1996: Aanon Michael Rosholt
CA(SA) HonDEcon (Natal) HonFCM (SA) HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1997-2007: The Hon Richard Goldstone
BA LLB (Witwatersrand)

2006-2012: The Hon Justice D Moseneke
BA Bluris LLB (Unisa)

Vice-Chancellors

(Note: Since 1948 the offices of Vice-Chancellor and Principal have been held by the same person)

1922-1925: Sir Robert N Kotzé
BA (CGH) HonDSc (Cape Town) HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1926-1929: Hon Jan H Hofmeyr
BA BSc MA (CGH) MA (Oxon) HonDSc (Cape Town) HonDCL (Oxon) MP

1930-1937: Henry J Hofmeyr
BA (CGH) HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1937-1938: Sir Robert N Kotzé
BA (CGH) HonDSc (Cape Town) HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1938-1947: Hon Richard Feetham
CMG QC MA (Oxon) HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1948-1953: Humphrey R Raikes
AFC MA (Oxon) HonLLB (Bristol) HonLLD (Cantab, Toronto, Cape Town) HonDSc (Witwatersrand)

1954-1962: William G Sutton
BAHons BSc (Eng) (Cape Town) HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1963-1968: Ian D MacCrone
BA MA (Cape Town) MA (Oxon) DPhil HonLLD (Witwatersrand, Rhodes)

1969-1977: Guerino R Bozzoli
BSc (Eng) DSc (Eng) HonLLD (Witwatersrand, Cape Town) PrEng HonFSAIEE HonFRSSAf

1978-1983: Daniel J du Plessis
MB ChB (Cape Town) ChM HonLLD (Witwatersrand) FRCS (Eng) FACS (Hon) HonFCS (SA)

1984-1987: Karl Tober
Bearer of the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art (First Class) HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1987-1997: Robert W Charlton
BSc MBBch MD (Witwatersrand) FRCP (Edin) FRSSAf

1998-2001: Colin J Bundy
BA (Natal) BAHons (Witwatersrand) MPhil DPhil (Oxon) Hon DLitt (Manchester Metropolitan)

2001-2002: Norma G Reid Birley
BSc MSc (Sus) DPhil (Ulster) FSS FRSA

2003-2013: Loyiso Nongxa
BScHons MSc (UFH) DPhil (Oxon)

2014 – 2020: Adam Habib
BA (Natal), BA (Hons) (Witwatersrand), MA (Natal), MPhil (New York), PhD (New York)  

2021 – Present: Professor Z Vilakazi
 BSc (Manchester) MSc PhD (Witwatersrand) MASSAf, FAAS, FRS

Principals

1922-1923: The Right Hon Jan H Hofmeyr
BA BSc MA (CGH) MA (Oxon) HonDSc (Cape Town) HonDCL (Oxon) MP

1925-1927: Sir William Thomson
Kt MA BScHons HonLLD (Edinburgh)

1928-1953: Humphrey R Raikes
AFC MA (Oxon) HonLLB (Bristol) HonLLD (Cantab, Toronto, Cape Town) HonDSc (Witwatersrand)

Chairpersons of Council

1922-1939: Sir William Dalrymple
KBE VD HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1940-1954: P M Anderson
BSc (Eng) (CGH) HonDSc (Eng) (Witwatersrand)

1955-1959: F E Kanthack
CMG HonDSc (Eng) (Witwatersrand)

1960-1968: B L Bernstein
BA Hons LLB HonLLD (Witwatersrand) 

1969-1972: M W Richards
MA (Cantab) HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1973-1978: F G Hill
BSc (Eng) (Witwatersrand) MA (Oxon) HonDPhil (UPE) HonLLD (Witwatersrand) PrEng

1978-1988: N Stutterheim
BSc (Eng) DSc (Eng) (Witwatersrand) HonDSc (Cape Town) HonLLD (Witwatersrand) PrEng

1989-1996: S A G Anderson
BSc (Rhodes) BSc (Eng) (Witwatersrand)

1996-1997: The Hon Mr Justice FC Bam
BSc (Rhodes) BA (Cape Town) BProc LLB (Unisa)

1998-2008: Judge Cameron
BA (Stellenbosch) LLB (Unisa) BA (Civil Law) (Oxford) MA (Oxford)

2008-2013: S Macozoma
BA Hons (Unisa)

1922-1935: H W J van der Brugge
BA MA LLB (Unisa) 

1936-1953: I Glyn Thomas
MA (Oxon) HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1954-1975: A de V Herholdt
BCom HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

Presidents of Convocation

1923-1924: H J Hofmeyr
BA (CGH) HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1925-1926: Professor C M Drennan
MA (Cantab)

1927-1928: Professor J A Wilkinson
MA (Cantab) MIChemE

1929: Professor R F A Hoernlé
MA BSc (Oxon)

1930-1932: T A Lawrie
BCom (Witwatersrand)

1933-1936: Professor R F A Hoernlé
MA BSc (Oxon)

