Alumni

Notable Alumni Tobias
Start main page content

Wits has produced over 180 000 alumni. Amongst them are many illustrious artists, lawyers, politicians, business leaders, accountants and scientists who reflect the significant difference that our graduates make in the world today.

Nobel Laureates

Sydney Brenner (BSc, BSc Hons, honorary DSc) 

2002 Nobel Prize in Medicine

Nelson Mandela (honorary LLD)

1993 Nobel Peace Prize

Nadine Gordimer (honorary DLitt)

1991 Nobel Prize in Literature

Sir Aaron Klug (BSc, honorary DSc)

1982 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

National Orders

1987
Order of the Southern Cross Class I: Professor Raymond Dart

1992
Order for Meritorious Service Gold Class: Professor Phillip V Tobias
Order of the Southern Cross Class II: Professor Phillip V Tobias

1997
Order of Merit, gold: Dr Helen Suzman

1999
Order for Meritorious Service, Class II: Advocate George Bizos

2002
Order of the Baobab, gold: Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson
Order of the Baobab, gold: Chief Justice Ismail Mahomed
Order of the Baobab, gold: Professor Jacques (Friedel) Sellschop
Order of the Baobab, bronze: Dr Thelma Henderson
Order of Mapungubwe, bronze: Professor Peter Beighton 

2003
Order of Ikhamanga, gold: Cecil Skotnes

2004
Order of Mapungubwe, gold: Dr Sydney Brenner
Order of Ikhamanga: Professor Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph

2005
Order of Mapungubwe, gold: Sir Aaron Klug
Order of Mapungubwe, gold: Professor Frank Nabarro
Order of Mapungubwe, bronze: Dr Himladevi Soodyall

2006
Order of Mapungubwe, silver: Professor Patricia Berjak
Order of Mapungubwe, silver: Dr Selig Percy Amoils

2007
Order of Mapungubwe, silver: Professor Valerie Mizrahi
Order of Mapungubwe, silver: Professor Claire Penn

2009
Order of Mapungubwe, silver: Professor Hendrik Koornhof
Order of the Companions of OR Tambo in Bronze: Jennifer Davis

2010
Order of the Companions of OR Tambo in Silver: Lord Joel Joffe

2012
Order of Mapungubwe, silver: Professor Barry Schoub
Order of Ikhamanga: Dr Johnny Clegg

2013
Order of the Baobab, silver: Dr Sayed Mohamed Ridwan Mia
Order of Mapungubwe, silver: Professor Glenda Gray
Order of Luthuli, silver: Dr Essop Essak Jassat
Order of Luthuli, silver: Dr Arthur Letele (Posthumous)

2014
Order of Luthuli, gold: Ruth First

2016
Order of Ikhamanga, silver: Sylvia Glasser
Order of the Baobab, silver: Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng

2017
Order of Mapungubwe, silver: Professor Fulufhelo Nelwamondo
Order of Luthuli, silver: Nomzamo Winifred (Winnie) Madikizela-Mandela

2018
Order of Luthuli, bronze: Major-General Keith Mokoape
Order of Luthuli, silver: Rev Charles Hooper

2019
Order of Ikhamanga, silver: Benjamin Pogrund
Order of Ikhamanga, silver: Mathatha Tsedu
Order of Luthuli, silver: Professor Yosuf (Joe) Veriava
Order of Luthuli, silver: Anthony Trew
Order of Mapungubwe, silver: Professor Ari Sitas

2021
Order of Ikhamanga, gold: Professor Sibusiso Nyembezi
Order of Ikhamanga, gold: Dr Raymond Louw
Order of Baobab, gold: Justice Edwin Cameron
Order of Luthuli, silver: Max Coleman

 

 

Mandela Rhodes Scholars

2007

  • Ayanda Khala (BA 2007)
  • Lunga Radebe (BA 2008)
  • Sheetal Vallabh (LLM 2004)

