‘Eco’-student entrepreneurs triumph at ‘Innovathon’
Dynamic student teams wowed judges, presenting innovative solutions to pressing social and environmental issues.
SA’s economy needs a shot in the arm, not austerity
Austerity means choosing not to invest in citizens, contrary to the country's constitution. Here are key areas where more public spending would get results.
Parents’ Day an extension of support during critical moments
Wits welcomed parents and prospective students to its first-ever Parents Day, offering insights into the institution's diverse programmes.
Donating blood, organs or bone marrow stem cells is active citizenship
It shows care, responsibility and looking out for fellow citizens in need. It is also a unique way of sharing compassion across race, colour and class.
Gauteng Grade 9s receive career guidance at Wits
High school learners guided by career experts at Wits to help them reach their career aspirations.
Baobabs: Africa’s unique trees defy climate challenges
Baobabs have been a food, fibre and medicine source in Africa for centuries. They continue to flourish.
The passing of Dr Kgomotso Kasonkola
It is with great sadness that the University announces the passing of Dr Kgomotso William Kasonkola, the Senior Director of Human Resources at Wits University.
Clinician-scientist in surgery receives doctoral fellowship at SA Women in Science Awards
Dr Gabriella Hyman awarded the prestigious Dr Esther Mahlangu Doctoral Fellowship for her clinician-scientist role and research in SA public health sector.
AI in Africa: It’s a matter of MIND
As the world races ahead with AI advancements, concerns are mounting that Africa could be left behind. Enter the Wits MIND Institute.
New electricity law brings reform
Good news for competition in South Africa's electricity market but big hurdles must be overcome before success is achieved.
Africa’s ‘youthquake’: No jobs, the wrong skills and little hope
With growing populations and major youth unemployment in Africa, more must be done to create jobs and help young people develop the right skills.
Eastern Cape meteorite find revealed
The spectacular entry of a meteorite into Earth’s atmosphere has unleashed a chain of events that would not be out of place in a Hollywood movie script.
Climate change: how capitalism and colonialism fit in
Amitav Ghosh has used his storytelling prowess to outline the historical and political roots of climate change within systems of power and oppression.
SA youth benefit from Wits AngloGold Ashanti Legacy Scholarship Endowment
The scholarship project will benefit about 200 eligible students over the next five to seven years - the first selected 68 will begin their studies in 2024.
Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture Returns to Wits University
Wits University will host the 22nd Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture to be delivered by Abdulrazak Gurnah on September 28th at the Wits Linder Auditorium.
How does a disease spread from animals to humans?
The behaviour of modern humankind has played a large part in the advent of new communicable diseases.
Back pain in the Workplace
More than 1 in 4 working adults experience lower back pain which is growing work-related health problem.
New wing in Bara burns unit takes flight
R100 million expansion to Wits Roy McAlpine Burns Unit at Baragwanath Hospital officially opens to serve Soweto, SA and Africa.
“Space junk” that fell in Eastern Cape was a car-size meteorite
Meteorites are rare and hold deep scientific value as they give us a glimpse of the make-up and birth of our solar system.
LINK and ITU partner to boost digital skills in Africa
The parties aim to fast-track digital skills development for policymakers and ICT professionals.
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A physicist and a musician explore the wonders of the Universe live on stage
Alumni Luca Pontiggia & Yasheen Modi present HIDDEN GIANTS, a talk about black holes, the unseeable giants in our Universe, accompanied by live original music.
New Director of Energy Leadership for WBS
Dr David Phaho will take the helm of the Wits Business School African Energy Leadership Centre (AELC) from 1 September 2024.
Anomalies in Particle Physics are key to new discoveries
Deviations in the way that particles interact point to the existence of new bosons.
Scientists explore how to use mosquitoes' gut bacteria to fight malaria
In a sense, a malaria-transmitting mosquito is a sick mosquito. This is where bacteria can help.
Some solitary mammals have surprisingly social lives
Many of the endangered mammal species are solitary. Understanding this way of life may help to protect them.
WIC leadership role changes announced
These reflect the Wits Innovation Centre's agility and responsiveness in continuing to grow the University’s innovation ecosystem.
Wits Flower Hall listed as World's best innovative building, up for award in 2024
In a significant move towards sustainability, the Flower Hall introduced new services designed to support energy-efficient use of the facility.
New bursary aims to inspire new generations of literary talent
Applications are now open for the Achmat Dangor Literary Prize 2024 for young writers across genres who are completing or have completed their Honours degree.
Affordable new AI device to monitor air pollution hotspots in real-time
A team of particle physicists have rolled out the first inexpensive South African air quality monitoring system using AI to predict areas of high pollution.
The Wits Innovation Foundation for Democracy opens its doors for business
The Foundation looks to reshape discussions about democracy in Africa.
Four urgent reasons to tackle inequality in South Africa
Inequality is bad for politics, the economy, society and climate change, and South Africa has a huge gap between rich and poor.
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Wits PhD students in Faculty of Humanities receive 2024 Ivan Karp Doctoral Research Awards
Wits PhD students Sasha Rai (L) and Phindile Tabata receive the 2024 Ivan Karp Doctoral Research Awards.
Exploring the next frontiers in social impact
The 5th African Philanthropy Conference was held against the spectacular backdrop of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and was the biggest gathering yet.
Womxn in dialogue
Students and womxn leaders from various disciplines reflect as the country celebrates Women’s Day.
African expert in precision medicine wins international award
Distinguished Research Professor Collen Masimirembwa in the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience to receive award for research in pharmacogenomics.
Colloquium explores ethical dilemmas arising from the use of AI and Big Data in research
Philosophical, legal, moral, teaching and other angles unpacked at Wits SARIMA Carnegie 4th annual Global Ethics Day online event on 6 August.
Bacteria and plants could help clean up toxic waste from gold mines
Acid mine drainage, toxic water spilling from mines, ruins the environment and affects people’s health. Plants and bacteria could help clean it up.
Memoir of a decade in African genomics research
A book commemorating 10 years of the AWI-Gen project shares stories of those who researched how genetics, environment, and lifestyle affect health in Africa.
Dinosaurs help us understand the natural world today
Wits palaeontologists visit SAHETI School to provide a fossil learning opportunity for children through a mini dinosaur show.
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£2 million grant to research reducing AIDS-related deaths caused by bacterial and fungal infections
Professor Nelesh Govender was awarded one of 7 prestigious 5-year UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Global Research Professorships.
Gauteng learners impress at WitsIE with solutions to Joburg gas explosion
Forty teams of learners from schools across Gauteng participated in part two of the Wits Integrated Experience (WitsIE) Short Course.
African archaeology has neglected Namibia’s deserts
Scientists now know when an ancient lake supported human life in the Namib Sand Sea.
140 “missing middle” accounting students funded through donation by anonymous donor
The donation was made in honour of Professor Margo Steele, the first female head of school of the Wits School of Accountancy.
ANC’s political dominance will continue - and hurt DA
The ANC leads the unity government. If it leads South Africa back to happier times, that is most likely to benefit the ANC, rather than the DA.
8th World Conference on Research Integrity awards South African Community of Practice
SARIMA Community of Practice for Research Ethics and Integrity wins Anderson-Kleinert Diversity Award at 8th World Conference on Research Integrity (WCRI).
Professional Development – get ready for 2025
Prioritise acquiring more skills instead of amassing formal qualifications, staff advised during a webinar by the Human Resource Development Unit.
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The vanishing lake
Fossil algae show a lake once existed on Lesotho’s Mafadi summit but it vanished about 150 years ago.
A rising star in SA Higher Education Research named a finalist in 2024 HERS-SA Awards
Fezile Wagner, who leads Wits' Analytics and Institutional Research Unit, is a finalist in the non-profit Higher Education Resource Services-SA (HER-SA) Awards.
GNU must act in widest possible interest
Too often, a ruling party assumes — wrongly — that what’s good for it must also be good for the nation.
Wildfires in South Africa are set to increase
How legal action can help the country adapt better to climate change and it's deadly impact.
TB: gene editing could add new power to vaccine
The only vaccination against TB is more than 100 years old. Gene-editing has made it more effective.
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Wits University and Netflix Collaborate to Support the Next Generations of Filmmakers
Netflix supports Wits University’s Film and TV students with a grant to upgrade their Digital infrastructure.
The HIV epidemic 40 years on
The 25th International AIDS Conference is currently happening in Germany. Here are five essential reads on breakthroughs, blind spots and new challenges.
Lessons from the inquest judgment of the Life Esidimeni tragedy
Holding two public officials responsible for the Life Esidimeni tragedy is a legal milestone. It also highlights the consequences of putting costs over care.
Take control of your financial health
Tips to manage debt and financial anxiety. According to the National Credit Regulator, 40.5% of credit active individuals have an impaired credit record.
Lesotho's Lost Lake sheds light on past and future water security
Scientists uncover fascinating evidence of an ancient mountain lake that flourished thousands of years ago.
How old are South African fossils like the Taung Child?
Using a method applied directly to ancient hominin teeth, researchers have calculated the age of several important fossils.
BePRECISE consortium unveils guidelines to enhance reporting in precision medicine research
The inaugural reporting guidelines for precision medicine research, of which Professor Michèle Ramsay is co-author, have been published in Nature Medicine.
SA needs a game-changer to fix joblessness crisis
The country needs fresh thinking to shift the economy onto a more employment-intensive growth path.
Student leadership programme propels community building dream
Maths student and volunteer shares his experiences in the Civic Leadership Programme, aimed at developing ethically aware and motivated leaders.
Part 2: It’s time to get vocational education right
TVET colleges must be strengthened to provide niche, high-quality training to counter the reality of their students’ weak, prior educational achievements.
Part 1: Getting SA's skills needs right
The clumsy rules for employers to get training money back actually encourages them to give poor data.
From knowledge to impact: Bridging the academic-entrepreneurship divide
Aspiring African innovators and entrepreneurs converge at Wits to learn skills to transform ideas into market-ready solutions.
Transformation: Carnegie Diversifying the Academy welcomes 2024 recipients
Eight PhD students and postdocs were inducted into the programme run by the Wits Transformation and Employment Equity Office (TEEO).
Postgrads learn how to become ‘academic entrepreneurs’
To grow their entrepreneurial spirit and skills, 70 postgraduate students attended the Pan-African Entrepreneurship Week during the winter break.
Peco Power empowers rural community with Rent-to-Own Electricity
The pioneering technology from Wits is transforming energy access with its new impact-driven Champion Franchise Model.
Research rock stars dazzle at 'Science Oscars'
Wits researchers won in six out of 15 categories at the prestigious NSTF-South 32 Research Awards.
The psychological games cybercriminals play
Catching online scammers: Our model combines data and behavioural science.
Not your average mathematician
Inspirational leader, Professor Loyiso Nongxa honoured for his exemplary contribution and commitment to the mathematical sciences.
Mobile phone data help track pathogen spread and evolution of superbugs
Novel way to map spread and evolution of pathogens, and their responses to vaccines and antibiotics, reveals how to help predict and prevent future outbreaks.
From code to cowl: Head of ‘DigiMine’ gets his PhD
Head of Sibanye Stillwater Digital Mining Laboratory graduates with a PhD in engineering from Wits.
SA professor appointed co-principal investigator in landmark HIV prevention network
Sinéad Delany-Moretlwe is Professor of Global Health and Infectious Diseases and Research Director at Wits RHI.
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Discovering Scotland's first 'almost-mammal’, Saurodesmus robertsoni
Researchers identify the oldest known non-mammaliaform cynodont from Scotland.
Beetle outbreak: Another fossil rove beetle from Botswana
A new species of fossil paederine rove beetle from Orapa.
Eight steps to get SA's healthcare system on track
Much needs to be done to improve governance of South Africa’s health system. Eight recommendations provide a guide to what needs to be prioritised.
Senate Resolution
Statement on the Gaza/Israel conflict
South Africa’s political monopoly has been broken: could it help the economy?
South Africa’s more plural political space might bring in new voices that generate better economic policies.
‘It’s all about the youth’
Dr Solomon Assefa, the former Vice President at IBM Research, delivered the inaugural Professor Barry Dwolatzky Memorial Lecture.
Afretec awards almost $1.7 million
One of the grant recipient projects from Wits University will investigate the role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Report on governance and management in SA health system launched
The Academy of Science of South Africa released the report, "Achieving Good Governance and Management in the South African Health System" on 28 June 2024.
Wits UNESCO Chair to bolster entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative sectors
Wits University and the University of Antwerp collaborate to drive cultural research and strengthen arts policy on two continents.
Tackling brain health through strategic global partnerships
Wits Faculty of Health Sciences and Barrow Neurological Institute, USA, MoU cements relationship to further research neurological conditions
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Anglo American’s iconic building to become Wits Business School’s Centre for Entrepreneurship
WBS will use the City Centre building to provide crucial business education, business incubation, and business acceleration services for entrepreneurs.
Kenya protests: Gen Z shows the power of digital activism
Kenyan activism is witnessing a shift from ethnic-based mobilisation to issue-based activism.
Student Success Imbizo
Stakeholders emphasise the importance of data-driven student programmes, systems integration and strengthening of the student voice.
Gilead results on injectable lenacapavir for PREP
First HIV prevention trial in history to show zero HIV infections with an intervention.
A Novel way to save Rhinos
The Rhisotope Project at Wits is entering a new testing phase with the insertion of radioisotopes into 20 live rhinoceros.
Pathfinder to illuminate the path for more women
A woman of many firsts, Prof. Nthabiseng Audrey Ogude has been appointed CEO of the Female Academic Leaders Fellowship programme.
Heat exposure during pregnancy can lead to a lifetime of health problems
Research shows climate change carries greater risks for unborn babies than previously thought, including worsening health and wellbeing in later life.
Global pandemic treaty will help fight future threats
The 194 member states of the WHO are negotiating a pandemic accord, only the second health accord after the 2003 convention against tobacco.
Grade 11 learners investigate Johannesburg gas explosion at Wits
The seventh annual Wits Integrated Experience short course commenced in June, with this year's learners assigned to investigate a gas explosion.
What is cervical cancer and how can it be prevented?
The human papillomavirus is the primary cause of cervical cancer – but not all infected individuals develop the disease.
Time to knock undeserving politicians off their pedestals
Sadly, politicos have become the pre-eminent role models for many black South Africans.
Researchers discover a potential vaccine to prevent tuberculosis in people of all ages
In a critical global public health development, a candidate vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) has been created using a gene-editing approach.
How to avoid being hacked: ‘12345’ doesn’t cut it
The question has shifted from whether cyberattacks will occur to when and how they will happen.
Wits-Bath Spa collaboration takes off
Three-year bursary scheme to support strategic collaboration between the two universities.
#GradnGive - a commitment to a brighter future
Helping a fellow Witsies on graduation day, through #GradnGive, is an act of love, solidarity and encouragement that great days are on the horizon.
From farm to fork
World Food Safety Day is observed annually on 7 June, and the Services Department at Wits held its third annual commemoration of the occasion on 13 June.
Bridging urban divides through education for a sustainable future
The Kelvin-Alexandra-Frankenwald City Studio is set to tackle the pressing urban challenges surrounding the Alexandra township in Johannesburg.
Wits fencer set to compete at 2024 Olympics
Engineering student Harry Saner qualifies as the first South African fencer to compete in nearly two decades.
Wits PhD student wins prestigious John Kiel Scholarship
Pedro Ornelas is one of 72 students globally who won an award from the International Society for Optics and Photonics.
Death of a liberation movement: how ANC became just a regular party – with some help from Zuma
Never has the future of South Africa’s politics been more uncertain, but the one certainty is that the ANC’s standing as a liberation movement is dead.
New cutting-edge digitisation equipment for Wits Digitisation Centre
This addition marks a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to preserve the University's vast archives and collections.
Sappi Chair marks a milestone year of climate action
The Wits research team is spearheading sustainability efforts to bolster climate resilience in the forestry industry.
Wits appoints new CEO for WitsPlus
Natalie Zimmelman is a business leader dedicated to the development of skills, leadership, and professionalism.
A coalition government won’t fix past failures
Expect the private sector to play a bigger role in delivering power, transport and security.
Wits chairs national forum to tackle student finance issues
Ismail Soobader will chair the Board of the SA Student Finance Forum (SASFF – the Forum) until 2027.
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Eminent alumni register for innovative doctoral degrees in AI and music
Twins and Wits alumni, Arthur and Charles Goldstuck, veterans of tech and music respectively, have registered for unique PhDs at Wits.
New Student Entrepreneurship Hub launched
The E-Hub marks the beginning of a new era in fostering student-led innovation and entrepreneurship.
The social consensus revolution
[Column] To prevent South Africa from becoming a failed society, we must all rise and become active citizens.
Musankwa sanyatiensis, a new dinosaur from Zimbabwe
A new Late Triassic sauropodomorph dinosaur discovered in the Mid-Zambezi Basin, Zimbabwe.
Reimagining democracy
Democracy, as a system of government by the whole population, seems to have had its heyday. Is ‘People Power’ a viable option?
Witsies Connect uncovers shared interests
Wits staff break down institutional silos as they pause and step out of their usual routine.
Q&A: The South African Constitution
Constitutional expert, Professor Cathi Albertyn, answers your questions on the South African Constitution, the bedrock of South Africa’s democracy.
A violent freedom
Despite the knife-edge upon which South Africans live, the country is not, in fact, a failed state – but a new form of democracy is required.
The Untouchables: Crime and corruption
Corruption is not unique to SA as US and UK have shown. Democracy relies on holding authorities accountable, but no one seems keen to do that.
Religion and the state: A shifting cocktail of contradictions
Many countries are grappling with religious challenges. Can political structures withstand the pressures of religious groups’ ‘New Right’ ideology?
AI and democracy: For better and for worse
Today’s news and current affairs landscape, which underpins our democracy, requires both ethical content producers and discerning consumers.
Peter Sarnak awarded the 2024 Shaw Prize
Celebrated mathematician and Wits alumnus acknowledged for his profound impact on number theory.