1937-1946: W Grant MacKenzie
BSc (Eng) (Witwatersrand) 

1947-1948: S Suzman
BSc BCom (Witwatersrand)

1949-1952: W H Milton
BSc (Eng) (Witwatersrand)

1953-1954: W E Marsh
BCom (Witwatersrand) CA(SA)

1955-1956: J Morris
BCom (Witwatersrand) CA(SA) 

1957-1964: Professor S S Israelstam
BScHons MSc PhD (Witwatersrand) HonMSAChemI FRSC CChem SciNat TTD

1965-1966: C Adler
MB BCh DPhysMed HonLLD (Witwatersrand)

1967-1970: V C Robinson
BSc (Eng) (Witwatersrand) PrEng MIMM MSAIMM

1971-1974: S C Newman
BSc (Eng) MSc (Eng) (Witwatersrand) MA (Oxon) PrEng MIMM

1975-1978: C G Hovelmeier
BCom (Witwatersrand) CA(SA) FCIS

1979-1982: D E Greig
BArch MArch PhD (Witwatersrand) MIA RegArch (SA) ARIBA

1983-1986: H Lampert
BSc (Eng) (Witwatersrand) PrEng FSAIMM

1987-1992: E N Finsen
BArch DipTP (Witwatersrand) MIA ARIBA RegArch (SA) MCSSA FCA

1992-1994: H Heydt
BDS (Witwatersrand) FICD

1994-1996: D A Young
BSc (Witwatersrand) BEd (Unisa) MEd (Witwatersrand) TTHD

1996-1998: R T Hunter
BA LLB LLM (Witwatersrand)

1998-2002: Professor J Shochot
BSc Hons (Witwatersrand) MCSSA

2002-2006: G S Mseleku
BA LLB LLM (Taxation) HDipCoLaw (Witwatersrand) FInstD

2006-2010: Professor D L Kolitz
BCom (Natal) BComHons (Unisa) MCom (Witwatersrand)

2010-2011: I May

2011-2016: Professor M Phakeng
B.A. (Ed) (UNW) B. Ed (Witwatersrand) M.Ed. (Witwatersrand) PhD (Witwatersrand)

Registrars

1972-1974: E L Huddle
BCom (SA) ACIS

1970-1975: J A King
BSc (Cape Town)

1975-1978: G E S Burns

1976-1983: E E Glover
BA(Hons) (Belfast) MBA (Strath) MIPM

1976-1986: Col S C Smith
BSc (Eng) Hons MSc (Lond) PrEng CEng MIMeche MSAIMechE FINUCE FBIM

1976-1994: K W Standenmacher
BA (Rhodes)

1995-1996: B A Dickson
BSc (Unisa) PGCE (Cantab) RPP

1995-2010: D K Swemmer
BAHons MA (Pret) DLitt et Phil (Unisa) TTHD (JCE)

2011-2013: K S Menon
BA Hons (UDW) Hons (Unisa) MBA (De Montfort)

 

