AMESSAGETOGRADUATESFROM
THECHANCELLOR
Todaywecelebrateyou–yourperseverance,your discipline,andyourachievement.Graduationisneverthe
toacknowledgethefamilies,friends,lecturers,supervisors, andprofessionalstaffwhowalkedthisjourneywithyou.Their
Toeachofthem,weofferoursinceregratitude.
Yougraduateatatimeofprofoundglobalchange.Acrosstheworld,societiesaregrappling withclimatepressures,economicuncertainty,rapidtechnologicaltransformation,and questionsofethics,inclusion,andhumandignitydemandthoughtfulleadership.Theseare complexchallengesthatrequiregraduateswhoarenotonlyskilled,butalsoprincipledand adaptable.
InSouthAfrica,theseglobalpressuresintersectwithlocalrealitiesyouknowwell.Ourcountry continuestofacehighlevelsofunemployment,especiallyamongyoungpeople,persistent inequality,andtheongoingtaskofstrengtheningpublicinstitutionsandinfrastructure.Energy security,waterresilience,andeconomicinclusionremainpressingconcerns.Yet,alongside thesechallenges,thereareclearsignsofpossibility:growinginvestmentinrenewableenergy, innovationinentrepreneurship,andrenewedfocusonskillsdevelopmentandreform.The futureofourcountryisnotpredetermined–itwillbeshapedbythechoiceswemakeand theleadershipweshow. Thatiswhereyoucomein.
AsgraduatesofthegloballyrespectedWitsUniversity,youareequippedtocontribute meaningfullytoabetterfuture.Yourrolewillbetoapplyyourknowledgewithintegrity,to solveproblemswithcreativity,andtoleadwithempathy.Whetheryoubecomeprofessionals, researchers,entrepreneurs,educators,publicservants,orcommunityleaders,your responsibilityextendsbeyondpersonalsuccess.Youarecalledtohelpbuildaneconomy thatcreatesopportunity,asocietythatvaluesdignityandjustice,andinstitutionsthatearn thetrustofthosetheyserve.
WitsUniversityhaspreparedyounotonlytoearnaliving,buttomakeadifference,in keepingwithourslogan#WitsForGood!Carryforwardthevaluesyouhavelearnedhere: criticalthinking,ethicalconduct,respectfordiversity,andcommitmenttoservice.Theroad aheadwillrequireresilienceandcourage,butitwillalsorewardthosewhoarewillingtowork, tocollaborate,andtoimaginebetterpossibilities.
Graduands,youleaveusatachallengingtime–butalsoatahopefulone.SouthAfrica needsyourskills,yourideas,andyourleadership.Theworldneedsgraduateswhoare capable,compassionate,andcourageous.
Weareproudofyou.Webelieveinyou.Andwelookforwardtothecontributionsyouwill make.
CongratulationstotheClassof2026!HALALA!
Yourssincerely,
DrJudyDlamini Chancellor
AMESSAGETOGRADUATESFROM
THEVICE-CHANCELLORANDPRINCIPAL
Congratulationsonthesuccessfulcompletionofyouracademic programmeattheUniversityoftheWitwatersrand.Todaymarks animportantmilestoneinyourpersonaljourneyandinthe continuinghistoryofthisinstitution.
Younowjoinaglobalcommunityofmorethan200,000Wits alumniwhosecontributionsspanscienceandmedicine, engineeringandthebuiltenvironment,businessandlaw,the byindividualachievement,butbysustainedimpactacross generations.
Formorethanacentury,WitshasbeenrecognisedasoneofAfrica’sleadinguniversities andagloballyrespectedcentreoflearning,research,andinnovation.Whatdistinguishes Witsisnotexcellenceinasinglediscipline,buttheconsistentproductionofgraduatesof purpose. health,miningandearthsciences,andthebasicsciences,shapingpolicy,industry,and scholarshipinSouthAfricaandbeyond.Itscontributionstopalaeoanthropologyandhuman originsresearchhavetransformedglobalunderstandingofhumanityitself,whileitsstrengths inmathematicsandphysicscontinuetodrivediscoveryatthefrontiersofknowledge.
andNeuralDiscovery(MIND)Institute,theUniversityisadvancinginterdisciplinary neuroscience,thehumanities,andpolicy,whileengagingcriticallywithitsethicaland societalimplications.Alongsidethiswork,WitscontributestoSouthAfrica’squantum scienceandtechnologyagendaasanodeoftheSouthAfricanQuantumTechnology Initiative,advancingresearchinquantumcommunication,imaging,andcomputing,and
Equally,Witshaslongbeenacentreofintellectualleadershipinthehumanitiesandsocial sciences,shapingdebatesonhistory,politics,culture,andpower,andstrengthening democraticthoughtthroughengagedscholarship.