A drought of political will
South Africans are still fighting for the right to basic water supply as enshrined in the Bill of Rights.
Stabilising the crumbling walls of the Fourth Estate
Journalism as an institution is facing a bleak outlook. It needs to dig deep to find ways in which to pull itself out of the well.
Margo Steele School of Accountancy honours top students
The students' achievements underscore the school's impact on transforming the accountancy profession over the 30 years since democracy.
Loss of power is the ultimate motivator to fulfill promises
The key to getting public services is to have opposition parties that have realistic chances to replace a sitting government.
Study that empowers traditional health practitioners to test for HIV expands in rural SA
National Institutes of Health 5-year, $2.8m grant to Wits and Vanderbilt University will advance traditional health practitioner-initiated HIV testing.
Wits hosts Southern African synchrotron workshop
South African researchers have fully funded access to the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, through the NRF.
NHI: From aspiration to implementation
Access to healthcare services is a constitutional right but is equal healthcare in South Africa a reality in our lifetime?
Curios.ty 17: #Democracy
This issue is very timely as South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, and heads to the polls again on 29 May 2024.
Celebrating 30 years of democracy
[Editorial] Wits continues to contribute towards advancing democracy, social justice, and human rights.
Marching to new drums
A generation of ‘born frees’ are heading to the polls in 2024. What is the soundtrack, if any, that underscores this election year?
How colonialism bastardised ancient rituals
Traditional rituals and practices such as lobola and initiation are often misunderstood in democratic societies where they are viewed through a western lens.
Social grants: A hand up, not a hand-out
The child support grant and proposed pregnancy grant give children a healthier start in life and make democratic and economic sense.
Realising disability rights in Southern Africa
People with disabilities still experience barriers to the realisation of their rights. A new view on disability is required.
Playing the migration blame game
Pushing a nationalist agenda and fuelling xenophobia is politicians’ way of disguising the causes of South Africa’s economic woes.
Democratising knowledge through open access
More than half of SA’s academic publications appear in Open Access sources, with Wits University embracing this trend.
Finding ubuntu in the word of the law
Busisiwe Kamolane-Kgadima, the Acting Director at CALS is driven by human rights, and the fight for social justice.
Stokvels secure income and social capital
A stokvel research project at Wits could lead to greater financial freedom, transparency, and accessibility for members.
Who is accountable for environmental rights?
The lack of enforcement of environmental laws allow powerful entities to act without consequence. Where does the buck stop?
What environmental equality in Africa really looks like
As countries move to adopt green technologies to fight climate change, the Global South is left at a disadvantage in this new revolution.
Conflicts of (natural) interest
The creation of conservation areas has become a tug-of-war between the needs of local communities and preserving critical natural resources.
Using Ubuntu to recognise animal rights
[Column] Under the SA Constitution, animals do not enjoy the same rights as humans. But Ubuntu principles can change that, writes Dr Sheena Swemmer.
Ethical conundrums of the great dictator
[Column] As elected president for one day, I struggle with the same ethical question as those who have come before me: To plunder or to serve?
Democracy and Archives: A quest for truth
Archives are the custodians of evidence in the pursuit of truth and records of Commissions of Inquiry are fundamental to support democracy.
Arm yourself against flu this winter
The flu season is upon us and several institutions are reporting an increase in the number of flu cases, says Higher Health.
Wits and Liberty launch new Fintech Hub
New Hub will be a place where researchers, entrepreneurs and professionals can get together to leverage technology to solve problems in the field of finance.
Stepping up to the task
Juliet Ndlovu, an Operations Administrative Assistant, is adding sign language to her skills so that she can converse with colleagues.
ANC President and Head of State speaks at Wits
It was the big Cs: coalitions, corruption and crime that dominated questions put to President Cyril Ramaphosa by the Wits community.
A better Africa needs interdisciplinary research
Emerging Mastercard Foundation WESAF Fellows urged to bridge the knowledge deficit in climate change research and move beyond the hard sciences.
New Fossil Bovids from Kromdraai
New Fossil Bovids from Kromdraai shed light on South Africa's ancient ecosystems.
South African elections: research explores how disillusioned ANC supporters might use their vote
The 2024 elections may be the tipping point that enables opposition parties to portray themselves as viable contenders in forming a coalition government in SA.
Intellectual creative workers shine at prestigious Humanities and Social Sciences awards
Scholars in the School of Arts and the School of Education distinguished themselves at the 2024 National Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences Awards.
Wits celebrates Intellectual Property Day
By awarding Wits researchers for their contribution to IP rights, the event highlights the integration of innovation and creativity for a shared future.
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From Fossils to Fuel: Mozambique's Maniamba Basin’s Energy Potential
Mozambique's Maniamba Basin’s Energy Potential.
Wits remains an attractive employer
Wits University is a competitive employer in the higher education sector and beyond, says Senior Director of Human Resources.
CHAMPS receives grant to study causes of death in adults with HIV in Africa
New grant will enable Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network to leverage laboratory capacity and partnerships in Africa.
Global collaboration adds up for mathematician
Number theory specialist Professor Florian Luca is now a CNRS Fellow-Ambassador.
Making difficult decisions
Workers’ Day feature: the Director of Employee Relations at Wits chats about her role, love for the law and balancing PhD studies with motherhood.
Staff reflect on their employee experience
International Workers Day, celebrated annually on 1 May, is an opportunity for employees and employers alike to reflect on the workplace.
Remembering the past, envisioning the future
Exploring Portuguese-South African Relations at the Joint Freedom Celebration.
Science meets history at Adler Museum of Medicine
Exhibition celebrates the life and scientific journey of Nobel Laureate and alumnus Sydney Brenner.
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Witsie appointed Thematic Lead at the United Nations
Wits alumna Dr Shakira Choonara takes the reins as the head of the Action Coalition on Bodily Autonomy and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
Empowering the next generation of female leaders
The STEM MentHER programme held its annual induction for Grade 12 learners in pursuit of careers in STEM fields.
Connect with Witsies from other departments
How much do you know about colleagues in the office next to you? It's time to be part of Witsies Connect.
South Africa’s youth are a generation lost under democracy – study
Fewer young South Africans are doing as well as their counterparts from 30 years ago. They are hardest hit by unemployment.
Sugar in baby food: why Nestlé needs to be held to account in Africa
Added sugar gives babies a sweet tooth, which can lead to obesity and health problems later in life.
Wits bridges gap between graduates and potential employers
Graduate Recruitment Programme facilitates dialogue between academia and industry and contributes to developing highly skilled and employable graduates.
Vaccinologists Keith Klugman and Shabir Madhi awarded Sabin’s prestigious Gold Medal
The Sabin Vaccine Institute presented the Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal to physician-researchers Keith Klugman and Shabir Madhi.
Study shows pro-western cultural bias in the way AI decisions are explained
Many existing explainable artificial intelligence systems produce explanations that are tailored to individualist, typically western, populations.
Top scholars honoured at Wits
Vice-Chancellor shines a spotlight on first-year scholarship recipients, celebrating academic excellence and the transformative impact of education.
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Africa is full of bats, but their fossils are scarce – why these rare records matter
The scarcity of bat fossils is more than a palaeontological puzzle: it has implications for bat conservation strategies today.
Professional learning communities are a space for teachers to discuss their teaching methods
South African study shows the power of sharing daily experiences for teachers to learn how to include all learners.
Opening cross-boundary synergies across Wits
Academics and professional staff form new networks.
Symposium held to honour Professor Boris Balinsky
Wits and the Embassy of Ukraine come together to honour a scientist son of both countries.
Fun and growth: how you play with your child matters
Read, sing, dance and funny faces: expert tips on how you can help your baby’s development through play.
Leading mining companies invest R40 million in geosciences research at Wits
The Bushveld Geology and Metallogeny Research Chair will advance the mining industry and develop the next generation of geoscientists.
ERC Advanced Grant for Paleoanthropologist Gabriele Macho
European Research Council funds project on early human evolution at Senckenberg.
Ear and hearing care services offered to local communities
Final year audiology students advance hearing health equity through activities aimed at Vrededorp and Jan Hofmeyer residents.
Digital trade protocol for Africa: why it matters, what’s in it and what’s still missing
Africa’s market share of the digital trade globally is small. But it has expanded rapidly, outpacing the global average.
The power of building social capital
Executive coach urges students to nurture relationships early in life as these are key to success.
Africa is no longer the carbon sink of the world
In only nine years between 2010 and 2019, Africa has turned from being a net carbon sink, to being a net carbon source.
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New description of a ‘dwarf’ pareiasaur from the Karoo Basin
Tiny Titans of the Permian: New anatomical description of the ‘dwarf’ pareiasaur Nanoparia luckhoffi from the Karoo Basin
Africa now emits as much carbon as it stores: landmark new study
Knowing which parts of Africa best help to store carbon means funding and policy efforts can be directed to protecting and increasing this carbon ‘land sink’.
SA’s laws aren’t geared to protecting against climate change: judges are trying to fill the gap
The is no law specifically obliges companies building new developments like power stations to do a climate change assessment before they start construction.
Africa’s PhDs: study shows how to develop strong graduates who want to make a difference
The challenge for universities is to produce graduates who can work with others to produce knowledge and research that can change societies for the better.
Lessons in Chemistry
Science education professor envisages a theoretical construct to help high school teachers teach Chemistry – wins global recognition.
How to avoid and manage dehydration
About 60% of the human body is made up of water. Excessive water loss can be fatal.
What happened to the Just Energy Transition grant funding?
Researchers take a closer look to determine who the money has gone to, when it was disbursed, and what it was spent on.
Wits welcomes 12 000 future researchers
The University held its annual Postgraduate Orientation Programme from 4 – 6 March in the Great Hall and online.
Light correcting light
Researchers have found a way to send patterned light messages through obstructions, without distorting the message.
Sports Innovation takes centre stage at annual Principals' Function
Representatives from Gauteng feeder schools recently attended Wits University's annual Principals’ Function to recognise outstanding school principals.
Witsie awarded prestigious scholarship
Geoffrey Mwendwa, a PhD candidate in Physics, secures one of the initial spots in the 100 PhDs for Africa Programme (EXAF).
New fossil rove beetle is a first in Africa
In the heart of Botswana, a groundbreaking discovery at the Orapa Diamond Mine has unveiled a fossil that sheds light on the evolutionary history of beetles.
Make sure the water from your tap is safe to drink
With an increasing risk of water-borne diseases such as cholera spreading in cities, it is important to learn how to keep your family safe.
Are you sitting too long in your office job?
Office workers are sedentary for hours at a time. Our research looked at what they should do to stay healthy.
Urgent TB vaccine trial kicks off in SA
Professor Lee Fairlie from the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI) is a Co-National Principal Investigator of the trial.
Remembering Eddie Webster: A man of boundless curiosity
Professor Eddie Webster was remembered as a beacon of wisdom.
Empowering academic fellows to share their impact
The Wits Carnegie Diversifying the Academy (CDTA) Programme recently hosted its inaugural Pioneering Science Communications Workshop.
Students commit to sustainability projects
Members of the Green Campus Initiative, located within Wits residences, are determined to create a sustainable campus, working alongside their peers
Rooftop projects boost clean energy
There are 14 solar installations across Wits to promote environmental and financial sustainability. This is in addition to the hybrid hot water system.
Solar benches facilitate outdoor learning
Benches hardly spark conversations but the new benches on campus are hitting the right notes with students.
Launch of Irish Tech Challenge SA 2024 ignites innovation
The Tech Challenge seeks to foster partnerships between South African and Irish startups.
Why do we usually sleep at night and what happens when we don’t?
Sleep is as essential to our health as food and water. It is important to a number of brain functions, including how nerve cells communicate with each other.
Political theorist Achille Mbembe named 2024 Holberg Prize Laureate
The Holberg Prize is one of the largest international prizes awarded annually to an outstanding researcher in the humanities, social sciences, law or theology.
Advancing gender and leadership in higher education
A group of ten Wits University staff and students recently attended the Afretec Gender in STEM Workshop in Kigali, Rwanda.
Is water in SA cities safe to drink?
Water can make you ill for two reasons: it can contain chemicals or pathogenic organisms.
Accolades for advancing public health, for good
Medals for health scientists at South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Scientific Merit Awards.
One of the pioneer scholar-activists at Wits
Edward Webster: South African intellectual, teacher, activist, a man of great energy and integrity, and the life and soul of any party.
The ‘Sociology Madala’ who shaped the way we think
Eddie Webster was the ultimate socially engaged academic who played a key role in the labour movement.
Wits mourns the loss of Professor Eddie Webster
It is with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of Professor Edward (Eddie) Webster (82), who passed away yesterday after a short illness.
More questions than answers in research ethics debates
Medical ethics expert lectures on safeguarding research participants in line with Council of International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) guidelines.
The problem with big companies funding health research in SA
Financial links between corporations, like Nestlé, and health research invariably lead to conflicts of interest.
Alarming report predicts 30% drop in crop revenue, 50 million without water in Africa
Study reveals that from 2050, Africa will suffer from food and water scarcity, and job losses in agriculture, unless climate change mitigation are put in place.
A thousand words behind famous artist's portrait of a poet
World-renowned SA-born artist donates portrait of acclaimed Afrikaans poet and alumna to WAM.
Dung beetles show their love by sharing the load
Before mating, some male and female dung beetles work together to move their brood balls to a location unknown to either.
Phiroshaw Camay Library opens
The new facility boasts a collection of 8 000 books from Camay, an activist, unionist and champion of democracy who was once denied access to a library.
New copyright bill gives Deaf and blind people a fair deal
The mother tongue for millions of Deaf people in South Africa is SA Sign Language (SASL), which became the 12th official language on 19 July 2023.
Why taps are running dry in South Africa’s biggest city
Citizens in Johannesburg, SA's industrial heartland, use too much water, the city wastes way too much and there is too much theft of drinking water.
Pregnant women in SA should be offered social grants
Healthy mothers mean healthy babies. Giving pregnant women cash grants could help prevent conditions such as stunting and save the state money in the long run.
Update from the Senior Executive Team – 26 Feb
Academic programme continues as usual
ICT courses to explore
A gap year can enable one to gain new skills and find new career paths.
There’s hope for the future
Dr Jane Goodall is positive that we will overcome challenges such as climate change and biodiversity devastation.
Managing a Forced Gap Year
Advice to help matriculants who did not get admission to further their studies.
Earth’s evolution: fresh insights from rocks formed 3.5 billion years ago
Studying cratons, pieces of ancient continents formed billions of years ago, offers a window into the processes within and on the surface of Earth.
Trio Top Budget Speech Contest
Witsies clinch the top three places in the #BudgetSpeechCompetition
Committed to enabling access to education
The University received several queries pertaining to fees, funding, financial aid, and accommodation. Here are the many ways Wits assists students.
Climate change and me
First-year student at Wits says climate change and its impact on our world are more than just distant concepts—they're personal.
How academics can counter ‘AI thinks, therefore I am’
2023 will be remembered as the year that artificial intelligence (AI) – or, more specifically, large language models (LLMs), like ChatGPT – changed the world.
Women in leadership at the ARUA CoE MEN
Sustained female leadership in the Centre of Excellence for Materials, Energy and Nanotechnology (CoE MEN).
Still smiling after 40 years
A reunion after 40 years is reason to smile for the graduating Wits dentists of 1984
Professor Imraan Valodia appointed Chair of National Minimum Wage Commission
Professor Valodia's appointment stands as a testament to the University’s commitment to academic excellence and societal impact.
University rankings are unscientific and bad for education: experts point out the flaws
We all need to understand that ranking is not objective and true. University rankings are massively overvalued, and reinforce global and national inequalities.
Dass elected President of the SA University Law Clinics Association
Daven Dass, a key figure in clinical legal education, is dedicated to promoting excellence and access to justice.
World-class pharmaceutical sciences training goes global
Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP) enables international research opportunities for its postgrads, postdocs, and early career researchers.
South African technology winners visit Dublin
Pelebox founder, Neo Hutiri, is one of the five winners of the Irish Tech Challenge - a prestigious competition seeking to unearth high-impact SA start-ups.
Wits Theatre celebrates 40 Years of performing arts
Esteemed alumni gathered at the Wits Theatre in style to celebrate the theatre’s rich history and talent.
Microplastics found in Nile River’s tilapia fish
The Nile, one of the world’s most famous rivers, is not immune to the same pollutants that affects rivers all over the world.
Cash grants help people live longer and have better memory
Nearly half of South Africa’s 60 million people receive social grants. SA study shows they improve cognitive health among the elderly.
Unique insights from 30 years of rural health research
Agincourt covers some 31 villages and 120,000 people, and is one of the longest-running research centres of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.
Public research showcase reveals how to age successfully in Africa
A ‘whole of society’ approach is needed to address health issues as populations in Africa age.
New poll shows dramatic decline in electoral support of ANC
Unless something unforeseen occurs, the shape of post-election South Africa is already reasonably clear - it shows a wounded and decaying ANC.
Royal Academy of Engineering awards Witsie special medal
Neo Hutiri recognised as top achiever among Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation winners.
Journalism in the age of social media and AI
Digging for the truth has become easier and far more convenient, but distinguishing fact from fake has become more complicated in the digitised world.
Students prepare for success
New comers reflect on their journey as they navigate through the Gateway to Success programme.
Advancing paediatric antibiotic research
Two new African-European research collaborations tackle severe infections in neonates and children.
A surprisingly regular academic achiever
A switch in 2nd-year from an LLB degree to Sociology paved the way to a rewarding career as Professor of Demography and now Senior Director: Academic Affairs.
Final curtain call for Targeting Talent Programme
The Programme celebrates a remarkable 16 years of excellence.
The two faces of Jacob Zuma. Who supports him and why?
Jacob Zuma claims that his new political home, the Umkhonto we Sizwe Party, is the authentic ANC, not the one led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Connecting a community through concepts
Wits University hosts the Fifth International Legitimation Code Theory Conference.
How do animals survive natural hazards like cyclones?
The flooding caused by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique was devastating to animals – we studied how body size affected their survival.