Professors Emeriti

List of Professors Emeriti
  • A P Macphail (Haematology and Oncology)
  • A Mabin (Architecture and Planning)
  • A Solomon (Diagnostic Radiology)
  • A Stadler (Political Studies)
  • A Wilson (Geology)
  • A de Koker (Accountancy)
  • A D M Guedes (Architecture)
  • A C E Nettleton (Arts)
  • A Andrew (Anatomy and Human Biology)
  • A G Woodward (English)
  • A Lewin (Orthodontics)
  • B Robertson (Nursing Education)
  • B Engelbrecht (Religious Studies)
  • B D Cheadle (English)
  • B W McKendrick (Social Work)
  • B Murray (History)
  • C Simkins (School of Economic and Business Sciences)
  • C F Landy (Electrical and Information Engineering)
  • C P Luck (General Physiology)
  • C G Bremner (Surgery)
  • C B Preston (Oral Health Science)
  • C M Schnitzler (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • C Walker (Quantity Surveying)
  • C J Dreyer (Dentistry)
  • C van Gelderen (Medicine)
  • D J J Botha (Economics)
  • D Coplan (Social Anthropology)
  • D D Howat (Metallurgy)
  • D Gray (Physiology)
  • D H Reid (Chemistry)
  • D Stephenson (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
  • D T Zeffertt (Law)
  • D B Saddington (Classics)
  • D D Russell (Adult Education)
  • D T Cole (African Languages)
  • D G Moyes (Anaesthesia)
  • D M Calderwood (Building Science)
  • E Webster (School of Social Sciences)
  • E W Neuse (Chemistry)
  • E H Raidt (Afrikaans en Nederlands)
  • E Degiannis (Surgery)
  • E Lindenberg (Afrikaans en Nederlands)
  • E Mphahlele (African Literature)
  • E Cukrowska (Chemistry)
  • F Guidozzi (Medicine)
  • F AObeng (Graduate School of Business Administration)
  • F P A Robinson (Metallurgy and Materials Engineering)
  • G A Doyle (Psychology)
  • G F Hartford (English)
  • H C Seftel (Medicine)
  • H Stein (Paediatrics)
  • H J Koornhof (Medical Microbiology)
  • H Janks (Languages, Literacies and Literature)
  • H Hanrahan (Electrical and Information Engineering)
  • H H Lawson (Surgery)
  • H B Stein (Pathology (Chemical))
  • I Segal (Medicine)
  • J Metz (Pathology)
  • J M Khumalo (African Languages)
  • J P Reynders (Electrical and Information Engineering)
  • J Zaidel-Rudolph (Music)
  • J T Steele (Accounting, Deputy Vice-Chancellor)
  • J C G Slabbert (Prosthetic Dentistry)
  • J E Cock (Sociology)
  • J F van Reenen (Prosthetic Dentistry)
  • J J C Allan (School of Anatomical Science)
  • J B Barlow (Medicine)
  • J C Nicholson (Anaesthesia)
  • J D L Hansen (Paediatrics)
  • J Hunt (Mathematics)
  • J Milne (Medicine)
  • J Muller (Built Environment)
  • J W Perry (Bibliography, Librarianship and Typography)
  • J W Mann (Psychology)
  • J Levin (Nuclear Medicine)
  • J P Michael (Chemistry)
  • K Tober (German, Vice-Chancellor and Principal)
  • K Beavon (School of Architecture)
  • K L Manchester (Biochemistry)
  • K Yeomans (Management)
  • K Boffard (Medicine)
  • K Huddle (Medicine)
  • L G R van Dongen (Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
  • L Glasser (Chemistry)
  • L A Hurst (Psychiatry)
  • L C G Douwes Dekker (Business Administration)
  • L Gilbert (Sociology)
  • L O Nicolaysen (BPI Geophysics)
  • L Solomon (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • L A Wagstaff (Community Paediatrics)
  • M D Forest Steele (Accounting)
  • M Isaacson (Tropical Diseases)
  • M J Whitaker (French)
  • Mark Leon (Philosophy)
  • M V Aldridge (Linguistics)
  • M Shear (Oral Pathology, Deputy Vice-Chancellor)
  • M S Skuy (Specialised Education)
  • M H H Louw (International Relations)
  • M J R Hoch (Physics)
  • M J Pendlebury (Philosophy)
  • M Moys (Chemical Engineering)
  • M Scurrell (School of Chemistry)
  • M Viljoen (Geosciences)
  • M L Aron (Speech Pathology and Audiology)
  • N W van Schaik (Genetics)
  • N Coville (School of Chemistry)
  • N Duffy (Public & Development Management)
  • N Gourlay (Education)
  • N H Welsh (Ophthalmology)
  • N G Garson (History)
  • P Fatti (Statistics & Actuarial Science)
  • P D Tyson (Geography)
  • P Owen (Dentistry)
  • P J Nienaber (Afrikaans and Nederlands)
  • R Abratt (Graduate School of Business Administration)
  • R H Lemmer (Physics)
  • R J Mason (Archaeology)
  • R J Keddy (Medical Physics)
  • R J Southall (Sociology)
  • R N Pienaar (Botany)
  • R Nethersole (Comparative Literature)
  • R P Plewman (Mining Engineering)
  • R T McCutcheon (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering)
  • R Thomson (School of Statistics and Actuarial Science)
  • R W Charlton (Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Vice-Chancellor and Principal)
  • R C Whiting (Law)
  • R N Brits (Business Economics)
  • S Budavari (Mining Engineering)
  • S Naicker (Medicine)
  • S Zwi (Medicine)
  • S Abelman (Computer Science and Applied Mathematics)
  • S B Williamson (Nursing Education)
  • S Maske (Geology)
  • S Davis (Classics)
  • S E Levin (Paediatrics and Child Health)
  • T H Bothwell (Medicine)
  • T J D Fair (Urban and Regional Planning)
  • T R Stacey (School of Mining Engineering)
  • T J Sheer (School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering)
  • T Neville Clifford (Geology)
  • T Jenkins (Human Genetics)
  • U V Schneider (Music)
  • S Booysen (School of Governance)
  • W Cormack (Electrical Engineering)
  • W H E Fitschen (Medical Biochemistry)
  • W Reekie (School of Economic and Business Sciences)
  • Y J Veriava (Medicine)
  • B Fabian (School of Molecular and Cell Biology)
  • T McCarthy (School of Geosciences)
  • J Comins (School of Physics)
  • R Cawthorn (School of Geosciences)
  • K Rogers (School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences)
  • J Lowther (School of Physics)
  • A Every (School of Physics)
  • P Du Plessis (School of Physics)
  • T Huffman (School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies)
  • K Kuman (School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies)
  • M Moller (School of Mathematics)
  •  D McLachlan (School of Physics)
  •  J Lowther (School of Physics)
  •  P Du Plessis (School of Physics)
  •  K Hein (School of Geosciences)
  •  T Carmichael (Ophthalmology)
  •  G Finchilescu (Psychology)
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