2008

  • Victor Chikadzi (MA 2009, PhD 2013)
  • Nobulali Dangazele (BA 2008, MA 2010)
  • Simangele Mabena (BA 2006, MA 2009)

2009

  • Masasa Mbangeni (BA 2010)
  • Aalyia Sadruddin (BA 2009, MA 2011)
  • Elias Phaahla (BA 2008, BA Hons 2009)

2010

  • Shaheen Seedat (BSc Hons 2011, BSc Hons 2012)
  • Asanda Dodi (BCom Hons 2011)

2011

  • Phillip Mogodi (BSc 2009, MSc 2013)

2012

  • Yumna Laher (BA 2011, BA Hons 2012, MA 2013, LLB 2015)

2013

  • Hayley Chewins (BA 2011, LLB 2013, BA Hons 2014)

2014

  • Nadia Kruger (BCom 2013, BSc Hons 2014, MSc 2015)
  • Amir Rezaei (BCom Hons 2015)

2015

  • Leané Meiring (BA Hons 2015, MA 2017)
  • Lehlohonolo Mofokeng (MEd 2017)
  • Luyolo Mphithi (BA 2014, BA Hons 2015)
  • Sinikiwe Mqadi (BA Hons 2016)
  • Simbarashe Tevera (BA 2015, BA Hons 2016)
  • Naledi Yaziyo (BA Hons 2016)
  • Jessica Breakey (MA 2017)
  • Gezina Hoxobes (MA 2019)

2016

  • Mulweli Mathagu (BSc 2015)
  • Rethabile Mphutlane (BA Hons 2017)
  • Linus Ndambuki (BSc Hons 2017)
  • Nkateko Manganye (BCom Hons 2017)
  • Nompumelelo Manzini (BA Hons 2016, MA 2017)
  • Tessa Ware (BA Hons 2017)

2017

  • Mpilo Shabangu (BA 2017)
  • Yamikani Chinamale (BSc Hons 2017)
  • Irfan Habib (BSc Hons 2018)
  • Temitope Ojelade (MSc 2018)
  • Lehlohonolo Moche (MSc 2019)
  • Joseph Kihara (MM 2018)

2018

  • Rufaro Samanga (BSc 2016, BSc Hons 2017)
  • Bhekumuzi Bhebhe (MA 2019)
  • Edward Murambwa (MA 2019)
  • Jessica Mayson (BA Hons 2019, MA 2020)
  • Jordan du Toit (MA 2020)
  • Mikaela Oosthuizen (MA 2019)
  • Nodumo Moyo (PGDM 2019)
  • Simbarashe Moyo (MA 2019)
2019
  • Julia Chaskalson (BA Hons 2019, MA 2020)
  • Katlego Sokopo (BA 2019)
  • Kudakwashe Manjojo (BA Hons 2020)
  • Nosipho Gumede (BSc 2014, MSc 2020)
2020
  • Maxine Khumalo (BSc 2020)
  • Sarah Weirich (BA 2019, BA Hons 2020)
  • Christopher Franklin (BA Hons 2021)
  • Noorjan Allie (PGDBA 2021)
  • Sarah Clowes (BEd Hons 2021)
  • Njamba Kapalu (MM 2021)

2021

  • Musawenkosi Gracious Ncube (BCom 2015)
  • Mardiya Siba Yahaya (MA 2022)

2023

  • Irene Mpofu (BCom 2017, LLB 2020)
  • Siphelelisiwe Ntombela (BSc 2016, BSc 2017)

2024

  •   Sibongiseni Mkhonta (BSc 2021)
Rhodes Scholars

For more than 100 years, the Rhodes Trust, through its Rhodes Scholarship, has sought out extraordinary individuals with different backgrounds and viewpoints from around the world. The scholarship aims to encourage debate and stimulate new ideas, leaving a positive impact for the generations to come.

The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest international programme. Its focus is on “exceptional people who are impatient with the way things are and have the courage to act”.

