Staff Wellness Week 2025 – healthier Witsies
- Wits University
Wellness Week brings care closer, supporting staff to lead healthier, balanced lives.
In 2019, Waheeda Rabbanney walked back to her office from a routine health check at Solomon Mahlangu House feeling unsettled. Her body-mass index (BMI) and other results were less than ideal. Even more concerning, her Vitality Age - a measure based on lifestyle factors such as exercise, nutrition, and stress - showed she was 20 years older than her actual age.
“I realised that I was unhealthy, and started taking small steps to improve my wellbeing,” recalls Rabbanney, an administrator at the Procurement Office. “Slowly but surely, my BMI and other health checks have improved.”
Today, she regularly walks around campus with a colleague — a habit that began with Staff Wellness Week. For her, the programme was the nudge she needed to begin her journey toward better health.
Promoting Holistic Wellbeing
The 2025 Staff Wellness Week, held from 5–12 September, supports employee wellness and preventative healthcare through free health screenings, alongside access to dental care, podiatry, massages, and alternative health services.
To encourage participation, staff who completed health screenings were entered into a lucky draw to win juicers. The week also featured community-building activities including the Lenn Smith Campus Race/Walk, Staff Fun Day, and the Staff Sport Tournament. The event is organised by the Human Resources Office with support from various departments.
Thriving and Finding Joy
Anna Muronga, a Postgraduate Officer at the Faculty of Health Sciences, is an advocate of body movement. On 11 September she topped Health Sciences participants at the Lenn Smith Campus Race/Walk.
Muronga explains that, for a long time, she struggled with depression while juggling the multiple roles as a mother, wife, employee, and student. “The pressure of balancing a demanding job with family and studies often left me feeling drained and unable to cope.”
“Following my therapist’s advice, I made the decision to join a gym. Looking back now, I can confidently say that it was one of the best choices I have ever made for myself. What began as a way to manage stress has evolved into a lifestyle and a passion that I deeply enjoy.”
She has built strength and resilience. “Today, going to the gym is no longer about simply surviving difficult days. It is about thriving, finding joy in movement, and dedicating time to my own growth and well-being.”
Staff Sport Tournament
The Wits Staff Sport Club, in partnership with Umvuzo medical scheme, hosted a major tournament featuring teams from surrounding universities and corporates vying for the top positions in netball and football.
Both Wits teams claimed victory in the tournament, which featured 14 football sides and 8 netball teams at Sturrock Park.
