Covid-19 Update 80: Thank you! 7 500+ vaccine certificates uploaded
If you are experiencing glitches in uploading your certificate, this information might help. You can also log technical queries via ithelp@wits.ac.za.
Covid-19 Update 79: You can now upload your vaccine certificate
Mandatory vaccination: The link to upload your vaccine certificate is now live.
Covid-19 Update 78: Implementation of Wits Mandatory Vaccination Policy
Wits University adopted a Mandatory Vaccination Policy (Mvax Policy), which will be implemented from 1 January 2022.
Wits researchers feature in popular children’s science book
Book about South Africa’s leading brains competes with Harry Potter in South African children’s book sales.
Gateway to success for new first year students
Wits University introduces new programme to enhance the academic and social success of first year students.
Students positively rate Wits career services
Wits students who participated in a national survey are happy with initiatives aimed at boosting their success in the world of work.
Namaqualand daisies are flowering earlier
The progressively earlier flowering places the daisies at greater risk of failed flowering seasons. This would be a blow to biodiversity and tourism.
Partnership to increase gold recovery
Wits and DRDGold’s Ergo Mining Proprietary Limited (Ergo) sign a second five-year research and support agreement to enhance skills and research in mining.
South Africa has changed tack on tackling Covid: why it makes sense
The South African government has chosen a pragmatic approach that balances the potential direct and detrimental indirect effects of Covid.
How Nigerian cities can cope better with flood risk
Institutional failures, infrastructure, socio-economic challenges and disaster education influence Nigerian cities’ vulnerability to flood disaster.
Covid-19 Update 77: Wits Covid-19 Vaccination Implementation Plan
Wits Universit's Mandatory Vaccination Policy (MVAX Policy) will be implemented in January 2022.
Diverse people unite exhibition hosted at Wits
Canon South Africa and RARI partner up to preserve our heritage through the camera lens.
Law Clinic brings hope even under hard conditions
Hundreds of legal clients in just months underscores the desperation of the indigent even during lockdown.
2021: Best science or technology-related books
With the year drawing to a close, many people will be wondering what books they may have missed out on in 2021.
Omicron data: more transmissible but less severe
Early data show that Omicron is dominating new COVID-19 cases in Gauteng province.
It's time for green investment in Africa
As climate change alters business and governance forever, there is no time to lament, only to use the power of investment to change the world for the better.
It's for the common good
There should no longer be a debate between the goals of corporate profit and higher education’s knowledge for its own sake.
Triumph for Mandela and Castro medical programme
Wits Covid-19 Heroes support the vision to increase doctors from historically disadvantaged areas.
Thank you, Witsies!
From the Desk of the Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi: We are stronger because of the diversity of our people and our ideas.
Alumna honoured with the 2021 Outstanding Educator Award
Denise Nicholson recognised for her commitment to intellectual property rights and improving library access.
Jar of Hope restores smiles
A little extra help goes a long way
Keen eyes like those of Lynne Pritchard’s are needed during the era of online learning.
Keeping the lights on
Jeandre Hazelhurst surprised by Wits Covid-19 Hero nomination
Singing and dancing in hospital lifts spirits
Rheumatologist takes innovative approach to managing Covid-19.
Another Wits Hero from ICT
Dreaming of “zero local dependencies” and a complete move to the cloud.
The changing role of ICT
Wits alumna and Senior Manager at Wits ICT says the role of techies should go beyond providing cutting edge and user-friendly infrastructure.
If steam contains water, what does smoke from fire contain?
Professor Sally Archibald answers this question in Curious Kids, is a series for children published in The Conversation-Africa.
Ensuring optimal service delivery on campus
From bathrooms to buses and public areas on campus, the unsung heroes in the Services Department wage a daily battle against the virus.
Quantum entanglement: Why physicists want to harness it
“Quantum entanglement” is one of several plot devices that crops up in modern sci-fi movies.
Biden’s summit for democracy
Africa can make important contributions to the issues on the agenda: defending against authoritarianism; fighting corruption; and respect for human rights.
Chemistry’s Monyai is a ray of light
Create space for dreams and wellbeing so that impactful work can happen.
Faculties come together in fight against Covid-19
Diverse team of staff and students proudly came together at a time when the country need them most.
Teaching and medicine – a perfect blend against Covid-19
Two disciplines have paved the way for Hartmann to make an impact on the lives of others.
Paying it forward
Wits Covid-19 Hero Dr Armand Bahini says his actions are inspired by the institution that made him the man he is today.
Biometeorology - the possibilities are endless
Are you interested in the weather and its impact on nature? Here’s a career for you.
South Africa needs more spectrum now
Wits, UJ, government and the telecoms sector join forces to close the digital divide.
Answering the call of students
“No matter what you’re feeling inside, the purpose is to be kind and help students with a smile.”
Children and screens – making it through the holidays
Every small change to promote healthy levels of screen time is a step in the right direction for the health, wellbeing and development of children.
Omicron: five steps to avoid, ten to take immediately
The world needs to learn to live with the virus. And governments must follow the science and don’t distort it for political expediency.
Lessons from Wits rural campus
Wits Covid-19 Hero Ngoni Ngwarai, shares what it’s like to work with 31 villages and humble lessons from Covid-19.
Harnessing resources for greater good
Chemicals and special pencils are never too far from this Wits Covid-19 Hero.
Two new mining research centres at Wits Mining Institute
The Institute will boost its contribution to the future of mining by hosting two of the new research centres.
Knack for technology benefits those with disabilities
Adaptive Technologist and Wits Covid-19 Hero, Andrew Sam, provides specialised support to students and staff with special needs.
Finding a balance between rural versus metro support
Metros may be a graveyard for political ambition. But if parties or individuals succeed, the rewards are considerable.
Origins of early sapiens behaviour opens at Origins Centre
The extraordinary multimedia presentation comprises 16 unique display panels that include six videos by renowned documentary filmmaker Craig Foster.
SA can get through the Covid-19 maze ahead of the festive season – here’s how
Despite the vaccines, there is a new frightening-sounding variant in town, Omicron. There is plenty you can do to protect yourselves this December.
Covid-19 Update 76: Council approves Wits Covid-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy
Read the full statement, the policy, and the Q&A information document wherein Wits experts answer questions about vaccination, legal, ethical, and more.
The hunt for coronavirus variants
Covid 19: How the new one was found and what we know so far.
Managing in an ever changing world
“Covid has taught us to be very flexible and to understand that no two people are exactly the same in how they deal with things,”
Should we trust machines?
Inclusivity and diversity need to be at the level of identifying values and defining frameworks of what counts as ethical AI in the first place.
Being part of something bigger drives educator
Wits Covid-19 Hero, Professor Lee Rusznyak spearheaded an initiative that assisted teaching students from 24 South African universities.
EIE hosts first engineering Women’s Conference
The virtual conference highlighted the dynamic interventions that women are making in STEM.
Providing data for Covid decisions
From providing analysis to the government, media and the public - Prof. Bruce Mellado has empowered many to make informed decisions about the pandemic.
![Life reconstruction of Australopithecus sediba com-missioned by the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. [© Sculpture: Elisabeth Daynes / Photograph: S. Entres¬sangle]](/media/wits-university/news-and-events/images/news/2021-sept-dec/Asediba.jpg "Life reconstruction of Australopithecus sediba com-missioned by the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. [© Sculpture: Elisabeth Daynes / Photograph: S. Entres¬sangle]")
Ancient human relative, Australopithecus sediba, “walked like a human, but climbed like an ape”
New lower back fossils settles a decades old debate proving early hominins used their upper limbs to climb like apes, and their lower limbs to walk like humans.
A slowly worsening chronic fiscal crisis
National Treasury’s strategy to overcome South Africa’s chronic fiscal crisis rests on highly uncertain political and economic foundations.
Why are there so few impact craters on Earth?
Impact craters are relatively shallow, so these bowl-shaped “dents” in Earth’s rocky crust can be easily buried or erased by erosion.
Protecting the first line of defenders
“Wits has a very dynamic community. Every day is Day One at Wits.”
Bumper year for feminist scholar
A book, international academic residency and a fellowship on the cards for Professor Srila Roy.
Keeping information flowing
“I simply could not sit back and do nothing when I knew that I could try to make a difference and help the students out.”
Anti-vax parents
Unpacking parents’ reasons for not vaccinating their children: why it matters
Independent Tanzanian publisher: Walter Bgoya
Books should influence public opinion, contribute to nationwide debates, and stimulate an appreciation of reading and writing.
Leaving no one behind
Scott Smalley instrumental in the safe return of students and staff, and the vaccination drive on campus.
President awards Witsies National Orders
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has awarded four Witsies his office’s highest honour for their services to South Africa.
These learners just love problems
Most people avoid problems but not these learners.
EIE Open Day 2021
From ‘sniffing’ for an internet connection to estimating poverty from space, Open Day had you covered.
Lighting up the digital divide with ‘Fibre, Before the Fibre’
Wits leads efforts to develop low-cost, long-range free-space optics that can connect informal settlement communities to high-speed internet.
Let’s just do more with less
South Africa’s health system is on its knees: the 2021 medium-term budget policy statement offers no relief.
WitsReview wins best corporate publication award
Wits University's multi-award winning publication adds another accolade.
Africa heats up more, and faster
Report: By 2030, up to 118 million extremely poor people will be subject to the devastating impacts of drought and intense heat.
Why does cold air go down and hot air go up?
Associate Professor Jennifer Fitchett answers this question in Curious Kids, is a series for children published in The Conversation-Africa.
Breaking walls after the Berlin Wall
Which wall needs to fall in society and science?
Wits, British Council to boost innovation in Africa
The new Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic will form part of the Innovation for African Universities Project that will drive economic development.
Africa-UK partnerships for climate action
Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal participates in strategic climate change conversation on COP26 and COP27.
Contact or online? Moving away from binary approaches
We need to move away from this binary approach, consider our contextual realities, and start with the end goal in mind.
The 10 babies hoax
South African newspaper proprietor Dr Iqbal Survé has long pushed the boundaries of credibility, but recently he crossed the line into full fantasy.
The promise of Damon Galgut
Will white South Africa ever give up part of its privilege? Booker-winning novel probes white South Africa and the land issue
Covid-19: Should South Africa be vaccinating 12-17 year olds
The focus of the government seems to be about how many people can get vaccinated rather than ensuring the greatest protection against severe disease and deaths.
Covid-19 Update 75: Senate supports mandatory vaccination policy
"We will also continue to engage with the broader Wits community on the proposed policy in the coming weeks."
A child of darkness
Meet Leti, a Homo naledi child discovered in the Rising Star Cave System that yielded Africa’s richest site for fossil hominins.
Harnessing Thor’s hammer
How forensic science is unlocking the mysteries of fatal lightning strikes that could help save thousands of lives.
Wits and Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital strengthen partnership
Extended partnership will enable partners to advance critical areas in child health.
The smoking gun
This tool can identify cause of death by fatal lightning strike in skeletonised remains.
Switching allegiance will bring loyalty to SA
It is important to impress upon those who boycott elections that their votes do count and they can force change.
Religion can be a blessing, and a curse
How religion has shaped the experiences of displaced LGBT people in South Africa.
In 25 years, what has changed for women?
The provision of better health services and social grants has aided rural women’s progress but there are still tremendous needs to be met.
Harnessing Africa’s knowledge tank
African universities have great potential to accelerate development and advance knowledge on the continent.
Untreated mental illnesses impact SA's economy, social and family stability
The shame which many South Africans, particularly black communities, place on people who live with mental illnesses are preventing sufferers from seeking help.
Wits ergonomics expert joins prestigious Academy of Science of South Africa
Professor Andrew Thatcher from the School of Human and Community Development has been appointed as a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).
A new era in cricket research
Wits University has launched a cricket research hub for science, medicine and rehabilitation.
Acclaimed wordsmith publishes new book
Wits alumnus and contemporary writer, Dr Mandla Langa, has added a new novel to his literary works.
Spotlight on President of the African Real Estate Society
Lessons from his father and mentors have shaped Akinsomi's journey.
VC celebrates Wits Olympians and Paralympians
Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Zeblon Vilakazi hosted Witsies who were part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Can gaming transform the way we learn?
Professor Barry Dwolatzky explains what gamification in learning is and how it is on a path to change the future of higher education.
No-go zones have no place in a democratic society
IEC must come down hard on parties that refuse to allow others to campaign in what they see as their areas.
Climate change has already hit southern Africa
With mitigation and adaptation strategies and policies driven through COP26, southern Africa can reduce the impacts on local livelihoods.
New Migration Academy calls for applications
Members of the African Research Universities Alliance open new opportunities in migration studies.
'Punish or deter outrageously false campaign promises'
Poll chancers: politicians who make false promises must be punished.
Wits Top in Africa and in top 15 Emerging Economies
Wits University ranked in top 15 by The Times Higher Education in the latest ranking of universities in emerging economies.
Wits and Russian Embassy unveils Yuri Gagarin bust
Unveiling of the bust celebrates 60 years of space exploration and human space travel.
Wits – Edinburgh to collaborate on academic, research and innovation projects
Universities committed to translating MoU into action that benefits staff and students.
Online teaching and learning: Towards a realistic view of the future
The shift to emergency remote teaching and learning enabled academics to start questioning some long-held assumptions about in-person teaching and learning.
Aggrey Klaaste and nation-building
How the South African editor put himself on the line with his contrarian idea.
Young Wits scientists shine at FameLab
Three Wits students are in the top 10 of the national FameLab competition.
‘Foreplay’ judgment: problematic judicial views around consent in rape cases persists
In SA it is alarming and legally dangerous to have a judgment that consensual foreplay implies consent for penetration and sex, and thus rape did not occur.
New Surgical Skills Lab to train specialists and sub-specialists
R22-million project to enhance the training of surgeons in South Africa.
New Wits laboratory will advance African genetics research
The Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience today launches a new research lab to understand African genetics and advance precision medicine in Africa.
Staff awards celebrate the best of Wits
The annual Staff Awards reflect the Wits values that drive the ethos and excellence across our remarkable institution.
Red tape is choking biodiversity research in South Africa
There are calls for measures to reduce the burden of red tape and promote and facilitate biodiversity research in South Africa.
Covid-19 Update 74: Wits Mandatory Vaccination Framework
The proposed Framework has been developed and will be shared with staff, students, senior managers, organised labour, and other constituencies for comment.
My story: from Kenyan villager to international researcher
My name is Francis Otieno and I am telling this story to inspire school kids, emerging researchers, and everyone – your dreams are possible!
Top matriculants prepare for the Wits experience
The top applicants are set to join Wits as it turns 100 in 2022.
South Africa urgently needs to update its mental health policy
Mental Health: How are we doing? What do we need to do?
A look at new abortion guidelines
International Safe Abortion Day – celebrated every year on 28 September – marks a woman’s fundamental reproductive right to access safe, legal abortion.
Wits celebrates 99 years of excellence
Wits launches global appeal, former Wits SRC President donates $100,000 to support students
Former presidents rise to the #Wits100 challenge
Wits SRC president pledges USD100,000 to aid students, challenges others to #WitsForGood challenge.
Palliative care and Covid-19: A patient’s quality of life and dignified death are paramount
Calls to permit nurses in South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania to prescribe morphine to help ease patient's suffering and give them a dignified death.
Witsies win six Science Oscars at prestigious national research awards
Wits researchers won six National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South32 research awards .
Science superstar reaching for the stars
The sky is the limit for science superstar and PhD student, Mpho Kgoadi.
Head of UNAIDS unpacks the knock-on effects of Covid-19
Greater urgency is needed in the response to pandemics, to end AIDS and to end COVID-19.
Developing countries should inform global debates on inequality
Greater urgency is needed in the response to pandemics, to end AIDS and to end COVID-19.
R70m to transform the ‘Bara Burns Unit’ into a world-class facility
New specialised Wits Roy McAlpine Burns Unit will treat burn survivors and will create a high-tech skin bank and tissue engineering laboratory in Soweto.
Wits employees go the extra mile for students and academics stranded abroad
Dr Yan Yang and Alison Simons from the Wits Strategic Partnerships Office supported Witsies who were abroad at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Serving all equally – Service before self
Fears of Covid-19 did not stop Wits network support technicians to service staff at academic hospitals during hard lockdown.
SA ICT sector navigates pandemic unscathed but skills gaps remain
The 2021 ICT Skills Survey results were released on 28 September 2021.
Passion, love and dedication for teaching
A source of inspiration for his students.
Skills survey finds SA ICT not moving to gig economy - yet
Survey shows a shift to the gig economy has not occurred in SA, but it's plausible that this might change in future.
Wits-educated billionaire launches R3-billion vaccine development project in SA
It will help to establish two research centres to boost cancer and vaccine research at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Covid vaccine mandates don’t have to undermine your rights
While South Africa has steered clear of compulsory vaccination for now, the country’s laws do allow such a policy.
Robben Island Museum: The making and breaking
Robben Island Museum aspired to be part of the reconstruction and development of the national soul.
Majozi to lead the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Esteemed process engineer to steer the Faculty as Wits embarks on its strategic journey to 2033.
All about developing people
Wits Hero Dr Lisa Ware has first-hand experience of what can happen when youth are without hope.
A rising research star
The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) has awarded the Rising Star Fellowship to Associate Professor Peace Kiguwa.
Oppenheimer donation advances African Future Studies at Wits
The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) has donated R15 million towards the African Future Studies Initiative at Wits University.
Remote work a win for South Africa's ICT professionals
JSCE-IITPSA ICT Skills Survey results will be released on 28 September 2021.