On the 100th anniversary of this prestigious organisation in 2003, it joined hands with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, creating the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship. Through this partnership the Rhodes Trust has expanded its reach throughout the African continent.

Rhodes scholars include:

1919

  • Otto Guido Backeberg (MSc 1926, PhD 1934)

1925

  • Walter Warren Wallis (BA 1924, BA Hons 1925)

1927 

  • Francis George Hill (BSc M 1927, BSc C 1927, Hon PhD 1978)

1929 

  • Thomas William Bryant Osborn (BSc 1926, MSc 1929)

1930 

  • James Delamere Raftery (BSc 1928, BSc Hons 1929)

1934

  • Herman Max Gluckman (BA 1931, BA Hons 1934)

1937

  • Arthur Douglas Davidson (BA 1936)

1938

  • Arthur Hugh Bunting (BSc 1937, BSc Hons 1938, MSc 1938)
  • David Craighead (BSc 1938)

1940

  • Sydney Charles Newman (BSc 1940, MSc 1960)

1941

  • Rex Simpson Welsh  (LLB 1943, Hon PhD 1989)

1946

  • Robert Percival Plewman (BSc 1944, BSc 1947)

1947

  • Roland McCartney Walker (BSc 1943, PhD 1975)

1949

  • Harold Dudley Small (BSc 1947, BSc 1948)

1950

  • Colin Hatherley (BA 1950)

1951

  • Hans Spoel (BSc 1951)

1954

  • Michael John Garms (BSc 1954)

1955

  • Denis Bain Saddington (BA 1950, BA Hons 1952, MA 1963, PhD 1970)

1956

  • Lodewyk Theodorus Lombard (BSc 1955)
  • Immo Eurich Bock (BSc 1955, MSc 1957)

1957

  • Edward Paul Mortimer (BSc 1954)

1958

  • John van Zyl (PhD 1973)

1960

  • John Howard Chettle (LLB 1966)

1961

  • Antony Barry Polonsky (BA 1961)

1962

  • Kennedy William Maxwell (BSc 1961)

1963

  • Raymond Aubrey Weedon (BSc 1962)

1964

  • Derek Stanley Leslie Bostock (BA 1964, HD 1990)

1966

  • Alan Graham Murray (BA 1965)

1967

  • Robin Fabian Margo (LLB 1974)

1968:

  • Colin James Bundy (BA Hons 1967)
  • David John Philips (BA 1967)

1969: 

  • John Stuart Kane-Berman (BA 1968)

1970

  • Terence Patrick Paton (BSc 1969)

1971:

  • Christopher Michael Mann (BA 1971)
  • Frederick Mark Orkin (BSc 1971, PhD 1990)

1973

  • John Ellison Kahn (BA 1972)
  • Charles Anthony Saner (MBBCh 1981, Dip 1993)

1974

  • Graham John Craig (BSc 1973, MSc 1986)
  • Peter Brodie Robinson (BSc 1973)

1975

  • Martin Haak (BSc 1974)

1976

  • Spencer Charles Fleischer (BA 1975, BA Hons 1976)
  • David Pitman (LLB 1987)

1977

  • Michael Sydney Mendelowitz (BA 1975, LLB 1976)
  • Francis Derrick Fincham (BA Hons 1976, MA 1977)

1978

  • Loyiso Gordon Nongxa (BSc Hons 1976, MSc 1978, PhD 1982)

1979

  • Sandra Debbe Fredman (BA 1978)

1980

  • Max Rodney Price (MBBCh 1979, Dip 1993)
  • Stephen Meir Tollman (MBBCh 1984, BSc 1979, MMed 1999)

1981

  • Sean Van Naidoo (BProc 1979, LLB 1981)

1983

  • Laurence Anton Rabinowitz (BA 1981, LLB 1984)
  • John Wilfred Lazar (BSc 1982, BSc Hons 1983)
  • David Isaac Cohen (BSc 1983, BSc Hons 1984)
  • Cora Elizabeth Hoexter (PhD 2009)