3D scanning: We recreated a sacred South African site
One criticism of current 3D models of archaeological sites is that they are presented devoid of human traces and history. We captured the spirit with our model.
Wits welcomes freshers to embrace new academic chapter
Wits University officially welcomed 6 300 first-year students to its campus during the annual Welcome Day event.
Wits Theatre launches Pitso Ya Kalaneng Student Festival
The Wits Theatre complex opens its doors to this student-led festival taking place from 06 to 10 February.
Meet the 2024 Friedel Sellschop Fellows
Doctors Saeideh Babaee, Ashley Coates, Isaac Nape, and Matt Noakes are the 2024 Friedel Sellschop Fellows.
UK Fellowships for Wits humanities researchers
The African Fellowships programme advances South-North research collaboration to find solutions to global challenges.
'Ketamine infusions are a mental health boon'
The emerging role of ketamine in treating mental health issues is a promising development that could bring relief to those who have long suffered in silence.
Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour exhibition opens in the Western Cape
The exhibition showcases the archaeological heritage and rich marine environment of the Southern Cape coastline.
Mission impossible? Not for these postdocs
8 Postdoc Fellows join Wits to boost research on the intersecting themes of climate change, just transition, sustainability, and inequality.
Witsies shine at intervarsity entrepreneurship finals
Tech entrepreneur wins for financial inclusion platform and medical student recognised for enabling tech efficiency and savings in spaza shops.
Wits awards student leaders
Outstanding student leaders across various categories have been recognised at the annual student awards.
Top performing learners from Class of 2023 embrace their academic future at Wits
Wits hosted the Vice-Chancellor's Top Applicants Function in a bid to offer prospective students a taste of the academic journey that awaits them.
Stressed out? Why mindfulness and meditation help
In a world fraught with anxiety, stress, and environmental and humanitarian disasters, people are looking for ways to cope.
What do children need most?
Social workers can help children more effectively by assessing the needs of the whole family.
Hooked on games and the silver screen
What is it about TV and film that’s so compelling that we can’t resist immersing ourselves in celluloid?
Seeing through the cigarette tax smokescreen
The high taxes on tobacco are counterproductive in decreasing smoking. It only benefits the illegal cigarette trade – and its political masters.
Phishing scams: Don't drop your guard
Cybercriminals don’t take breaks. Even seasoned internet users fall prey to these scams. Here are seven safety tips from a cybersecurity expert.
Researchers demonstrate that quantum entanglement and topology are inextricably linked
This experimental milestone allows for the preservation of quantum information even when entanglement is fragile.
_600x300px.jpg "Elliot and Clarens Formations in South Africa’s Eastern Cape - the same dinosaur-rich rock formation as in Bolahla. Julien Benoit, Author provided (no reuse)")
Africans discovered fossils first
A new study shows Africans discovered dinosaur fossils long before the term ‘palaeontology’ existed.
Wits projects earn international acclaim
The Global Undergraduate Awards, awards two Wits students for excellence.
Water and sanitation problem-solvers win
Wits students among top teams at the Sustainathon 2023, bringing home great prizes.
Student on the Go Programme to end Period Poverty
The launch of the Student on the Go Programme marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight against period poverty.
Curios.ty 16 (#Drugs): Between hope and hell
In this issue, we highlight the diversity, scope, and multi-dimensional nature of drug-related research at Wits University.
DRUGS!
Editorial: The word ‘drugs’ evokes a range of reactions – from the hopes of ‘miracle’ cures to the sadness of addiction and social harm.
The future of medicine
Imagine a world where medicines can be guided to the exact place that they are needed in the body – a world closer than you think.
Leading the way to an HIV cure
The battle to save millions of HIV-positive lives bears fruit in unexpected ways.
Obesity – a new treatment frontier
Current treatments are complex and expensive but new studies reveal that obesity medication could be the answer to this epidemic.
Alternatives to traditional cancer treatment
Opinions around cancer treatment options can be highly divisive, but many patients don’t have the luxury of choice.
Jagged little pills or panacea for health?
Vitamin and nutritional supplements are big business, but are they effective or just a waste of money – or even dangerous?
The daily drugs in our diet
“We need to create an environment for people where the healthy choice is the easier choice.”
Inside the mushroom bubble
Psychedelics: Are they the magic bullet some claim for the treatment of conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder?
Cheers to SA’s most pervasive drug
Alcohol is so ubiquitous and its marketing so pernicious that there’s a tendency to underestimate its impact on public health. So, why do we drink?
Getting into that natural study rhythm
Q&A: Academic stress and pressure can lead students to use unhealthy choices such as medication cocktails, energy drinks and supplements.
Your drug questions answered
From alcohol to cocaine, caffeine to cough syrup, Wits experts shed light on legal and not-so-legal drugs of choice.
Turning green grass into gold
Academia can help show how the cannabis industry can be a thriving sector in the country.
Beating the ʻpharmaceutical arms race’ in sports
Drugs in sport is eroding the public credibility of many sports heroes’ superhuman performances. Can trust be restored?
Blocking the opioid pipeline
Treating opioid addiction is a painful, time consuming and often frustrating process. New medication can help solve this problem.
Antibiotics: Too much of a good thing?
The complicated doctor-patient dynamic requires managing expectations to protect both drug efficacy and public health.
The antibiotic bully in your beef
The use of antibiotics in livestock threatens public health, the environment, and food security. Researchers explore plants as an alternative.
Mosquitoes on birth control
Eradicating malaria in SA is a national policy goal, but is easier said than done. But sterile insect technique could take the bite out of mosquitoes.
Down the rabbit hole to bring back some words
Profile: Dr Eva Kowalska shares what her research of drug literature and opioid biographies across time and space reveals.
Motivational messaging for medicine
Behavioural Linguistics is a new advanced area in healthcare that's especially critical to medication compliance and adherence.
Printing 3D patches to heal wounds
New biotechnical treatments can fast-track recovery from traumatic injuries.
Sucking the venom out of the bite
Treating snake bite victims remains antiquated – hopefully a new way of creating antivenom can lead to a better solution.
From ancient apothecary to modern medicine
How our early ancestors shaped our medicine use today. Throughout history, humanity has used nature's pharmacy for healing.
Put a pill in it!
Column: When it comes to health, we have grown into a society that is looking for a quick fix, rather than treating our lives holistically.
Doobee or not doobee?
Unravelling Shakespeare's Green Quill: Professor Francis Thackeray's quest for cannabis connection.
Books for the festive season
Wits staff suggest local and international books covering a range of genres to explore these holidays.
Thrilling holiday reads for children
A reading list for children, tweens and teens from a Wits academic, writer and founder of Jozi’s Books and Blogs Festival.
Balancing Finances
December is a month of excesses and can burn a hole in the pocket. Avoid Janua-Worry through these tips.
New Optica Emerging Leader in Optics Chair
SA visionary and quantum expert, Dr Isaac Nape, has been appointed as the inaugural Chair that seeks to advance quantum research.
African endocrinologist again amongst the world’s best
Distinguished Professor Derick Raal has for the fourth time been named as a Highly Cited Researcher™ globally.
Landmark graduation in rural Mpumalanga empowers local community
Certificates of Completion in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for first cohort of candidates.
Wits mourns the loss of Professor Peliwe Lolwana
Wits is saddened by the loss of Professor Lolwana, who recently retired as the Director of the Centre for Researching Education and Labour (REAL).
'Wits remains a beacon of hope in society'
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, extends thanks to Witsies for their service and sends wishes of goodwill for the holidays.
Research ethics and integrity as a force for good
While polarisation has emerged as a defining characteristic of our age, ‘good’ ethics can navigate differences to tackle shared challenges.
.jpg "Wits alumnus Prof Keith Klugman receives an honorary doctorate at the Wits Health Sciences graduation ceremony December 2023")
Renowned scientist honoured for efforts to prevent babies dying from pneumonia
Honorary doctorate for global health scientist recognises his contribution to reducing infant mortality globally.
'Teleporting' images across a network securely using only light
Researchers show for the first time, how we can transport images across a network without physically sending the image.
Graduands are a beacon of hope in society
Professsor Keith Klugman honoured for his work in preventing infectious diseases and a Gold Medal is awarded to a champion in heritage preservation.
Thank you for your service
Wits bids farewell to 87 retirees who have served the University well for decades.
The Postgraduate Symposium, a festival of ideas
Masters students and PhD fellows showcase quality research at the annual Cross-Faculty Postgraduate Symposium.
Upgraded Micro-CT Scanner to advance research
Advanced 3D imaging technology allows for fossil-bearing rocks to be examined non-invasively and saves time and resources.
Wits Business School and Absa launch a Chair in Future Energy
The Absa chair in Future Energy to enable the development of a new energy modelling laboratory.
Pivotal moment for humanity as tipping point threats accelerate
Wits professor at COP28 says that business as usual is no longer possible
.jpg "Wits Structured Light research")
Wits Structured Light research amongst top 30 advances in optics worldwide in 2023
New approach to studying complex light features on the cover of Optica’s Optics and Photonics News.
Top 10 Climate Science Insights Unveiled
Global experts in social and natural sciences unveiled the annual 10 New Insights in Climate Science Report.
Irish Tech Challenge boosts innovation in South Africa
The Embassy of Ireland in South Africa has announced the five South African tech start-ups that will participate in the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2023.
Law Clinic a proud and vigorous force for good
Retired judge Edwin Cameron applauds the Wits Law Clinic for its role in embedding public interest law in the country.
Insights from SA's renewables procurement
There are many unknowns about how societies will manage the climate transition. And the associated energy transition from fossil fuel-based to renewable energy.
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New research sheds light on Bantu-speaking populations’ expansion in Africa
The study is unique in that it contains genetic data of both living and past (archaeological DNA/aDNA) populations.
Successful ageing in Africa
Decade-long partnership researching ageing in rural Mpumalanga awarded major multi-year NIH grant to expand nationally and focus on dementia, cognitive health.
Safety and security tips from CPS
Wits' crime prevention expert wants Witsies to stay safe on and off campus, especially during the holidays. Read his advice to minimise incidents.
Harvard awards Wits professor for building advanced research capability in rural SA
Professor Stephen Tollman has received the 2023 Alumni Award of Merit from Harvard University.
SA’s immigration proposals - false claims and poor logic
Experts say the White Paper’s proposals are vague and seek to solve problems that are not about immigration.
Journalism in a time of great instability
African investigative journalists gather to empower change through knowledge exchange and tech innovation.
Graduate exhibition showcases fine artists
NEWWORK23 is an exhibition of work by young artists in fulfilment of a Wits BA Fine Arts degree.
Wits researchers pioneer a new way of searching for Dark Matter
Researchers explore whether Dark Matter particles actually are produced inside a jet of standard model particles.
Feeding the robots
The 19th African Investigative Journalism Conference sees hundreds of investigative journalists getting to grips with the new AI.
Energy crisis takes toll on pandemic-weary mental health
Understanding the psychological impact of loadshedding is particularly critical because the country is only just emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Table treats from Dining Hall staff
Staff from Wits Dining Halls share dishes for the festive season as well as budget friendly meals for January.
It’s about people…and excellence
Wits Advancement Division wins 11 awards at the Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education Excellence Awards.
Partnership unlocks cloud computing opportunities
BCX, Alibaba Cloud and Wits University have partnered to empower students to foster skills for the digital economy in Africa.
African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) sponsors R20 million into research at Wits
ARM Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme to support research into water, energy and digitalisation in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.
Entomologist takes on mosquitoes, malaria, wins award
Professor Lizette Koekemoer has won the Women in Vector Control (WiVC) Excellence Award in the Senior Career category.
A fourth-year fine arts student wins Wits Young Artist Award
Rumbo Mercy took first place with her multimedia installation.
Medals and fellowships from Royal Society of South Africa
Medals for established and emerging researchers, eminent scholars inducted as Fellows.
Emerging scholar takes top honour for pioneering sustainable housing research
“I wish to advocate that it is the mission of all Quantity Surveyors, local and abroad, to make Sustainability Affordable.”
One gold medal and Academy membership for 15
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) awards Gold Medal to world-renowned HIV expert and inaugurates 15 Wits scholars as new members.
Wits counts
The sixth annual prize-giving for the Maths Competition is more than a ceremony, it is a celebration of the significant impact that maths can have in Africa.
Wits secures Digital Transformation research grants
Wits University scholars have secured funding as a network partner of the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec).
Science is the unifying force to bring Africa together
Breaking barriers to intracontinental mobility is paramount and the continent must engage in closer collaboration, placing science at the forefront.
Wits football grandstand renamed after legendary administrator, Ronnie Schloss
Schloss honoured for his lifelong commitment to the Wits Football Club and to the sport in South Africa.
What happens to South Africans when they have sleep disorders?
The Restonic Ezintsha Sleep Clinic will pioneer South African sleep research and treat sleep disorders.
Do you like snakes, lizards and frogs? Then herpetology is for you
Learning about snakes offers unique insights into the natural world. As predators and prey, snakes are an emblem of the circle of life.
Academics and policymakers convene to reshape SA’s education sector
The Wits School of Education (WSoE) hosted the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to re-envision South Africa's education sector.
Creating technology leaders and innovators in Africa
Afretec Faculty Enrichment Program provides an opportunity to learn and share effective teaching methods and approaches.
First FEBE Research Seminar breaks down barriers
The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment hosted its inaugural Research Seminar on 25 and 26 October 2023.
Why companies should report what CEOs and workers earn
Changes in the law will ensure that companies can’t go on ignoring inequalities in earnings and wealth in South Africa.
Celebrating people and excellence
Duly deserved honours awarded to Wits staff at the annual Vice-Chancellor’s Awards.
Diabetes - SA's second biggest killer
Diabetes affects about 12% of South Africa’s adult population. Hiking the sugar tax would help.
A star performer that brings chemistry in Chemistry
Service Excellence Award winner has earned several prizes including the ‘coach Rassie Erasmus’ certificate.
Witsies cheer Springboks to victory
What a night! On a drizzling Saturday evening, the Wits University campus came alive with a sea of green and gold.
World-renowned vaccinologist awarded CBE
Professor Shabir Madhi has been appointed as an honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) by King Charles III.
2023 Afretec Conference celebrates collaboration
Higher education leaders from across the continent recently convened for the second Pan-African network's annual conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
Shoes maketh man
The humble “plakkie” made its debut up to 150 000 years ago.
Sweeping the city clean: ‘Anti-poor’ plans for urban renewal
In his poem about Eloff Street in Johannesburg, Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali reflected on the living conditions for a black person in the city at that time.
'Race' cannot simply be wished away
The thorny issue of ‘race’ in South African politics: why it endures almost 30 years after apartheid ended.
Jazz, musical bows and a baritone enthrall at music concert
A standing ovation for the Khaya Mahlangu Quintet at the inaugural Wits Vice-Chancellor’s Music Concert, which also featured Wits’ own Mombelli's Chamber.
Snake researcher features in ‘Women in Herpetology’
50 stories from around the world celebrate the grit and passion of women in amphibian and reptile science.
Ancient sea level and climate changes led to major extinctions around South Africa
Sea level and climate changes altered the marine ecosystems at the South Pole 390-385 million years ago.
Civils FC grabs 2nd position in the 2023 Wits Soccer League!
Congratulations Civils FC! This is a soccer club comprising of undergraduate and postgraduate students in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Ancient diamonds shine light on the evolution of Earth
Superdeep diamonds formed between 650 and 450 million years ago show how continents developed and moved.
South Africa’s 2022 census: Who's the biggest?
Has Johannesburg stopped growing, or are the numbers wrong? Cape Town may have overtaken Joburg as the largest city in South Africa.
SA’s 2022 census missed 31% of people - big data could help in future
Big data is not the answer to all the challenges that faced Census 2022, but it may be a key enabler for gathering reliable national data in the future.
Changing the subject in feminist and queer politics
Professor of Sociology wins prestigious award for book on feminist studies in neoliberal India.
ICESCO Chair for Innovation and Futures in Africa launched at Wits
The Chair will be located within the Tayarisha Research Group that focuses on the effects and implications of digital transformation and governance in Africa.
Happy Birthday, Witsies!
Epic parade and student-inspired music festival painted Braamfontein blue and gold as Wits enters its second century.
Future-proofing pandemic preparedness and response
Comparative analysis of the Pandemic accord and amendments to the International Health Regulations texts.
Wits leads IUPAP Working Group on Climate Action
Two Wits academics lead international working group on physics for climate action and sustainable development
Researchers to examine the impact of support provided to deaf children
Wits and its UK partner are to investigate the impact of support provided to deaf infants and children in South Africa.
PhD graduate leads efforts to create first quantum microscope
Chané Moodley will be heading a research team into finding the best ways of developing and commercialising a quantum microscope.
British Academy awards Early-Career Scholar
Political theorist Dr Ayesha Omar has been awarded a three-year British Academy International Fellowship.
Terminally ill patients need more than prayers from spiritual leaders
Cancer patients in Soweto give more clues on how spiritual leaders can assist them to find peace amidst a difficult journey.
Science and climate advocacy - a much-needed balancing act
Ecologist Professor Sally Archibald makes a case for scientists 'stepping out of their labs' and engaging in activism and keeping an ethical balance.
Trade unions - new ways of organising in the digital age
Three African case studies show how workers are recasting their power in the new economy
 600 x 300.jpg "Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Zeblon Vilakazi and a University delegation participated in a guided tour of the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) 600 x 300.")
NASA welcomes Wits delegation
Wits alumni give VC a guided tour of the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
WMI summit explores the changing mining landscape
The Summit is another step forward in developing mining tech and skills to drive a low-carbon future and just energy transition.
New study shows signs of early creation of modern human identities
Early ancestors collected eye-catching shells that radically changed the way we looked at ourselves and others.
Fak’ugesi 2023 Awards celebrate digital creativity
Honouring 10 Pan-African innovators for outstanding creative achievements as the Festival celebrates a decade of African creativity.
A leap of faith and resilience
Agents at the heart of creating a better world for the Deaf community mark 25 years of impact and partnerships.
