The University of Witwatersrand (WITS) has been counting down the days to the institution’s 100th year in existence. To commemorate its birthday, the university has initiated numerous campaigns and events leading up to the homecoming week in September.
Since opening its doors in 1922, Wits has made a formidable impact on society and the university is striving to drive the African continent into a new era of growth, innovation, and change.
To mark the occasion of 100 years the university has set out to raise R3 billion to invest in research and innovation, infrastructure development, and students at the institution.
Wits Vice Chancellor Prof Zeblon Villakazi has pointed out that the campaign is progressing well, and the university is still in hopeful spirits for reaching its target.
The campaign is going very well although being held [back] by [the] COVID-19 pandemic because the last two years were not very easy for livelihoods and mobility.
The institution has received numerous donations from South Africans and donors around the world.
“We are reaching our target for R3 billion and beyond to support research, and some of the sources of funding we received were R18 million by a donor in Australia,” says Prof Villakazi.
The university has called on all former Wits students to join in and does their part by making any donations, big or small as it will boost the campaign and take them one step further to reaching their goal.
“Every penny counts in our case and out of the 200 alumni we have dotted across the world and here, all it takes is a minor donation of R100 a month in a stop order because it will make an impact on giving opportunities to the next generation of young people to have the same world-class education that the alumni have received.”
Another big event that the university has coming up features Wits Alumni and renowned artist William Kentridge, he will be doing the South African premiere of his film ‘Oh to Believe in Another World’ that will be accompanied by Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, which will be performed on 28 July 2023 at the Wits Linder Auditorium.
The university plans on addressing and improving many challenges and shortfalls that the institution has acquired over the years with the funds that are being raised.