1984

  • Jonathan Broomberg (MBBCh 1984)
  • Trevor Mundel (BSc 1983, MBBCh 1984, BSc Hons 1985)

1985

  • David Alexander Forsyth (BSc 1984, MSc 1986)

1986

  • Janet Rochelle Kentridge (LLB 1993, LLM 1999, BA 1985, BA Hons 1986)
  • Satish Chandra Keshav (BSc 1982, BSc Hons 1984, MBBCh 1985)
  • David Ferreira (BA 1983, LLB 1986)

1987

  • Ian Theo Lowitt (BSc 1985, MSc 1988)

1989

  • Anthony William Andrew Kinghorn (BSc 1985, MBBCh 1988)

1990

  • Robert Neil Soderlund (MBBCh 1989)
  • Thomas Plewman (LLB 1990)

1992

  • Michael Dawson Jennions (BSc 1990, BSc Hons 1991, MSc 1992)
  • Michael Carlo Faralla (BSc 1991)

1993

  • Anthony Kurt Bertram Norton (BA 1991, LLB 1994)

1994

  • Lisa Marcelle Klein (BA 1993, BA Hons 1994)
  • Daryl Robert Lee (BA Hons 1994)

1995

  • Jonathan Roy Steinberg (BA 1992, BA Hons 1993, MA 1996)
  • Kezia Jane De Haviland Lange  (MBBCh 1993)

1996

  • Lucy Louise Allais (BA 1995, BA Hons 1996)
  • Duncan James Randall (BA 1995, BA Hons 1996)
  • Andrew John McCarthy (BSc 1995)

1997

  • Mompati Ishmael Setlogelo (MA 1997)
  • Anton van Dellen (MBBCh 1994)

1998

  • Shahana Rasool (BA 1996)

2001

  • Simonne Janine Horwitz (BA 2000, BA Hons 2001)

2002

  • John Kuhn (BA 2001, BA Hons 2002, MA 2003)
  • Trudi Makhaya (BCom 2000, BCom Hons 2001, MCom 2003)

2003

  • Owen Peter Muller Horwood (BSc 2001, BSc Hons 2002, MSc 2003)

2004

  • Sha’ista Goga (BEcon 2003, BEcon Hons 2004)
  • Kuan-Hsiang Huang (MBBCh 2003)

2005

  • Matthew Wilhelm-Solomon (BA Hons 2005)

2008

  • Nhlanhla Vusumuzi Dlamini (BCom 2005, PGDM 2006)

2011

  • Shaheen Seedat (BEconSci 2009, BEconSci Hons 2010, BSc Hons 2011, PhD 2019)

2016

  • Ofentse Alfred Makgae (MSc 2016)
  • Romina Olivia Mariano (MBBCh 2012)

2017

  • Keitumetse-Kabelo Joseph Murray (BA 2016, BA Hons 2017, MA 2019)
  • Saul Musker (BA 2016, BA Hons 2017)

2018

  • Dylan Philip Barry (BSc 2017, BSc Hons 2018)
  • Lehlohonolo Moche (MSc 2019) 

2019

  • Emily Bontle Wallace (BSc 2018, BSc Hons 2019)

2020

  • Kgosietsile Diphokwane (BCom 2018, BA Hons 2019)

2021

  • Tafadzwa Kufazvinei (MBBCh 2020)

2022

  • Colin Kinghorn (BSc Eng 2021)

2023

  • Akudziwe Mawere (MBBCh 2022)
  • Michael Beukman (BSc 2021, BSc Hons 22)

2024

  • Bradley Segal (MBBCh 2021, MSc Eng 2022) 

2025

  • Wonderful Khumalo

 

Fulbright Scholars

1965

  • Mapule Ramashala (BA 1961, BA Hons 1962, MA 1964)

