Sustainability in action
- Wits University
From engaging exhibitions from businesses, to science, food and fashion, Witsies explored sustainability and the interconnectedness of life and actions.
The Environmental Sustainability Exhibition Week took place on 7 – 9 October 2026, bringing together students, industry, academia, government and entrepreneurs to showcase sustainability initiatives and explore practical solutions relating to environmental sustainability, climate action, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development goals.
Curiosity, energy and a spirit of innovation characterised the week.
Second year international relations student Damatria Ntintili, who describes herself as a a climate activist and quality education activist, welcomed the event adding that it plays a valuable role in connecting students to the concept of climate change and sustainable development.
“I think it's important that we have more events like this that combine different industries and show you how environmentalism enters each space and what's happening in that space. It makes the abstract real.”
During the exhibition students were challenged to think about how their academic discipline interacts with the sustainable development goals (SDGs), as well as it’s current contributions to climate change, environmental sustainability and what can be done to contribute to the SDG.
In an informal discussion around the SDG display, speech and audiology students discussed their field and concluded that batteries used in hearing aids deplete quickly and deserve attention in order to reduce waste.
A legacy through trees on campus
Wits has been on a mission to replant The Wild Olive is the 2026 Tree of the Year in South Africa. It is hardy, evergreen South African tree valued for its drought tolerance, longevity and ability to attract birds. Indigenous to southern and eastern Africa, it can live for hundreds of years, with some specimens believed to be over 1,000 years old.
The planting ceremony was led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Systems Operations, Prof. Ian R Jandrell, alongside university representatives, Environmental Services, exhibitors and the Green Campus Initiative.
On this collection action, Jandrell said that he “believes planting a tree speaks to the idea of forever, and that is what makes it so important. When we plant a tree today, we are thinking beyond the present. Five hundred years from now, that tree could still be standing, carrying with it the legacy of what we chose to do today".
Food security and nutrition was represented through some of the displays probing attendees to think deeper about indigenous diets and foods that are vanishing from African households, yet are packed nutrition dense and also weather resistant.
Responsible consumption and fashion
The week ended on a high note with a student showcase themed Trash to Treasure, Fashion Runway, hosted by Wits Campus Housing and Residence Life. The show opened with Ledikana, a 100% women-owned sustainable lifestyle brand established in 2011. Ledikana turns waste into worth, creating beautiful bags from recycled PET plastic bottles, transformed into felt fabric and stitched by women in Johannesburg and Limpopo.
With 10 participants, the showcase brought creativity, innovation and sustainability together as students transformed everyday waste into wearable fashion. The underlying message was reduce, recycle and reuse calling on peers to pay closer attention to modern day conveniences, fast fashion and instant deliveries which are adding to carbon emissions.
The top three creative designs were:
- Designer: Syanda Binda (BA Law, 2nd year), outifit modelled by Olerato Leshomo (BA);
- Ndumiso Thabethe (BA majoring in psychology, 1st year)
- Khubana Jedidiah (BSC in Sciences Biological sciences, 1st year)
The showcase was about more than winning, it was about celebrating the courage to innovate, the willingness to make a difference and the understanding that every contribution matters.
The Environmental Sustainability Week is spearheaded by the Operations and Facilities Management Department (OFMD). The Department is responsible for operationalising parts on the University's Sustainability Strategy. OFMD comprises a number of divisions including Transport and Fleet Management, Cleaning and Hygiene, Wits Rural Campus, Printing and Mailing, Professional Development Hub, Retail Operations Management, Dining hall Catering and many others. All these divisions are crucial to the efficacy of operations and contribute to the University’s overall objectives.
Reflecting on the event, Israel Mogomotsi, Director of OFMD said: “The energy and inquisitive minds of our students, alongside the knowledge, experience and practical solutions shared by our partners, made the exhibition a valuable platform for learning and engagement. Positive feedback on the quality of the presentations and interactive displays further reflected its value in stimulating meaningful conversations,” Israel Mogomotsi, Director of OFMD.