Building a diverse professoriate through strategic investment
Insights from the Carnegie Diversifying the Academy programme.
Setting the stage for scientific brilliance. For Good
Wits Chemistry student Taskeen Hasrod set to represent South Africa on the global stage at the FameLab science communication competition.
Deaf film and arts festival marks 25 years of deaf education
Korean artists 'Handspeak' and South African artists will perform at a festival showcasing Deaf culture as part of celebrations at Wits.
What to see and what to do at the 2023 Fak'ugesi Festival
A virtual feast of Africa’s best creative showcases, digital workshops, talks, music, and digital art exhibitions
Hope abounds at Founders’ Tea
They graduated in the summer of ’83 but for many of the inaugural Wits Founders, it wasn’t too long ago that they walked across the Great Hall stage.
Three factors driving SA's destructive storms
A series of powerful tidal surges battered coastal areas in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces over the weekend of 16 September 2023.
South Africa’s meteorite heritage grow to over 50
Discovery of two meteorites are the first to be found by a member of the public on South African soil in over 40 years.
Award for Queer and Trans African Mobilities anthology
The book expands our understanding of the intersection between gender, sexuality and mobility in Africa.
Crocks' ancestors grew old sloooowly
A gigantic, ancient crocodylomorph species that was recently discovered grew slower than other large reptiles of its day, such as dinosaurs.
Smiles all round at launch of Zola Wits Dental Clinic
The Zola Wits Dental Clinic is a refurbished and re-equipped 15-chair, state-of the-art facility for community-based training and clinical services in Zola.
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New trees for a sustainable and healthy campus
The addition of fruit trees promotes food security and reminds Witsies about the critical role that trees play in mitigating the effects of climate change.
Wits' Path to Gender Equity: Insights from Bath Spa University's Vice-Chancellor
Wits University's TEEO invited university transformation committees to discuss gender equity with Bath Spa University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sue Rigby.
Wits launches new PGDip in Science in the field of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Graduates and third year students encouraged to apply now for the new PG Diploma to drive business ownership and job creation.
South Africa can’t crack the inequality curse. Why, and what can be done
Efforts have been made to change the patterns of inequality in South Africa. But not enough has been done. Race-based inequality is still a real problem.
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Concussion: what it is and how sports science is making rugby safer
Rugby players risk serious injury due to the game’s sheer physicality. Sports scientists have worked with international rugby bodies to improve safety.
How did elephants evolve such a large brain? Climate change is part of the answer
Climate change along with other environmental disruptions and new predators all likely played an important role in reshaping ancient elephants’ brains.
Johannesburg fire: how to move forward
There was a plan to fix derelict buildings and provide good accommodation.
Witsies rediscover campus during fun run
The Lenn Smith Fun Run/Walk cultivates camaraderie and reconnects scores of Witsies to the beautiful Wits landscape.
FALF leads the way in deepening the knowledge project
Launched just three years ago, the Female Academic Leaders Fellowship (FALF) programme is steadily expanding the knowledge legacy of South Africa.
How do we use Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education for Good?
Wits workshop on Learning and Teaching debates responsibility, equity, and access of generative AI in Higher Education.
Brazilian Rectors gather at Wits to pave the way for future collaborations
More than 50 distinguished Brazilian university leaders and scholars from various institutions convened at Wits to forge collaborative pathways for the future.
Bone healing research shows promise in treating malignant cancers
Wits Bone Research Lab the only unit of its kind to show that a bone-forming protein can block growth of human squamous cell carcinoma.
Wits welcomes WESAF Doctoral Programme Fellows
The first cohort of Wits-Edinburgh Sustainable African Futures (WESAF) Fellows participate in a week-long orientation programme at Wits University.
Johannesburg fire disaster: why eradicating hijacked buildings is not the answer
Inner city occupations are the inevitable consequence of the fact that huge populations of people have to get by without a living wage.
First fossils of ancient human relatives journey to space
Fossils from Homo naledi and Australopithecus sediba become the oldest astronauts to travel to space, flying on Virgin Galactic's spaceship VSS Unity.
IMF leader engages Wits students
South Africa needs to match its goals with strong ambition, said IMF’s First Deputy during a talk on campus.
Maths education researcher wins prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award
National Research Foundation awards Wits Professor Jill Adler for advancing maths teaching, research, and empowering maths educators in post-democratic SA.
Wits RHI launches Project PrEP
The study will generate real-world data on integrating a new PrEP method, the Dapi-ring, to protect women against sexual transmission of HIV.
Traditional medicines should be used in healthcare
Using centuries of indigenous knowledge along with modern healthcare could benefit more people.
Renowned medical oncologist to Chair Ethics Committee
Emeritus Professor Paul Ruff was appointed Chairperson of the Wits Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC): Medical, effective 1 August 2023.
Genomics research in Africa will improve global health
African populations are the most genetically diverse in the world, with thousands of different ethnolinguistic groups across the continent.
Green thinking is needed to save beaches
Coastlines need to be recognised as dynamic, shifting environments rather than as environments that need to be controlled and managed.
Signing, to save a life
The Wits-Afretec Tech-Entrepreneurship Workshop held marks a pioneering stride for young, aspiring entrepreneurs.
Professional Speed Dating connects students with possible future employers
Wits Counselling and Careers Development Unit expose top performing students to an interview process with industry in five minutes.
Wits and the Bank of China produce the first Chinese Investors’ Confidence Index for South Africa
The index, called CICISA is a quarterly index that tracks the evolution of the “investment climate” or “investment attractiveness” of South Africa over time.
Putting the choice in the hands that matter
A new study has been launched that will harness real-world data to maximise the impact of PreP products on reducing HIV infections.
Brics summit creates a global opportunity for public health
No commitment yet to tackle the ‘commercial determinants’ of noncommunicable disease pandemics.
Sport talent bolsters national teams
Student athletes and coaches from various sport codes fly the SA flag at the World University Games.
Wits Centre for Journalism marks a new era in media research
A new era of journalism research dawned as Wits University inaugurated the formally known Wits Journalism into the Wits Centre for Journalism (WCJ).
Wits scientists opens up the world of pharmaceutical research at National Science Week
Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform use the national science fair to interact with future generation of scientists, healthcare professionals, and innovators.
Wits empowers future leaders through short course programme
Over 200 learners hailing from 55 schools in Gauteng recently participated in the second instalment of the Wits Integrated Experience (WitsIE) Short Course.
Immersive experiences with Wits NeuRL
NeuRL’s Immersive Virtual Reality Lab uses innovative body owner illusions to understand cross-cultural bias.
The plight of South Africa’s women
South African women: violence, health and money issues among 5 biggest obstacles that stand in their way.
Concrete specialist wins prestigious award
Emerging scholar receives Young Concrete Researcher Award by industry body Cement & Concrete SA.
.jpg "Gogo Grace is one of the traditional healers who is now a certified HIV counsellor and tester in Bushbuckridge Mpumalanga_photo Sandra Maytham Bailey")
Traditional healers in rural Mpumalanga help diagnose HIV
Research project in Bushbuckridge empowers traditional healers to conduct HIV testing, refer those positive for treatment, thereby curbing new infections.
Learners fascinated by new developments in pharmaceutical research
The Wits Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology hosted learners of the SAHETI School for a day of knowledge sharing and exploration with experts.
Wits lecturer wins the Silver Jubilee Medal from the South African Institute of Physics
The award is made for outstanding achievements by a young physicist that contributes to the research, education or technology development in physics.
Shell Structures inspire a paradigm shift in design thinking
New book on shell structures is unique. Wits is one of five universities globally to focus on this engineering structure.
Gigantic extinct reptile weighed as much as a black rhino
Large pareiasaurs are among the earliest huge plant-eating tetrapods to appear in the history of the development of life on Earth.
Africa needs to get Wagner out of Africa
Russia summit is an opportunity for Africa to unite on Ukraine and make its collective voice heard on Russian mercenaries in African conflicts.
Wits Music award-winning musicians launch albums at Narratives gig
Vuma Levin and Benjamin Jephta launch their albums with an all-star ensemble featuring some of South African jazz’s finest musicians.
Choreographing new ways of knowing
Thirteen years ago Kamogelo Molobye enrolled for Law at Rhodes but The Amazing Other Show changed the trajectory for the Wits Theatre & Performance lecturer...
Surviving heat waves in Africa
Around the world, temperature records are being broken in countries in Africa, Europe, America and Asia.
.jpg "The Performance Studies international conference in Africa for the first time in 2023 is hosted by Wits departments of Theatre and Performance and Drama for Life in Wits School of Arts from 2-5 August 2023")
Wits University hosts PSi Conference for the first time in Africa
The Wits School of Arts in the Faculty of Humanities co-hosts the Performance Studies International (PSi) conference in Johannesburg from 2-5 August 2023.
Half of all South Africans are overweight or obese
The increased availability and consumption of unhealthy food have contributed to poor health outcomes, and warning labels on unhealthy foods help change that.
Halala South Africa
The Deaf community celebrates South African Sign Language becoming the 12th official language.
Malnutrition: how one SA community wants resources to be spent
Failing to understand what communities consider important greatly diminishes the responsiveness of policies to the actual needs of individuals.
Canon SA extends partnership with Wits rock art digitisation laboratory
Canon South Africa and the Wits Rock Art Research Institute (RARI) partnered in 2021 to keep the preservation of rock art heritage alive.
Wits Targeting Talent Programme thrives for nearly two decades
The programme has been empowering young minds and nurturing their potential for a brighter future for good.
Nelson Mandela’s legacy is taking a battering
How he is regarded will continue to change depending on the state of South Africa, and there is never going to be a final assessment of his legacy.
Wits-UoE research partnership ‘heads to Space’
Researchers from Wits and the University of Edinburgh held a symposium to explore collaborative opportunities for Space Research projects.
You carry the legacy forward: Honour Mandela!
Witsies double and triple commitment on Mandela Day with 670 and 6700 initiatives.
UN body proposes new social contract
A new eco-social contract is necessary to create a sustainable and just future, responsive to multiple and intersecting crises.
‘Science Oscars’ for three Witsies for research excellence
Professors Roger Deane, Nosipho Moloto, and Andrew Thatcher each won in their category at the 2022/23 NSTF-South32 Awards.
Wits honours Gates
A brilliant intellectual with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Prof. Jim Gates shattered boundaries and unlocked secrets of the Universe.
Bridging the gap between mining and people
The unveiling of the Wits Sibanye-Stillwater Innovation bridge represents an enduring investment in human capital and future engineering skills.
Launch of 'Mokgomana – The life of John Kgoana Nkadimeng 1927 – 2020'
The book launch weaves another important thread into the story of the everyday activists who made the anti-apartheid movement what it was.
Wits University confers Honorary Doctorate on Father Huddleston
Anti-apartheid chaplain described by some South Africans as "father ke motho" or "one of us"
Supporting youth to become job creators
The next generation is essential to Africa's future and to global shared interests in creating a safer, healthier, and more prosperous world.
Females mining new frontiers
Two black female visionaries are breaking barriers and reshaping mining engineering.
Frontrunners ascend to the stage at the July 2023 grads
Second black female PHD Mining Engineer graduates this July, and Father Trevor Huddleston and Professor James Sylvester Gates to receive honorary doctorates.
Ticket giveaway for Targeting Talent Programme show, The Journey
The production, titled The Journey, tells the story of these learners’ journey through life, as well as their journey into the Targeting Talent Programme.
Two Wits students bag Optics and Photonics Education Scholarship by SPIE
Leerin Michaela Perumal and Cade Ribeiro Peters, receive a life-changing opportunity for their potential contributions to physics.
Managing risk and harm in research ethically
Research findings must be limited and mitigated to protect participants’ well-being and dignity.
Wits GCI co-leads pioneering initiative to fight the impact of tropical cyclones
The new R110 million project aims to improve early warnings and enhance resilience to changing tropical cyclones in southern Africa and Madagascar.
Should I get the flu vaccine? South African experts say yes
Vaccines remain the most effective method available to prevent flu, especially severe flu illness.
Climate change journalism in SA misses the mark
The kind of coverage favoured by South African media probably doesn’t do much to improve the public’s understanding of climate change.
Offer better HIV care to migrant women in South Africa
The vulnerability of migrants was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic when restrictions affected people’s ability to travel to access treatment.
Grade 11 learners investigate asteroid impact at Wits experience
The Wits Integrated Experience kicked off its sixth short course this year designed to expose grade 11 to university life.
Research is lacking in Africa on benefits of children's movement
Current research largely excludes 16% of the world population as Africa contributes less than 1% of research worldwide on the movement behaviours of children.
Witsies in Top 200. For Good
Almost a quarter of the 200 young South Africans nominated by the nation are from Wits.
Wits Researchers rewarded for excellence
Researchers from all over Wits have been rewarded for their excellence at a Wits ceremony.
A career rooted in promoting mental health
Lived experiences inspired a career in psychology and these keep Shameen Naidu close to students that need support.
Wits to co-lead international research on Migration and Health
The research will focus on the health of migrants in the African Union and European Union corridor, one of the largest migration corridors globally.
Wits audience fascinated by first mission of its kind to Jupiter
South African-born space physicist Professor Michele Dougherty is a principal investigator on the Juice mission to Jupiter.
Unicorns - the story behind southern Africa's one-horned creatures
Some explorers believed they had found unicorns depicted on rocks. The truth behind the rock art is far more interesting.
Sign language is set to become official in South Africa
Here is how this will help Deaf people to finally have an opportunity to be properly educated in a language they understand.
Academic staff honoured for completing transitioning programme
Twenty Wits academics have completed the Enhancing Mid-Career Academic Transitions (EMCAT) pilot programme launched in 2022.
The surprising path to life: breaking free from Plate Tectonics
New research reveals that the emergence of life on Earth did not require Plate Tectonics
Smarter human oversight is crucial in facial recognition AI
Enhanced human verification techniques and practices will always be required to ensure accuracy and ward off inherent biases.
Food standards save lives
Fun and practical lessons help University community to learn more about food safety.
Wits School of Accountancy renamed after former Head, Margo Steele
Former student pledges US$10 million to rename the school after first woman head of school.
Revolutionary ideas are not so cut and dried
Corruption, cadre deployment and BEE has destroyed the notion of public service and replaced it with self-interest, party interests and greed.
International expert panel revises management of concussion in sport for optimal care of athletes
Sport and Exercise Medicine physician Jon Patricios co-chaired the latest consensus statement that updates existing recommendations to optimising athlete care.
President of Portugal gives brief history lecture to Wits students
Wits University hosted the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, during his state visit to South Africa on 07 June 2023.
Order of the Star of Italy for Professor Polese
Associate Professor Claudia Polese has been awarded the prestigious Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy.
University Corner renamed after illustrious writer Es'kia Mphahlele
Wits University has officially renamed University Corner after renowned writer and activist Es'kia Mphahlele as part of its continuing transformation plan.
SA philosophers mourn the passing of Eusebius McKaiser
On behalf of Wits Philosophy and the South African Philosophy community, Professor Lucy Allais honours Eusebius McKaiser.
Researchers demonstrate noise-free communication with structured light
A new approach to optical communication that can be deployed with conventional technology.
India, South Africa and Australia shared similar volcanic activity 3.5 billion years ago
Ancient volcanism dating back to 3.5 billion years ago are common to Archaean cratons of South Africa, India, and Australia.
Start-ups prepare for intervarsity competition
Student entrepreneurs are set to conquer the regional rounds with groundbreaking ideas and unwavering ambition.
Remembering SA's “Grand Geek” and programming pioneer
Many speak fondly of how Professor Barry Dwolatzky took them into a derelict disco and enthusiastically explained the tech co-working space he envisioned there.
Wits School of Arts partners with leading art school in Brazil
The Wits School of Arts (WSOA) partnered with a leading media art school at the Federal University of Santa Maria in Brazil (UFSM).
Witsies claim top spots in the battle for ideas
Two Wits students were ranked top in the Falling Walls Lab competition that also saw Nelson Mandela University feature in the top three.
Wits and Sappi launch new Sappi Chair in Climate Change and Plantation Sustainability
Through the Research Chair Professor Mary Scholes will identify critical research needs and develop research outputs related to climate change.
Africa’s Russia-Ukraine peace mission: what can it achieve?
If the African delegation could convince the belligerents to find a peaceful solution, they will make a critical contribution to the climate for mediation.
It’s clear, SA is aligned with Russia
South Africa’s pact with the Russian Federation – and its actions – cast doubt on its claims of non-alignment.
Market Day showcases products by students
Campus bustling with customers and learning opportunities for student entrepreneurs.
Curios.ty 15 (#Energy): Igniting innovation
Wits' research magazine focuses on how our researchers are powering up their creativity and expertise to find sustainable energy solutions.
Energising and futureproofing our world
Editorial: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but for South Africans it feels like we are upending this fundamental law of physics.
The first to fuel the fire
The first fuel that enabled human beings to land on the moon was harnessed right here in Africa.
Rolling blackouts: Light at the end of the tunnel?
SA’s could create a new model for many countries facing power shortages but it could also lead to more muddling in the dark.
How to spend $8.5bn correctly to energise and green SA
Dr Andrew Lawrence explores how funding received from the Just Energy Transition Partnership can most benefit South Africa.
Clean, safe, controversial
Nuclear energy has had a bad rap, but in South Africa’s current energy conundrum, its importance in the mix is clear.
The red flags in green hydrogen
Scientists can do better to take industry and government-driven hype out of green hydrogen so that its actual potential can be realised.
Your 8 quirky energy questions answered
From Star Wars to hot curry to Einstein – we’ve got you covered.
Building sustainable cities
Long-term economic and social side-effects need to be considered when thinking about our cities’ energy solutions.
Woodlands and forests con-tree-versial
A tree is not just a tree. It is also fuel, paper, furniture, livelihood, and industry.
Energy in the body
How does the body convert food to fuel? How much do we need? And will running really help with weight loss?
Killing cancer with cryoablation
Freeze, fry, microwave, or obliterated – treating early cancer which can progress to advanced life-threatening cancer with cryoablation.