1974

  • Professor Alan Mabin (BA 1972, BA Hons 1973, MA 1977)

1987

  • Leila Patel (PhD 1962) 
  • Jerry Mofokeng (BA DA 1987)

1990

  • Alexandra Maditsi (LLB 1988, HDip 1990)

1991

  • Mbudzeni Sibara (BSc 1979, MSc 1983)

1993

  • Brian Boshoff (PGDip 1984, MSc 1989)

1995

  • Edward Webster (BA Hons 1964, PhD 1983, Hon PhD 2017)
  • Jyoti Mistry (BA 1994, BA Hons 1995, MA 2011)
  • Shereen Usdin (MBBC 1985)
  • Sekibakiba Lekgoathi (BA 1990, BA Hons 1992, MA 1996)

1996

  • Donovan Nadison (BA 1992, MA 1996)
  • Brunnehilde Rapoo (BEd 1993, Med 1996)
  • Emma Gordon (BA 1992, BA Hons 1993, DipEd 1995)

1998

  • Iain Currie (BA 1986, BA Hons 1987)

1999

  • Marlise Richter (BA 1998, BA Hons 1999, LLM 2007)

2000

  • Adina Oskowitz (BA 1997, BA Hons 1998, MA 2000, MA 2011)

2001

  • Dr Leketi Makalela (MA 2000)
  • Dumisile Mkhize (MA 1999)

2002

  • Rouven Essig (BSc 2001, BSc Hons 2002, BSc Hons 2003)
  • Craig Robinson (BSc 2000)

2003

  • Paul Cook (BSc 2002, BSc Hons 2003)
  • Jacob Dlamini (BA 2002, BA Hons 2003)
  • Marissa Rollnick (BSc 1972, PGDip 1972, PhD 1988)

2004

  • Phillip Schmitz (BSc 1996, PGDip 1996, BSc Hons 1998, MSc 2002)
  • Allen Leuta (BA 2000, LLB 2002)
  • Michelle Morrison (BA 2001, LLB 2003)

2005

  • Reinette Biggs (MSc 2005)
  • Felicity Duncan (BA Hons 2004)
  • Nnditsheni Madavha (BSc 2002, BSc Hons 2004, GDE 2007)
  • Shaun Teichner (BCom 2001, LLB 2003)

2007

  • Wadzanai Lunga (MSc 2007)
  • David Fowkes (BA 2004, BA Hons 2005, MA 2006)

2008

  • Nombulelo Beauchamp (BCom 2003, LLB 2005)
  • Faraaz Mahomed (BCom 2003, LLB 2005)
  • Lithembe Velleman  (LLB 2006)
  • Vukile Mgijima (BA Hons 2005, PhD 2019)
  • Sipho Seepe (MSc 1989)

2009

  • Vukosi Marivate (BSc 2007, MSc 2009)
  • Tlabo Leboho (BSc 2005, BSc Hon 2006, MSc 2008, PhD 2013)
  • Khwezi Mkhize (BA 2006, BA Hons 2007, MA 2009)
  • James Fowkes (BA 2006, LLB 2008, BA Hons 2010)

2010

  • Lebogang Mateane (BSc 2007, BEconSci 2008, MCom 2010)

2011

  • Palesa Shongwe (BA 2002)
  • Mandisa Mathobela (BA 2010, BA Hons 2011)

2012

  • Andrew Russell (BSc 2008, LLB 2012)
  • Andrew Orkin (BMU 2011)

2013

  • Vaneshran Arumugam (BA 2000)

2014

  • Reabetswe Nkhumise (BSc 2013)
  • Ayesha Krige (BA Hons 2014)
  • Tshegofatso Moeng (BMU 2013)
  • Oluwatoyin Ayotomilola Adeleke (MPha 2007, PhD 2011)

2015

  • Ashar Dhana (MBBC 2010)
  • Suria Devi Subiah (BSc 2014)
  • Olufolahan Omotoso Adeleke (PhD 2014)