Team work makes the Science Faculty work
A love for teaching and learning, and a deep commitment to the provision of high quality educational experiences drives the Faculty of Science.
IRR’s current approach does a disservice to the people of South Africa
The Institute prioritises its own ideological predilections rather than devoting itself to the betterment of race relations.
Millions of children miss routine vaccinations amid the chaos of Covid-19
Urgent catch-up plans are needed.
The Expropriation Bill and the 18th Constitutional Amendment process
The cart is still behind the horse
Blended learning and the people bold enough to implement it
Notes from the School of Therapeutic Sciences’ Learning I3 (Ideas, Innovation, Inspiration) symposium
Wits mourns the passing of Professor Ivor Sarakinsky
Sarakinsky was a political philosopher, passionate about public governance and the green economy.
Angola: old authoritarian practices remain
The optimism Angolan president João Lourenço’s election generated four years ago has dwindled as electoral promise after another have failed to materialise.
Covid-19 Update 73: Return to campus plans
Details on vaccination and the return of staff members to campus.
Lego blocks and pasta trigger dentistry students
If you think that macaroni, spaghetti and lego blocks only excite preschoolers then you’d be shocked to discover that these also stimulate university students.
Leadership behind the scenes keeps WBS ticking over
He leads with respect, dignity, and passion for excellent IT support and service delivery on the Parktown Management Campus.
Wits humanities scholar a Falling Walls winner
Professor Dilip Menon’s transnationalism research earns him prestigious Falling Walls Award.
Lifeline to LGBTQI+ migrants, refugees and asylum seekers
Our hope is really to inspire other members of the Wits community to say that there are things that we can do to change the lives of those around us - Harie.
Let’s DIY future democracies for good
#DIYAfrica 2021 creates space for Africans to “Do It Yourself” and realise the potential of new and emerging technologies to bring about change.
Wits to coordinate South Africa’s national quantum initiative
The South African Quantum Technology Initiative (SA QuTI) aims to drive local quantum technology research and innovation.
Work as we knew it has changed. Time to think beyond the wage
Recent developments in the organisation of production have led to the decline of wage employment across much of the world.
Covid fallout: Vulnerability and signs of recovery in Gauteng
There is no doubt about the enormous scale of the shocks South Africa has experienced over 2020-21.
The democratic transition in 1994 did little to undermine the foundations of white economic power
Race and capitalism: no easy answers, but posturing will get South Africa nowhere
How Messenger RNA works in nature and in making vaccines
Thanks to the collaborative efforts, the large-scale manufacturing of mRNA drug products is becoming a reality.
Dung beetle experiment suggests carbon dioxide is bad for insects too
Beetles exposed to elevated carbon dioxide emerged later and smaller and had a reduced chance of making it to adulthood.
How Zimbabwean artist Kudzanai Chiurai has reinvented the library
With vinyl records, zines and political posters instead of just books, The Library of Things We Forgot to Remember offers a way to reimagine African history.
Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine shows promise in protecting people with HIV
The Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytical (VIDA) research unit conducted the phase 1B/2A clinical trial.
African Research on Kidney Disease begins in Mpumalanga
It’s South African Kidney Awareness Week from 6-10 September and the ARK Consortium has begun a unique African study.
Quality of Life in Gauteng declines amidst pandemic – study
The Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) has released the results of the latest iteration of the Quality of Life Survey 6 2020/21 (#QoL2021).
Wits leads ambitious partnership to drive AI in Africa
The AI Africa Consortium partners with Cirrus AI to bring large-scale AI infrastructure capacity and expertise to the African research community and industry.
Campus vaccination site to fight Covid-19
Staff and students choose to protect each other as they receive their Covid-19 vaccination on campus.
Burning of fossil fuels directly impacts dung beetles
Elevated carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere negatively affects dung beetles size and survival.
Finding solutions to complex challenges. For Good.
This article has been published in the print and online edition of the Daily Maverick.
How to build credibility in the agricultural sector
To rebuild lost credibility, the South African government can start by listening to social partners and the business sector.
Covid-19 Update 72: Netcare vaccination site at Wits
Wits staff and students can now get their Covid-19 vaccine at the Netcare site on campus.
Johannesburg turned into live laboratory to measure 'killer' lightning
DEHN AFRICA donates R500 000 to the Johannesburg Lightning Research Laboratory at Wits University to support pioneering research in lightning protections.
New lineage of SARS-CoV-2: what’s known so far
We are being cautious about the implications for vaccine efficacy and transmissibility while we gather more data to understand this lineage.
Are you quantum or not? Wits PhD student cracks the high-dimensional quantum code
A new and fast tool for quantum computing and communication.
South African shack dwellers show how grassroots democracy is done
Trevor Ngwane shows how structures that emerged in the struggle against apartheid continue in democratic South Africa, now in conflict with the ruling ANC.
Postponing SA's local elections: what the Constitutional Court must decide
The right to free and fair elections may be undermined if political parties cannot campaign due to COVID-19 restrictions by the state.
African Human Rights Court undermined by resistance from states
The court has lived up to its promise in most cases, issuing some progressive and ground-breaking decisions and remedies.
Students place trust in Wits as they vaccinate
Wits students who got the Covid-19 vaccine jab at the SABC vaccination site on Thursday morning say they chose to place their trust in Wits and science.
In conversation with Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago
Central bankers must act independently, without fear or favour.
Update 71: Witsies can also vaccinate at the SABC vaccination site
Wits staff and students can now get their Covid-19 vaccine at the SABC vaccination site in Auckland Park.
Remember GBV victims
Wits pays tribute to victims of GBV and solidifies action on the ground.
Covid-19 Update 70: Dedicated slots for Witsies to vaccinate in Braamfontein
Wits staff and students who are 18 years and older can now get their Covid-19 vaccine at the Liberty vaccination site in Braamfontein.
Protecting Covid positive pregnant women
Pregnant women who have tested positive for Covid-19 require a different approach.
Healing students humanely with heart
“Covid-19 reminded me of my oath”, says Head of Campus Health and Wellness Centre, Anna Moloi.
Staying connected in sport during a pandemic
From the sports fields to online spaces, Wits Sports staff kept things moving amidst the pandemic.
Ruth Mohamed’s food pack revolution
The expression, “sharing is caring,” is the source behind Covid-19 hero, Ruth Mohamed’s philanthropic values.
Providing a safe home away from home
All titles went out the window – there was no manager or boss position – we all had to help where we could.
Covid-19 Update 69: 18+ you're up! Don't hesitate - vaccinate
Covid-19 vaccinations are open to all persons 18 years and older as from Friday, 20 August 2021.
Research shows that female sex workers are exposed to extremely high levels of violence
This is the first time evidence has been available from a national sample and illuminates the health and complex life experiences of these vulnerable women.
A Servant to the youth
“I’m that person that if you want someone to work with in assisting students, people just think of Lucy.”
Why building collapses are all too common in Lagos
Private developers, building professionals and the government all share responsibility for building collapses.
Guarding the arts in a pandemic
I wanted to help the School of Arts because the lecturers were busy dealing with so many other issues concerning students.
South Africa’s bandit slaves and the rock art of resistance
The scandalous times of a book louse
Deborah Minors interviews Professor Robert Muponde on his new book, 'The Scandalous Times of a Book Louse: A Memoir of a Childhood'.
Protecting frontline healthcare workers
There is no question that without the PPE training, the virus would have spread more rapidly in the hospital where students and staff were placed.
Sibanye-Stillwater broadens its sponsorship with Wits University
Wits University and Sibanye-Stillwater today signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding a sponsorship of some R52 million over a 10-year period.
Former Witsie wins 2021 Dirac Medal
Physicist Professor Saul Teukolsky receives the prize for theoretical work essential to the detection of gravitational waves.
Wits launches new Centre for Journalism
The Wits Centre for Journalism will engage with the rapidly changing world of African journalism.
Climate change: South Africa and the latest IPCC assessment
The report makes it clear that climate change is widespread, rapid, intensifying and unprecedented in thousands of years.
South Africa’s basic income versus jobs debate: a false dilemma
Basic income must be embedded within a broader strategy of economic reform, aimed at increasing the social wage and improving working conditions.
Angola’s constitution is under review but a great deal has been left undone
The Angolan political elite lost an extraordinary opportunity to improve significantly the country’s constitution.
Variants, the fourth wave, vaccines and the unlikelihood of herd immunity
What might happen in South Africa?
Curios.ty 12 (#Solutions): Advancing society for good
Our cutting-edge research offers #Solutions to some of the most challenging problems facing society today.
Wits.For Good. solutions inspire hope
Editorial: From solutions to the structural, political, and socioeconomic challenges in South Africa, to those ‘moonshot moments’ that advance society for good.
Reinventing higher education
We need to rethink higher education by asking what kind of society we want to create.
No place for politics in bricks and mortar
South Africa’s infrastructure seems to be falling apart at the seams. What needs to be done to save the country from further deterioration?
Building a better city
A ‘world class African City’ begins and ends with history and geography.
Pay the taxman his dues
A wealth tax could make a significant contribution to alleviating South Africa’s ailing fiscal situation.
What adds up when teaching maths?
To help close the maths gap in South Africa, Wits experts believe the focus should lie on the teacher.
Getting serious about gaming
Games from the Game Design programme at the Wits School of Digital Arts tell important stories, and allow for solutions to many real-world problems.
Zoom in. Team up. The new era of therapy
Can online platforms help therapists and tutors transform teaching and care beyond the pandemic?
Love in the boardroom
Can love be the central guiding value in big business and in complex decisions?
Mathematics solutions to boost tourism numbers
Numbers in tourism translate into revenue for the sector. Mathematicians are now number-crunching creatively to solve tourism challenges.
Photographing ghosts in space
Photographing a black hole in space, 55 million light years from Earth, seems an impossible task but scientists went to unprecedented lengths to achieve this.
How the brain solves problems
The connections among areas of our brain and how they interact is what counts when trying to find solutions to problems.
Think big to heal South African society
The ructions caused by the pandemic are an opportunity to reconsider core values and spending priorities to address our social ills.
Sense and sensuality in people with disabilities
Wits researchers are creating the space and support for people with disabilities to talk about sex.
Enabling engagement
Breaking down the perceptual barriers between students and people living with disabilities.
Engineering empathy
In search of ways to help his father recover from injuries suffered in a motorbike accident, Nabeel Vandayar enrolled at Wits to study medicine.
Healing South Africa’s public health headache
Academia binds the public and private healthcare sectors in the move towards universal healthcare .
Another brick in the pay wall
The media industry in South Africa has been sputtering along for several years. How do we prevent it from totally collapsing?
Social media regulation: Can we trust the tech giants?
Some scholars consider these ‘liberating technologies’ because they empower citizens to speak back to power and hold leaders accountable.
What the world needs now
As the world looks to COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021, it’s clear that the time for sitting on the side-lines is over.
Repurposing drugs to treat dangerous diseases
In drug repurposing new uses are identified for a drug outside of its original scope of indication, resulting in more effective treatment.
Can philanthropy grow Africa?
Despite the fact the philanthropy is pervasive – benefactors and beneficiaries abound – relatively little is known about its practice in an African context.
Make South Africa great again!
Column: We don’t just have the ability to turn South Africa around, we have a responsibility to do so.
Weekend theatrics so the show could go on
The solution was to convert the school hall of the McAuley House convent, The Nunnery, into a theatre – over one weekend.
Wits celebrates its stars in 2021 M&G Top 200
The Wits Senior Executive Team hail Witsies in the 2021 Mail & Guardian Top 200 for making a positive impact in society.
Teaching and learning beyond the pandemic
Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal speaks at an international plenary session on the impact of the pandemic on public higher education.
Higher education awards recognise excellence in Wits Alumni Relations and Wits Communications
The Advancement Division at Wits won seven awards at the Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE) Excellence Awards held online on 29 July.
Covid-19 herd immunity is not going to happen, so what next?
When politicians and others speak about herd immunity, unfortunately, they are under the misconception that the current tools that we’ve got are adequate.
How a land reform agency could break SA's land redistribution deadlock
An agency could accelerate land reform by removing the process from political and bureaucratic control.
One of the world’s rarest chameleons found clinging to survival
Chapman’s pygmy chameleon, long feared to be extinct in the wild has been found surviving in patches of rainforest in Malawi.
How light pollution affects dung beetles
Light pollution makes it difficult for dung beetles to see the stars which they use to orientate, Wits researchers find.
SA's skills problem cannot be fixed outside of the economy
It must be part of the messy process of structural change.
Covid-19: Herd immunity is not achievable
Pasha 118: We need to learn to live with COVID-19.
Six myths about vaccination for Covid-19 put to rest
The circulation of misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine poses the danger of hampering the government’s efforts to control the pandemic.
Human trafficking victims and survivors: Hear their voices
Their lived experiences offer the most authentic understanding and familiarity of this life-changing criminal practice.
R&D are key to resilient food systems in Africa
Stronger agricultural research and development systems will enable agriculture to power Africa’s transformation.
Excluding migrants undermines the success of Covid-19 vaccine rollouts
Failure to ensure access for all to prevention and treatment, including vaccines, undermines national responses to Covid-19.
Staff jump to get vaccinated
Wits staff happy about the arrangement to support vaccination drive.
Rural doctors did it for local communities and schools
The Wits Heroes Series celebrates staff members who went beyond the call of duty at the onset of Covid-19 in 2020.
Wits Vice-Chancellor on the purpose of education in the 21st Century – escaping Plato’s cave
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Wits was part of an eminent panel to discuss the purpose of education in the 21st Century.
IT Administrator at the forefront, providing innovative online learning solutions
The Wits Heroes Series celebrates staff members who went beyond the call of duty at the onset of Covid-19 in 2020.
In pursuit of the pink academic hood
A love for the bright pink graduation hood turned Wits Deputy Registrar into a Wits engineering alumna.
Sunnyside housekeeper keeps the virus at bay
The improved working conditions she found as a Wits employee made it easy for Mncwabe to dedicate her time to the institutions’ fight against the virus.
The proud Witsie moment
“Getting a degree from Wits brought a sense of pride,” says new staff graduate, Timothy Mudau.
Fears forgotten, Students first
“I want this University to know there is nothing I wouldn’t do for it.”
How to finish 2021 strong
There are many ways to use the remainder of the year to set ourselves for success says experts.
A Covid-19 Hero for WBS
The Wits Heroes Series celebrates staff members who went beyond the call of duty at the onset of Covid-19 in 2020.
Leave no one behind: We must urgently address vaccination of undocumented migrants and asylum seeker
We call on Acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi to do the right thing to ensure the Covid-19 vaccination programme is inclusive.
Everything you need to know about vaccines — our only viable strategy for living with Covid-19
We are likely to keep being hit by further waves of this virus until at least all adults have immunity.
Covid-19 in children: the South African experience and way forward
Schools are not driving the COVID-19 pandemic and can safely remain open provided people stick to the non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19 prevention.
Building an art gallery in the midst of war in Zimbabwe
Gallerist and writer Robert Huggins and his wife, the artist Helen Lieros, have passed away.
Learnership empowers Soweto youth
Gauteng has one of the highest number of young people who are not in employment, education or training.
How a staff bursary liberated potential
Campus Housing and Residence Life staff member funded by the Wits staff bursary earns master’s degree, which has enabled new career prospects.
What last week’s vandalising of our research clinic in Kliptown, Soweto, means to science
Despite the critical role of the PHRU as part of the national and international Covid-19 response team, it was not spared during the recent unrest.
TB prevention has relied on the same vaccine for 100 years. It’s time for innovation
BCG remains the only widely available vaccine for TB but the COVID-19 vaccine shows that there is capacity to rapidly create new vaccines.
What drove South Africa’s recent violence and looting and what to do about it
Pasha 117: South Africa's recent violence is a cause for concern but there are opportunities to build a stronger nation.
'Grand Geek' to lead Wits’ Innovation Strategy
Professor Barry Dwolatzky has been contracted as Director of Innovation Strategy.
Hope amidst despair
6 712 students will graduate from Wits during the July graduation season.
The vulnerable points in South Africa’s fuel supply chain
The glaring failure by authorities to secure an area notorious for attacks on trucks prompts questions about, at best, utter ineptitude, or at worst, complicity
From the flames of looting to democratic regeneration
Over the past week, democratic constitutionalism and the rule of law have undergone a massive stress test.
South African riots and food security: why there’s an urgent need to restore stability
South Africans should not panic about the food system. But authorities will need to act swiftly and assertively to restore stability.
South Africa in flames: spontaneous outbreak or insurrection?
Corruption thrives in a destabilised state with weak institutions. South Africa cannot be allowed back to that space because there will be no turning back.
Re-inventing the Doppler effect
Wits and HUST researchers report a new form of the Doppler effect.
Wits graduates awarded start-up capital for pharmacy innovation
Wits Pharmacy graduates were awarded seed funding for their automated, antimicrobial-surface coated pill-dispensing innovation, Ra-Pill.
Covid-19 vaccine research ALIVE and thriving at Wits
The Wits African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise (ALIVE) has awarded research grants for cross-disciplinary Covid-19 vaccine-related projects.
Message from the Senior Executive Team
We hope that you are holding up during these very difficult times.
Spike in COVID-19 cases points to gaps in South Africa’s response
Preventing new infections and containing the pandemic protects health systems from getting close to collapse.
SA-French research cooperation fostering scientific excellence with CNRS-Wits bipartite agreement
Wits and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) today signed a bipartite agreement of research cooperation to foster scientific excellence.
The Covid gender gap
Women suffered a large and disproportionate effect in the labour market as a result of the hard lockdown, but they’ve also been slower to recover.