The energy it takes to navigate an abled-bodied world
The implementation of universal design and access could improve the lives of people living with disabilities.
The psychology of energy
Wits researchers shed light on alternative energies and how to leverage them when we’re depleted and in the dark.
A planet called 'Home'
Our home planet Earth is unique, not only in its position in space but in the way it manages energy to create a comfortable spot for us to inhabit.
Finding facts in a lightning bolt
Lightning research will answer several questions about this lesser-known force of nature.
Can Wits go off the grid?
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero is the next big thing on the global agenda, but academics agree it’s not feasible in the medium term on campus.
Skills for a green world
South Africa needs to reskill and upskill in the face of changing technology and shifting workplaces.
‘Clean Coal’ could be a game-changer for SA
Q&A: Coal has a bad reputation, but ‘clean coal’ holds various potential opportunities, says Professor Samson Bada.
On ant(eater) patrol
PROFILE: Living to find innovative ways to solve tough challenges, Dr Wendy Panaino digs deep into the lives of pangolins.
Overcoming energy poverty
Researchers are developing innovative solutions to counter the energy poverty that impacts teaching and learning.
Educating science student-teachers about energy
How good is a science curriculum that’s insulated from working scientists or that ignores climate change and sustainable development?
Africa is getting hotter
Continued extreme heat exposure is affecting the health of vulnerable groups in communities.
Column: Ensuring a just energy transition is complex
Focusing on the dynamics in the electricity sector, Professor Imraan Valodia outlines the challenges South Africa is facing and what can be done.
A country worth fighting for
Column: South Africa is a country on the ropes. Its critical infrastructure, including its energy supply, is crippled. Do we still have some fight left?
Sellschop’s neutrinos and an elusive energy
These ghost particles have travelled light years to where we are and are proof that humans are essentially stardust and sunlight.
Bridging the energy gap with AI
Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) can help catapult South Africa’s energy distribution into the future.
Donated books reflect on African achievers and gender issues
Wits Libraries receive a total of 30 books focusing on African leadership, excellence, and gender-based violence to encourage deep conversations.
Converse with your subconscious at Makhanda Arts Festival
Wits Theatre and Performance undergraduate students present ‘Temperance’ in the Eastern Cape in June 2023.
Celebrating Africa Day
African philanthropy champion, Dr Bhekinkosi Moyo, shares his views on Africa Day, youth and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Wits enables employable graduates
The Recruiters’ Breakfast attended by industry recruiters widens opportunities for Wits graduates.
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Cholera: What is it and how can you avoid getting sick?
Water expert shares guidelines on how to purify water at home in areas where there is uncertainty over water quality or poor sanitation.
New fossil of a 252-million-year-old sabre-toothed lion shows it reigned just before mass extinction
Fossil is described in a paper exploring the rapid turnover of top predators in African terrestrial faunas around the Permian-Traissic mass extinction.
Professional and Administrative staff celebrate outstanding achievement
Wits staff achieve 90% success rate in Business Administration Learnership certification
Why it's unlikely the Cullinan diamond would be returned
Activists view their moral case for the return of the diamonds as unanswerable, but it runs up against many complications.
Wits rolls out Save Our Resources campaign
Engagement with staff on climate change and its implications is crucial to creating a more sustainable campus collectively.
Beat the Heat with YeboGogga
The annual Yebo Gogga Yebo amaBlomo exhibition takes place from 17 to 21 May 2023 and entry is free.
Chair in Mobility and the Politics of Difference supports Gender and Geography
The 18th international architectural exhibition in Venice showcases urban spaces in the Global South - with African cities front and centre.
Wits mourns the passing of Prof. Barry - SA's 'Grand Geek'
South Africa has lost an innovator, a strategist, a humanitarian, and a much-loved Professor who dedicated over 50 years of his life to Wits.
Intelligent responses needed for artificial intelligence
Professor Ruksana Osman advocates that innovative technologies should be considered as tools that can be harnessed for the benefit of teaching and learning.
South Africa’s cold weather has arrived – some tips on how to stay warm and safe
Researchers share advice on how to keep yourself as warm as possible during the winter months.
Chemistry student wins Wits leg of the Famelab
Taskeen Hasrod wins over the audience in explaining how to use AI in water research
An African first as Wits School of Arts hosts Performance Studies international conference
The Performance Studies international (PSi) Conference #28 takes place in Africa for the first time from 2-5 August 2023.
Mental health: almost half of JHB students in new study screened positive for probable depression
Probable depression was associated with socio-demographic factors such as economic status, and modifiable behavioural factors such as substance use.
Witsies can now access eduroam wi-fi networks in SA airports
Witsies can access eduroam WiFi at Airport Company of South Africa's airports.
Report on SA's vaccine manufacturing capabilities
VacTask is an independent advisory entity formed to support SA as a ‘front runner’ for the Africa CDC's Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing.
Wits breaks ground on R250 million sports complex
The Wits Brian and Dorothy Zylstra Sports Complex is an integrated facility for training, research, and clinical practice.
New Sustainable African Futures doctoral programme
Call for Applications for the WESAF Programme now open.
Kids and screen time – an expert offers advice for parents and teachers
How much time did your child spend looking at a screen today?
SA’s short-sighted vaccine manufacture and procurement policy compromises Africa’s development
The continent is currently the only major world region that does not have any significant domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity.
Staff walk tall as they receive degrees
Wits employees run their own race to graduate and one earns a fifth qualification.
A precious moment for a Witsie
Wits staff member Precious Khumalo graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Curious Kids: What would happen if all the mosquitoes in the world disappeared?
Wits scholars and publisher win humanities and social sciences awards
Wits Professor Isabel Hofmeyr wins best non-fiction: monograph and her publisher, Wits Press, specially awarded.
Hope is on the horizon for a malaria-free Africa
Malaria is preventable and treatable.
The forgotten history of Africans in World War 1
William Kentridge’s epic theatre production, The Head & The Load, finally reaches Johannesburg after delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Green energy should not deepen inequality
Making the green energy transition a success requires governments to pay attention to environmental factors and socioeconomic imperatives.
The social impact of CRM initiatives is often not sustainable
The result is that stakeholders are resentful, angry and say most of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CRM) is window-dressing.
Commonwealth short story prize for Witsie?
Wits alumnus Michael Boyd has been shortlisted for this major literary prize.
An academic, intellectual activist and social justice crusader wins an award for his research
The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and Universities South Africa (USAf) acknowledged Dr Vishwas Satgar
Award-winning research means impactful change for young unemployed men
Dr Hannah Dawson, Researcher at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) at Wits, wins at the HSRC and USAf CEOs’ annual award
Ray Joseph and Jeff Wicks jointly win the 2022 Taco Kuiper Award for Investigative Journalism
The annual Taco Kuiper Award celebrates the best in investigative journalism and highlights the importance of investigative journalists in South Africa.
Strike down the Electoral Amendment Act - it has been a mess from the beginning
Fifty percent of all the voters might cast their vote for just one wonderful independent. How many seats would that half of the electorate have in Parliament?
Wits mourns the passing of Wits alumnus Tiego Moseneke
Tiego Moseneke is a former president of the then Wits Black Students’ Society in 1985/6
Rahima Moosa: SA’s only mother & child hospital is falling apart - veteran doctor reflects on why
Prof. Laetitia Rispel has been researching health policy and systems for over 20 years. She asked Prof. Joe Veriava about the Health Ombudsman's report.
How South Africa averted a nuclear catastrophe
The world took a long time to challenge apartheid SA’s nuclear programme that aimed to deter liberation throughout southern Africa.
Gauteng City-Region Observatory signs MOU with Italian municipality, strengthens historical ties
Memorandum of understanding between Gauteng and Italian municipality Reggio Emilia the latest gesture in a long-standing friendship between Italy and SA.
Wits Innovation Centre signals a new era in #InnovationForGood
The WIC will harness the creativity and ingenuity of the University’s rich, diverse community of innovators to solve complex, real-world problems.
Fine advice on failing, luck and limiting expertise
Wits University awarded Dr David Fine an honorary degree at the Faculty of Science graduation ceremony on 17 April 2023.
Graduation season brings joy
Wits to award honorary doctorates to Ambassador Abdul Minty and Dr David Fine, and 5 341 Witsies to graduate in the first celebrations of the year.
Be(IE) innovators of the future
The first Biomedical Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Course sparks a new era for #WitsInnovation.
CAPSI and Mastercard Foundation Partner on Project Geared Towards Youth Employment Research
The project will be carried out in cooperation with an African-led network of academic institutions and will include research and knowledge dissemination.
Landmark agreement with Elsevier ensures open access publishing for African researchers
The South African National Library and Information Consortium (SANLiC) has signed a landmark transformational open access agreement with Elsevier.
Wits hosts leaders of Swedish universities
A delegation from the South Africa Sweden University Forum (SASUF) visited Wits as part of the Research and Innovation Week 2023
Sun-powered microgrid study launched in Pretoria
The Pecogrid pilot study will examine the viability of the large-scale rollout of microgrid inverter systems in informal communities.
The 2022 Durban floods were the most catastrophic yet recorded in KwaZulu-Natal
Research shows flooding events in the province have doubled in the last century.
Respiratory virus plagues SA but new vaccine for pregnant moms saves babies
Does immunising a woman during pregnancy protect her unborn baby against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the months after it is born?
Civil engineers use public satellite images to study why the Jagersfontein dam failed
Study by civil engineers at Wits University finds that the history of the Jagersfontein dam deviates from best engineering practice.
US Ambassador visits Wits
The United States Ambassador to SA, Reuben Brigety II, visited Wits University and engaged with a select group of Wits students studying International Relations
Wits University celebrates students
Outstanding matriculants, now Wits students receive Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship Awards, which covers full tuition fees.
Industries can harm health in many ways: here are 3 that aren’t so obvious
A recent groundbreaking series of reports in The Lancet journal unpacks what commercial determinants of health are and how they affect public health.
1 in 5 South African households begs for food – the link between food insecurity and mental health
At least ten million South Africans didn’t have enough food or money to buy food in 2019, according to the country’s statistics agency.
Wits mourns the passing of veteran journalist Jeremy Gordin
Jeremy Gordin led the Wits Justice Project for several years.
Deep ties evoke Africa’s sacrifices for freedom
Tanzania and South Africa: Ties between the two nations date back to Tanzania’s solidarity with the anti-apartheid struggle.
Three Royal Fellows Reunite at Wits
It was the meeting of three great intellectuals, all Fellows of the Royal Society (UK), all scientists, and all fellow Witsies.
The world is hooked on junk food: how big companies pull it off
Over many decades, our food environments have been encouraging us to make choices that are harmful to our health, through pricing, marketing and availability.
New Head for Campus Health and Wellness Centre
This nursing and health activist, and a community builder, looks forward to promoting student health and success on campus.
The Lancet Series on the commercial determinants of health
The 3-paper Series launching at Wits today is a ground-breaking exposé of the products and practices collectively called the commercial determinants of health.
Africa’s moment to shine
Africa is entering a century of global dominance in growth.
Global health professor at Wits to receive honorary degree
Professor Helen Rees, Executive Director of Wits RHI, will on Friday, 31 March 2023 receive an honorary degree from Rhodes University.
Profit versus health: 4 ways big global industries make people sick
It’s commonly known that alcohol and tobacco use make us ill. Less known is that just 4 industries account for at least one-third of global preventable deaths.
Students entrepreneurship on the rise
More and more students are exploring entrepreneurship and joining campus initiatives that support various stages to business success.
Wits University and SOAS partner to offer ground-breaking doctoral degree
Wits University and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London join forces to offer a first of its kind PhD.
A gold medal for tuberculosis molecular diagnosis
It's World TB Day and award-winning microbiologist Bavesh Kana knows molecular diagnostics can take on this lethal bacterial disease that still kills millions.
Principals honoured as top achievers from Gauteng schools
Many of Wits University’s top learners come from important feeder schools, which produce quality students that easily adjust to the academic demands at Wits.
Two leading Wits scientists appointed to National Advisory Council on Innovation
Professor Lynn Morris and Professor Bavesh Kana will advise government on how to harness and grow innovation.
When banks go bust: the four factors at play
Confidence in banking is hard-earned and easily shocked. This makes individual banks and the sector susceptible to knock-on effects from other institutions.
No time for business as usual
Central banks find themselves at a crossroads of holding to old mandates but having to face up to new world challenges.
The soul of South Africa: corrupt to the core?
South Africans are simply not angry enough, protesting enough and shaming the ANC government and leaders enough for their corruption, state failure and decay.
Esteemed astronomer joins Wits as a Distinguished Professor
Professor Athol Kemball joins the Wits School of Physics as a Distinguished Professor through the Carnegie Africa Diaspora Programme.
Major new study on LGBTIQ+ migrants and asylum seekers
The absence of reliable quantitative data makes it difficult – if not impossible – to hold Home Affairs, the police and other state entities to account.
Climate change a time for Africa to roar back
The battle for power and profits is on as the world moves towards the green agenda.
Get 40 winks and more this World Sleep Day
17 March is World Sleep Day and sleep is the third pillar of good health after a healthy diet and exercise.
US-China tensions: how Africa can avoid being caught in a new Cold War
There are fears that escalating US-Chinese tensions could threaten the independence of African and other nonaligned nations.
Wits and Telkom launch new industry solutions lab
Telkom and Wits sign a partnership agreement to establish the new Telkom Industry Solutions Lab.
Professor Lee Berger appointed as National Geographic Explorer in Residence
Professor Lee Berger appointed as National Geographic Explorer in Residence, but will remain at Wits as an Honorary Professor.
Update from the Senior Executive Team - 14 March 2023
Management welcomes the proposal to enter a mediation process as soon as possible and has communicated as such with the SRC.
Wits awards 29 Centennial Postdoctoral Fellowships
The University has invested R9-million in postdoctoral fellowships to advance its innovation and internationalisation strategies and its research agenda.
Human genome editing – progress, promise, and challenges
The 3rd International Summit on Human Genome Editing took place in the UK in March. Wits Professor of Genetics Michèle Ramsay was on the organising committee.
Wits and US Congress celebrate 20 years of PEPFAR
The Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute hosted a US Congress Delegation to mark the programme’s two decades of HIV/Aids relief.
Wits' Response To SRC'S Demands - 10 March 2023
STATEMENT: Wits addresses some of the misinformation being shared by some protestors with students.
.jpg "Co-authors and editors on the Health Reforms book LtoR Yogan Pillay Clinton Health Access Foundation, Tracey Naledi UCT, Precious Matsoso Wits & WHO INB Co-Chair, Robyn Hayes Badenhorst Wits Health Consortium")
Seminal book strengthens research-evidence-policy links to improve science implementation
Several Witsies contributed to a book that provides a first-hand account of public health progress and challenges in SA between 2015 and 2020.
VC and management reps meet SRC
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal and members of management met with the current members of the Students’ Representative Council yesterday.
Depression, anxiety and childhood trauma: who's most at risk
Adverse childhood experiences are associated with an increased risk of mental health problems in adulthood.
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Excess mortality initiative underway to count every death, because every death counts
Wits Rural Knowledge Hub researchers’ analysis of mortality data during the worst of Covid-19 will give insights into the steps to take in the next pandemic.
Power cuts: South Africa’s state of disaster is being contested in court
South Africa’s courts are likely to set a high bar in cases brought against the government’s most recent state of disaster declaration.
The real Joburg in 6 powerful photos
From butchers to hawkers, and shelters to miners, this book reveals the informal economy and texture of the city.
Confirmation That Mr Aphiwe Mnyamana Has Been Suspended
We refer to Mr Aphiwe Mnyamana's tweet posted at 20:31 tonight and confirm that Mr Mnyamana was suspended on 6 March 2023.
Update On Protests 6 March 2023 20:30
We extend our deep appreciation to all staff and students for seamlessly pivoting to blended teaching and learning today.
Facing the climate crisis in a world of inequality: Who should pay? Who will pay?
South Africa holds the dishonourable title of most unequal country in the world, and Africa’s largest carbon emitter.
Update on protests - 5 March 2023 (23:00)
We will continue with teaching and learning in a blended learning mode
Response from the Senior Executive Team on protests
The Senior Executive Team met on Sunday, 05 March 2023 to consider the demands put forward by the SRC.
Update from the Senior Executive Team, 3 March 14:30
Lectures at Wits proceeded well today in a multimodal format.
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Tackling obesity with medication: New hope and real challenges
Pharmaceuticals could be manufactured and sold at reasonable profit, far below the current eye-watering prices, according to a paper in the journal Obesity.
Update on student protests (2 March 2022 - 18:00)
Wits issues multiple suspension orders to disruptors who transgressed the University’s rules. All university activities will continue as scheduled on Friday.
Update on student protests (2 March 2022 - 14:00)
The University remains open and the academic programme continues as scheduled.
Update on student protests (1 March 2022 - 18:00)
Entry key and exit points are being managed to ensure your safe entry, and officers will be stationed at key lecture theatres to ensure classes continue.
Living in food insecure households associated with poor mental health – SA study
To ensure adequate food, one in five South African households revealed that they had to send someone to beg for food.
Sex work in SA - Buy and sell should be legal
The repeal of outdated apartheid-era laws would have a far-reaching, positive impact on individual sex workers’ health and well-being.
Statement from the Senior Executive Team on protests
The University is committed to ensuring that staff and students are safe. The academic programme will continue as scheduled.
Climate change solutions must incorporate development and equality
Energy, water and food security must be prioritised, as global warming puts millions of vulnerable people, particularly in developing countries, at grave risk.
The hurdles facing migrant protection in South Africa
Forms of protection for forced migrants in South Africa continue to shrink, leaving civil society and unreliable stakeholders as guardians.
Dr Mitch Cox named 2023 Optica Ambassador
He is one of 10 exceptional early-career members selected from around the world to serve as a 2023 Optical Foundation Ambassador.
Adapting to climate change in urban Nigeria
Poverty drives vulnerability to climate risks in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Here are 4 factors that affect how residents adapt.