2016

  • Cikida Gcali (BSc 2014)
  • Chandni Gopal (BCom 2011, LLB 2013)

2017

  • Kentse Radebe (BA 2012, BA Hons 2013)
  • Charis Hartley (BSc 2005, BSc Hons 2006, PhD 2009, BA 2012)

2018

  • Namhla Naledi Yaziyo (BA Hons 2016)
  • Allegra Cockburn (BCom 2014, BEconSci 2015, MEcon Sci 2016)
  • Sung Min Yang (BSc 2016, BSc Hon 2017)
  • Busisiwe Maseko (BSc 2004, BSc Hons 2005, MSc 2008, PhD 2013)
  • Andrew Paverd (BSc Eng 2010)

2019

  • Brett Bowman (BA 1998, BA Hons 1999, PhD 2005)
  • Sharon Fonn (MBBC 1982, Dip 1985, PhD 1989)
  • Manoko Maubane-Nkadimeng (MSc 2010, PhD 2013, PGDip 2020)
  • Vivien Marcow-Speiser (BA 1971)

2021

  • Dipela Mondi (Bed 2018)
  • Moagi Shaku (MSc 2017)
  • Maxine Khumalo (BSc 2020, BSc Hons 2021)
  • Mariyeni Matariro (BA Hons 2014, MA 2017)

2022

  • Vivien Marcow-Speiser (BA 1971)
  • Mosangoaneng Leteane (LLM 2020)
  • Paul Emmanuel (BA 1994)

2023

  • Keon Lulama (BSc Eng 1992)
  • Vusumuzi Mthembu (BA 2014)
Forbes Rankings

Wendy Appelbaum (BA 1982) 
Net worth: R1.99bn (2012) | #1 Intellidex Richest Women in South Africa | Forbes Africa's Richest Women (at least $50m) (2011)

Koos Bekker (LLB 1978) 
CEO Naspers | Net worth: $1.49b (2016) | #13 Forbes Africa's 50 Richest (2015) | #810 Billionaires (2015) #4 in South Africa

Steven Collis (BCom 1982, BCom Hons 1983) 
CEO AmerisourceBergen | Forbes Global Fortune 500 Company CEO | Market cap AmerisourceBergen: $24.7b (Forbes, 2015)

Dr Judy Dlamini (MBA 1999) 
Chair Aspen Pharmacare Ltd | Net worth: R124 million (2012) | #5 Intellidex Richest Women in South Africa

Ivan Glasenberg (BAcc 1982) 
CEO Glencore International | Net worth: $1.78b (2016) | #301 Forbes Billionaires (2015) | #5 Australia's 50 Richest (2015)

Gail Kelly (MBA 1986) 
Former CEO Westpac | #56 Forbes Power Women (2014)

Nathan Kirsh (BCom 1953) 
#435 Forbes Billionaires (2015), $3.8b (2016)

Patrice Motsepe (LLB 1988) 
CEO Africa Rainbow Minerals | Net worth: $989m (2016) | #22 Forbes Africa's 50 Richest (2015) | #847 Forbes Billionaires (2015) | #5 in South Africa (2015)

Maria Ramos (BCom 1986, BCom Hons 1987) 
CEO ABSA | #93 Forbes Power Women (2011)

Rodney Sacks (DipLaw 1972, HDipTaxLaw 1978) 
#1250 Forbes Billionaires (2015), $1.49b (2016)

Hilton Schlosberg (MBA 1976) 
#1386 Forbes Billionaires (2015), $1.45b (2016)

Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong (MBBCh 1975) 
CEO NantWorks LLC | Net worth: $11.9b (2015) | #35 Forbes 400 Richest People in America (2015) | #96 Forbes Billionaires (2015)

Sharon Wapnick (BA 1984, LLB 1986) 
Octodec Investments and Premium Properties | Net worth: R334m (2012) | #3 Intellidex Richest Women in SA | Forbes Africa's Richest Women (2011)