Steve Kekana: an 80s South African pop star, and much more
We should remember him as just another ordinary human being who did extraordinary things.
Wits tackles water crisis through new water research programme
The Claude Leon Foundation will fund two research chairs and a research programme in water stewardship worth R15.7 million.
Water, power cuts and neglect are taking their toll on South Africa’s top hospitals
South Africa is quite capable of delivering world-class healthcare to all its citizens. But this is constantly being hampered.
Breathing life into bone
An international Wits-led team of scientists used high-powered X-rays to show how an extinct South African dinosaur, Heterodontosaurus tucki, breathed.
Healthcare in South Africa: how inequity is contributing to inefficiency
Patients shouldn't be treated better simply because they can afford to pay more.
Professor Bheki Peterson - A forever man
“Bheki Peterson was a forever person, a forever teacher, a forever writer, a forever friend.”
South Africa’s vaccine quagmire, and what needs to be done now
South Africa has clearly suffered the consequences of poor strategic decisions to this point. It doesn't need to continue along these lines.
The Delta variant and South Africa’s vaccination problems
Pasha 113: The Covid-19 resurgence in South Africa is likely to take a heavy toll. It is important for vaccination efforts to be ramped up.
Hate killings of black lesbians in South Africa
“We only write about them when they are dead."
Fak’ugesi Festival 2021 #BUILDCOZYOUHAVETO
This year’s Fak’ugesi Festival will be a hybrid event and takes place from 14 to 24 October 2021.
Angola’s peculiar electoral system needs reforms
Angola needs a mixed electoral system. This would promote accountability through the direct election of representatives from constituencies.
Jacarandas in parts of South Africa are flowering earlier: why it’s a warning sign
Climate change is causing jacarandas to flower earlier.
False story about decuplets was a low point for journalism: how to fix the damage
Tighter controls are not the answer; the opportunity should be used to think differently about trust and journalism.
Wits’ young movers and shakers
Several staff, students and alumni are featured in the 2021 Mail and Guardian Top 200 list of trailblazing young South Africans.
The passing of Professor Audrey Msimanga
Professor Audrey Msimanga, the Head of the Wits School of Education, has passed away.
Level 4 COVID-19 lockdown puts spotlight back on vaccination failures
South Africa didn't engage early enough with pharmaceutical companies in bilateral discussions to ensure it could get vaccines early.
Fresh insights into social habits of our non-mammalian ancestors
Finding a fossil tooth embedded in bone is the gateway to some otherwise out-of-reach understanding of the behaviour of extinct animals.
VOW FM bolsters youth entrepreneurship
The award-winning youth radio station, VOW FM has put money to support ventures of young entrepreneurs.
Listening, speaking, learning, thriving
Therapy offered by the University Speech and Hearing Clinic enables communication and advances societal good.
Covid-19 Update 68: Implications of level 4 regulations on Witsies
What the new regulations mean for Wits staff and students.
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi on the impact of the third Covid-19 wave
Gauteng is currently the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, with almost 11 000 new infections reported in the province on Wednesday.
New senior executive appointments
Professor Ruksana Osman has been appointed as Senior DVC: Academic and Professor Ian Jandrell as DVC: Systems and Operations.
Universities SA Condemns Attack on SAHPRA
It is an essential part of the national science system and it must be protected to perform its regulatory work.
An intellectual love letter to a South African literary giant
For Professor Bhekizizwe Peterson theoretical reflection went hand-in-hand with practice; knowledge had to be made in and outside the academy.
Punitive laws are failing to curb misinformation in Africa
The majority of those punished under the laws to combat false information are opposition politicians or journalists.
Tribute to Prof. Mzilikazi Khumalo
A celebrated composer of choral and traditional music, Professor Mzilikazi Khumalo passed away on 22 June 2021 following a long illness.
South Africa’s underground astronaut
Profile: NatGeo Emerging Explorer Dr Keneiloe Molopyane.
Covid-19 resurgence in Gauteng: A crisis that is likely to worsen rapidly
Despite the predictability of the resurgence, unfortunately, Gauteng health facilities are seemingly underprepared to deal with the spike of Covid-19 cases.
Children with hearing problems: why acting early can make all the difference
Unidentified or late identified hearing impairment has significant implications for the speech-language, cognitive and scholastic development of the child.
Why it’s important to improve Africa’s research output
Pasha 111: It is crucial to improve research training in Africa. This can help solve complex issues on the continent.
Small towns are collapsing and affecting farming
The collapse of local government in small towns is beginning to affect investment in farming, and the ability of agribusinesses to operate.
Wits mourns the passing of Professor Bhekizizwe Peterson
Award-winning screenwriter and producer, literary critic, a towering intellectual and generous mentor.
Wits pays tribute to Jabu Mabuza
Influential leader, distinguish businessman and role model for all South Africans.
Dream team heads for world robotics soccer cup
For the first time, a Wits University team will compete in the international RoboCup tournament.
Scottish graveyard in Kolkata reveals untold stories of colonial women in India
The disregarded lives and achievements of Scotswomen in colonial India are brought to light in new research from a 19th century graveyard in Kolkata.
Stereotypes about young jobless South Africans are wrong
Many unemployed young people are engaged in a variety of economic activities. These may not necessarily be recognised as a form of self employment.
Covid-19 has worsened SA's system of developing the skills of young people
The pandemic has heightened existing weaknesses in South Africa's skills training regime.
Photonics unlocks second quantum revolution
Wits University’s future hub of Quantum Technology is switched on.
Update 66: Reporting infections
We are in the midst of the third wave, infection rates are rising steeply across the country and hospital beds are filling up quickly.
The sex organs of baobab flowers may solve the puzzle of trees that bear more fruit
Baobab flowers have male and female parts but individual trees appear to be favouring one rather than the other.
Wits neuropsychologist awarded prestigious global scholarship
Dr Sahba Besharati in the Department of Psychology is one of just 19 CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars, a programme that supports early-career researchers.
The Wits Quantum Initiative launches at Wits
WitsQ will provide first a forum for quantum scientists in all fields across the continent to connect.
Pandemic impact on ICT skills in the spotlight in 2021 ICT Skills Survey
The JCSE-IITPSA Skills Survey assesses skills demand and supply from both a corporate and practitioner perspective.
WhatsApp + maths tutors = a solution for poor learners
An innovative maths WhatsApp hotline threw high school teens an educational lifeline during 2020.
GCRF Funding of Synchrotron Techniques for Africa lauded as great success
Results include 80+ researchers now collaborating from multiple continents, over 50 world class papers published and a new generation of scientists trained.
Survey to unearth health info practices around Covid-19 in SA
Various studies have been conducted to understand the issues surrounding the Corona virus, and its impact on different population groups.
Remembering Zim Ngqawana 10 years on, a singular force in South African music
Zimasile ‘Zim’ Ngqawana, died unexpectedly and too soon on 10 May 2011 at the age of 51, leaving bereft a family and a musical community that spanned the globe.
Rhino anti-poaching research goes nuclear
From 2010 to 2019 over 9 600 rhinos were killed in poaching attacks. On this current trajectory, South Africa’s rhino will be nearing extinction in nine years.
Children are easy targets for exploitation and traffickers during Covid-19
The theme for this year’s Child Protection Week, which began on 31 May, is “Let us all protect children during Covid-19 and beyond”.
We must seize the moment for a global pandemic surveillance and response scheme
No more pandemics—this is the ambitious goal set by the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response
Colonial ports, customs and censorship: tracking books from ship to shore
How colonial Customs protocols shaped copyright and censorship.
Current priorities for South Africa’s electricity policy
This summary of a presentation made to a colloquium organised by Capacity Building Programme for Employment Promotion outlines priorities for SA’s power policy.
A tribute to Vishnu Padayachee: South African economist and radical thinker
Vishnu Padayachee’s contribution to economics in South Africa is unmatched.
Book calls for a rethink of capitalism amid the ravages of Covid-19
Rethinking capitalism requires that the primary focus should be on the distribution of economic power as the potential leading causal factor driving inequality.
Remembering Medu, the South African art collective that fought apartheid
Four decades later, post-apartheid South Africa barely recalls the Medu Art Ensemble's contributions to the liberation struggle. But that could be changing.
One of the world’s coolest inventions
South African-born engineer and entrepreneur is making a significant contribution in the fight against Covid-19.
Wits mourns the passing of Distinguished Professor Vishnu Padayachee
Professor Vishnu Padayachee, an outstanding scholar, a renowned economist, a life-long activist, and a dedicated colleague passed away on Saturday, 29 May 2021.
Covid-19 Update 65: Keep safe
The third wave of the coronavirus has started in Gauteng and is rapidly gaining momentum as we head into the winter season.
Wits Archaeologist named 2021 National Geographic Explorer
Archaeologist and biological anthropologist, Keneiloe Molopyane, is recognised as a trailblazer by the prestigious National Geographic Society.
How South Africa dropped the ball on health communication
Community leaders and outreach community workers are calling on education to enhance their understanding of Covid-19.
Why regional military intervention in Mozambique is a bad idea
The Southern African Development Community does not have a remarkable record of military interventions in civil conflicts in the region.
How pots, sand and stone walls helped us date an ancient SA settlement
We now know that Bokoni Phase I was built as early as the 15th century – before the arrival of European colonisation or trade.
VOW FM’s radio queen to shine at YFM
Voice of Wits (VOW) FM’s drive time host and personality Kgosigadi is set to bring heat this winter to the YFM radio airwaves.
Wits University and French National Centre for Scientific Research announce PhD projects
Wits University and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) have announced five CNRS-Wits PhD projects to be supported in 2021.
Why forcing disclosure of wages and executive pay in SA is a good idea
Companies being required to go public with information about executive and workers pay packets is increasingly becoming the norm.
South African materials technology used in CERN’s ATLAS experiment
The use of South African technology to produce high tech electronic components will cost five times less than importing the technology from the United States.
Why full dams don’t mean water security: a look at South Africa
Gauteng citizens need to know the uncomfortable truth: for the next six years, their water supplies will increasingly have to be restricted.
The fine legal line between legitimate protest and criminality
A protest which results in a shutdown and interference with the rights of others may delegitimise the cause and allow the government to escape accountability.
Five ways to measure the effects of COVID-19 on women
Women have been affected by the pandemic more than men in many ways. Policies should reflect this.
Who catches and transmits flu in SA and the implications for vaccination
A new study has found a high burden of influenza in a rural and an urban setting in SA, where asymptomatic people – particularly children – transmit this virus.
The link between inequality and power
How power is distributed in SA and how those with power think about wealth and income.
SA sets out to protect cast and crew involved in nudity and sex scenes
Spurred by the #MeToo movement, South Africa's is the latest film and TV industry to introduce intimacy protocols to guide how intimate scenes.
SA must ban sugary drinks sales in schools. Self regulation is failing
A ban on sugary drinks sale and advertisements in schools is likely to hold more promise in improving the diets of children and help prevent obesity.
Former minister’s memoir is a candid critique of South Africa’s political economy
Rob Davies is critical of economic policy. He reserves particular criticism for its macroeconomic policy framework introduced in 1996.
In defence of Joburg minibus taxi drivers
It's Global Road Safety Week from 17-23 May. Research by a bioethicist challenges assumptions about road safety, minibus taxi crashes, and who's responsible.
Professor Bob Scholes: Farewell ‘giant savanna tree’
Scholes’ students describe him as a ‘giant savanna tree providing shade in the heat, shelter in the rain, and a point of reference to navigate by’.
Doing good for communities
Wits law entities are using their expertise for public good in society.
What Witsies think about Wits. For Good.
The University’s new slogan, Wits. For Good. has been a source of intrigue for many since being seen on billboards around the streets of Johannesburg.
Ushering in a new era in staff development at Wits
Wits has introduced a new range of online development opportunities for the benefit of staff members.
Wits’ transformation agenda places focus on female leaders
Wits University today launched a programme that seeks to change the gender and racial profile of leaders in academia.
Wits Origins Centre reopens
The Origins Centre at Wits has reopened to the public, and boasts new lighting, displays and an Augmented Reality exhibit.
The biggest issue in world press freedom is attacks on women journalists
The online attacks on women journalists are bound to populist politics, disinformation and intersectional discrimination, says Unesco.
DeepMind establishes scholarship for four Wits Masters students in machine learning
Scholarships seek to increase diversity in the fields of machine learning and are aimed at students from backgrounds underrepresented in AI.
Nocturnal dinosaurs: Night vision and superb hearing suggest moonlight predator
By looking at the eye bones and ear canals of extinct dinosaurs, researchers show that a small ancient predator likely had senses good as a modern barn owl.
Hearing loss is a neglected hazard for miners in South Africa
Noise-induced hearing loss is an occupational health hazard. It remains a prevalent condition in the South African mining industry.
Launch of new online magazine Nature Africa
Wits University is a founding partner of the new online magazine reporting on scientific research and policy across Africa.
Democracy depends on social justice
The former public protector, Prof. Thuli Madonsela, has raised her concerns about some of the challenges facing SA and has called for more united action.
Wits scientist appointed to a position of leadership at the European Laboratory CERN
Professor Bruce Mellado has been elected Chairperson of the Institutional Board of the Tile Calorimeter of the ATLAS experiment at CERN.
Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trial results show efficacy against the B.1.351 variant in SA study
Results from the initial primary analysis of the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trial conducted by Wits VIDA in SA have been published.
How the pandemic is hurting university students’ mental health
Ultimately, these studies will help us to make sense of how the pandemic is reshaping higher education.
Johannesburg is threatening to sideline informal waste pickers. Why it’s a bad idea
Waste reclaimers save South African municipalities up to R748 million a year in landfill space. Without them, the country's recycling economy would not exist.
Wits cancer researcher awarded highest honour from Cancer Association of South Africa
Professor Paul Ruff received the 2020 A.G. Oettlé Memorial medal from CANSA in recognition of his outstanding contributions to cancer research.
Sub-Saharan Africa’s food security has turned out better than feared
Government support for farmers, higher rainfall and grain imports have helped sub-Saharan Africa stave off food insecurity - region isn't out of the woods yet.
Wits Community mourns the loss of one of the world’s greatest scientists
Wits University is saddened by the passing of Professor Bob Scholes, one of the world’s leading scientists on Climate Change.
Prof. Zeblon Vilakazi installed as 16th Wits Vice-Chancellor
Professor Zeblon Zenzele Vilakazi was installed as the 16th Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Wits University at a ceremony held at the Great Hall on Thursday.
African countries must consider legal challenges to sugar taxes before pursuing policies
Governments must take urgent action to prevent noncommunicable diseases from becoming an uncontrollable epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
Why African countries need reliable local data on sugary drinks taxes
Without reliable, local and timely data, countries will miss the potential of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation as a public health intervention.
Researchers map the landscape for taxes on sugary drinks in seven African countries
Implementing a sugar-sweetened beverage tax in all African countries will require sufficient political will and support from civil society.
There’s a disconnect between research and urban planning in Africa: how to fix it
The amount of data produced on urban Africa still pales in comparison to other parts of the world.
Brown locusts have survived a long drought in South Africa – here’s how
Eggs can remain in the soil for several years with the embryos waiting to receive sufficient moisture to complete development.
Huawei awards bursaries to ICT postgrad students
Huawei South Africa has awarded bursaries to a select group of postgraduate ICT students as part of its efforts to bolster and support technology skills.
Award recognises a commitment to Teaching Excellence
It is important that university teachers are recognised for the vital work that they do, and that excellence in teaching is celebrated.
Ethical leadership for a just society
Wits Chancellor, Dr Judy Dlamini called for ethical leadership to tackle inequality in South Africa.
A posthumous award for Sibongile Khumalo
South Africa’s first lady of song, Dr Sibongile Khumalo, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Music posthumously by Wits University.
How the language you speak aligns to your genetic origins and may impact research on your health
A new study challenges the presumption that all South-Eastern-Bantu speaking groups are a single genetic entity.
A note of support to the UCT community
Wits extends its support to the UCT community.
Visionary Leadership Award for Wits ICT
Dr Stanley Mgobansimbi Mpofu, Wits’ Chief Information Officer (CIO), has received the Visionary CIO 2020 award from industry.
Precarious power tilts towards Ramaphosa in battle inside South Africa’s governing party
The National Executive Committee brought a crucial tilt in the factional balance of power towards Ramaphosa.
Aim for the sky, but keep your feet on the ground
To fight poverty and promote equality, developing countries should pursue the highest levels of unfettered, open-ended scientific inquiry.
News24 team wins 15th Taco Kuiper Award for Investigative Journalism.
News24 journalists, Jeff Wicks and Kyle Cowan are winners of the 2020 Taco Kuiper Award for Investigative Journalism.
New research shows South Africa’s levy on sugar-sweetened drinks is having an impact
Three years ago South Africa introduced Africa’s first major tax on sugar-sweetened beverages based on grams of sugar.
AI-powered Algorithm released to detect the third wave in South Africa
While models show a low risk of a third wave in South Africa, the country is still highly vulnerable.
Sales of sugar sweetened beverages decline after SA introduces Health Promotion Levy – study
A study by PRICELESS-SA and partners shows that SA’s 2018 “sugar tax” led to a reduction in purchases of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs).
More health research based on data from Africa will benefit the continent and the world
The global outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic and the race to bring an end to this scourge has thrust the role of genomics into the spotlight.
Fine artists channel their creativity with BMW
The BMW Group Midrand Campus lends itself as a canvas for Fine Arts graduates in the Wits School of Arts (WSOA).
We discovered that whale and dolphin brains produce lots of heat. Why it matters
We have all heard the mantra that dolphins and whales are highly intelligent animals, on par with great apes and humans – But where does this concept come from?