Successful cure of HIV infection after stem cell transplantation
An international group of researchers including Wits scientists have identified a third case of HIV infection cured by stem cell transplantation.
AKA’s murder video went viral - it shouldn’t have
The explosive viral spread of the grainy but dramatic footage shows the limits of mainstream media ethics.
Witsies dominate the 51st budget speech competition
Wits scoops four out of the top six positions and prizes available at the national budget speech competition.
First-year students ready for life at Wits thanks to Gateway to Success
The Gateway to Success programme prepares new undergraduates for life on campus with a curriculum that combines both social and academic components.
New Head of the Wits Centre for Journalism
Dr Dinesh Balliah has been appointed as the Director of the Wits Centre for Journalism as from 1 March 2023.
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South African team makes giant leap towards a 3D quantum camera
By improving the principle of “Ghost imaging” researchers manage to create images of an object that stays completely in the dark.
Creating a thriving and regenerative environmental ecosystem at Wits
Wits University is committed to imagine how waste, including food waste, can be better utilised in service of people and the planet.
First Years revel in the Wits Spirit
Excitement fills the air as Wits FC wins against Orlando Pirates at the 2023 Spirit Game.
Hunger in SA: 1 in 5 at risk
Social grants are the largest source of support for many vulnerable groups, and the government’s primary response to poverty, food insecurity and inequality.
International congress of Human Genetics 'comes home' to Africa
South Africa will host the 14th International Congress of Human Genetics (ICHG 2023) themed 'Coming Home' from 22 to 26 February 2023.
SRC launches fundraising campaign and promotes active citizenship
Student leaders aim to raise money to help peers with debt register and return to class in 2023.
Wits names three scholars as Friedel Sellschop Fellows
The University awarded the prestigious Friedel Sellschop fellowship award to Dr Mitchell Cox, Dr Eloise van der Merwe, and Dr Abhishek Pandey.
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The invisible trillions of global capitalism
Raymond W. Baker says the estimated hundreds of billions of dollars in hidden wealth a decade ago has skyrocketed to trillions today.
Experts call for climate change mindset shift that draws from various knowledge systems
Coleen Vogel, Professor at the Global Change Institute among experts who propose the adoption of practical wisdom in the fight against climate change.
Why South African moms buy commercial milk formula when breast is best
Baby formula companies use nefarious and exploitative methods to create an artificial demand for their products, thereby undermining breastfeeding.
Wits Innovation Centre announces team
Dr Adam Pantanowitz has been appointed as Chair in Innovation and Director of the WIC, and Letlotlo Phohole as Senior Programme Manager.
Budding entrepreneur cracks student market
Passion, strategy and excellence creates a flourishing business for law student.
Increasing the visibility of African research and researchers
Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) launches Evidence website.
Researchers find distortion-free forms of structured light
Research offers a new approach to studying complex light in complex systems, such as transporting classical and quantum light through optical fiber.
In it For Good
Energy, joy and commitment at an all-time-high as first-year students join the Wits family.
Use practical wisdom in climate change actions
Wits’ Global Change Institute among global scientists calling for a mindset shift about climate change which draws from various knowledge systems
Informal settlements could drive solar revolution
Solar would provide their dwellings with power, but also a source of revenue if power is sold back to the grid.
Vitamins and supplements: what you need to know
There’s a common perception that supplements are harmless. But they can be dangerous at incorrect dosages.
How East Africans shaped the music in India
Dhamaal music and dance reveal a rich and complex mixing of cultures that is shaped by history.
New Wits-UoE doctoral training centre
Wits University is proud to collaborate with the University of Edinburgh (UoE) to establish a new collaborative doctoral training centre in Africa.
Wits researcher invited into her second exclusive global explorers club
Dr Keneiloe Molopyane joins the EC50 class of 2023, after also being selected as an Emerging Explorer for the National Geographic Society in 2021.
Mass economic illiteracy equally poses terrifying risks
South Africa may have among the largest mass belief in Soviet-style state-centred economics - education is needed on the disastrous impact in post-war Africa.
This is not just a building ...
The new Data Sciences and Innovation Hub at Wits Rural Campus marks 30 years of rural public health research and sets the scene for an innovative epoch in 2023.
Wits Sports honours top achievers
Student-athletes commended for balancing sports and academics
Heat stress is rising in southern Africa
Southern Africans are experiencing heat stress more often than in 1979. Climate experts show where and when it’s the worst.
Africa’s large mammals shaped human evolution
New book shows this amazing evolutionary transformation of humankind could only have happened in Africa.
Nation building debate is still relevant today
New book by scholar Mandla Radebe reminds us of the debates by an idealistic generation committed to building a non-racial SA.
Global President of Schools of Social Work visits Wits
International President of Schools of Social Work visits Wits to discuss preparing the next generation to keep pace with the needs of society.
Ensuring the right skills to navigate the energy transition
The South African National Energy Association (SANEA) will launch its South African Energy Skills Roadmap on 27 January 2023.
100% Matric pass for Wits University’s Targeting Talent Programme participants
Grade 12 learners who completed a pre-university enrichment programme at Wits have excelled in Matric.
Medical student a karate star
Third-year medical student, Zahra Kader, is a seasoned karate-ga and a member of the national team.
Pregnant learners need creches and compassion
Under South African law, girls have the right to continue their schooling through and after their pregnancies.
Wits mourns the passing of Dr Frene Ginwala
We extend our condolences to her comrades, family and friends, and those who were close to her.
The ancient San painting featured in SA’s coat of arms
The exhibition titled ǃke e꞉ ǀxarra ǁke [‘People who are different’, ‘come together’], celebrates the rock art of the San people and is on display now at the Or
Varsity an eye-opener for student leader
Moving from Bangladesh to start university in South Africa and using a fourth language stretched Sarah Eram, a student leader in the School of Business Science.
Our universities must join the new global academia
My annual return to South Africa for the summer holidays has at one level been depressing.
Celebrating a 100 years of Wits for good
Remembering the outstanding working done by Wits’ student body in Riverlea in the 1960s to early 1980s.
African Academy of Sciences awards Wits pharmacist for scientific discovery and innovation
The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) named Wits Professor Choonara winner of its Olusegun Obasanjo Prize for Scientific Discovery and Technological Innovation.
The three life values that stuck with this Wits alumna
Enthusiasm, integrity and compassion. These are the three life values renowned physiotherapist Professor Stewart shared as she accepted a Gold Medal.
Wits Students take first and Second place at the National Conference
Witsies dominate at the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) National Conference Student Cluster Competition.
Climate change can be beaten – why some scientists are hopeful
Can our planet recover from climate change? Commissioning Editor, Kofoworola Belo-Osagie, asked scientists to share the reasons they believe there is hope.
Wits takes lead in Global Innovative Seismic testing project for new generation exploration
The testing phase of a SA-Europe partnership project this December marks a significant step forward in developing new generation seismic sensing technology.
Carnegie programme going strong
Carnegie funded programmes makes critical contributions to the knowledge project and talent-pipeline.
Transformative Fellowships for humanities researchers
The African Fellowships programme advances South-North research collaboration to find solutions to global challenges.
Wits Maths Competition sharpens school learners
Learners praise competition for providing a mixture of stimulating challenges that took them out of the comfort zone.
How studying frog eggs enabled understanding of human facial deformities
A Wits alumna and renowned biologist shared how her international career started with unravelling 'ant songs' and scrutinising frog eggs.
Memorialising a revolutionary leader
A new partnership is forged as a portrait of Professor Adam Habib is unveiled.
Child nutrition programmes can feed inequality
Children who need help most tend to experience adversity throughout childhood. That continuing adversity muffles the benefit of improved early nutrition.
Climate change is not what South Africans see as their main problem
Wits celebrates thousands of graduates this week
Wits honours two healthcare professionals who are changing the world for good.
With Mbalula in the driver’s seat, we’re on a rail to nowhere
Lack of effective public transport is now a major constraint on economic growth, job creation and business productivity.
What is the Radical Economic Transformation faction in SA
Despite its vagueness, the RET has become central to the contemporary ANC. It is destined to remain a powerful bloc within the party.
How to address the skills shortages plaguing SA’s economy
Education can’t make up for inadequacies in other policies that continue to cause mass unemployment.
Toxic DDT isn't being monitored in birds of prey
DDT accumulates in wildlife and magnifies up the food chain. Birds of prey occupy the top of these food chains in various ecosystems.
Study shows how Covid-19 affected access to HIV treatment
The individual stories of migrant women are essential in understanding if HIV healthcare strategies and programmes are working.
African mountains are feeling the heat of climate change
Mountain systems are sensitive to climate change. Loss of snow and ice sets off effects which have wide ranging consequences.
Wits-Makerere strengthen partnership through joint centennial celebration
Wits University and the University of Makerere in Uganda cemented their long-standing partnership with a virtual signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.
Wits Business School wins big at 2022 Emerald/AABS case writing competition
WBS Case Centre takes top three spots at the awards.
Injectable HIV prevention drug shows promise: we worked out how much South Africa should pay for it
The benefit of an injectable product is that it avoids the adherence issues related to taking a pill daily.
Wits physicist is joint winner of The World Academy of Sciences award
Professor Andrew Forbes shares the award for physics with Professor Jueinai Kwo of Taiwan.
Wits physicist elected as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences
Professor Bruce Mellado joins other prominent Wits scientists in the ranks of the Fellowship.
White butterflies are filling Johannesburg’s skies earlier than usual. Climate change is to blame
The brown-veined white butterfly (Benenois aurota) annual migrate between 80,000 and 155,000 butterflies per hour from SA’s Kalahari region to Mozambique.
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Meet Maureen Manyama CA(SA), Wits’ CFO
Manyama describes herself as interested in combining her rural upbringing with finance and governance experience to advance national interests.
Rock art: how South Africa’s coat of arms got to feature an ancient San painting
A new exhibition titled ǃke e꞉ ǀxarra ǁke – People who are different come together – celebrates the rock art of the San people.
Ground-breaking report card gives crucial health data to manage illnesses of middle-age
Adults aged 45-65, as caregivers and workers, are high risk for non-communicable diseases, but data on healthy ageing in SA are insufficient to inform policy.
COP27 key outcomes: progress on compensation for developing countries, but more needed on climate ju
Academics unpack wins, tensions at COP27 and the way forward.
Wits University triumphant at the 2022 higher education awards
Wits takes home nine awards, including special awards for outstanding research and an award for consistent excellence.
New high-tech Digital Dome catapults Johannesburg Planetarium into the future
Wits University and Anglo American to transform the Johannesburg Planetarium into a world-class digital research, training, and science engagement facility.
Witsie wows global science community
Tamlyn Naidu claims a win for South Africa in Berlin for her research on acid mine drainage.
Worker organisations can survive the digital age. Here’s how
In the face of a decline in traditional union membership, it’s critical to focus on where resistance is taking place, rather than where it is not.
Wits endocrinologist again named as one of the world’s most highly cited researchers
Professor Derick Raal has for the third time been named as a Highly Cited Researcher.
The queen of hearts
Cardiac anaesthesiologist and recipient of the FALF research excellence award wants to keep hearts pumping.
Just transition requires political, economic and behavioural change
Achieving access to minimum resources and services for all, while safeguarding our planet, requires redistribution and societal transformation.
Mental health in SA is at shocking levels but people are not seeking help
A new study reveals that South Africans suffer higher rates of probable depression and anxiety than other countries.
Social vulnerability and food insecurity persistently prevalent in South Africans
A new study reveals astounding levels of social vulnerability in South Africa, which is linked to food insecurity.
‘Jet lag’ discovered in body clocks of people living with HIV in rural South Africa
People living with HIV have a significantly delayed internal body clock consistent with jet lag symptoms, found a study by SA and UK universities.
Climate Change and Me marks Wits’ largest first-year course in its history
Climate Change and Me was launched in 2022 and became the largest course by student numbers ever offered at Wits University.
Clean water solutions made possible for Alex informal settlement through water-based research
The Accessible Greywater Solutions for Urban Informal Townships (URBWAT) project is providing sustainable water solutions for the Alexandra township.
How we treat animals is key to human health, just look at Covid-19
‘Scientivist’ says planetary health must be foremost on all agendas because the ill-treatment of animals and delicate ecosystems plays havoc with human health.
Wits researchers are part of a study on how to end Covid-19 as a public health threat
Study provides recommendations to end the public health threat without exacerbating socio-economic burdens or putting the most vulnerable at greater risk.
We are in ‘an abusive relationship’ with nature
Earth became our servant, and we need it to be our family, says Research Professor Matthew Chersich in delivering his inaugural lecture.
Do financial incentives boost vaccination rates?
Cash incentives only have a marginal effect on increasing vaccination uptake by adults, according to a Wits University and Columbia University study.
Global recognition for research and innovation in pharmaceutical sciences
Wits Professor of Pharmacy, Yahya Choonara, is the 2022 FIP Distinguished Pharmaceutical Science Award winner.
How we can sustain all life forms
Repairing Earth as a whole, together, is a precondition for human durability.
Climate change to impact mountains on a global scale
Research shows climate change will negatively impact mountain landscapes, including increasing risks such as avalanches, river floods and landslides.
ICYMI: Here’s what went down at AIJC 2022
Africa's largest gathering of investigative journalists shows the varied ways this pursuit can be improved, made more impactful and innovative.
COP27 explained: why should we care
It's that time of the year again when the world gathers to negotiate international climate change agreements.
Climate change: the effects of extreme heat on health in Africa
Marginalised or minority groups seem to suffer the most from heat-related deaths and disease, and Africa is heating up faster than anywhere else.
‘Dad’s subwoofer’, an electric walking cane, and, is that lighting!?
4th year engineering students show off their bold and visionary solutions with amazing final-year projects.
Wits University named Best of Joburg
Wits voted as the best tertiary education institution by Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni residents.
Looking ahead from a life of new beginnings
Emeritus Professor Barry Dwolatzky launches inspirational memoir, smartly capturing his less-than-ordinary coded history.
Meet Zenaye, the talent behind the official Wits song
Zenaye Skosana wrote and performed Wits’ official song “For Good”, which was launched just before the Homecoming celebrations.
First African civil engineer inducted into Wits Wall of Fame
Dr Solomon Lefakane, the first African to obtain a Civil Engineering degree in 1961, is the first Wits alumnus to be inducted into the Engineering Wall of Fame.
Mining school courses accredited for another five years
The Engineering Council of South Africa has accredited several Wits mining courses for another five years.
Africa’s first endovascular robotic unit will advance research and enable ‘outreach intelligence’
The new unit at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC) is both a robotics research opportunity and a global responsibility.
School of Accountancy celebrates top achievers
After two years of Covid, the School of Accountancy holds its annual prize-giving ceremony.
It’s about Bloody time… we end period poverty
Free sanitary pads available to Wits’ students as SRC launches pilot project.
Covid disrupts traditional rituals of mourning
We need to find ways to grieve as individuals, and collectively as a nation, or we risk grief becoming chronic, unleashing psychological and physical illnesses.
Wits hosts largest gathering of journalists
Over 350 journalists from across the continent will spend three days at Wits University for the 18th African Investigative Journalism Conference.
Wits Choir sings and dances at 60
The Choir officially celebrated its 60th birthday at Constitution Hill with its hefty production “A Choir on a Hill, 60 years – thinking back, looking forward".
Citizens, not sitizens, please: more than ever, South Africans must take charge
We need active citizenship to show social solidarity to break out from the hopelessness, paralysis and apathy
FALF's inaugural research symposium showcases work by women scientists
Clearing the path for talented female academics and researchers leads to more relevant research.
Wits researchers challenge common notions on the inner workings of Earth’s magma chambers
A recent study show that magmatic ore deposits that are generally referred to form by settling of crystals in magma chambers are instead shown to form in place
Students uphold the spirit of volunteerism
Volunteerism and activism is alive among the youth as demonstrated at the annual Student Leadership Awards.
Artistic Research is blurring academic and research lines
Artistic research and its ‘tangible’ output – a creative academic degree – is an emerging yet robust field of study and enquiry in Africa.
Review of concussion in sport research underway
Consensus statement by the Scientific Committee for the International Conference on Concussion in Sport will be released in 2023.
Regular physical activity may boost effectiveness of Covid-19 jab
A new study by a team of South African researchers shows the more you exercise, the more protective Covid vaccination seems to be.
Coke and dagger — Coca-Cola named sponsor for COP27
The beverage company has a questionable record not only when it comes to planetary health — its record on human health is abysmal.
Portuguese consulate visits historic Diaz Cross at Wits
The cross serves as a historical reminder of Portugal's voyages around the southern African coast in the 15th century.
Trailblazers in social work
From addressing white poverty to the injustices of apartheid, the Department of Social Work has held individuals, families and communities together.
Immersive, magical, hopeful - Africa leads #FromNowOn
Africa’s first Digital Creativity Awards brings a sense of wonder and applauds the meteoric rise of African creativity in the digital space.
Two Wits professors awarded Science for Society Gold Medals
The Academy of Science of South Africa has awarded its highest honour, Science for Society Gold Medals, to Wits Professors Karen Hofman and Achille Mbembe.
Wits to kick-start a national quantum technologies initiative with R54 million funding
The South African Quantum Technologies Initiative (SA QuTI) aims develop a well-established critical mass in the national quantum community.
Mass trauma is leaving everyone broken
We need to teach self-love, self-esteem, and agency assertation at all levels of South African society to rebuilt the state and foster democracy.
Race, inequity and mental health impacts on healthcare workers during Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic revealed global health inequities prompting scholars to interrogate how these inequities manifested in racial and gender dynamics.
Review: Farm Killings in South Africa
Some of the best books about the media are not about the media. While dealing with very different topics, they probe the central institution of our world.
#FromNowOn – getting here and going forward
This year’s Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival is the first full in-person Festival since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Social grants are not a magic bullet
Social protection on its own doesn’t shift the dial. Radical economic policies are needed to tackle poverty and inequality.