Faculties and Schools

Wits Business School

WBS Alumni

Health Sciences

Our Graduates 1924-2012
Famous Medical Alumni

The Wits School of Arts

Film & Television
Fine Arts
Music
Theatre and Performance
Digital Arts

Engineering and the Built Environment

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Wits Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment - audit of leading alumni over the past 100 years

Dr. Andrew Roberts
BSc. (Eng) in Civil Engineering (Wits)

  • Became one of South Africa's first civil engineering graduates in 1925
  • Moving spirit behind the development of modern concrete headgear as well as devising new procedures for the lining and equipping of mine shaftsOne of the first to introduce prestressed concrete to South Africa and in developing the first major mass production industrialized building process, Robconco.
  • Founded and first President of the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors
  • Past President of the SA Institution of Civil Engineers.

 

Douglas (DG) Murray
BSc. (Eng) in Civil Engineering (Wits)

  • Founder of Murray and Stewart in 1902
  • His company merged in 1967 with Roberts Construction to become Murray & Roberts

 

Dr. Douglas Roberts
BSc. (Eng) in Civil Engineering (Wits)
Honorary Doctor of Law degree and Doctor of Civil Engineering

  • Co-founder of the Roberts Construction Company: the largest single contracting organization in South Africa by 1950
  • Doctor of Law degree from Rhodes University
  • Honorary Doctor of Civil Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand
  • Past Chairman of the SA Federation of Civil' Engineering Contractors (1944-1947)
  • Past member of the Council, CSIR
  • Past member of the Council of the SA Institution of Civil Engineers
  • Past member of the Prime Minister's Scientific AdviSOry Council
  • Past member of the Agreement Board
  • Past chairman of the Wanderers Club

 

Dr. Frances George Hill
BSc (Eng) in Mining Engineering (Wits)
Honorary Doctor of Philosophy

  • Rhodes Scholar, Hennen Jennings Scolar
  • FSPE Award Service to Engineering
  • Twice awarded a gold medal, in 1945 and 1954, for his outstanding services
  • Member of the London Institution of Mining and Metallurgy
  • Member of the South African Institution of Mechanical Engineers
  • Member of the South African Institute of Personnel Management, which he served as President in 1960
  • Member of the Engineers' Association of South Africa
  • Member of the South African Association for the Advancement of Science and the Associated Scientific and Technical Societies which he served as President in 1953/54

 

Dr. Peter Maltitz Anderson
N/A (Wits)
Honorary Doctor of Science in Engineering

  • President of the South African Chamber of Mines in 1925, 1930, 1933, 1937 and 1940/1
  • Managing Director of the Union Corporation Ltd
  • Chairman of the Council of the University.

 

Dr. Louis Jacobson
BSc. (Eng) in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (Wits)

  • Pioneer in the electrical and electronic industries
  • Founded Alpha Electrical, an electrical motor repair workshop that became Alpha Harris Pty Ltd designer and manufacturer of professional electrical equipment, which grew into the renowned First Electric Corporation of South Africa Ltd (FEC), the first of its kind to be listed on the JSE – which became the current Actom
  • Formed and led FWJ Electrical Industries Pty Ltd

 

Prof. Bill Neale-May
BSc Civil Engineering (Wits)

  • First Chief Chemical Engineer at Sasol
  • General Manager of Sentrachem
  • Member of British Institution of Chemical Engineers
  • First President of the South African Institution of Chemical Engineers
  • Chairman of the Council of Fort Hare University

 

Prof. Gordon Bertram Lauf
BSc. (Eng) in Land Surveying (Wits)
Doctor of Science in Engineering (Wits)

  • Developed the Lauf Method
  • Professor & Head of Department of Surveying (1952 – 1975)
  • Dean of the Faculty of Engineering (3 years)
  • Chairman, Board of Control of the Library (10 years)
  • Head of the Chamber of Mines, Mine Survey Research Unit
  • Member, Commission of Enquiry into the Training of Land Surveyors
  • Chairman, Board for the Recognition of Land Surveyors Examinations