Gold medal for Wits Centre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine
Exercise is Medicine® On Campus (EIM-OC) awarded Wits gold level designation for the Centre's efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus.
South Africa bottom of the class for road safety? Here’s why this isn’t true
In South Africa 26 out of every 100,000 people die on the roads – far higher than the global average of 18 per 100,000.
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World leading HIV vaccinologist now Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research at Wits
Professor Lynn Morris takes the reins today for five years as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation at Wits University.
Challenging perspectives on magma chambers
Wits researchers report on a new phenomenon in magma chambers called “magmatic karstification”.
Find your voice in science communication
The search is on for the next Pop Idols of Science at the 2021 Wits FameLab Science Communication Competition.
Wits students develop unique cannabis cultivation tech
Two master’s students are developing new technologies aimed at disrupting the booming cannabis, or so called ‘green gold’, industry.
Disentangling the neuromolecular networks involved in speech and language
As a biochemist/biophysicist working primarily with proteins, Sylvia Fanucchi is naturally drawn to the mechanisms of interactions of biological macromolecules.
Go to jail, Zuma — and do not pass go
Being a country’s president, or former one, does not translate into immunity from prosecution.
Wits announces team to advance AI research in Africa
The team, led by Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, will lead Africa’s effort to advance artificial intelligence research and its application across the continent.
Why South Africa’s HIV prevention programmes should include sex worker clients
Narrow, unimaginative public health responses inhibit reducing HIV, exploitation and marginalisation within sex work.
Malaria risk zones and climate change in South Africa
Malaria kills over 400,000 people a year across the world. Africa carries the highest burden, with 90% of these deaths occurring on the continent.
Image of black hole shows magnetic fields around a black hole are strong enough to resist gravity
Wits astrophysicists are the only two scientists on African continent that contributed to the study.
Professor Roy Shires wins International Excellence in Endocrinology Award
The Endocrine Society in Washington, D.C. has named Wits Professor Roy Shires as the recipient of the 2020 International Excellence in Endocrinology Award.
![[...] Ellipses Special Issue](/media/wits-university/news-and-events/images/news/2021-jan-april/[...] Ellipses Special Issue_600x300px "[...] Ellipses Special Issue")
‘Johannesburg Lasts’, a special issue of Ellipses Journal for Creative Research
Online and interactive creative research from the Wits School of Arts and Arts Research Africa.
South Africa is ripe for electoral reform
The existing electoral system has attracted extensive criticism for rendering elected representatives unaccountable to those who elected them.
Nile innovations offers lessons in engineering sustainable futures
Nile communities carefully monitored and recorded the river’s flow. Centuries later these records are still being used by water resource managers.
Wits tests the waters at Wakkerstroom
Wits scientists provide free testing of water quality in honour of International Water Day in Wakkerstroom.
Extreme temperatures in South Africa
Pasha 101: Two researchers unpack these events.
Statement from the Wits Council - 19 March 2021
Statement from the Council of Wits University on the funding of higher education in South Africa.
Removing the technology fear factor from digital transformation
Digital transformation: Technology shouldn’t be a source of fear, but rather an ally and key business tool.
Update from the Senior Executive Team - 17 March 2021
Update to staff and students.
Music lecturers launch collaborative album
New albums by Wits lecturers explore immersive technological music ecologies.
South African Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine study a global game-changer
Findings of the SA study in the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine trial have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
Update from the Senior Executive Team - 14 March 2021
SET and SRC meets.
Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trial results in SA and UK confirm high levels of efficacy
Results of the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trial in SA and UK have confirmed high levels of efficacy against the original and variant Covid-19.
Wits' response to the national higher education financial crisis
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi unpacks the issues and details Wits’ support for students.
WATCH: VC’s media conference on higher education financial crisis
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, held a media conference on Thursday, 11 March 2021.
Wits statement on the passing of a civilian in Braamfontein today
Statement from the Senior Executive Team:
Tshimologong announces the 5th edition of Digital Lab Africa
Digital content creators called to participate in fully online DLA#5.
Whale and dolphin brains are special, but for heat production, not for intelligence
Scientific evidence shows specialised features in the large brains of whales and dolphins that are adapted for heat production.
A library changed my life, and books can still change our world
Why libraries still matter and how township gangs teased me about reading.
New study reveals the secrets of an ancient, extinct super predator
Some 260 million to 265 million years ago, a huge creature called Anteosaurus roamed what is today the African continent.
Over 25 000 students logged in online on Monday
Message to students from the Senior Executive Team:
Wits and Biovac partner to develop skills to produce viral vectored vaccines in South Africa
The Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit via Wits Enterprise has partnered with Biovac to develop the skills capacity to produce viral vectored vaccines in SA.
Child malnutrition - women's health must be prioritised
Malnutrition during the first 1000 days of life can cast a long shadow over a person's life.
Wits academic year begins on Monday, 8 March 2021
35 000 students are registered for the 2021 academic year.
Not using AstraZeneca vaccine goes against the spirit of what the Health Department espoused
Every additional day of procrastination lends itself to much of the R75m used to procure the vaccine going to waste.
Covid-19 recoveries: Our stories of hope
Wits staff members share their Covid-19 experiences and quest to survive.
Prehistoric killing machine exposed
Previously thought of as heavy, slow and sluggish, the 260-million-year-old predator, Anteosaurus, was a ferocious hunter-killer.
Why South Africa needs a new water agency
The agency will ensure that large water users continue to fund the construction and operation of the large water systems they depend on.
Traditional healers in SA are exposed to infection, but few can get protective gear
An average healer in the rural South African town where the study was done experiences about 1,500 occupational blood exposures in their lifetime.
Local government is broken: but giving the job to residents carries risks
South Africa needs a way to incorporate active citizens within the prevailing constitutional and legal structures, so as to strengthen all levels of government.
New technology allows scientists first glimpse of intricate details of Little Foot’s life
High resolution X-ray imaging of Little Foot's skull and dentition shows Little Foot suffered periods of dietary stress and illness when she was a child.
South Africans are revolting against inept local government. Why it matters
There has been growing discontent with many local authorities and calls by concerned citizens for the municipalities to be dissolved.
Targeted spraying to prevent malaria in low transmission setting halves cost of current practice
A study by Wits scientists and partners has proved that a targeted malaria transmission prevention intervention is not inferior to the 'blanket' approach.
New Earth Sciences Cluster
This new Cluster will further encourage world class research through collaboration, coordination and communications.
Reasons to be optimistic about sub-Saharan higher education after Covid-19
Tertiary education often carries societal benefits that far outweigh the initial investments necessary to establish a strong and productive system.
National Research Foundation A-rates four Wits scientists again
The NRF has re-awarded A-ratings to four Wits scientists, a grading which confirms that they are recognised as leading international scholars in their fields.
South African Child Gauge tackles the slow violence of malnutrition
The DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development at Wits helped develop the 15th issue of the South African Child Gauge®.
‘Our moonshot moment’
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, shares three core areas that Wits will maintain as the University transitions into its next century.
Why the special Covid-19 grant extension is not enough
The Covid-19 pandemic has worsened unemployment and poverty, showing the need for the government to permanently expand income support to working-age adults.
What African countries can expect from Biden
President Joe Biden delivered his first public statement on US foreign policy last week. Africa was not mentioned.
The South African government should buy locally made vehicles for state use
Policy changes that forced government departments to buy locally produced vehicles would be good for the economy.
Why dissecting stories about garbage in popular culture matter
From oil disasters in Mauritius to street artists in South Africa, the story of rubbish in the media helps shape popular culture and environmental change.
Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trial results
The Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics (VIDA) Research Unit, which runs the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trial in South Africa, has announced results.
Maths whizzes tackle industry problems
Top researchers and postgraduates convene virtually for the 2021 Mathematics in Industry Study Group (MISG).
Oxford Covid-19 vaccine shows sustained protection of 76% during 3-month interval until second dose
Researchers at the University of Oxford have today published in Preprints with The Lancet an analysis of further data from the ongoing trials of the vaccine.
Results from Novavax vaccine trials in the UK and South Africa differ: why, and does it matter?
The Novavax vaccine is the first that provides objective scientific evidence that it can protect people against the variant virus circulating in South Africa.
Is Zimbabwe open for business?
The more President Mnangagwa's government fails to engage democratically with its citizens, the more it will negate any prospect of re-engagement with the West.
Covid-19 Update 64: Return to campus plans
All University entities are required to be fully operational as from 1 February 2021.
Covid 19 Update 64 - Return to campus
Update on the return to campus of staff members.
Khumalo used her voice to change lives
Wits University extends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Sibongile Khumalo, a music legend and an icon of South African music.
Novavax Covid-19 vaccine the first to demonstrate clinical efficacy against South African variant
Clinical efficacy demonstrated in Phase 2b South Africa trial.
Geophysicists develop innovative seismic technologies
Wits geophysicists have invented cost-effective and environmentally friendly seismic technologies that will contribute to sustainable mining exploration.
Wits joins York Univeristy in Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence Data Modelling consortium
Consortium will research predictive modelling and forecasting of the transmission of COVID-19 in Africa, using Artificial Intelligence.
It’s man with machines vs. man without machines
Mining giant commits 16.5 million in investment for education and to aid research and innovation.
Curios.ty 11 (#Viral): Covid-19 - An opportunity for a global reset
The pandemic demands a relook of how we connect with each other and the world.
Mining giant commits a further R16.5 million towards education and research
Wits University has received a donation of R16.5 million from mining giant Sibanye-Stillwater to support the development of scarce skills and research in mining
Wits moves to a modern, stable learning management system
CANVAS, a modern, stable Learning Management System (LMS).
SA can take on vaccine nationalism of rich countries
South Africa has the legal tools to challenge the vaccine nationalism of rich countries.
Entrepreneurs can help bring about change by putting people ahead of profits
With the rise of non-humancentric business models, empathy-induced altruism can boost wellbeing of employees.
How Covid-19 enabled a reset in the world
Editorial: The Covid-19 pandemic has gone viral and has severely impacted on how we interact, conduct our business, teach and learn.
How national identity affects infection outcome
Could a country’s collective psychology determine the outcomes of a pandemic? A global cohort of researchers believes so.
CTRL-ALT-DELETE: Re-setting the post-pandemic South Africa
The Covid-19 lockdown has had a massive impact on South Africa’s economy, exposing profound weaknesses such as the country’s huge inequality.
How vaccines save lives
The story of how vaccines save lives is important to tell – now more than ever.
Second wave severity: What semi-saved South Africa?
South Africa has surprised itself and the world with fewer Covid-19 deaths despite a significantly higher infection rate as predicted.
The long haul to partial recovery
So-called Covid long-haulers afflicted with 'Long Covid' are showing how long and frustrating the journey to recovery can be.
Making sense of the numbers
Modelling pandemics might be an imperfect science, but it is the best that we have.
Pandemic history foretells a dismal future
If history has taught the world anything, it’s to ignore the warning signs and carry on catching diseases.
When the US sneezes...
Different nations’ responses to the pandemic should serve as a warning to exercise extreme caution in choosing leaders.
Virus wages war on women
Almost everyone has suffered in some way from the effects of the Covid pandemic – but women have suffered far more.
Understanding the infodemic
Covid-19 misinformation, mythology, and fake news has implications for public health.
Valour and the virus
Throughout her career, Professor Glenda Gray has focussed on one thing only – saving lives.
Teaching in a Covid global village
It takes a village to raise a child but the global village is shrinking.
A fleeting green moment in time
Scientists predict that an Age of Pandemics is imminent unless human beings change their ways.
The blame game: Putting a pandemic on the pangolin
Is blaming a threatened species for a global pandemic not an indictment of our environmental conscience?
What we caught online
We need new rules of engagement on social media – even if we don’t know it yet.
Privacy and the dollars in you data
The balance between sharing personal data online and how it’s used and by whom is difficult to define and complex to regulate.
Infection online
Online attacks and phishing surged during Covid-19. Is there a permanent solution to cybercrime?
TikTok/WeChat: US and them
Banning popular apps like TikTok and WeChat is about more than a spat between the US and China.
Big data: A sword to wield or a knife in the back?
Competition policy will determine if big data is a tool for inclusion or exclusion.
Keeping an eye on the virus from the sky
Profile: When Covid-19 hit, 21-year-old Wits engineering student, Xolani Radebe, knew that he wanted to be part of the solution.
Beating the pandemic through innovative thinking
Three Wits postgraduate students demonstrate how their research and innovative ideas contribute to addressing a pandemic.
Finding security in the unseen
Messages carried in structured light can secure quantum communications in the future.
Dimming the lights on malaria
The fight against the disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people in Africa each year could be as simple as changing a light bulb.
Along came a virus…
Column: Professor Lynn Morris reflects on a lifetime of virus hunting, from HIV, through Ebola, to SARS-COV-2.
In the company of criminals
Column: Using the Covid-19 National State of Disaster to try to govern booze and cigarettes, is the wrong approach.
The making of a hospital
How the Wayside Inn became the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
Covid-19 Update 63: Infection summary
Update on the latest Covid-19 testing and infection of staff and students.
Calling the (behavioural) shots over vaccines
It will take 67% of the population to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity; here is how those still reluctant can be persuaded to join in.
Vaccine nationalism and migration
Implications for the (mis)management of Covid-19 in South Africa.
Covid-19 policy briefs must be realistic: a review by young southern African scientists
African leaders can make strategies to fight COVID-19 more accessible to the people.
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A wealth tax for South Africa
New paper shares details on how to implement a wealth tax in South Africa.
Update 62: Our collective responsibility
Update on the latest Covid-19 testing and infection of staff and students.
Welcome message from our new VC, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi
Professor Vilakazi assumed office on 1 January 2021 and looks forward to stewarding the University in his capacity as the Vice-Chancellor and Principal:
South Africa failed to get its act together on vaccines
Critics of the South African government argue that it has done too little too late to secure vaccines, and that it doesn't have a proper roll-out plan in place.
SA's vaccine strategy mistakes
Pasha 91: Blunders that left South Africa trailing in the vaccine stakes
Huge gap between SA's 4IR strategy and what commission recommends
Huge gap between SA's 4IR strategy and what commission recommends
Wits scientists artificially infect mosquitoes with human malaria to advance treatment
Wits scientists and local and global partners have artificially infected mosquitoes with human malaria and identified a new chemical compound to treat malaria.
Why the state’s new toys won’t help South Africa’s response to Covid-19
Drones, dinghies and an army helicopter - the new toys are diverting resources, and diverting attention.
Towards herd immunity from Covid-19: Costing a vaccine strategy for South Africa
This article examines and estimates the financial implications of a vaccine strategy with a goal of achieving herd immunity.
Mining's year ahead will demand deep innovation
Mining's immediate future is to be impacted not just by economic cycles or established trends, but by structural issues demanding urgent and deep innovation.
Building Africa's AI initiative
Considerations behind the largest and most complex undertaking of its kind in Africa’s history.
How sub-Saharan Africa can rethink its approach to agriculture
Governments should explore technologies like global positioning systems and blockchain for use in the registration of land rights.
Vaccines for South Africa. Now
It is distressing to hear senior officials increasingly talking down the prospects for the availability and usefulness of Covid-19 vaccines in South Africa.
Update 61: Adjusted level 3 implications
Implications of adjusted Level 3 regulations for staff and students.
Higher education reconsidered
Beyond the pandemic and possibilities for new knowledge architectures.
All you should know about where we are with Covid-19 vaccines
What are the urgent steps that South Africans need to take to prepare for a timeous life-saving roll out of vaccines?
AI helps to identify new Covid-19 hotspots in Gauteng
Gauteng Government, IBM Research and Wits University are fighting the pandemic with artificial intelligence.
Annual SoAP exhibition goes online
For the first time, the Wits School of Architecture and Planning (SoAP) held its End of Year School Show online.
Species across the globe at risk
Changes in fire activity are threatening more than 4 400 species globally.
Covid-19 Update 60: Infection Summary
Update on the latest Covid-19 testing and infection of staff and students.
Health Sciences graduation ceremonies go virtual
Wits University has taken all graduation ceremonies online, following the President’s announcement on Monday night.
Witsies receive 2020 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award
The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Programme has recognised two female Wits scientists for their groundbreaking research.
Farewell Professor Adam Habib
Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Adam Habib, will leave Wits University at the end of December 2020.
2020 Graduations: Wits honours national heroes, lauds graduates
Almost 10 000 students graduate from Wits in 2020.
South Africa’s electricity supply: what’s tripping the switch
The longer government dithers over how Eskom's debt will be paid, the bigger the problem becomes.
Pioneering research and innovation through the Nairobi Alliance
An innovative research partnership with the potential to transform lives and support communities across the world has launched today.
Plans for learning and teaching in 2021
In 2021 many forms of support will be available to help staff and students transition from Emergency Remote Teaching and Learning (ERT&L) to online pedagogy.
Covid-19 Update 59: Infection Summary
Update on the latest Covid-19 testing and infection of staff and students.
First peer-reviewed results of phase 3 human trials of Oxford Covid-19 vaccine demonstrate efficacy
For the first time, Covid-19 vaccine phase 3 human trial results have been peer-reviewed and published in a scientific journal.
-members,-Linah-Sesheba,-Dr-Zena-Richards,-Daniel-Chosi-and-Arthee-Roopnarain_600x300.jpg "SETMU, winners of the 2020 VC’s Academic Citizenship Team Award: Linah Sesheba, Dr Zena Richards, Daniel Chosi and Arthee Roopnarain")
Wits’ shining stars celebrated
Professor Adam Habib, Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal conferred awards to exceptional staff members at the University.