Itisfromthisdepthandbreadthofexcellencethatglobalrecognitionhasfollowed.Wits alumniandscholarsincluderecipientsoftheworld’smostprestigioushonours,including NobelPrizelaureatesAaronKlug,SydneyBrenner,NadineGordimer,andNelsonMandela, recipientoftheShawPrizeinMathematicalSciences.
AsWitslooksahead,weencourageyoutoremainconnectedtotheUniversityandtocarry forwarditsvaluesaspartofalegacythatcontinuestoshapeSouthAfrica,thecontinent, andtheworld.
Wecongratulateyouonyourachievementandwishyoueverysuccessinthejourney ahead.
Vice-ChancellorandPrincipal WitsUniversity
GAUDEAMUS
Gaudeamusigitur Juvenesdumsumus Postjucundumjuventutem Postmolestamsenectutem Noshabebithumus.
Ubisuntquiantenos Inmundofuere? Vaditeadsuperos Transiteininferos Hossivisvidere.
Vitanostrabrevisest
Venitmorsvelociter Rapitnosatrociter Neminiparcetur.
Vivatacademia Vivantprofessores Vivatmembrumquodlibet Vivatmembraquaelibet
Vivantomnesvirgines Faciles,formosae. Vivantetmulieres Teneraeamabiles Bonaelaboriosae.
Vivantetrepublica etquiillamregit. Vivatnostracivitas, Maecenatumcaritas Quaenoshicprotegit.
Pereattristitia, Pereantosores. Pereatdiabolus, Quivisantiburschius Atqueirrisores.
Letusrejoicetherefore Whileweareyoung. Afterapleasantyouth Afteratroublesomeoldage Theearthwillhaveus.
Wherearethey Whowereintheworldbeforeus? Youmaycrossovertoheaven Youmaygotohell Ifyouwishtoseethem.
Ourlifeisbrief
Deathcomesquickly Atrociously,itsnatchesusaway. Nooneisspared.
Longlivetheacademy! Longlivetheteachers! Longliveeachmalestudent! Longliveeachfemalestudent!
Longliveallmaidens Easyandbeautiful! Longlivematurewomenalso, Tenderandloveable Andfullofgoodlabor.
LonglivetheState AndtheOnewhorulesit! LongliveourCity Andthecharityofbenefactors Whichprotectsushere!
Letsadnessperish! Lethatersperish! Letthedevilperish! Letwhoeverisagainstourschool Wholaughsatit,perish!
Nkosisikelel’iAfrika
ANTHEM
Maluphakanyisw’uphondolwayo, Yizwaimithandazoyethu, Nkosisikelela Thinalusapholwayo.
Morenabolokasetjhabasaheso, Ofedisedintwalematshwenyeho, Oseboloke,Osebolokesetjhabasaheso, Setjhabasa,SouthAfrika—SouthAfrika.
Uitdieblouvanonsehemel, Uitdiedieptevanonssee, Ooronsewigegebergtes, Waardiekranseantwoordgee,
Soundsthecalltocometogether, Andunitedweshallstand, Letusliveandstriveforfreedom InSouthAfricaourland.
TheWitsChoirhasbeenaroundsince1995.Theirrepertoireiscolourfulandvibrant.Theyperformregularlyat graduationsandimportantceremonies.TheWitsChoirhastouredinternationallyaswellasplayinghostto otherchoirshere.Theyarealsoactiveinthecommunity,undertakingchoraloutreachprogrammes.
AMESSAGETOGRADUATESFROM THEPRESIDENTOFCONVOCATION
doubtthatgraduationisoneofthem!
Today,youentertheworldasagraduatefromoneofthetop universitiesontheAfricancontinent.Youenterintoaworld
withlimitlesspossibilities.Mayyoumeetallthechallenges andopportunitiesthatawaityouwithpride,drive,passion, innovation,social-conscienceandpositive-purpose.
Inadditiontoearningthedegreeconferreduponyoutoday,youhavealsoearned therighttobeassociatedwithaspecialgroupofindividuals–theConvocationof WitsUniversity.ConvocationrepresentsallthedegreedgraduatesofWitsandforms avitallinkbetweentheUniversityandtheglobalcommunityinwhichitoperates.
members,toconveytotheUniversitymanagementyourviewsabouttheUniversity. Thismembershipcomeswithseveraluniqueprivileges,whichincludenominating theChancelloroftheUniversity.TheConvocationExecutivehastwomemberson theWitsCouncil(thegoverningbodyoftheUniversity)andmaintainsotherregular contactwiththeUniversitytoensurethevoiceoftheConvocationisrepresentedat thehighestlevelsofTheUniversity.