Don’t let firm friendships from your youth fade away
Living in the world’s most diverse country, and not having friendships that cut across all communities, is to miss out on so much
Renowned geneticist reflects on her journey with Wits
Professor Himla Soodyall has paid homage to great scientists who helped carve her path.
Top-performing matriculants get a glimpse of student life at Wits
Wits VC, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, hosts the best of the class of 2022 matriculants to become part of the future at Wits University
Introducing the Wits rose
A magnificent rose commissioned to celebrate Wits University’s centenary and 100 years of excellence.
Do no harm - 5 steps a researcher should take
Researchers have a number of responsibilities when embarking on their work - not least of all to ensure participants are not harmed and are fully heard.
Maropeng brings visitors Face to Face with early Hominins
The new Face To Face exhibit showcases hominins from The Cradle of Humankind that are brought to life by science and art.
Major partnership to drive digital transformation in Africa
The Afretec network has made 20 million US dollars available to members, including Wits, to collaborate in engineering and technology.
Vice-Chancellor’s awards celebrate the best of Wits
The prestigious annual awards recognise staff excellence in categories including research, teaching and learning, and professional and administrative services.
Wits student shines on a global stage
Xabiso Vili, post-graduate student with Drama for Life wins top spot at the 2022 World Slam Poetry Competition.
Wits student leader wins prestigious travel bursary
Karabo Asala is set to travel Europe as part of a travel bursary for leadership development.
SA ICT employers, practitioners look to global skills markets
The number of SA employers reporting they are recruiting ICT skills overseas has increased dramatically in the past year – up from 38% to over 50%.
Construction waste is costly: what’s causing it on SA building sites
The complexity of construction projects has driven an increase in building waste, which is difficult to recycle and reuse. How to minimise the problem.
Wits celebrates its 100th birthday
Staff and students gather outside the Great Hall to wish Wits a happy 100th birthday.
100 years of innovation and inventions
Various innovations after the past century have improved the world for many - but there’s still much more for universities to do.
Curios.ty 14 (#Wits100): A century of doing good
Wits' research magazine celebrates 100 years of changing the world for good.
100 Years of changing the world. For Good
Guest Editorial: Wits remains a beacon of hope in society. We continue to strive for excellence in all that we do and use our knowledge for the good of society.
Stay curious – there’s a whole new world coming in 2122
Editorial: The stories in Curios.ty 14: #Wits100 showcase the University’s sustained participation, influence and impact in the lab, the classroom, and society.
How higher education can help heal us all
“We live in the most unequal country in the world. We can help bridge the divide and we don’t have any time to waste.” – Dr Judy Dlamini.
Academic and science activism saves lives
Meet the Wits’ science superheroes whose research has saved lives.
Mapping African genetic diversity for better health
The contribution of the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience to the field of human genomics is rewriting history on the African continent.
Death makes us alive
Without death, there would be no life – this might sound like ancient mysticism, but Wits scientists are proving it.
Thirty years of the lab in the bush
Agincourt, one of the longest-running research centres of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, tracks health and wellbeing over the life course.
The politics of protest
Protests are a hallmark of Wits’ history and have contributed to the University’s legacy of social activism, democracy and constitutionality.
Wits at a time of national crisis: Then and now
South African universities should revisit their multiple publics and explore what a public university in southern Africa today should be.
Telling African stories through art
The Wits Art Museum covers 3 000 m2, housing more than 12 000 artworks, of which 5 551 comprise the Standard Bank African Art Collection.
The evolution of science and research practice
How has science and research practice at Wits has evolved over a century?
The Wits Digital Dome to light up the sky
It’s the end of an era as Wits Planetarium is reimagined as a ‘out of this world’ digital dome.
Facing climate change head-on
Climate change took nearly a century to become mainstream science. Wits is taking the lead in facing up to the challenge.
Digging for the truth of humanity
Wits researchers have over the past century changed, and challenged, the way we think about the evolution of humanity and our ancestors.
Navigating life through the eyes of a gogga
Curiosity about dung beetles could lead us into our future.
Research by the books
Books based on research by Wits authors create a rare recording of history that tracks changes over time.
Identifying faces to recognise humanity
The development of the Wits Face Database: An African database of high-resolution facial photographs.
Business for good
Wits is exploring the opportunities created by social enterprises that focus on addressing local, regional and global challenges.
Beyond the Ivory Tower
Four Wits units demonstrate how translational research can respond to the needs of a world outside the academy.
The best job in the world
Column: Telling the stories of Wits’ research and academics might hopefully light a fire in the mind of the world’s next Einstein.
A philosophy for good. A University for good
There is something significantly common in the way in which all good things are good.
CTIF & Jamfest 2022: Unplugged - but still connected
Joint hybrid conferences for African civic tech innovators and media makers, journalism innovators, and other creatives.
The contribution of SRCs to Wits
We must be reminded about the evolution of SRCs, about how past SRCs contributed to the struggle against apartheid, brought consciousness and transformation.
Wits’ entrepreneurs succeed at the EDHE Intervarsity Gauteng Regional Rounds
Two Witsies have emerged triumphantly, in the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Intervarsity Gauteng Regional Rounds.
The last word: Benedict Vilakazi
The late Zulu poet, novelist and linguist Benedict Wallet Vilakazi achieved many milestones and taught at Wits University.
Machines will not replace humans, yet!
Expert calls for development of a new kind of AI that is provably beneficial to humans
Small steps on the road to true empowerment
Big smiles as staff celebrate passing the first level of many, on the road to upskilling themselves.
Basaltic magma chambers may grow catastrophically fast
Basaltic magma chambers can grow extremely rapidly - in months to years.
Wits hosts international lightning conference - a first for Africa
Lightning protection research is paramount in order to safeguard people, animals, and infrastructure against one of the biggest weather-related killers.
National Research Foundation accolades for Wits scientists
The Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience won the National Research Foundation Science Team Award while seven Witsies received A-ratings.
Reading can enhance race relations
Reading begets more reading and helps to counter the poison from dinnertime conversations, says acclaimed author Mandla Langa.
Groundbreaking discovery from South Africa challenges the recent re-interpretation of magma chambers
Wits researchers have compelling evidence for the existence of a magma chamber deep within a South Africa’s ancient crust.
Countdown to Fak'ugesi Festival 2022
Happening from 13 - 21 October, this year's digital innovation festival returns to its home at Wits' Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in Braamfontein.
Wits celebrates its centenary in Times Square, New York
Witsies gathered in Times Square this week to celebrate the University’s 100th anniversary.
World’s leading thinkers debate inequality
"We can improve the quality of life if we focus on what works – education, strong institutions, robust legal, social and fiscal systems." - Piketty
Student programme prepares the next generation of change-makers
The Emerging Leaders Programme empowers students with skills to be better leaders in an uncertain world.
Green hydrogen sounds like a win but cost and transport are problems
The key to reducing green hydrogen costs in the future lies mainly in technological improvements.
How to help people stay on ARVs when life gets in the way
When antiretroviral therapy is working effectively, HIV cannot be transmitted. This allows people with HIV to live fuller lives.
Kenya has breached its public debt ceiling
There’s a gap between Kenya’s public spending and its revenue. If the country owes more than it can repay, citizens will suffer.
Five steps Nigeria must take to stop buildings collapsing in Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital city, is notorious for frequent building collapses.
‘Mandela's Children’ 32 years later
The stories, people and science behind Africa's largest longitudinal study have been captured in a book by Wits Distinguished Professor Linda Richter.
Obesity costs South Africa billions. We did the sums
Lowering obesity and overweight rates will lift the burden on healthcare spending.
Joe Biden and Cyril Ramaphosa: finding common ground
Both presidents are committed democrats operating in hostile environments. They are also committed to forging mutually beneficial ties.
Job creation in South Africa: the president’s advisors discuss what it will take
Three of the president’s advisors talk through what is needed to change the status quo.
Queen Elizabeth - from Empire to Commonwealth
Queen Elizabeth adjusted with aplomb and good grace – personally and as monarch – as countries achieved their independence from Britain.
Africa’s dinosaur discoveries: five essential reads
The African continent is a rich repository for dinosaur fossils, including teeth and track marks.
New podcast reimagines the Humanities from the Global South
The Faculty of Humanities recently launched a new podcast series, The Future in the Humanities - Reimagining the Humanities from the Global South.
Colonial diaries help scientists reconstruct weather patterns from past to protect future
A project to transcribe Dutch colonial records of the weather in Cape Town can benefit modelling of future climate scenarios.
Universities should take a leading role in reforming South Africa’s socio-political landscape
Former Wits Chancellor and Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke says Wits has produced great leaders in the past and must continue doing so in future.
Young business minds took centre stage at the Student Entrepreneurship Week
The 2022 Student Entrepreneurship Week got off to a vibrant start as students gathered to learn, conceptualise and share their ideas on good business practice.
WTO head Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: how trade can help beat inequality
Creating employment and fighting corruption are two of the subjects discussed in the wide ranging discussion.
How scholarships change lives for the better
Quality education, support, and passion transforms lives and changes the world.
Street-based female sex workers of all ages in SA at sustained high risk of acquiring HIV
Street-based female sex workers in SA have very high HIV incidence, hence the need to sustain and strengthen efforts to mitigate risk and provide care.
A new way to save rhinos
Technology used to stop a nuclear bomb from being sneaked across a border could one day be at the forefront in the fight to save the rhino.
Waltzing kudus, cheerleaders, and a choir at alumni centenary event
Wits alumni who returned to campus for Homecoming Weekend on 4 September were treated to canapés and cocktails at an Alumni Welcome in Solomon Mahlangu House.
Generations of Wits SRC celebrate formidable leadership
Generations of Wits SRC gather for a night of celebration
Welcome home, Witsies! Something for every generation at Homecoming Weekend
Wits University is as much a part of Johannesburg as is gold mining, and we are opening our gates to all to celebrate with us.
Wits invites public onto campus to join centenary celebrations
Wits marks its 100th birthday with jam-packed Homecoming Weekend.
Arts and science collide to transform the Great Hall in light show extravaganza
The #Wits100 Visible Resonance Light Show on 2 September at 7pm on the Great Hall façade will reflect, create, improvise, and imagine Wits’ stories.
Migrants in South Africa have access to healthcare: why it’s kicking up a storm
South Africa’s healthcare services are overburdened. But this is not because of non-nationals.
1575 book titles in 100 years
Wits University Press is the oldest university press in South Africa and celebrates its centenary in 2022.
Obesity and industry - it's not what it looks like
Voluntary actions from industry are not helping fight against obesity-related conditions.
New Deputy Vice-Chancellor: People Development and Culture appointed
Professor Garth Stevens will oversee Human Resources, Transformation and Employment Equity, the Disability Rights Unit and other related units.
Hand-up, not handout
Voices of affirmation encourage students as Wits celebrates partnership with Tiger Brands.
Tanzanian TB patients have a lower quality of life
To understand the perceptions of TB patients about their quality of life, it’s useful to have a comparison with “apparently healthy” people.
How the lockdown in SA affected mental health
Pasha Podcast: When SARS-CoV-2 emerged, the country took measures to restrict people’s movements and activities, to slow the spread of infections.
After State Capture: how SARS is rebuilding itself
Professor Mills Soko spoke to Commissioner Edward Kieswetter about the turnaround at the state institution.
Auto manufacturing is changing: how to protect workers
South Africa should ensure that changes to energy-efficient vehicles are done in a way that creates jobs and protects workers.
Uhuru Kenyatta’s 'mixed bag' economic legacy
Big promises, but weak no delivery. The most prominent economic legacy of Kenyatta’s government is runaway public debt.
SA doesn’t need new cities: it needs to fix what it has
New towns have had a better track record in places of rapid economic and population growth, such as east Asian countries.
Higher electricity fees are a good, and necessary, next step
The wealthy should not be allowed to opt-out of their share of the costs of electricity production and Eskom’s debt.
What’s wrong with the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Pasha Podcast: Innovation in the digital space is not necessarily working for people in the global south.
Wits scientists launch book about Africa’s largest and longest running birth cohort
The study tracks the lives of 3 000 people born in South Africa in the early 1990s and affectionately known as "Mandela's Children".
Wits Business School’s huge turnaround
All the new registered programmes offer active learning, says Director.
New Partnership Academic Programme on Nuclear Law
Wits is one of five universities to partner with the International Atomic Energy Agency to promote the safe use of the peaceful application of nuclear science.
Book launch on seminal study as ‘Mandela’s children’ come of age
The Birth to Thirty (Bt30) study in Soweto is Africa’s largest and longest-running birth cohort study.
Longest daily weather record for the South digitised
A project examining the Dutch East India Company’s day registers reveals unique information on the Cape’s past climate.
A lifetime dedicated to vaccines saving lives
Shabir Madhi, Professor of Vaccinology and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits won the 2020/21 NSTF-South32 Lifetime Award.
Training scholars in groundwater to rock economies and make a splash in water security
Wits hydrogeologist Prof. Tamiru Abiye is a National Research Foundation-rated scholar and winner of the 2021/22 NSTF-South32 TW Kambule Researcher Award.
Jacob Zuma is taking a top reporter to court
Former South African president is trying to turn the contestation of a court hearing into an all-out war and chill those who pursue justice against him.
Mind-blown by interactive brain experiences
A showcase of local neuroscience talent was on display by Wits NeuRL and collaborators at the recent #Wits100 event.
In with the old: taking the long view when restoring grasslands
Restoration science and practice are critical in combatting the loss of old-growth grasslands and the loss of biodiversity.
Artisanal gold mining in South Africa is out of control
Artisanal gold mining is highly organised and rule-bound. Men, women and even children participate a hierarchy sustained by buyers, sponsors and customers.
Mozambican unions hit snooze on a national strike
Mozambique’s trade unions have not been a strong force in society – which has left a space for others to fill.
Is there really a paradigm shift in US/Africa relations?
The strategy outlined by the US Secretary of State marks a fresh beginning in US-Africa relations.
Why metals matter in the modern world
Sehliselo Ndlovu, Professor of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering at Wits, won a 'Science Oscar' at the NSTF-South32 Research Awards on 22 July 2022.
Coal mining by-product may offer building solution
Recipient of the DAAD grant scholarship is currently in Germany testing engineering ideas behind his research.
Drawing arts investment in a WAM world
There were splashes of colour, champagne and canapés, glitz and glam at the Wits Art Museum soirée ahead of the SA premier of Oh to Believe in Another World.
Wits innovation changing the world for good
Wits University is home to a wellspring of talent from multiple disciplines where life-changing innovation is incubated.
Defending democracy the greatest cause of our times
Challenge for young people is to democratise every aspect of life in society.
Wits Centenary promotes community partnerships
The Wits community joined hands with NGOs in Tembisa township to clean the Kaalspruit tributary, a feeder to the Hennops river.
Don Mattera knew the love SA deserved from the start
The poet practised love wholeheartedly and saw from a mile away leaders who pretend to love their ‘people’.
Wits University believes in another world
It was a night of suspended reality, imaginative film, and sophisticated symphony at the SA premier of William Kentridge’s Oh to Believe in Another World.
Wits Research Office recognition for academics awarded by the National Research Foundation
The luncheon celebrated Wits NRF A-rated academics as well as scholars awarded previously but not formally acknowledged in person due to lockdown restrictions.
From chemistry to commerce: School learners get the ‘Wits experience’
Learners enjoy a fun-filled Wits Integrated Experience of academic and student life on the Braamfontein campuses.
A lack of peace and stability affects us all
“We are never defined by the conditions we face, no matter how challenging they may seem.”
Foundation to rejuvenate democracy in Africa and France
“We must nurture tolerance, collective wisdom, and democracy.” – Nelson Mandela
Wits VC inducted into prestigious Royal Society (UK)
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, internationally renowned nuclear physicist, joins the ranks of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking.
Oil refinery closures, cleaner fuels and security of supply in South Africa
Refinery closures in South Africa are shots fired in the long running contestation between the oil refiners and the government.
Witsies win lifetime achievement, research, and capacity development awards at Science Oscars
Professors Shabir Madhi, Sehliselo Ndlovu and Tamiru Abiye were winners at the 2021/2022 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South 32 Research Awards.
Great Hall gets a facelift and this is why it's a big deal
The iconic Great Hall is back after Covid-19 lockdowns and extensive renovations – ready to celebrate Wits' centenary.
Healthy boost for Wits Food Bank
Wits staff step up on Mandela Day for food-insecure students.
Wits hosts winter camps for high school learners
Wits University hosted grade 9 to 12 learners from across the country as part of its intervention programmes aimed at boosting their educational outcomes
Zakes Mda on Tarzanification, Wakandasation and African storification
Africans need to do more to counter the Africa imagined by America, says acclaimed novelist Zakes Mda.
Hunters and gatherers in Africa were the original scientists
The wilful lack of knowledge about ‘deep time’ African history must end, says Prof. Molefi Kete Asante, a giant in African studies.
Mammals were not the first to be warm-blooded
Karoo fossils provide “smoking gun” on clues to when warm-bloodedness evolved in pre-mammalian ancestors.
IPBES report warn of over exploitation of wild species
Over consumption of wildlife species for energy and food will place stress on the communities that need them for survival.
Wits to honour novelist Zakes Mda and African American scholar Prof. Molefi Kete Asante
The July graduations are a triple celebration – honorary doctorates for giants in African literature and African studies, 152 PhDs and the Great Hall reopens.
#GradnGive on Mandela Month entrenches ubuntu
Students graduating in July are urged to spread joy by bringing non-perishables to restock the Wits Food Bank.
Covid-19 Update 87: Masks are voluntary
Return to campus plans and the way forward.
Widely-used kidney function tests underestimate scale of kidney disease in Africa
A commonly used blood test which measures how well a person’s kidneys are working may not pick up kidney disease for people in Africa.
SA’s entire infrastructure is on the verge of total collapse
South Africa now does not have a functioning integrated public logistics infrastructure anymore, with roads, rail, and ports all in disarray.
Tanzania’s undemocratic constitution is a template for disaster
The country’s one-party cadre system will continue to stunt economic development and growth as long as it’s allowed.