Huge money boost for Planetary and Space Science Project
Wits plays key role in securing funding to develop Planetary and Space Science projects in Africa.
PhD student receives major international grant at CERN
Humphry Tlou, a physics PhD student at Wits, is one of two students to be awarded with the CERN ATLAS PhD grant.
Fake news and misinformation kill
How can you trust what you are told about Covid-19?
Wits mourns the passing of Professor Belinda Bozzoli
The University of the Witwatersrand has learnt with sadness of the passing of Professor Belinda Bozzoli, an illustrious academic and strategic leader.
Covid-19 Update 58: Advice from Scientists Collective
Update on the latest Covid-19 testing and infection of staff and students.
Wits recognised by international body for leadership in nuclear science
Wits University has been endorsed by the prestigious International Nuclear Management Academy for its Nuclear Technology Leadership Programme.
Earthquakes in South Africa
Pasha 78: Listen to Professor Ray Durrheim talk about the risk of earthquakes.
Wits develops AI project with York University to tackle COVID-19 in Africa
The International Development and Research Centre (IDRC) grants $1.25 Million to the project.
The hunt for an HIV vaccine
Unique insights from an inspiring cohort of women in South Africa.
Why it’s important to keep diagnosing and treating HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic
To focus purely on combating one pandemic, the effects of other morbidity and mortality on healthcare systems will be seen for a long time to come.
Managing HIV and diabetes together: South African patients tell their stories
Care for patients with more than one disease is fragmented and uncoordinated. This is can cost patients time, effort and lost wages.
Decolonising Evaluation - a new MOOC
Wits University has added a new course to its free, online WitsX/edX learning platform.
Why reading is crucial for economic growth
Reading is a stepladder out of poverty, not only for individuals, but also for entire countries.
Covid-19 Update 57: Infection summary
Update on the latest Covid-19 testing and infection of staff and students.
Daytime sightings of aardvarks show troubled times in the Kalahari
Aardvarks are nocturnal animals but climate change is altering that and it's a problem.
Critical support for waste reclaimers during pandemic
The donation of personal protective equipment and a truck will ensure the safety of waste reclaimers.
Witsies head to national entrepreneurship intervarsity finals
Three students will represent Wits at the national entrepreneurship intervarsity competition.
Student tech start-up seizes market gap
Four Witsies are on a mission to promote locally produced branded merchandise.
Wits University physicist wins top South African physics award
The Gold Medal from the South African Institute of Physics is the greatest distinction that is conferred in South Africa for achievements in Physics.
Study unveils complexity and vast diversity of Africa’s genetic variation
It is essential to add genomic data from all global populations - including Africa. This will ensure that everyone can benefit from the advances in health.
Wits University statement on Oxford Covid-19 vaccine results in UK and Brazil populations
Scientists at Wits University are encouraged by results announced today by colleagues at the University of Oxford in collaboration with AstraZeneca.
Meet KuduBot
KuduBot is Wits University’s chatbot set to enhance student services by providing quick and convenient support to student enquiries.
Have your say about life in Gauteng
One of the most significant social surveys in Gauteng is now underway.
Maths geniuses battle it out in competition
Five hundred Maths stars from across the country participated in the 2020 Wits Maths Competition.
SA’s main opposition party caught in an unenviable political bind
The problem for the DA is not one of policy. There is real substance in its commitment to substituting racial criteria for overcoming historical disadvantage.
How real BEE can help ordinary folk
BEE has only benefited a handful of politically connected black political capitalists, a select group of white-owned big business, financiers and law firms.
The postgraduate blueprint for a future that works
Register for postgraduate study at Wits University and be part of the future of exciting possibilities.
Witsie receives grant to develop early-career research managers
Research manager, Caryn McNamara, one of more than 50 international grantees to help develop research management professionals.
Century-old theory disproved
Scientists disprove the theory about animals’ ear canals and posture.
Auditor-general Kimi Makwetu: an exceptional and true civil servant
Makwetu embodied the values of integrity, selflessness, humility and hard work. He steadfastly believed in the South African constitution.
Bizos had Matla a Tlou: The strength of an elephant
Remembering Advocate George Bizos.
Important breakthrough in HIV prevention
Our findings suggest that cabotegravir is much more effective than Truvada in preventing HIV infection in women.
Diabetes: we need more and better trained nurses
Healthcare providers and governments must recognise the need to invest in diabetes nurse education and training.
Eight ways to get people to be more active
Being physically active is largely not an individual choice, but a result of what funds, spaces, places and opportunities that are available.
Understanding violent protest in SA
There are individual activists and political groupings who believe violent action is legitimate and use the circumstances to actively drive such behaviour.
Covid-19: Update 56 - Infection summary
Update on the latest Covid-19 testing and infection of staff and students.
Witsies cement their ideas to minimise construction waste
Two engineering students used their final year projects to study the possibilities of using rubble clay-brick masonry as part of the sand in fresh concrete.
HIV study shows new injection is more effective than current daily HIV pill to prevent HIV in women
Early unblinding of the of long-acting cabotegravir (CAB LA) is a milestone for prevention of HIV among women in sub Saharan Africa.
Exploring practical ways to proactively address gender based harm at Wits
A conversation with student leaders, activists, academics, researchers and Wits officials proposes proactive and practical ways to tackle gender-based harm.
Real-time data is critical for detecting outbreaks
South Africa is testing digital technology to detect outbreaks of respiratory diseases.
School maths: where do we go wrong
What maths researchers learnt from the mistakes made by pupils in ‘top’ South African schools.
Moribund Council on Higher Education is immobilising academic agility
Quality assurance entities are immobilising the system and hindering the ability of more students to access online education.
Gauteng Community of Practice for Research Ethics and Integrity launched
Wits is amongst the universities in Gauteng to establish this voluntary body, a platform to address common problems in the research ethics and integrity sphere.
Wits-French partnerships strengthened
Commitments focus on innovation and the creative engagement with new technologies.
Africa’s first 5G Innovation Lab
Wits, Huawei and rain jointly launch Africa's first 5G laboratory at the Wits Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct.
Biomimicry control for Covid diagnostics
Wits researchers develop solution to improve accuracy and safety of Covid-19 testing.
South Africa’s waning economic fortunes demand harsh policy adjustments: who will bear the brunt?
Resolution of the fiscal crisis depends on faster economic growth which must be led by private investment.
Major new African genome study finds varieties that inform African history, migration and immunity
Wits geneticists and partners publish groundbreaking study that informs African population history, environmental adaptation, and susceptibility to disease.
GCRF START grant fulfilling a vision
Exciting new research at Wits made possible through the GCRF START grant.
Human trafficking and the danger of sensationalising belief over fact
We must resist the convenience of labelling every social ill as “trafficking” and radically reducing the militarisation and securitisation of national borders.
African gaming takes centre stage at Fak’ugesi Festival
Highly anticipated and specially curated Fak’ugesi Arcade programme unveiled.
Wits researcher receives $150 000 Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer grant
Wits conservation scientist, Dr Bernard Coetzee received the prestigious Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer grant for his work on light pollution.
EIE Virtual Open Day 2020
The School of Electrical and Information Engineering (EIE) recently held its Open Day online for the first time.
Anticipating a 'second wave'
Covid-19: When and how South Africa should try to prevent or mitigate it.
What South Africans must do to avoid a resurgence of COVID-19 infections
It is key to continue high-impact non-pharmaceutical interventions that will not impede economic activity, but limit the spread of COVID-19.
Covid-19 pandemic drives need for policy brief on physical activity for health in Africa
More than ever, the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to prioritise physical activity as an imperative for public health in Africa.
Fak’ugesi Festival 2020 unveils exciting Heritage & Technology Programme
The 2020 Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival will run for one month from 20 October to 20 November 2020.
New threats to media freedom come from unexpected directions
Journalists need to hold firmly to the ethical standards that assure audiences their work is reliable and credible.
Young Nigerians rise up to demand a different kind of freedom
For young Nigerian protesters, ENDSARS is as much an expression of a will to modernity as it is a yearning to be treated with dignity.
New global health research to reduce the impacts of Covid-19 across low- and middle-income countries
Wits Health Consortium divisions - PRICELESS-SA, Agincourt and Ezintsha - secure grant in association with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
, Zakhele Ndala (School of Chemistry) and Leigh Crymble (Wits Business School)_600x300.jpg "Wits PhD Winners: Tamlyn Naidu (Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering), Zakhele Ndala (School of Chemistry) and Leigh Crymble (Wits Business School)")
Wits PhD Seminar Winners
Finalists at Wits’ first cross-faculty PhD Seminar kept judges and audiences on the edge.
Chinese businesses donate personal protective equipment to Wits students
Members of the Chinese community in South Africa open their hearts to Wits students to protect them from Covid-19.
Climate research is critical in Africa: how to make it more visible
The threats of climate change to plants, animals and people in Africa mean that the continent is an excellent place for biometeorological research.
South African community wins right to access mining application. But who will win the war?
Clashes between mining companies and communities are often about the age-old question of whether mining can benefit the many or only a selected few.
Changes in South Africa’s rainfall seasons could affect farming and water resources
Trends across the different rainfall zones can be linked to changes recorded for large-scale climate systems.
Capping executive pay is the key to stop money-guzzling SOEs from ruining SA
Excessive remuneration at failing state-owned entities provides no incentive to become accountable.
Anxiety in Johannesburg: new views on a global south city
Johannesburg is not the most anxious or dangerous city in the world but a valuable site for thinking about how anxiety structures our lives.
Explainer: what’s behind the locust swarms damaging crops in southern Africa
Locust outbreaks are driven by unusual climatic conditions.
Playtime in Soweto: what mothers said about activity for toddlers
The women in our study knew that play was important, although they didn't see it as an independent behaviour to be encouraged or promoted.
Trial to test if measles, mumps, rubella vaccine protects healthcare workers against Covid-19
The measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine may strengthen immune response to viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19.
Wits secures R150 million endowment for the missing middle
The University secures R150 million endowment for deserving students, one of the largest donations ever made for the benefit of the University.
Book takes Sterkfontein fossils to the world
Paleoanthropologists have published a book on the fossils excavated from Sterkfontein Caves for the benefit of the global scientific community.
Dietary migration of Kruger's Impala rivals the geographical migration of the Serengeti wildebeest
Research shows seasonal dietary changes increase the abundances of savanna herbivore species.
Investigative journalists sharpen their tools
Africa’s biggest gathering of muckrakers returns.
Diamonds are a quantum scientist’s best friend
The discovery of triplet spin superconductivity in diamonds has the potential to revolutionise the high-tech industry.
Covid-19 Update 48 - Return to campus under lockdown level 1
Covid-19 policies and protocols pertaining to lockdown level 1.
Ezintsha study provides new data on current ART regimens with concerns about weight gain
The SA ADVANCE study of the potency and safety of SA's commonly used antiretroviral treatment regimens has published new safety data, especially on weight gain.
Depression and mental health issues skyrocket
Our results show that the prevalence of depressive symptoms seems to have doubled between 2017 and June 2020 (Covid-19 era).
The she-cession
Wave 2 of the Nids-Cram survey shows how women have fared with the gradual reopening of SA’s economy as the lockdown levels are eased.
How social distancing during a pandemic affects the elderly in rural South Africa
Socialising is essential for brain health in the elderly in rural South Africa – has lockdown affected their cognitive function?
Wits Professor of public health in rural South Africa wins international alumni award
Wits Professor Kathleen Kahn has received the 2020 Alumni Award of Merit from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
10 years of broadcasting for VOW FM
Voice of Wits FM marks 10 years of great radio and growth.
How social security could make life better in SA after COVID-19
Emergency relief measures were operational for six months and are due to end soon. But the impacts of COVID-19 will be felt long after.
Wits Professor wins top chemistry prize
Professor Charles de Koning is awarded the South African Chemistry Institute’s (SACI) gold medal and gets inducted as a Fellow of SACI.
Transforming African health systems to embrace diversity
Westernised health systems are dominant in Africa, a situation that calls for transformation to embrace more diverse forms of healing.
Wits researcher writes book on the evolutionary origins of life and death
Durand uses cell death as a lens through which to examine the interconnectedness of life and death.
PhD competition a showcase of vibrant scholarship
Wits’ first cross-faculty PhD competition promises to be a festival of invigorating and innovative ideas.
Fak’ugesi Festival 2020: #POWERTOTHEPIXEL
A virtual feast of Africa’s best creative digital workshops, talks, pitches and digital art exhibitions.
Covid 19 Update 47 - Preparing to return to campus under Lockdown Level 1
The Senior Executive Team (SET) met this week and agreed in principle to the coordinated return of more students and staff to our campuses from 5 October 2020.
Land reform is central to SA's quest for social justice
South Africa’s land reform policies need to embrace social, economic and ecological sustainability.
Journalism makes blunders but still feeds democracy: an insider’s view
Media self-criticism is not just important to improve journalism, it is a political, professional and moral imperative.
Municipalities have to clean up their acts. If they don’t, post-Covid SA will explode
Local governments must gather the political will to fight corruption, inefficiency as finances dwindle, but they’ll need help.
Southern Africa is anxious about post-Brexit trade talks
Here’s why South Africa and its neighbours are anxious about EU and UK post-Brexit trade talks.
Wits PhD students take leadership roles at the European laboratory CERN
The two students have also been awarded highly competitive fellowships for their outstanding work.
Wits scientist on global commission that cautions against using gene-edited embryos for pregnancy
Wits Professor of Human Genetics Michèle Ramsay has contributed to the international report on Heritable Human Genome Editing released in the UK on 3 September.
Social work paper finalist in Global Undergraduate Awards
When Bilqees Mahomed decided to study the factors that hinder the treatment of mental health, she didn’t anticipate that it would have a ripple effect.
New MOOC: Root Canal Preparation
Wits University has added a new course to its free, online WitsX/edX learning platform.
White elephant schools reveal lack of progress
School that cannot be occupied by learners and teachers, and stand out as white elephants in the communities in which they have been built.
We can prevent procurement fraud by deploying 4IR technologies
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the fore just how endemic corruption has become.
Covid-19 Update 46 - Level 1 is here
We welcome the news that South Africa will move to national lockdown level 1 from Monday, 21 September 2020.
Work from home reserved for the privileged few in SA
Digital divides ensure that only 11% of households have access to the internet.
Student project goes to Dutch Design Week
The work of Joshil Naran, a masters in Architecture student, has been selected to showcase at a global festival for creatives and innovators.
A keen eye on facts saved this biodiverse wetland for now: threats to be aware of
Court victory by an NGO against municipality has laid bare the red tape and misgovernance that often burdens the process of issuing water licenses.
America’s inflection point: four key things Africa must watch for
Many political issues in the 2020 US election are domestic. But black resistance to white supremacy has long had global repercussions.
Wits University resumes vaccinating in the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trial
Wits University has resumed vaccinating in the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trial currently also underway in the UK, Brazil and the U.S.
Covid-19 policy: Public engagement is crucial
A balancing act between scientific data and health and broader socioeconomic implications is needed when policymakers prioritise interventions and measures.
Why halting the COVID-19 vaccine trial is part of the process
The experience of the Oxford vaccine and the measures put into place are not unusual. Many phase one and phase two clinical trials have holding rules.
A new app helps COVID-19 frontline workers with mental health
Pasha 80: Fighting the coronavirus can put severe strain on a person’s mental health.
A hero has fallen - rest in peace Advocate George Bizos
Rest in peace Advocate Bizos, knowing that you have left a lasting legacy in gifting freedom to our people.
SRC nominations off on a good start
The call for candidates to run for the SRC General Election has yielded positive results with nearly 58 nominations submitted to the Wits Electoral Office.
Wits University pauses Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trial as part of standard regulatory procedure
Wits University will pause the Covid-19 vaccine trial it is running with the University of Oxford following a medical event in a volunteer in the UK.
The claim that SA’s economy has declined by 51% is a misrepresentation of the facts
South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product has not halved as reported by several publications and commentators over the past 24 hours.
Solid, altruistic global leadership is the only way to face future crises and win
Covid-19 has taught us that investing in health security research, preparedness and responsiveness, nationally, regionally and globally, is critical.
Why Africa needs to be involved in the development of Covid-19 vaccines
Understanding the epidemiology of Covid-19 and moving forward would be critical to determining policy on the need to adopt interventions.
Covid-19 Symposium: Meeting the challenge
Symposium to focus on key challenges in dealing with a delayed but explosive unfolding of Covid-19 in parts of Africa.
Where have all the flowers gone? A final climate crisis warning
South Africa’s climate science is not an allegory, but an echo of the final warning to all of us about a worsening climate-driven future.
The truth has been captured by corrupt, opportunistic SA leaders
Many public figures increasingly, not only outrightly lie on public platforms, but dress up lies as if these are truths.
Malfunctioning SOEs urgently need citizen shareholder activists
Ordinary citizens, consumers and civil society must play more active roles as shareholders of state-owned enterprises.
Grass on ash: uncovering 200,000 year old beds from South Africa
Before 200,000 years ago, close to the origin of our species, people used ash as layers for broad-leaved grasses to build their beds.
Lessons on cemetery design from Johannesburg
Municipalities are forced to identify new cemetery planning models that are environmentally sensitive and consistent with diverse cultural practises.
Covid-19 Update 45: Policies and Protocols - All you need to know
All staff and students are reminded of the approved Wits Covid-19 policy, Emergency Response Plan and other associated protocols.
Eminent Wits epidemiologist elected to African Academy of Sciences
Professor Shane Norris has been elected as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) for his work on the developmental origins of health and disease.
