For nearly a century, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has shaped the minds that shape the world — producing leaders in science, health, business, and civil society. As Wits celebrates its 100th year, the university remains committed to advancing knowledge, social justice, and innovation that transform lives across Africa and beyond.
Now, alumni and friends in Australia are invited to be part of this legacy — by supporting Wits students and researchers who are building a better future for all.
Creating Access Through Scholarships
The cost of higher education remains a significant barrier for many talented South Africans. Wits is expanding its scholarship and endowment programmes to ensure that no deserving student is left behind due to financial constraints.
Supporters can sponsor tuition and living costs for academically deserving students:
Undergraduate sponsorships start from AU $6,000 per year (tuition only) or AU $12,000 (including residence and living allowance).
Medical students can be supported for AU $8,000 (tuition) or AU $16,000 (full support).
Postgraduate scholarships, funding research that directly impacts the South African healthcare ecosystem, begin from AU $20,000 per year.
Endowment opportunities that perpetuate the donor’s name are available for gifts of AU $150,000 or more.
We cannot do it alone. We invite you to walk the Wits100 journey with us. — Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor, University of the Witwatersrand
From scholarships and health innovations to leadership development, every contribution brings Wits closer to its vision of transforming Africa through knowledge and discovery.
Australian alumni and supporters can make tax-deductible donations of AU $2 or more, helping ensure that Wits continues to produce the thinkers, doers, and leaders our world needs.
For more information, contact Lawrence Jackson, Wits Australia Representative on 0438 602 357 or at Lawrence.Jackson@wits.ac.za .
Watch: Alumni from Australia and the UK celebrate Prof Margo Steele’s 90th Birthday
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WITS Webinar to Celebrate Prof Margo Steele's 90th Birthday
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Howzit, Wits Newsletter – Quarter 3 2023
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The jacarandas are in full bloom on the Library Lawns – a clear indication that Wits students must start preparing for their year-end exams.
It’s been a wonderfully active time for Team Wits Australia as we hosted numerous alumni, including Mervyn King SC, Ari Mervis, and Captain Paul Luckin AM, at various events across Australia. We’re always grateful to you, Witsies based in Australia, for the South African warmth and generosity that you bring to each encounter.
Wits University shines as a beacon of hope for South Africa, thanks to the dedication of you, our global Wits community.
Despite global and local challenges, our accomplishments inspire optimism. We disbursed R1.4 billion in financial aid, scholarships and bursaries, thereby impacting on thousands of students, and unveiled groundbreaking infrastructure projects like the Wits Brian and Dorothy Zylstra Sports Complex. Research flourished while relevant initiatives like the Wits Innovation Centre emerged.
Winter has gracefully descended upon the southern hemisphere.
As we switch between the seasons, we reflect, celebrate, and express our heartfelt gratitude to our friends at home, and in Australia, for bringing to life so many new projects, thereby creating hope, and changing our world for good.
The newly formed Wits Vic State Committee comprising Philip Mayers AM, Dana Eisenstein, Anthony Chait and Tony Savides, kindly hosted lunchtime Boeries at the Bowlo.
The first NSW event of 2024 with fellow Witsies and Wits Friends was an opportunity to meet with fellow Witsies and to hear what exciting events and initiatives Wits Australia has planned for 2024. Guests met the newly formed Wits NSW State Committee comprising Asheena Budhai-Manuel, Neil Cochrane, Lambo Kanagaratnam, Michael Segerman and Danielle Warren-Smith.
This Witsie event featured our guest of honour, Wits law alumnus Stephen ‘Sugar’ Segerman.
Stephen ‘Sugar’ Segerman, is one of the creators of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘Searching for Sugar Man’, which rocketed the American musician Rodriguez to fame.
Sixto Rodriguez was American but he was unknown there, while in South African he had this huge following that he didn’t know about. Stephen (known as ‘Sugar’) had been on an epic, decades-long search to find the mysterious musician who had such a profound influence on his generation in South Africa. “It was like hearing from a ghost when I received this call at 2am one morning and the person on the other end of the line said “Is that Sugar?”. I just knew it was his voice!” Rodriguez finally passed away at the age of 81 in August 2023, but his album, ‘Cold Fact’ is now hugely popular globally thanks to Sugar’s documentary ‘Searching for Sugar Man’, made with Malik Bendjelloul, Craig Bartholomew Strydom and Camilla Skagerstrom.
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Wits Australia Hosts Inspiring Webinar with Dr Ali Bacher
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Theme: Memoirs of a South African Cricket Icon and Wits Medico: Madiba, The Don, The Aussies, The Poms and more
The Wits University Australia Chapter hosted an engaging online event featuring one of South Africa’s most iconic sports leaders and Wits alumni, Dr Ali Bacher, under the theme “Memoirs of a South African Cricket Icon and Wits Medico: Madiba, The Don, The Aussies, The Poms and More.”
The webinar celebrated Dr Bacher’s extraordinary career as both a Wits medical graduate and a cricket legend who played a pivotal role in shaping South African sport and its re-emergence on the world stage.
Moderated by Jonathan Shapiro, senior financial markets reporter at the Australian Financial Review, and joined by panellists Harry Dugmore and Des Ger, the event brought together alumni and cricket enthusiasts from across the globe for an hour of rich conversation, reflection, and inspiration.
Dr Bacher reflected on his journey from studying medicine at Wits to captaining the South African cricket team in the country’s last official series before isolation. He shared that his medical training at Wits had instilled in him a deep sense of discipline, leadership, and empathy — qualities that shaped his later success as an administrator and advocate for transformation in sport.
He spoke fondly of the historic 1970 Test series against Australia, where South Africa triumphed 4–0, recalling it as one of the defining moments in his career. “It wasn’t just about cricket — it was about showing the world what we were capable of,” he said.