Structured light just got more colourful
Researchers from the Wits Structured Light Laboratory showcase recent advances in replacing the traditional linear optical toolkit with nonlinear control.
Oh to Believe in Another World
South African premiere of the new topically relevant film by Wits alumnus and world-renowned artist, William Kentridge, will take place at Wits in July.
New Head for Wits Functions and Events
Thembelihle Dlamini, a former Vice-President of the SRC, takes over the reins.
Role of universities as public interlocutors of dialogue
STATEMENT: Universities have an important role to play in upholding democracy, in speaking truth to power, and in facilitating debate.
Light-bender recognised with scholarship
Engineering student exploring optics and photonics is among Optica Women Scholars to receive a generous award and international mentorship.
Famous Sterkfontein Caves deposit 1 million years older than previously thought
New dates for Australopithecus-bearing Sterkfontein Cave deposit places South African hominin fossils at the centre of global palaeo research.
Young South African researchers take leading roles at the ATLAS experiment collaboration
Wits’ young scientist (physicists) take front positions in the world’s largest scientific endeavour to generate new science and expand current knowledge.
73-year-old Wits Professor to take on the Amazon river to fight climate change
Professor Kurt Sartorius and his colleague from the School of Accountancy, Wayne van Zijl, will set out on an expedition that nearly broke him 50 years ago.
Wits polyglot wins Chinese proficiency competition
A talent for languages and an interest in the cultures of the world is opening doors for a Wits music student.
Epitaph for a baobab: remembering South African poet and activist Don Mattera
A true African poet, Don Mattera was at the centre of public life, an advocate for change and an enemy of elitism.
Rising food prices: a close look at inflation in South Africa
Periods of high food inflation affect poor households the most. This is because they spend a higher percentage of their income on food.
4IR - a seductive idea requiring critical engagement
The narrative of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is more aspiration than reality.
Light travelling in a distorting medium can appear undistorted
That light gets distorted when passing through distorting media seems self-evident. Now Wits Researchers have discovered a hidden property in the light that rem
Delivery of quality healthcare and clinical training prioritised in Wits, GDoH agreement
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) and Wits University sign MOA to deliver quality healthcare services and exemplary health sciences education.
Tracking rainfall moisture in Lesotho
Lesotho is considered to be the water tower of southern Africa and it is key to water security in the region.
Universities must think more creatively about the employability of their graduates
Universities must think more creatively about the employability of graduates, especially those at the PhD level.
South Africa’s epochal 1976 uprisings shouldn’t be reduced to a symbolic ritual
The students who marched on 16 June 1976 did more than simply register a political opinion.
Fish in a major South African river are full of microplastics
The Vaal River, which serves more than 11 million people, is considerably polluted with microplastics.
Digital labour platforms subject global South workers to ‘algorithmic insecurity’
Digital platform work is often seen to suit workers’ skills, interests and schedules. But it comes at a cost to their economic security and control.
Amazing ting: South Africa must reinvigorate sorghum as a key food before it’s lost
Known as ting or amazimba, indigenous sorghum is resilient and rich in cultural and health benefits – yet crops are declining.
A referendum on electoral reform in South Africa might stir up trouble
There are calls for a national referendum on the electoral system to define the way forward, and liberate it from the clutches of party barons.
Covid vaccines and pregnancy: a review of the evidence shows they are safe
In all the research reviewed, none found any safety concerns regarding COVID vaccines during pregnancy.
Digital migration: court delay upholds information rights of poor South Africans
The decision further delays migration to digital broadcasting and places strain on the urgently needed bandwidth for mobile data.
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How the music of an ancient rock painting was brought to life
Sometimes archaeologists can “hear” the ancient past using acoustic methods.
Children’s mental health and the digital world
The benefits and risks of the digital environment on children’s mental health should be balanced. How to get it right.
Witsie shines at international competition
Engineering student trumps teams at an international simulation competition.
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Industrial Advisory Board appointed to guide Engineering Faculty
The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment has established an advisory board with key industry representatives.
World Food Safety Day empowers Witsies
Practical demonstration and tips on how to ensure food safety helps Witsies to take control of their own health.
Australian Friends of Wits University advance Centenary Campaign
Alumni in Australia have formalised fundraising for Wits in its centenary year with R80 million already pledged by the Zylstra family’s Skye Foundation.
Boost to pursue his high-risk, high-reward ideas
Professor Benjamin Rosman is one of 18 early-career researchers in the world to be named CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars for 2022-2024.
Funding boost for postgrad research into new-age metals
Wits signs research agreement with AfriTin Mining to investigate and optimise tech metals processing.
Genetic risk scores could predict disease in Africans
Using genetic risk scores to predict which individuals have a higher risk genetically of developing a particular disease is set to revolutionise medicine.
A career-long love affair with science
From being dazzled by the launch of space stations in the 1970s to pushing the boundaries of quantum physics.
The 2022 ICT Skills Survey goes live
The impact of hybrid work models on IT skills in South Africa will be among the issues coming under the spotlight this year.
Queen Elizabeth II: the reign that ended the British empire in Africa
The decolonisation process was to take place rapidly during the reign of Elizabeth II.
Home recognition for Italian Prof
Prof. Maria Marchetti-Mercer has been awarded the Order of the Star of Italy.
Rising talent to explore community theatre and policies in Germany
Masters student Relebohile Mabonda wraps up a performance and prepares to join the German Chancellor's Fellowship Programme for prospective leaders.
Not your stereotypical librarian
Dr Daisy Selematsela, the new Director of Wits Libraries, has many names that people have given her over the years.
Staff development made easy with flexible training platforms
Wits Staff and students have access to free online learning platforms to continue learning.
Death penalty returns to SA through mob murder
The number of people suspected of crimes who are being killed in an arbitrary and brutal fashion is growing.
Making and remaking of social orders
Renowned sociologist Karl von Holdt on violence, politics and power.
No more holy smokescreens: churches must lead the anti-corruption crusade
They should also clean their houses, then call out corrupt ‘leaders’ to make churchgoers aware of the damage they cause.
How to prevent maternal deaths
For every maternal death, there are about an additional 20 women who suffer serious injuries, infections and disabilities related to pregnancy.
African sci-tech could drive future black hole discoveries
Astronomers have revealed the first image of the black hole at the centre of our galaxy, the Milky Way.
New age economy requires job-creating graduates
Entrepreneurship and innovation are at the centre of economic development in Africa, says speakers from various parts of the continent.
Wits Planetarium Centenary Shows
Last opportunity this June to view the nearly 100 year old Star Projector in operation, as it will be replaced with a fully digital dome projection system.
Turkish ambassador launches digital fabrication laboratory at Wits
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Wits University launch FabLab.
Wits strives for transformation in academic leadership
The Female Academic Leaders Fellowship (FALF) admits second cohorts.
Leading global scientist at Wits advises World Health Organization on monkeypox
Monkeypox is a disease of global public health importance as it not only affects countries in West and Central Africa, but the rest of the world.
Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic will enable youth to become the future job creators
“Young entrepreneurs are one of the country's best hopes in solving the jobs crisis” - Dr Robert Venter, Project Leader for the WEC.
Wits hosts Edinburgh delegation
Strategic partner and top UK University visits to cement ties and toast to the next 100 years.
Glen Nwaila to lead the Wits Mining Institute
Economic geologist and machine learning practitioner takes the reins.
Award for Wits anthropologist for efforts to understand and serve needs of the world’s societies
The Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) has selected Professor Lenore Manderson as the recipient of its 2023 Bronislaw Malinowski Award.
Politically US-Africa relations can be bumpy, but on the right track economically
Relations between African countries and the US are bumpy on political issues but much better on the economic front.
Inflation should be viewed as public enemy number 1
Inflation is bad for any country’s economy. It also hurts the wealth and financial well-being of individuals and households.
SA research leads to new WHO guidelines for improved TB treatment
Ground-breaking research conducted in SA to find shorter, more effective treatment for drug-resistant TB has informed global policy changes.
Wits scientists in the team that made the first image of the black hole in the centre of our galaxy
This result provides overwhelming evidence that the object is indeed a black hole and yields valuable clues about the workings of such giants.
Royal Honour for Wits Vice-Chancellor
Prof. Zeblon Vilakazi welcomed as a Fellow of the prestigious Royal Society (UK)
Community dialogue can show the way to meeting water needs
Evidence suggests that involving marginalised communities in setting priorities and designing collective action can lead to improved health outcomes.
The problem of funding SA students can be solved
SA’s private financial sector should fund all students, no matter their means, with loans underwritten by the state.
For the love of books - what reading to our children teaches them about the world
Reading expands the knowledge, fosters empathy for others and builds healthy, loving and trusting relationships between children and adults.
Towards a secure digital legacy – Wits Library now a member of the Digital Preservation Coalition
Wits has joined the Digital Preservation Coalition, a charitable foundation that supports digital preservation with a view to a secure digital legacy.
Unleashing the potential of university-based archives
Towards the creation of a future Civil Society and Human Rights Archive and Research Hub at Wits.
Covid-19 Update 86: Infections are increasing
Please take note of rising infections in the country and particularly in Gauteng. Please get vaccinated if you have not done so yet.
National Research Foundation rates three Witsies for the first time as world leaders in their fields
The NRF has awarded new A-ratings to three Wits academics in the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Health Sciences respectively.
Intriguing insights from Wits Global Ethics Day colloquium
The annual ethics colloquium, which celebrates ethical practices, this year interrogated ideas and studies that challenged Research Ethics Committees recently.
Former South African president predicts the end of the ruling party: history is on his side
Any ruling party in South Africa has found it hard to maintain internal coherence and unity over an extended time span amid wide national diversity.
Geologists explain why most basaltic magma chambers are roofless
Wits geologists come up with an original interpretation for a long-standing petrological paradox – the common absence of roof rocks in basaltic magma chambers.
New forms of urban planning are emerging in Africa
Master planning has served the entwining interests and ambitions of international as well as local actors in Africa.
How Africa can respond to the seismic changes in the world
Fundamental changes are taking place in the world: what are the implications for Africa?
From pandemic learner to successful student
'Gateway to Success' programme: Creating a holistic, seamless transition from secondary school to university
A different dream for Wits teacher with cystic fibrosis
A journey that was almost thwarted just as the undergraduate degree was in the bag.
Wits Chancellor Dr Judy Dlamini graduates again
Respect for the profession created the need to do this qualification, says Dlamini.
Genocide, gender and the pursuit of justice
Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay already has 17 honorary degrees but “it’s always precious when you get it from home”, she says.
Restore accountability to the Legislature
Justice Moloto bemoans decade of ‘accountability inertia’ and asks graduates to contribute to people- driven democracy.
Wits honours conflict resolution luminary
Wits awards distinguished attorney and dispute resolution luminary Charles Nupen with honorary doctorate in law.
Fresh signs of mosquito insecticide resistance in South Africa
Insecticide resistance is a growing threat to malaria control efforts globally.
Twelve Witsies in the running for Science Oscars
Twelve Wits researchers are contenders for the prestigious NSTF-South32 Awards for 2021/2022, four of whom were nominated in two categories each.
Health Sciences student wins Wits FameLab
Mpho Mathole won the Wits leg of the international science communication competition and will go on to participate in the nationals later this year.
Dr Frene Ginwala remembers Wits
Struggle icon Dr Frene Ginwala recalls how Wits accelerated the global fight against apartheid.
Humble, sincere, with an infectious laugh – tributes to Ndoni Mcunu
Ndoni Mcunu, Wits PhD candidate, climate scientist, and the driving force behind Black Women in Science passed away on April 16.
KZN floods - the cost of “loss and damage”
COP27 — the next battleground for climate justice and damage compensation.
Five luminaries to be honoured at #WitsGrads
Wits University is proud to announce the start of the April graduation season where 5 593 students will be capped between 19 and 29 April 2022.
Wits hosts the principals of top secondary schools
Wits University hosts principals from top achieving Gauteng schools
Future Ecosystems for Africa programme launched at Wits
Programme aims to identify African ecosystem vulnerabilities while leveraging African-informed transformative change opportunities.
Both big and small farms are important for food security
The farming sector is arguably the most important economic sector for SA’s development as it is directly linked to food security and poverty reduction.
Race and class fears amplified on Twitter when Covid-19 hit
Study of tweets in Kenya and South Africa shows online rage towards white communities and privileged classes can be read as fatigue with the postcolonial state.
AmaBhungane and Daily Maverick win Taco Kuiper Award
Stories that unearthed corruption in the Health Ministry and exposed threats by a torched chemical company win the premier award for investigative journalists.
Self-healing arrays of twisted light from a laser
Wits physicist part of team that develops novel laser.
South African History Archive returns home
SAHA was officially relaunched at Wits and will be part of the Archives and Research Hub.
Student Leadership Awards celebrate movers and shakers
From spearheading entrepreneurship programmes to driving community projects, Wits student leaders are walking the path of servant leadership.
SA legal profession threatens to become as corrupt as the state
Law firms need to come together to agree on an anti-corruption stance and shame those who are unethical.
President Ramaphosa welcomes groundbreaking book on SA economy
The book comes at a time of great upheaval in the global economy.
SA teaching hospital shows 23 percent decrease in superbug transmission after novel intervention
A study shows for the first time that Ultraviolet room decontamination paired with manual cleaning decreases transmission of CRE by 23% in a hospital setting.
R50 million donation to advance innovation in South Africa
Alumnus Dr David Fine's generous donation will be used to establish the Angela and David Fine Chair in Innovation.
ACSUS celebrates four years of excellence
ACSUS at Wits commits to Global South scholarship on the superpower’s emerging futures.
Architecture student a regional winner of Corobrik competition
Research addressing monumental buildings inherited from industrialisation wins regional round and advances to nationals.
Covid-19 risks remain
At this point it’s pragmatic to integrate COVID-19 management into routine health practices.
R54,000 a pop for anti-HIV injection
A new HIV prevention medicine could work even better than daily pills, but if nothing changes it costs more than R300,000 to treat one person for a year.
SA scientists have a duty to speak out on Ukraine invasion
As an academic body, we should be appalled by South Africa’s less than stellar performance on Russia’s war against Ukraine.
African countries showed disunity in UN votes on Russia
The unwillingness of African governments to forge a unified position on the Russian invasion has damaged the credibility of their pan-African commitments.
The 100-year-old story of South Africa’s first history book in the isiZulu language
Magema Fuze’s book was a radical act of publishing. It contained histories of chiefdoms and kingdoms - from the Zulu to the Ngcobo.
Rising vigilantism - the fruits of misrule
Ending violence against foreigners can only happen by first recognising – and addressing – the hazards of South Africa’s crumbling system of indirect rule.
How language plunged Cameroon into deadly conflict
Anglophone grievances run deep and have remained unaddressed for a long time.
SA should pay whistleblowers to combat tax evasion
South Africa should start offering whistleblowers monetary compensation in cases where they help identify tax evaders.
Introduce mandatory labelling for fast foods
South Africa should introduce regulations that mandate the nutritional labelling of fast foods. This will help consumers make informed dietary choices.
Covid-19 Update 85: Over 90% of those accessing Wits' campuses are vaccinated
It is with great appreciation that we thank you and members of our wider Wits community for vaccinating and in so doing, making Wits a safer place for all.
Mapping mosquitoes to combat malaria
Theresa Mazarire in the Wits Institute for Malaria (WRIM) combines environmental science and public health to control malaria mosquitoes.
Accountants should take the lead in fighting climate change
Incorporating climate change accountability into integrated reporting can trigger a global change in climate change thinking.
Top Matriculants, now Witsies celebrated
Twelve outstanding first-year students have been awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship, which covers tuition and accommodation fees.
Netflix and the African dream
The new reality series Young, Famous and African, released in March 2022, has been the centre of conversation among South African viewers.
New Covid-19 regulations are the real state of disaster
The incoherent and illogical new government Covid-19 regulations are the real state of disaster
National Batho Pele Excellence Award for Rees
This accolade acknowledges and recognises her outstanding contributions to COVID-19 research in 2021/2022.
‘Digital activism is the future’ – Commonwealth scholar
Albert Sharra, recipient of the Commonwealth Split-site scholarship, focuses on digital political activism and people power.
Job losses, pay cuts – State of the Newsroom during Covid-19
The 2020 State of the Newsroom report looked at a year of ‘shock, confusion and a need to radically adapt’.
New programmes to enhance leadership in early- and mid-career academics
The two programmes ‘are stepping stones to launch and develop the careers of academics’.
R10 million for the palaeosciences
#Wits100 donation will be used to fund the Micro CT scanner upgrade to benefit palaeontologists.
It’s complicated … but let’s talk about #Gender
Read the 13th issue of Curios.ty, themed: #Gender. We feature research across the gender spectrum that aims to ensure a more equitable and tolerant society.
To live and love across a spectrum
EDITORIAL: The way we choose to identify ourselves provokes questions and demands interrogation to ensure a more equitable and tolerant society.
STEM - not all are equal
Structures need to be put in place at higher education institutions to give women their rightful opportunities.
Beyond the binary
The gender binary has reached its expiry date but it still hasn’t been consigned to society’s dustbin.
The politics of a woman’s body
The backsliding of women’s rights happening right now should be the clarion call that gender rights are still everybody’s business.
The knife between her thighs
Female Genital Mutilation - South African researchers and medical practitioners are increasingly seeing it in its most extreme forms.
Finding Nemo’s sexual identity
As a species, we are only starting to scratch the surface of our understanding of gender, sex, and identity.
Levelling the playing fields
The competitive sporting world is playing catch-up with the realities of gender in modern society.
A woman’s work is never done
The work that women do in households is largely overlooked, yet it is critical for a well-functioning society.
Parenting in the city
Building cities for women will make them more inclusive for all groups.
Older people do bonk
The notion that people older than 50 neither desire nor engage in sexual intercourse is a misnomer that demands further research, particularly in Africa.
Monetising Pride
Responsibility and representation: Where does the buck stop for brands and business sales targeting the LGBTQIA+ community?
Fractured histories
Coloured women find their centre beyond the whisper and gossip.