GCRO map shows more women get Covid-19 in Gauteng
More women (56%) than men are testing positive for COVID-19 in Gauteng.
African research support: here’s one programme that’s working
Less than 1% of the world’s research is produced in Africa, and we urgently need to build stronger health research capacity.
Curios.ty 10, #Mood, explores mental health now and in the next decade
By 2030, mental health will be the single largest global challenge we will face (World Health Organization).
How are you really doing? #MOOD
Life as we know it has changed due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) which has irrevocably altered the way we live, work, behave, think and feel.
A moment in time
Wits postgraduate students in Medical Anthropology share the effects of living under lockdown amidst the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Is South Africa driving us mad?
We live in a state of constant high alert in South Africa. The effect on us is profound but an environment like this also builds resilience.
Putting a number on mental health costs
Mental health costs should be counted in people, not rands and cents.
Mental gymnastics
What’s the best thing you can do for your brain today? Move!
Save you sanity with sleep
Lack of sleep can wreak havoc on your physical health and mental wellbeing – and may have implications for people living with HIV.
The comfort of the Arts
The arts evoke emotion. How do we harness them for wellbeing?
Rock on!
Music is thought to be one of the ways that our ancient ancestors expressed their emotions – and may well have led to early languages.
Can tech save our sanity?
Promising technological and online innovations could be crucial in combating the world’s alarming mental health statistics.
Teaming-up at home
Our dependence on technology brought on by Covid-19 makes cognitive and emotional demands that, unaddressed, threaten our mental wellbeing.
Over ruled – How the head trumps the heart
Our brain is a complex organ – it keeps us breathing, helps us pull our hands from a fire, and keeps our emotions, fears and dreams in check.
The Crocodile Rock
Pay close attention the next time you play a Bach concerto to your pet crocodile. If you look closely, you might just see him tapping his toes to the rhythm.
Traditional answers to mind-body-spirit questions
Indigenous knowledge is critical in helping people cope with mental health issues that western medicine may not address.
How your tribe affects your vibe
We are influenced by those with whom we most closely associate, in terms of our ideologies, political positions and prejudices. Covid-19 exposed who we are.
Madness, she wrote
The feminisation of madness is persistent and pervasive as are forms of Othering across societies.
Feelings about fathers
The role of the father in the family or, more specifically, his absence, has profound implications for the mental wellbeing of his offspring.
Balancing two worlds
PROFILE: Few things evoke frustration like the feeling that you’re not being heard. Dr Nomfundo Moroe lends an ear and empathy to the Deaf community.
Whiter workplace wellness?
Mental health is set to become a global crisis by 2030. Creating a caring, nurturing culture in your workplace can save employers and employees a lot of stress.
Our ageing brains: Concentrating on dementia
Strong social networks can go a long way to assist people living with forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's.
Understanding suicide
Suicide risk may start in the womb and studies also connect it to factors including smoking, social media and social inequality.
Concentrating on ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a long phrase to describe a short attention span. In students, ADHD can severely impact academic performance.
The right to die
Q&A: Professor of Philosophy, Kevin Behrens explains why euthanasia is not simply a matter of life and death.
Building a better understanding of disability
People with disabilities, be they physical or mental, are often treated differently, which may affect their mental wellness. How to remove the social barriers.
Facing feelings that fuel power relations
Critical Diversity Studies scholar, Adanma Yisa, explains why automated emotional responses shield us from confronting criticism can undermine reconciliation.
Lockdown blues
COLUMN: Every lockdown has a silver lining, Schalk Mouton discovers as he roller-coasters through the emotional demands of living in isolation.
History has no end
Former student leader and now Professor of Law, Firoz Cachalia, reflects on the mood before Nelson Mandela was released from prison 30 years ago.
Education sector joins forces to strengthen Teaching Practicals during COVID-19 and beyond
All thanks to a nation-wide project, current and future cohorts of student teachers will be better equipped when they step into the classroom.
Post-Covid Africa will have to save itself. It is a terrifying task
African countries, with their lack of quality leaders, weak states and little fiscal reserves face economic, political and social disorder.
Covid-19 and climate emergency: A painful irony
The coronavirus is a moment to be humble and realise our finitude in a wondrous and infinite natural order.
Child trafficking and child migration
A new discussion is needed to separate myths from reality.
How inequality is produced and reproduced generationally
The story of a working man who lived through apartheid – and his struggles after it ended.
Covid-19 Update 44 – The Move to Level Two
Level two will allow more staff and students to return to campus. Faculties will invite carefully selected cohorts of students to return.
South Africa’s second COVID-19 vaccine trial explained
Pasha 78: Listen to Professor Shabir Madhi, explaining how the new vaccine trial will work
What archaeology tells us about the music and sounds made by Africa’s ancestors
Music has been part and parcel of humanity for a long time. There is scant evidence of music or sound producing artefacts from southern Africa.
Wits Associate Professor joins South African Young Academy of Science
Jennifer Fitchett, an Associate Professor of Physical Geography at Wits has been selected as a member of the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS).
Sibanye-Stillwater and Wits collaborate on face shields project
Sibanye-Stillwater collaborates with Wits to produce face shields for frontline health workers in the Group’s South African operations.
Shudufhadzho Musida: A Miss SA public favourite
Wits student, Shudufhadzo Musida is amongst many hopefuls vying for the 2020 Miss SA crown.
Catching killers, empowering women
Wits Journalism lecturer Dr Nechama Brodie turned her PhD on femicide into a book and won a grant to develop a Homicide Media Tracker based on her research.
How lockdown has affected the health of South Africa's poor
Poor populations bore a disproportionately higher burden of poor health.
-600x300.png "Wits Agincourt nurse Olivia Khosa tests a child in rural Bushbuckridge for COVID for the PHIRST study")
Study on SARS-CoV-2 transmission by asymptomatic people in rural and urban SA
How many people in one household contract SARS-CoV-2, transmit it without having symptoms, and how does this virus interact with other pathogens in the home?
Appoint a war Cabinet now to tackle Covid-19 crises
SA should fire the current Cabinet and set up a national “emergency” one with the best talents in the country prevent it from plunging down the cliff.
Covid 19: Scientific excellence will help explore new frontiers
When university resources are scarce, building and sustaining equitable research excellence should be paramount.
Covid-19 Update 42 - The phased return of students and staff to campuses
Wits’ protocols remain in place, and only students and staff with the requisite permits and permissions will be allowed entry to campuses.
Wits ranked first in Africa
Wits is top of the class in the 2020 Academic Ranking of World Universities.
Wits University begins its second Covid-19 vaccine trial in South Africa
Wits is the lead institution in South Africa for a second Covid-19 vaccine trial and will begin screening participants for the NVX-CoV2373 trial today.
200 000 years ago, humans preferred to kip cozy
Humans prepared beds to sleep on right at the dawn of our species – over 200 000 years ago.
Post Covid-19: What would universities look like?
Three South African vice-chancellors paint a post-COVID picture for universities.
Now is the time to lay a firmer school maths foundation
Covid-19's lockdown leads maths scores particularly being badly affected but a return to core concepts could be the answer to a pre-pandemic problem.
Repression in Zimbabwe exposes South Africa’s weakness
The time is long past that Pretoria's admonitions of bad behaviour by Zimbabwe's leaders are backed by a credible threat of sanction and punishment.
Pandemic underscores burden women carry doing paid and unpaid reproductive labour
Women’s extended working days have become normalised, despite the adverse effects on their progression within the labour market and general well-being.
South African policy isn’t connecting child nutrition and sanitation
There is no clear delineation of roles and responsibilities relating to the integration of clean water, sanitation, safe hygiene and nutritional status.
Wits African Literature lecturer and poet awarded fellowship to advance racial equity
Dr Danai Mupotsa is one of 20 leading change-makers selected by the Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity (AFRE).
Accounting, governance and integrated thinking
Special Report by the Wits School of Accounting on how companies should manage the Covid-19 pandemic.
Engineering student’s book wins award
Wits student, Musawenkosi Nyati has published an award-winning book, Mobile App Development.
Covid-19 Expert Advice #3: Testing for Covid-19? All you need to know about antibody tests
The third in a series of expert advisories on how to respond to Covid-19 which will be published from time to time by Maverick Citizen.
Covid-19 Expert Advice #2: Practical guidance on disinfecting
This is the second of a series of Expert Advisories on how to respond to Covid-19 which will be published from time to time by Maverick Citizen.
Covid-19 Expert Advice #1: How long should I isolate or quarantine for?
This is the first of a series of expert advisories on how to respond to Covid-19 which will be published from time to time by Maverick Citizen.
Inspiring the next generation of African scientists – Sikhumbuzo Masina’s story
"If there is inspiration and collaboration, there is learning, and learning can be passed on," says Sikhumbuzo Masina, PhD candidate.
Investigating energy materials for efficient and cost effective conversion of sunlight into electric
Alternative energy at increased efficiency with lower cost and improved environmental footprints has a domino effect on socio-economic landscape.
Sustainable solutions to the energy challenge
“Our vision one day is to see such fuel cells commercialised and distributed around Africa and the rest of the world," says Sikhumbuzo Masina, PhD candidate.
Wits students dominate global supercomputing competition
Despite Covid-19, Wits students won second place with their applications to aide analysis of Covid-19 data in the competition held online for the first time.
Male mosquito odours reveal how mozzies mate
For the first time, scientists have identified male mosquito-specific pheromones that influence mating rituals.
Fast tracking the critical task of building South Africa’s digital economy
South Africa lags behind the rest of the world when it comes to embracing the digital economy.
Plans for a dam across the Nile triggered a war in 1956: will it happen again?
Egypt has long defended its right, under colonial era agreements, to stop nine of the upstream countries from using Nile water.
Wits experts to speak at international symposium on climate and environmental factors in COVID-19
Symposium coincides with the publication of their article on environmental drivers and the potential seasonality of COVID-19.
Studying from home
It’s a mixture of feelings as students face the impact of Covid-19 on their studies, exams, research and careers.
Hat-trick of wins for Witsies at Science Oscars
Three Witsies in human genetics, economic geology, and public health research data respectively have won National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) awards.
Sharing a secret … the quantum way
Wits Researchers demonstrate a new quantum approach for sharing a secret amongst many parties, setting a new record for the highest dimensions and parties.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination of pregnant women could prevent pneumonia in babies
Immunising pregnant women with a potential vaccine against RSV could prevent the most common cause of pneumonia in their babies.
What drove Asia’s economic success stories, and what should Africa emulate?
The remarkable economic transformation of Asia in recent decades has attracted global attention.
Actuarial Science student bags Adrian Gore Fellowship
Jimmy Yuan, an Actuarial Science student, is the recipient of the 2020 Adrian Gore Fellowship Award (AGF) offered by Discovery.
South Africans aren’t wearing masks or keeping their distance. This needs to change
Changing social norms in a short amount of time is difficult, and a one-size-fits all policy is unlikely to have the desired effect.
Maurice Radebe appointed as the Head of the Wits Business School
The University of the Witwatersrand is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Maurice Radebe as the new Head and Director of the Wits Business School (WBS).
Africa’s research capacity is growing. That’s good news for pandemic response efforts
Investments are starting to help grow the African continent's science preparedness.
Why one of three African candidates fits the bill as the new head of the WTO
Africa accounts for nearly 27% of the World Trade Organisation's membership and 35% of members from developing countries, but an African has never run it.
Covid-19: Women are bearing more costs and receiving fewer benefits
Even though women have suffered two thirds of the job losses since February, men have received two thirds of Covid-19 grants (65%).
Kenya’s internet balloons could help to bridge the digital divide
Kenya's new internet balloons could help to get more Kenyans online and drive new industry.
On decolonising teaching practices, not just the syllabus
An African literature lecturer shares how embodied teaching can help students feel that their lives and stories matter.
Journalism of Drum’s heyday remains cause for celebration – 70 years later
The magazine grew to be the largest circulation publication for black readers in South Africa, and expanded to include East and West African editions.
Independence is at the heart of the African Development Bank’s ability to be effective
There is concern over the growing influence of non-regional players in decision making at the regional bank.
Antarctica more widely impacted by humans than previously thought
Data from 2.7 million human activity records show just how extensive human use of Antarctica has been over the last 200 years.
Wits Surgery Skills Centre trains specialists for Africa
In August 2017 the first ever temporal bone surgical skills workshop took place at Wits University.
Opposition parties struggle with how to play a Covid-19 role
South Africa’s opposition parties appear to be confused, chasing shadows or paralysed by the enormity of the Covid-19 crisis.
How to protect yourself against increased cyber threats
With the onset of the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic, working and studying remotely have increased the risk of cybercrime.
Gauteng universities consortium launch urban research nodes to inform response to Covid-19 hotspots
The South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN) has launched two new urban research nodes to improve response to Covid-19.
Wits University senior clinicians volunteer for Covid-19 vaccine trial
Senior clinicians in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University have volunteered to participate in South Africa’s first Covid-19 vaccine trial.
Covid-19 Update (36): It's in our hands
Witsies, please take care, adhere to social distancing and follow Covid-19 protocols.
Professor Segal and Dr Kani lauded for outstanding service
Wits University has awarded honorary doctorates to two distinguished South Africans for advancing humankind through their respective fields.
COVID-19 vaccine trial in South Africa: everything you need to know
Not enough clinical research is being done in Africa. This has repercussions for when interventions become available and effective in high income countries.
Technology brings change but labour can shape its direction
Increased capital investment and productivity need not result in job losses. Industrial policy can link investment incentives to job preservation and creation.
SA faces devastating multiple social impact
Government urgently needs an integrated Covid-19 response to deal with mental illness, violence and crime.
Daytime aardvark sightings are a sign of troubled times
Wits researchers find that aardvarks feeding in the daytime during droughts might be starving.
New MOOC: Mining for development - The taxation linkage
Free, online WitsX/edX learning platform offers "Mining for Development - the taxation linkage" course.
Covid-19 Update 34 – Phase 2: The return of students to campus
Students who are scheduled to return as part of phase 2, will return in mid-July.
Covid-19 update (35): Second phase of reopening
Phased return of more academic, professional and support staff and students to campuses.
Wits Jazz lecturer premieres album at virtual National Arts Festival
Dr Jonathan Crossley launches 433 Eros with his band, Deep Spacer, at the 2020 virtual National Arts Festival (vNAF).
Lockdowns and freedoms
SA had to have a hard lockdown because we don’t trust our government. Little since has made us change our minds.
More money for COVID-19 but SA lacks a spending strategy
South Africa's public health system has been allocated R21.5 billion more to fight the Covid-19 pandemic but there's no strategy to guide how it should be used.
Wits students showcase South African electronics research at top international workshop
ACES 2020 ATLAS CMS Electronics is the state-of-the-art international electronics conference for Large Hadron Collider LHC upgrades at CERN.
Ideological responses, traditional economic theory won't lift SA out out of Covid-19 slump
South Africa will have to prioritise new business, employment and growth based on the current and new domestic and global needs unleashed by Covid-19.
Distance, Dose, Dispersion: Experts’ guide on Covid-19 risks in South Africa and how to manage them
Understand the three things that can make the most difference to easing the lockdown and reopening South Africa with the least risk.
SA's budget for COVID-19 fails to pave way for more equal society
The budget is one of the key tools that government has to effect meaningful change.
Top nuclear physicist to lead Wits
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi appointed as the Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal from 1 January 2021
The first Covid-19 vaccine trial in South Africa begins
The first participants in South Africa's first clinical trial for a vaccine against Covid-19 will be vaccinated this week.
SA needs to block transmission routes to get Covid-19 under control
Testing and tracing has not been at a level needed to suppress the spread and must now focus on containing opportunities for super-spreading and transmissions.
Covid-19: The full economic impact will only be known later
South Africa needs to focus urgently on how COVID-19 will reshape its labour market.
African countries need to seize opportunities created by US-China tensions
African policymakers should safeguard their right to choose from the widest possible range of technologies that suit their countries’ development needs.
Decade-long study shows why South Africa needs to stop stereotyping young black men
Young black men are often viewed through a criminal lens. An 11-year-long study of adolescent men in a South African township upends the stereotypes.
Society is not ready to safely reopen schools and education centres
Government is steaming ahead with the reopening of schools. This is an overly hasty, ill-considered step for a number of reasons.
So you think investing in fever screening can curb the spread of COVID-19? Think again
Detecting fever requires measuring core body temperature. Screening measures the body's surface temperature.
Does alcohol have an undisclosed African heritage?
Until now the search for early evidence of alcohol has fixated on residue analysis.
Learning from South Africa: reconstructing rainfall seasonality in Australia
Examining old vegetation sediments to learn about shifting weather patterns and climate change.
South Africa needs a new governance model post-Covid-19
South Africa’s governance model, the way the country is run, is broken.
Covid-19 update (33) - Secure gateway enables teaching and learning
Students and staff members who have not already done so, must complete the student survey or staff survey before 8pm on Thursday, 11 June 2020.
Pure ethos, the ultimate sacrifice and the pursuit of justice
It’s been 30 years since Nelson Mandela walked out of prison towards democracy but justice still eludes the late Neil Aggett.
Climate change, biodiversity loss and other global ills share root causes
By identifying the roots of global ills there's an opportunity for coordinated action as countries lay new pathways for a post-Covid world.
PhD student’s study on the state of magma in crustal reservoirs published in Nature Communications
The study challenges a recently-emerged paradigm that magma chambers are huge masses of crystals with just a very small amount of melt.
Exploring the Indian Ocean as a rich archive of history
The Indian Ocean provides a new way of looking at world history that has been dominated by European accounts.