Thereareapproximately250000Witsalumniworldwide.Thedistinctionofouruniversity andenhancethevalueofyourdegreebypromotingWits’image,preservingour values,andcontributingtowardsourongoingdevelopment,ensuringthatwegrowin statureasagloballycompetitive,proudlySouthAfricaninstitutionofhigherlearning. Pleaseengagewithusviaournumeroussocialmediachannelsandkeep connectedwithussoyoucanaccesscareersupport,receiveinvitationstoevents andreunionsandhavesightofallthelatestnewsaboutWitsandprominentWitsies: www.wits.ac.za/alumni/updateyourdetails/
Iwouldliketoextendawarmwelcometoyou–youarenowa#Witsie4Life!
PresidentofConvocation WitsUniversity
isastatutorybodythatincludesallgraduatesoftheUniversity.Convocationisthelargestconstituency oftheUniversity(sincethefoundingoftheUniversityin1922,graduatesnumberover200000).Itsstatutorymandate isto“…discussandstateitsopinionuponanymattersrelatingtotheUniversityincludingmattersreferredtoitbythe Council”andallowsfortheviewsofgraduatestoberepresentedatthehighestlevelsofgovernanceoftheUniversity.
THEPROCESSION
Anhom Falalala
Obanilabo? BaphiAhhom?
Ngibonabeza Beyikazela
Bathwel‘ongiyane Bavelakuphina? Obanilabo?
Ongqondongqondo
Osibakhulu
Yibolabohhom!
Yininaleyo? Ihele
Ihelelezingwazizakithi
Ahhomudwendwe
Ahhom
Udwendwelwezingqwelezakithi
Nant’ihele
Longqondongqondo
Nant’ihele
Losibakhulu
Udwendwe
UdwendweIwezingqwelezakithi
Whoarethose? Which,Falalala?
Iseethemcoming Walkingwithswinginggarments Theyarewearingheadrings Wheredotheycomefrom? Whoarethose? Theyarepeoplewithknowledge Theyarepeopleinauthority Thesearetheones
Whatisthat? Itisaprocession Aprocessionofourheroes
Itisaprocession Aprocessionofourchampions Hereisaprocession Ofpeopleofknowledge Hereisaprocession Ofpeopleofknowledge Aprocession Aprocessionofourheroes
Iheleisknownasthe‘Black’GaudeamusIgitur.Insong,thewriter,Mnomiyausesverypoeticlanguageto describeagraduationceremony.Thesoloistsingsofthe‘strange’processionofpeopleinlongrobesandhead gear.Thechoirrespondsbysayingthatthesepeopleareacademicswhoreadprofoundbooksofknowledge. Mnomiyagoesontosaythatthegraduatesareaninspirationtoallofus,andwewillalsograduatelikethemone day.Thesonggoesontowishthegraduateswellanditendswitharesounding“Halala”(welldone!).
MACE
Maceswereoriginallyweaponsofdefence,designedtobreakthrougharmour.In medievaltimes,bishopscarriedamaceinsteadofaswordintobattletoenable themtodefendthemselvesinaccordancewiththecanonicalrulethatforbadea priesttoshedblood.Intime,themacehascometoberegardedasasymbolof delegatedauthorityvestedinapersonoraninstitution.AtthisUniversity,itisasymbol oftheauthorityvestedintheChancellorandareminderofthemandategivenbythe legislatureofthiscountrytotheUniversitytograntdegrees.
TheUniversitymaceistheworkoftheEdinburghdesigner,silversmithandengraver, WilliamKirk,whodesignedandmadethemaceoftheUniversityofStirlingandofother institutions.Itissilver-andgold-plated,is1070millimetreslongand180millimetresbroad characterofthisUniversityasaninstitutionoflearning,setinaminingcentrewithinthe RepublicofSouthAfrica.
Theheadofthemacewithitsspreadingverticalbladesissymbolicofthehornsofa springbok.Thecentralverticalspikeisrepresentativeofarockdrillonthemine,and theamberstonesetintheheadisintendedasatributetoapastChancellorthrough itsassociationwithhisname,Bernstein,whichinGermanmeansamberstone.The heavyqualityoftheheadisconsistentwiththetraditionalconceptofthemaceasa weaponofdefence.Thecollarrepeatstheshapeofthehead.Itconsistsofeightcogs whichsymbolisethecog-wheelintheUniversitycoatofarmsandrepresentsmining andindustry.Theshaftisoctagonalanddividedintothreesections.Thecoatofarms oftheUniversityisplacedontheshaftunderthecollar.BelowthisthewordsUniversitas WitwatersrandensisJohannesburgi:areinscribed,followedbythedateinRoman
ThemaceisasymbolicportrayalofthisUniversity,thiscity,theWitwatersrandand theRepublicofSouthAfrica.ItisaconstantremindertomembersofCounciland Senatetoupholdatalltimestherights,powersandprivilegesoftheUniversityandits governingbodies.
