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.
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".
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.
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.
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
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.
How scholarships change lives for the better
Quality education, support, and passion transforms lives and changes the world.
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.
1575 book titles in 100 years
Wits University Press is the oldest university press in South Africa and celebrates its centenary in 2022.
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.
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.
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.
Foundation to rejuvenate democracy in Africa and France
“We must nurture tolerance, collective wisdom, and democracy.” – Nelson Mandela
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Future Ecosystems for Africa programme launched at Wits
Programme aims to identify African ecosystem vulnerabilities while leveraging African-informed transformative change opportunities.
South African History Archive returns home
SAHA was officially relaunched at Wits and will be part of the Archives and Research Hub.
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.
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.
R10 million for the palaeosciences
#Wits100 donation will be used to fund the Micro CT scanner upgrade to benefit palaeontologists.
SA’s first black female doctor was a Witsie
When apartheid became law in 1948, a black woman from Limpopo had already achieved a series of firsts …
Creating job opportunities for SA’s youth
The Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic gets going with programme to drive innovation and entrepreneurship.
Developing equal partnerships in unequal societies
Wits strengthens EU partnerships through becoming a CIVIS Alliance strategic partner.
Wits celebrates 100 years of excellence
The University aims to raise R3 billion through the Centenary Campaign
#Wits100: New music hall for the good of the arts
Wits University launches its centenary campaign with the opening of the new state-of-the-art Wits Chris Seabrooke Music Hall.
A mathematician, historian and political scientist walk into a bar ...
Three former VCs, Chancellor Judy Dlamini, Stanley Bergman and Professor Zeblon Vilakazi toast #Wits100.
#Wits100: The impact of giving
From the Desk of Professor Zeblon Vilakazi: I extend a special welcome to you as we approach the start of this academic year.
Rousing Welcome for 100th Class
A new chapter and new frontiers as Wits welcomes first-year students joining the University in its centenary year.
Partnership to increase gold recovery
Wits and DRDGold’s Ergo Mining Proprietary Limited (Ergo) sign a second five-year research and support agreement to enhance skills and research in mining.
Wits – Edinburgh to collaborate on academic, research and innovation projects
Universities committed to translating MoU into action that benefits staff and students.
New Surgical Skills Lab to train specialists and sub-specialists
R22-million project to enhance the training of surgeons in South Africa.
Former presidents rise to the #Wits100 challenge
Wits SRC president pledges USD100,000 to aid students, challenges others to #WitsForGood challenge.
R70m to transform the ‘Bara Burns Unit’ into a world-class facility
New specialised Wits Roy McAlpine Burns Unit will treat burn survivors and will create a high-tech skin bank and tissue engineering laboratory in Soweto.
Wits-educated billionaire launches R3-billion vaccine development project in SA
It will help to establish two research centres to boost cancer and vaccine research at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Oppenheimer donation advances African Future Studies at Wits
The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) has donated R15 million towards the African Future Studies Initiative at Wits University.
Sibanye-Stillwater broadens its sponsorship with Wits University
Wits University and Sibanye-Stillwater today signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding a sponsorship of some R52 million over a 10-year period.
Wits tackles water crisis through new water research programme
The Claude Leon Foundation will fund two research chairs and a research programme in water stewardship worth R15.7 million.
Wits secures R150 million endowment for the missing middle
The University secures R150 million endowment for deserving students, one of the largest donations ever made for the benefit of the University.