What sets good and bad leaders apart in the coronavirus era
It is no accident that those leaders who have responded worst to this crisis have been the main sources of countless conspiracy theories and misinformation.
It’s time to talk about coronavirus symptoms
Pasha 66 - The Conversation Africa's podcast series focus on questions arising from the symptoms of people who have contracted the coronavirus.
Witsies selected to attend Economics Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
Two Wits Master’s students from the School of Economics and Finance will attend the prestigious Lindau meeting.
Covid-19 (Update 32) - Wits Screening APP goes live
Self-screening form on the app is for staff members with permits to be on campus, and students who have been invited to return to campus only.
Challenge accepted: bringing a science paper to life through video
Professor Lee Berger accepts a challenge in science communications to turn a science paper into an interesting video lecture.
Wits thanks SA Post Office for delivering laptops to students
SA Post Office enables online learning through the delivery of almost 5 000 laptops to Wits students across the country.
Dedicated dozen nominated for science oscars
Twelve Wits scientists across disciplines have been nominated for NSTF-South 32 Research Awards, known as the 'Science Oscars', and eight are finalists.
South Africa must get ready for an inevitable loosening of trade ties with the US
South Africa should use its remaining AGOA window to find other export markets and retool its economy - as US economic attitude towards Africa hardens.
The false ideas surrounding the coronavirus
Pasha 66 - The Conversation Africa's podcast series focus on "Coronavirus conspiracy theories and myths".
Sub-Saharan Africa needs to plug local knowledge gap to up its anti-COVID-19 game
Africa needs to be better prepared to deal with future pandemics; starting with a re-assessment of how countries invest in – and support – local research.
Lesotho’s new leader faces enormous hurdles ensuring peace and political stability
Moeketsi Majoro’s installation as Prime Minister is welcome. But it does not guarantee much needed political stability in an era of complex coalition politics.
We tracked Soweto mothers-to-be to find out more about diet and obesity patterns
Two thirds of South African women are overweight or obese and their babies are three times more likely to become obese themselves.
Almost 16-million people allowed back to work
New level 3 regulations mark an important strategic shift in the government’s approach to the coronavirus pandemic.
Stop random Covid-19 testing and sort out the backlog
The testing backlog and proposed testing strategies outside hospital settings are threatening patient management and compromising health care workers’ safety.
The world is flat: Covid-19 becomes the driving force for 4IR
The most profound change is the accelerated of way in which digital transformation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution have moved at warp speed.
Covid-19 Update (31) - The phased return of students and staff to campuses
Information regarding the staggered approach adopted for a phased return to ensure wellbeing and safety of students and staff.
Long-term Data Access for 2020 - Wits partners with Vodacom
New initiative provides students with data to access selected URLs through the Wits network.
How to discover your own fossil site
Discovering a fossil site takes a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck. Professor Lee Berger describes the clues that led him to the discovery of Malapa.
The long arm and short legs wars
Professor Lee Berger explores the origins of the this great debate and examines the arguments of the terrestrialists and the arborealists.
Wits students’ research on cover of leading world optics journal
Wits Master’s students create best practice guide for efficient and accurate use of DMDs in structured light laboratories.
Dubious remedies will not decolonise Africa
So-called African solutions that are often uncritically accepted as ‘good’ do nothing for the continent
Covid-19 Update (30) - Wits Prepares for the return of some students
Final year students and other identified groups of students expected to return to campus from 8 June 2020.
Support for Professor Glenda Gray
Statement of Support for Professor Glenda Gray and the Principle of Academic Freedom of Speech.
Juggling work and family during lockdown
Three staff members from the Faculty of Science share their experiences of lockdown.
Dr Dalia Saad awarded prestigious FLAIR fellowship
School of Chemistry researcher, Dr Dalia Saad, is a recipient of the 2020 FLAIR research fellowship.
Economic policy remains hotly contested in South Africa: this detailed history shows why
Book sheds new light on the evolution of the economic policy of the African National Congress, South Africa's governing party.
The impact of Gladysvale
Gladysvale is known for its impact on the dating of cave sites in Africa and has produced some of the most spectacular faunal remains of extinct animals.
Covid-19 Update (29) - Students to receive an additional 15GB of data for next 15 days
The four telecommunications companies agree to extend the provision of data to students for another 15 days.
GeneXpert testing platform for TB repurposed to accelerate testing for Covid-19
Efforts to test for Covid-19 in SA have been boosted through repurposing the Cepheid GeneXpert® Systems, originally designed to test for tuberculosis (TB).
A Question of Numbers
Does the fossil sample for Australopithecus africanus only represent one species. Professor Lee Berger takes on this sticky question.
JCSE Listening Circle Series
Join South Africa’s Grand Geek’ and leading digital experts as they explore Africa’s Digital Future.
Africa Day in the time of Covid-19
Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Adam Habib is part of a panel discussion commemorating Africa Month.
A new, fairer economy is possible, but that would mean sacrifice
That Covid-19, the lockdown and whatever will come after will have had a lasting and devastating impact on our economy seems indisputable.
Why arguments against quantitative easing hold no water
The Reserve Bank should be allowed to buy more government bonds and securities to support the liquidity of the banking system.
What a bone arrowhead from South Africa reveals about ancient human cognition
The artefact closely resembles thousands of bone arrowheads used by the indigenous San hunter-gatherers from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
Why more must be done to fight bogus COVID-19 cure claims
Authorities around the world can do more to ensure that correct information and messages on the pandemic reach everybody.
The arrival of British settlers 200 years ago continues to cast a shadow over South Africa
It is not hard to see the roots of 20th century apartheid policies in the legacy of the British settlers.
South Africa’s COVID-19 strategy needs updating: here’s why and how
South Africa should base its COVID-19 mitigation strategy on the premise that the pandemic will last for two years unless a vaccine is developed before then.
What South Africa needs to forge a resilient social compact for Covid-19
Ramaphosa's call for a new social compact will fall on deaf ears unless there are some fundamental changes to the way in which the pandemic is being managed.
A matter of time
Professor Lee Berger explores the use of the absolute age of fossils in questions of phylogeny, and where the age of a fossil is important.
Taco Kuiper Award winners announced
Journalists Pieter-Louis Myburgh and Pauli van Wyk took top honours at this year’s Taco Kuiper Investigative Journalism Awards.
When were there giants?
Is there any evidence in the fossil record that giants have lived on Earth in the past? Professor Lee Berger explores this question.
Covid-19 Update (28) - Wellness services for students and staff
A reminder to all students and staff about Wits' mental health and wellbeing services that are available to you during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.
First online admission in Gauteng of new attorney
A member of staff of the Wits Law Clinic is the first attorney in Gauteng to be admitted to the high court online.
The buzz on Wits mosquito scientist and her African Union research award
An entomologist in the Wits Research Institute for Malaria has received the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Award for Scientific Excellence.
Wits Covid-19 Screening Tool
Information pertaining to the screening of staff and students entering University campuses and premises.
The context of fossil hominid discoveries in Africa
Professor Lee Berger explains the context of how original fossils are preserved and explores the context of discoveries.
Choices in a fog of uncertainty: lessons for coronavirus from climate change
The science to policy process that was developed to guide climate mitigation decisions can be applied to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What should South Africa’s coronavirus endgame look like? Here are some options
SA's response to the COVID-19 pandemic was one of 'intervene first and ask questions later'. Now is the time for government say what its strategic endgame is.
Lockdown is riling black and white South Africans: could this be a reset moment?
It is rare for a post-authoritarian society to get two chances to reconcile. This may be just that, for white South Africans in particular.
South Africa’s COVID-19 testing strategy needs urgent fixing: here’s how to do it
Early reports by the National Health Laboratory Service indicated that it had the capacity to do 30,000 tests a day. But capability to do so has not materialise
WITS COVID-19 UPDATE 27 – FINAL YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS RETURN TO CAMPUS
Final year medical students will return to Wits on Monday, 11 May 2020.
Health and safety in the spotlight as South Africa’s miners go back to work
Miners face cramped working conditions, transportation in packed cages, and a high incidence of other respiratory diseases, posing considerable risks.
African countries are moving to make masks mandatory: key questions answered
Wearing masks is being introduced in conjunction with maintaining a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres; following hygiene measures such as hand washing.
The species concept in palaeoanthropology
Professor Lee Berger explains the concept of species in palaeoanthropology.
Moya wins Best Student Film at SAFTAs
A group of Wits Film and TV students scooped the Best Student Film Award for their film, Moya.
The impact of coronavirus could compare to the Great Depression
And a corresponding rise in nationalism and xenophobia may follow, just as it did in the 1930s.
Why South Africa needs to ensure income security beyond the pandemic
Economic distress was the norm for many before the coronavirus outbreak. The pandemic is an opportunity to provide an economically secure future for all.
Wits needs 300 volunteers for COVID-19 rapid test study
Have you tested positive for coronavirus or been near someone who has? If so, your country urgently needs you for a South African COVID-19 rapid test study.
Exploring the Fossil Hominid Vault at the University of the Witwatersrand
Professor Lee Berger shows what is behind the doors of the Phillip V Tobias Fossil Hominid vault.
Let’s talk about ethics and treatment for COVID-19
In this episode of The Conversation - Africa's podcast, Pasha, Wits bioethics researchers discuss the difficult decisions facing health professionals.
Can the philosophy of ubuntu help provide a way to face health crises?
There are lessons for the health sector - the need for more coherent integration is undeniable.
Where there is political will there is a way to work across sectors
COVID-19: There are lessons for the health sector - the need for more coherent integration is undeniable.
An Introduction to the fossils of Sterkfontein
Professor Lee Berger introduces one of the world's longest running and richest fossil hominid sites.
Communities, not government, can and are fighting COVID-19
The heavy-handed, top-down approach during the lockdown has not worked; NGOs, coalitions and community networks have.
Coronavirus: why South Africa needs a wealth tax now
A wealth tax on the top 1% of South Africans could raise R143 billion. This corresponds to 29% of the R500 billion COVID-19 package announced by the government.
Complaints against SANDF
The SANDF and SAPS should not enforce the COVID-19 lockdown at the expense of undermining human rights, personal dignity and common sense.
SA faces food riots and breakouts from the lockdown
Getting food to the vulnerable, needy and poor during the COVID-19 lockdown is now increasingly urgent.
I can’t reach with the screwdriver, please pass the laser!
New metasurface laser opens up a new world of applications using optical control of physical objects.
Wits publishes first clinical data on COVID-19 in South Africa
Health professionals will face difficult ethical decisions when it comes to dealing with COVID-19 patients.
The muddle in the middle-Pleistocene
Professor Lee Berger explains the mystery surrounding human relatives living in Africa during the middle Pleistocene.
Unique Namibian trial finds smart interventions reduce malaria transmission by 75%
Wits scientists along with Namibian, UK and US partners have shown how the smart application of existing interventions can reduce the transmission of malaria.
Unpacking Ramaphosa’s COVID-19 rescue package
A major step forward, but some warning lights are flashing. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s social and economic rescue package leaves some questions unanswered.
Africa must make sure it’s part of the search for a coronavirus vaccine
To refuse inclusion would prevent Africa’s researchers from being significant players in the universal fight against the virus.
Numbers can kill: politicians should handle South Africa's coronavirus data with care
We’d all love to know more about our neighbours – from COVID-19 data, census data and other official data sources – but we shouldn't.
Toward a risk-based strategy for managing the COVID-19 epidemic: A modelling analysis
Given the protracted nature of the risk posed by the COVID-19, this paper seeks to address the need to match health prevention and a viable economy.
Saluting all Witsies combating the COVID-19 pandemic
These Wits heroes represent just a fraction of the clinical, academic, professional and administrative staff, alumni and students responding to this disaster.
Wits COVID-19 dashboard gets grant award from the IEEE
New features added as inter disciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration data on the pandemic grows.
Wits adopts global ethics code to make research more equitable
Wits University has adopted the Global Code of Conduct for Research in Resource-Poor Settings (GCC) to curtail the practice of ethics dumping.
South Africa needs a post-lockdown strategy that emulates South Korea
South Africa cannot afford to embark on a strategy of extended periodic lockdowns. It needs to shift to mass testing and contact tracing.
Coronavirus myths: Lessons from an AIDS study
Attempting to defeat these folk theories with science achieved little; the myth busters of the AIDS epidemic talked past those they were trying to convince.
COVID-19 risks forcing SA to make health trade-offs it can ill afford
South Africa could lose many children due to a measles outbreak which is completely preventable.
South Africa is bent on austerity and should change track
The South African government should be spending more, not less, to boost economic growth and create jobs.
Rise of the Prometheus
In the second episode of Professor Lee Berger’s series of lectures on human origin, he delves into his favourite hominid-bearing site, Makapansgat.
African genetic studies offer hope for preventing a common cause of blindness
Knowing genetic associations in specific populations will make it possible to focus prevention and treatment.
Covid-19: Treatments, but at what cost?
Accessible & affordable medicine: We cannot wait for treatments to be available in high-income countries in order to negotiate prices for the rest of the world.
If you think lockdown is bad, spare a thought for SA’s prisoners
How more restless are those living in prison and confined to a small cell, who are now completely cut off from the outside world and their families?
Debunking 9 popular myths doing the rounds in Africa about the coronavirus
Some of the false claims about coronavirus may be harmless. But others can be potentially dangerous.
[COVID-19 UPDATE 25] Wits VC wishes students well as online learning begins
Video: Professor Adam Habib wishes students well as they begin their online learning journey.
COVID-19 Update 24: Data access: All four major mobile service providers on board
Students will get 30GB of data if registered on MTN, Vodacom, Cell C or Telkom.
COVID-19 Update 24: How to access your data
COVID-19 Update 23: Wits opens online on Monday, 20 April 2020
Wits will commence with emergency remote online teaching and learning from Monday, 20 April 2020.
The case for a citizens’ basic income grant in South Africa
With Covid-19 and the lockdown there is no room for denial of how large parts of South African society suffer.
Process to apply for mobile computing devices
This communique outlines the process through which students who require assistance with a loan device can apply.
Wits switches to remote online teaching and learning from 20 April 2020
Wits institutes an emergency remote teaching and learning programme as one measure to help minimise the time lost in the academic project.
Professor Lee Berger to host online video lectures on human origins
Lectures will feature some of the University’s fossils, including the Taung Child, Homo naledi, Australopithecus sediba and various other fossils.
South Africa needs to end the lockdown: here’s a blueprint for its replacement
Academics call on government to develop a comprehensive health and economic strategy if it is to prevent long term socio-economic damage caused by pandemic.
There is a dire need to boost SA’s stimulus package
Countries such as the US, Germany, India and Brazil have launched help for all sectors of their economies — South Africa needs to follow.
Tackling gender-based violence during lockdown
Women and children face even more alarming levels of abuse due to COVID-19 lockdown.
Dinosaur "Easter eggs" reveal their contents in 3D
High-powered X-rays of the world’s oldest fossilised dinosaur embryos show surprising similarities to the embryos of today’s crocodiles, lizards and chickens.
Wits COVID-19 dashboard goes continental
New features added as inter disciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration data on the pandemic grows.
Wits engineers make face shields to protect healthcare workers
A team of innovative Witsies is using their design and engineering skills to create face shields in aid of the fight against COVID-19.
Wits’ Forbes appointed as editor-in-chief of international journal
Forbes is the first South African to take over the reins of the 100-year-old publication published by the UK’s Institute of Physics.
SA needs to mitigate the worst of its inequalities in tackling COVID1-19
South Africa won't flatten the COVID-19 pandemic curve unless all citizens have the means to stay at home.
Personal versus public freedoms South Africa during COVID-19
In restricting individuals' movements and interactions during any national disaster, the conflict between public interest and personal autonomy will get messy.
Crowdsourcing: Scale of COVID-19 calls for new approaches to research
Crowdsourcing is a promising approach to biomedical research and development (R&D) and could produce solutions to pandemics like this one.
“Test, test, test!” says Wits academic
Best way to tackle COVID-19 remains physical distancing, substantially increased testing and quarantining.
Covid-19 lockdown needs to protect inner-city communities
In South Africa, the collision of HIV, TB and Covid-19 could be devastating, and radical measures are needed to address the spread of Covid-19.
COVID-19 UPDATE 21 – POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS
Message from Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Postgraduate Affairs.
Centre for Deaf studies breaks the silence on COVID-19
The Centre for Deaf Studies (CFDS) at Wits is contributing to society by keeping the Deaf community informed about the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 UPDATE (20) – WELLNESS UPDATE
The University’s wellness support services are here to help staff, students and the Wits community in dealing with the disruption of our normal lives.
COVID19 Testing Station opens at Wits
A new COVID-19 Testing Station at Wits, managed by Gift of the Givers, is open to patients who fit NICD criteria and are referred by a doctor.
Hay’khona Corona! Spreading the word, not the virus
A poster series to action South Africans on how to care of themselves and others.
Wits researchers unravel the mystery of magmatic rocks consisting of random proportions of minerals
Geologists found the answer as to why certain magmatic rocks have varying proportions of minerals than what is expected of their type.
COVID-19 UPDATE (19) – TEACHING AND LEARNING (STUDENTS)
Message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic regarding the resumption of the academic programme.
COVID-19 UPDATE (19) – TEACHING AND LEARNING (STAFF)
Message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic on the resumption of the academic programme.
How to support your children during Covid-19
Strategies for parents to engage with their children at home during Covid-19 lockdown.
Wits School of Molecular and Cell Biology lends a hand with glove donation
The Wits School of Molecular and Cell Biology has donated medical gloves for frontline healthcare workers at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto.
SAs response to COVID-19 worsens the plight of waste reclaimers
The clock is ticking: in the absence of government support, not being able to work means waste reclaimers don't have money to buy food.