DRESS
TheacademicdressofthisUniversityispatternedonthatoftheUniversitiesofOxford ofdegreesofbachelorandmaster.
•TheChancellorwearsascarletsilkgownwithabroadfacingofblackvelvetdown eachside,embroideredingoldandablackvelvetcapwithgoldcordandtassels.
•TheVice-ChancellorandPrincipalwearsabluesilkgownwithabroadfacingof goldsilkdowneachside,embroideredinblue,thesleevesbeinglinedwithgoldsilk. ThecapisofthesamedesignasthatoftheChancellor.
•TheChairmanofCouncilwearsablacksilkgownwithabroadfacingofredvelvet downeachsideandaroundtheneck,thesleevesbeinglinedwithgoldsilk.Thecap isofthesamedesignasthatoftheChancellor.
•TheacademicdressoftheDeputyVice-ChancellorsandtheExecutiveDirectorsis thesameasthatoftheVice-ChancellorandPrincipal,exceptthatthecolourofthe facingandsleevesofthegownandofthecordandtasselsofthecapissilver-grey.
•ThegownofthePresidentofConvocationisofbluesilk,withabroadfacingofgold silkdowneachside,thesleevesbeinglinedwithwhitesilk.Thecapisthesameas thatoftheChancellor,butwithabluecordandtassels.
•TheRegistrarwearsablacksilkgownwithabroadfacingofbluesilkdowneach side,borderedwithgoldbraid.ThecapisthesameasthatofthePresidentof Convocation.
•AmemberofCouncilwearsablacksilkgownwithabroadfacingofgoldsilk.The capisthesameasthatoftheChancellor.
•ThegownofthePresidentoftheStudents’RepresentativeCouncilisblackwitha broadfacingofbluesatin.
•ThegownsforalldegreesofbachelorandmasteroftheUniversityareblack,ofthe samepatternasthegownforaMasterofArtsattheUniversityofOxford.
•ThegownforthedegreeofDoctorofPhilosophyisscarlet,aftertheUniversityof Londonpattern.
•ThegownforaseniordoctorateisthesameasthatforthePhD,butwithagoldsatin facingoneachsideofthegownandwiththesleevebuttonandcordingold.
Theacademichoodistheprincipalfeatureofthecostumeforholdersofourdegrees ofbachelorandmaster.ThehoodforthePhDisstandard,regardlessoftheFacultyin whichthedegreewasobtained.Itisscarletsilk,linedwithwhitesilk.
WITS
Asa102-year-oldpublicuniversityinSouthAfrica,Witsisproudofitsrecordof
abletotackleproblemsusingevidence-basedsolutions.Wealsoengagewithour communitiestoshareknowledgethatwecreatesoastomakeapositiveimpacton thequalityoflife.WitsforGood.
Witsisaworld-classresearch-intensiveuniversitybasedonourintellectualexcellence, internationalcompetitiveness,andcommitmenttosocialjustice;allofwhichhavea measurableimpact.
Hereareafewofmanydifferentiators:
•Aninternationalperspectivethathelpsusmaintainhighstandardsin teachingandlearningandresearchwhilenotdistractingusfromourplace inJohannesburg,SouthAfrica,andAfrica.In2024Witsauthorspublished articleswithco-authorsfrom199universities,94%ofwhichwerefrom countriesotherthanSouthAfrica.
•AnintellectualhubofAfrica,afoundingmemberoftheAfricanResearch UniversityAlliance.In2024Witspublished2342articleswithco-authors inAfrica,including32articleswithNamibia,61withBotswana,87with Zimbabweand36withMozambique.
•Anactiveandengagedcommunityleaderthattakesastandonsocial issuesandisfullycommittedtotheadvancementofthepublicgood.
•Agrowingcontributiontothebodyofknowledgethroughpeerreviewed academicpublications:4563in2024andanaveragegrowthrateof4%per
•Knowledgecontributionthatisaboveglobalqualityaveragesinseveral norms);artsandhumanities(58%aboveglobalnorms);lifesciences (36%aboveglobalnorms);physicalsciences(12%aboveglobalnorms).
• particlephysicsandtheHiggsBoson,malaria,archaeology,paleontology, paleoanthropology,violence,localandregionalpolitics,geochemistry, rockmechanics,deepmining,forensicanthropology,climatechange, migration,socialjustice,andmanymore.
•ProudofthefourNobellaureatesandthe99RhodesScholars.
•Proudofourcurrent42000studentsofwhom16600(40%)areundertaking postgraduatestudiesandlearningtomaketheirownuniquecontributions totheglobalknowledgebase.
•Proudofourmorethan200000graduates.Morethan90%ofWitsgraduates obtainpermanentemploymentwithin12monthsofgraduation.
•Proudofitsabilitytoraiseexternalfundingtosupportanddriveitsresearch efforts,withcontributionsexceedingR2billionperannum.