'You can do more,' economists tell SA government
50+ economists and others from Wits are part of a group of more than 78 who wrote an open letter urging President Cyril Ramaphosa for more significant action.
What will happen to Africa after the coronavirus?
It would help if everybody comprehend that the world will not be the same after the dust settles on the pandemic.
Would a Longitude Prize speed production of a Covid-19 vaccine?
To stop economic destruction, we need to refocus vast resources from other productive activity – a truly grand prize might do the trick.
How do we save SA?
The virus has wiped billions from stock exchanges globally. Now is the time to re-evaluate and promote domestic private investment.
Wits bids farewell to a prodigious leader
Wits Vice-Principal, Professor Andrew Crouch, to lead one of South Africa’s newest universities.
Bold programmes are needed to mitigate the economic crisis
The Covid-19 crisis is first and foremost a health and humanitarian crisis is likely to have lasting impacts on how we live.
Covid-19, #ClimateEmergency and Lockdown
The coronavirus is an opportunity to end the war with nature.It’s a moment to be humble and realise our finitude in a wondrous and infinite natural order.
Wits Covid-19 Update (18)
The role of essential staff during the national lockdown.
Wits COVID Update 17 (Students): Wits to reopen on 20 April
Prof. Habib speaks on living through the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Senior Executive Team’s (SET) decision to go into early recess and to evacuate residences.
Wits COVID Update 17: Staff Appreciation and Reopening
Prof. Adam Habib addresses staff on living through the COVID19 pandemic and expresses his appreciation to staff for their contribution during this period.
Wits heroes confront COVID-19
Amongst the best in their fields, Wits experts are at the frontlines and behind-the-scenes against COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.
Official government regulations for #21DaysLockdownSA
Government has released the early directives following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address on Monday night.
Wits COVID-19 Update (16): Ways to learn and work from home
Message from the Senior Executive Team of Wits University.
Wits COVID-19 Update (15): Wits prepares to go online
Wits from the Senior Executive Team of Wits University.
Wits researchers launch most comprehensive COVID-19 dashboard in South Africa
The dashboard is aimed at informing government, scientists, the media and general public with quick, easy-to-understand information on the current situation.
Wits researchers launch most comprehensive COVID-19 dashboard in South Africa
The dashboard is aimed at informing government, scientists, the media and general public with quick, easy-to-understand information on the current situation.
Gag the spreaders of disinformation, not the scientists
In times of a health crisis, such as the corona virus pandemic, health scientists should be encouraged to speak out.
Wits COVID-19 Update (14): Most students have left residences
Message from the Wits Senior Executive Team.
Wits PhD student develops novel infection control solution
New self-sanitising surface coating will help to address infection control in hospitals, food processing plants and public transport surfaces.
Foreign migrants must be included in Covid-19 response
Why South Africa needs to actively engage all foreign migrants in its response to Covid-19.
Wits COVID-19 Update 13: Students urged to go home
Message from the Wits Dean of Student Affairs.
Wits COVID-19 Update 13: Working conditions for staff from 20 to 30 March 2020
Message from the Senior Executive Team of Wits University on the working conditions for staff members during the recess.
Newborns in developing countries need better protection from common bacteria
Streptococcus agalactiae, also known as Group B streptococcus, is the most common bacterial cause of illness in newborn babies around the world.
A tiny bone from Little Foot’s skeleton adds fresh insights into what our ancestors could do
Studying Australopithecus, an extinct hominin genus that represents a branch of our family tree, is a great way to make more sense of our bushy family tree.
Court dismisses application to halt residence evacuation
The High Court (Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg) dismissed the urgent application by two students to extend the period for the evacuation of residences.
Who should test for COVID-19
Answers to common questions asked by the Wits community.
"Little Foot" skull reveals how this human ancestor lived
Micro-CT scanning of “Little Foot” skull reveals new aspects of the life of this more than 3-million year-old-human ancestor.
Wits announces early recess
Wits University will be in recess from Tuesday, 17 March 2020, four days earlier than scheduled.
Snakes make good food. Banning farms won’t help the fight against coronavirus
The wildlife trade has long been closely linked to disease outbreaks.
Hypocrisy in the time of Covid-19
The sanctimony of moving from blaming foreign migrants to rendering them invisible in a critical public health moment will have implications for our response.
All contact teaching postponed for Monday, staff to continue with work
Wits announces measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Student tests positive for Covid-19 and Wits reaches out to affected class
Wits University has just been informed that the medical student who has been quarantined since last Wednesday has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19)
Wits acts to manage Covid-19 exposure
Wits acts swiftly to manage student who came in contact with COVID-19 carrier.
Coronavirus: how big, how bad, and what to look out for
Cases of illness from the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease, known as COVID-19, have been confirmed in more than 100 countries.
Africa’s wish list of what might change under a Biden presidency
Africa’s stake in the outcome of the 3 November 2020 US presidential election spiked with the unexpected revival of former Vice-President Joe Biden’s campaign.
Africa’s policies hold key to LGBT rights on the continent: here’s how
Questions of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression have continued to divide opinion across the globe.
Leading African and European unis call for investment in African research
EU budget for Africa-EU Partnership should ring-fence at least €1bn per year for strengthening African research unis, in partnership European unis
Yes, washing our hands really can help curb the spread of coronavirus
Hand washing is a tried and true, scientifically proven preventive strategy that reduces the likelihood of transmitting both viral and bacterial borne diseases.
New study reveals the secret of magmatic rocks consisting of only one mineral
Geologists from Wits have come up with an original explanation of how nature may produce a class of magmatic rocks that are made up of only one type of mineral.
Roadmap to a win-win against invasive weeds
Researchers at Wits University have created the world’s first framework, to better guide the management of terrestrial invasive species.
African languages for sustainable development
A national strategy for mother tongue languages will guide action and address deeply held beliefs about African languages, writes Professor Makalela.
Wits Business School welcomes Mervyn King as Honorary Professor
Mervyn King, Chair of the King Committee on Corporate Governance in South Africa has been appointed honorary professor at Wits Business School.
Language diversity a key feature of the Wits community
Dance softly and carry a big voice: understanding Joseph Shabalala
What is our response to the great artistic and spiritual hole his loss has left in South Africa?
New MOOC: What do Architects and Urban Planners do?
Wits University has added a new course to its free, online WitsX/edX learning platform.
Wits academics play leading role in Future Earth 2020 report
The Future Earth Report is an overview of some of the various risks faced by humanity, where it comes to our sustainable future on the planet.
Wits team and industry closer to final LVPS prototype
Team visits Jemstech to view progress on first SA-made prototype for Tile Calorimeter of the ATLAS Detector at CERN.
Professor Adam Habib to step down from Wits at the end of the year
Habib to join the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, UK, from 1 January 2021.
Behind Kenya's strange weather
It can be attributed to the Indian Ocean Dipole, the difference in sea surface temperatures between the eastern and western tropical Indian Ocean.
SA's rich bag of big, small and eclectic community radio stations
Most of the community radio stations operate on a survivalist level, and should be seen as struggling small, medium and micro enterprises.
Ramaphosa has shown he understands how to put the energy crisis behind us
President Cyril Ramaphosa has used this year’s SONA to signal that he understands what needs to be done in order to overcome South Africa’s electricity crisis.
Cynical South Africans are unlikely to be moved by Ramaphosa’s next big speech
The challenge to deliver a persuasive speech comes firstly in the context of intense doubts as to whether President Ramaphosa is truly in charge of the ANC.
Many countries regulate e-cigarettes. South Africa should too
The number of users is likely to grow and there are health risks, so now is the time to act.
Donating your body to research
Why you should consider donating your body to research once you die. Listen to Pasha 20, The Conversation Africa's podcast on research.
Messages about male circumcision aren’t clear: why this is dangerous
Difficult to understand communication and the somewhat overstated benefits of male circumcision may lead to increased risky sexual behaviour.
Joy as hope is restored to bright student
When classes started on Monday, Triphin Mudzvengi was sitting attentively among the studious first-year engineering students.
First years share their hopes as they start university
Wits’ newest cohorts are looking forward to mingling with one another.
Academic-activist reckons radical love required for equitable healthcare
Shehnaz Munshi in the Centre for Health Policy at Wits believes we need to start grappling with the multi-dimensional nature of inequality in public health.
Exciting chapter for first years
The start of a new year always brings with it new energy and the assurance of a promising future as the University welcomes first year students.
Another NRF rating for Wits School of Mining
The value of research conducted by the School has been further recognised with the award of an NRF rating to a fifth member of staff.
Aspiring academic wins Best Student paper
Curiosity ignited an interest in electrical engineering for aspiring academic, Hlengiwe Mnisi.
Curiosity 9: #ClimateEmergency
2020: The year of extreme weather and how to mitigate the climate change.
Fibre communications on steroids: Wits student breaks the code
A team from Wits (South Africa) and HUST (China) show that multi-dimensional quantum communications with twisted light is possible down legacy fibre networks.
Events in Lesotho point to poor prospects for political stability
Since the demand for resources far outmatches the patronage available, Lesotho’s political arena has become brutally competitive.
The digital economy is becoming ordinary. Best we understand it
The digital economy will, soon, become the ordinary economy as the uptake - and application - of digital technologies in every sector in the world grows.
South Africa risks losing rich insights into an ancient farming society
As early as 1500 the Bokoni people created stone-walled settlements that demonstrate their mastery of farming. But today these sites are under threat.
South Africa’s energy crisis has triggered lots of ideas: why most are wrong
The deluge of opinions and proposed solutions to South Africa's energy crisis reflects corporate and political interests.
Crowd-funding campaign helps Wits students to find large haul of ancient fossils
Group of students find a large haul of fossils on the first day of their dig in Oviston Nature Reserve.
Witsies vie for top spot in battle of minds
Three Wits students are aiming to secure top positions in a national competition for economics students.
Build a capable state, don’t just talk about it
This is an adaptation of a speech given at the BUSA Business Economic Indaba in Sandton on Tuesday 14 January 2020.
How we deduced that our ancestors liked roast vegetables too
The charred remains of root vegetables found at Border Cave help us understand how early humans survived and thrived.
Green Cross needed to halt the climate emergency
EDITORIAL: We do not have a choice. It is incumbent on each of us to tackle the #ClimateEmergency.
Universities cannot be neutral about climate justice any longer
With the world facing a climate emergency, higher education institutions should lead in securing a future for our children.
The burning issue of population control
Many are calling for increased population control but is this a solution to decrease the rate of climate change?
Teens feel the heat of climate change
Climate change not only threatens mental health in South Africa, but also heralds poorer matric pass rates as teens, in particular, inherit the Earth.
Sunny-side up as Wits goes green
Universities breaking new ground in climate research should be models of sustainability themselves.
Finding alternatives to our favourite dirty words
An energy crisis built on an obsession with fossil fuels. Can alternative energy resources save the day for South Africa?
The war on waste pickers
South Africa’s waste pickers are critical to our recycling economy and green future, yet they are marginalised, maligned, and discarded.
Green is the new black
In our bid to save the planet from catastrophe, we have entered “the age of green”.
Clean careers and greener pastures
The green economy could save South Africa in more ways than one – cleaning up the environment will contribute to the economy, too.
Never let a good crisis go to waste
Although we are facing a global climate challenge, there are hidden benefits and opportunities if we respond to this challenge sooner rather than later.
The subtle art of breaking the silence
Underneath the smoke and concrete, artists invite us to respond to changing climates.
The greenbacks in mobile phone mines
Consumer products rule our world. Period. And in our modern lives, electronic equipment is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity.
Hands off our grasslands
Grasslands are vastly biodiverse areas and vital for the sustainability of human wellbeing.
How grass dances with fire
Grasslands have unique strategies that have ensured the enduring survival of southern Africa’s veld.
Changing the leopard’s spots
Chinese people and wildlife poaching: The Africa-China Reporting Project warns of “the danger of a single story”.
The changing nature of accounting
The days are gone where companies must only report on their financial bottom line. Now they should report on their impact on the environment too.
The beauty of a good green deed
PROFILE: An early fascination with the environment sparked an interest in its protection for Miss Earth South Africa 2019.
An evolving understanding of extinction
Palaeoscientists are uniquely placed to interrogate the Earth’s geological records, the origin and development of life, biodiversity change, and extinctions.
Living yoga for the mind
Plants in the office are not there just to look pretty. They can lead to increased productivity, as well as improved mental health for workers.
Climate engineering: saving the world or smoke and mirrors?
Q&A with Professor Bob Scholes on a major project that is about to begin at Wits to look at potential and problems with four climate engineering ideas.
Rock steady, grassy green
COLUMN: Reflections on former Constitutional Court Justice Edwin Cameron’s critical jurisprudence and the environment.
Rise of the African Eco-Warriors
COLUMN: While there is paralysis from above, exciting new forms of movement-building from below in Africa are saying ‘No to climate genocide!’
Dare to care in an ocean of apathy and expenditure
COLUMN: Black Friday blues’ impact on my quest to go green, on my green backs, and the implications for Earth.
Jacarandas then and now
Monitoring the timing of recurring biological events is key to understanding the effects of climate change.
Why this academic got a radio ad banned
Gender stereotyping might be funny, but it's no joke. A public health professor explains why she took action against everyday sexism heard in a radio advert.
South Africa has huge ‘green fuels’ potential but it needs to act now
Opportunity for South Africa to transition from being a key contributor to global warming to becoming a key contributor to global emissions reductions.
Art as a weapon in South Africa’s liberation struggle
A retrospective exhibition displays the key works from the life and times of activist and artist Judy Seidman.
Ancient southern African rock engravings finally find a fitting home
The Origin Centre has added a new wing that's perfect for a visit, the Rock Engraving Archive.
Being darker makes being a migrant much harder
Research in India and South Africa shows life is considerably harder if migrants have a darker skin and come from a poorer country.
What’s needed to fix collapsing coalitions in South Africa’s cities
Successful coalition governance ultimately depends on political maturity and the ability to govern across divisions.
Romario Ferrao – scoring on and off the field
Third-year Electrical Engineering student, Romario Ferrao is drawing attention on and off the field.
Registration for new and returning students
All successful applicants and returning students can register online from home.
Early modern humans cooked starchy food in South Africa 170 000 years ago
The discovery also points to food being shared and the use of wooden digging sticks to extract the plants from the ground
Students explore Africa by Bus
It was a week of discovery for a group of students who travelled from Johannesburg to Namibia for a cross-cultural experience.
Debate around the contentious Copyright Amendment Bill
Deep polarisation still marks a bill that is heading into its fifth year in various draft iterations and awaiting to be signed into an act by the president.
Women trust health professionals more than law enforcement agencies
Wits University has conferred an honorary doctorate in literature on Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women.
I pick their brains, I pick their pockets
Business leader and philanthropist, Dr Wendy Appelbaum spoke to Witsies about how to make an impact.
Be global citizens with a democratic ethos
Harvard Professor Lawrence Bobo implores graduands to be inspiring leaders that strive for a more just, fair and promising world.
Wits Gold Medallist shares lessons on ladders of learning
Wits awarded a Gold Medal to John Teeger, President of the Board of Wits Fund Inc., an independent fundraising entity representing Wits in the USA.
What’s needed to fix collapsing coalitions in South Africa’s cities
Three South African cities run by opposition party coalitions for the past three years have been facing tough times.
How a Wits degree helped avert an HIV catastrophe
Wits awarded an honorary degree to Stavros Nicolaou of Aspen for his role in enabling access to antiretrovirals for HIV during the height of the pandemic.
Soweto study informs global network on technique to discover why children die
A Wits-led pilot study in Soweto has shown that minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) can accurately determine cause of stillbirth in South African women.
Mlambo-Ngcuka, Appelbaum, Pharma and Wits champ to be honoured
Wits will recognise distinguished South Africans by awarding its prized Gold Medal and three honorary doctorates during its final graduations for 2019.
Frank review of South African foreign policy over 25 years
The country's national interest and human rights remain the two topics bedevilling South Africa's foreign policy.
The complex story of ‘medical xenophobia’ in South Africa
The experiences of non-nationals in the public health care system are more complex and varied than implied by the dominant discourse on "medical xenophobia".
Prof. Andrew Crouch appointed as the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Sol Plaatje University
Message from the Chairperson of Council, Mr Isaac Shongwe.
No means no: Zero tolerance for gender-based harm
The Wits community speaks out on gender-based harm.
The social management of HIV: African migrants in South Africa
HIV is a condition that must be managed, not just medically, but also socially, tackling stigma, social anxieties and the risks of disclosure.
South Africa needs to get more young people with HIV on treatment
There's an urgent need for interventions to increase uptake of antiretroviral therapy and improve services for adolescents.
Wits leads Quantum Computing National Working Group
“Investment in quantum technologies in South Africa is crucial if we want to leverage the next level of discovery research,” says Professor Zeblon Vilakazi.
Wits light research among 2019’s best in optics in the world
‘Fractal light from lasers’ research by Wits physicists named among the most influential in optics and photonics in 2019.
Engineering pivotal moves
Top marks are due for a bionic hand engineered by Wits University postgraduates, who have made mobility more accessible to the 1 million amputees in SA.
Wits innovation set to light up lives
PeCo Power, a new spin-off company, is a home-grown electrical off-grid solution that will radically change lives and impact local communities.
A lasting legacy for Wits History
An essay by the late Professor Bruce Murray, posthumously published by colleagues, celebrates Wits History Department’s centenary.
Wits mourns the passing of Sir Donald Gordon
Statement from Wits University on the passing of Sir Donald Gordon.