 

Dr. Niko Stutterhiem
BSc. in Engineering (Wits)
Doctor of Science in Engineering (Wits)
Honorary Doctor of Laws

  • Deputy president, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa (1967-1970)
  • Managing Director, Noristan Holdings, South Africa (1970-1977)
  • Chairman or Director in 26 companies since 1977
  • President Association Science and Technology Socs. South Africa (1977-1978)
  • Member South African Institute Civil Engineers (honorary life)
  • South African Academy of Sciences and Technology (Havenga prize 1971, M.T. Steyn medal 1986), Wits Club.

 

Prof. Danie Krige
BSc. (Eng) in Mining Engineering (Wits)
Doctor of Science in Engineering (Wits)

  • Krige’s 1951 paper introduced the process of kriging. n 1955 his work was translated into French and the Le Centre de Geostatistique de l’École des Mines de Paris, a famous research center for mining, was founded in Fontainebleau, France and many of the researchers working there began using Krige’s techniques (Wits School of Mining Engineering).
  • Professor of Mineral Economics at the School of Mining Engineering at Wits University from 1981
  • Early papers on the application of mathematical statistics led to the development of the science and concepts that surround the spatial evaluation of mineral resources and reserves known as geostatistics
  • Group Financial Engineer of the Anglovaal Group.

 

Dr. Charles Boyce
Bachelor of Science (Wits)
Doctor Of Science In Engineering (Wits)

  • Wrote the definitive book on ‘Open Wire Carrier Transmission” in 1962

 

Dr. Trevor L. Wadley
BSc. in Engineering (Wits)
Doctor of Science in Engineering (Wits)

  • Chair Wits Council
  • Special Signal Services of the S.A. Corps of Signals and made a major contribution to the design and construction of locally-built radar equipment
  • Founder members of the Telecommunications Research Laboratory, established by the CSIR and later became the National Institute for Telecommunications Research
  • His contributions include the Wadley loop, the Ionosonde in 1947 and the development of the Tellurometer (earth measurer) in 1954

 

Prof. Reuven Kitai
BSc.(Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Wits)
Doctor of Science in Engineering (Wits)

  • Developer of the ‘Lauf Method’- the mathematical basis for drawing maps

 

Theo Crosby
https://architecture.arthistoryresearch.net/architects/crosby-theo (Wits)

  • One of the founders in 1972 of the design practice Pentagram
  • Driving force with the late Sam Wanamaker behind the recreation of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, in Southwark, south London
  • Notable works - Alterations to Chalcot House, Wiltshire; Ulster Terrace conversion, Regent's Park, London (an early example of a new building behind a preserved facade); Unilever House interiors, Blackfriars, London, 1979 (a ""test bed for the reintroduction of artists into the building process""; disposed of in the 2006–07 refurbishment of the building); NMB Bank interiors, Amsterdam, 1983; Battle of Britain Monument (project, with Pedro Guedes and Michael Sandle), 1987; Barbican Centre interior improvements, City of London (overtaken by 2005–06 improvements).
  • Notable books - An Anthology of Houses (with Monica Pidgeon, 1960); Architecture: city sense (1965); A Sign Systems Manual (with Alan Fletcher and Colin Forbes, 1970); The Necessary Monument (1970); Let's Build a Monument (1987); Stonehenge Tomorrow (with Peter Lloyd-Jones, 1992).

 

Sir. Jack Zunz
BSc. (Eng) in Civil Engineering (Wits)
Honorary Doctor of Science in Engineering

  • Leading the Arup team that solved the immense engineering challenges of the Sydney Opera House in 1961
  • Led the design of Britannic House for BP, the Standard Bank Building in Johannesburg with its hanging floors, the Emley Moor Transmission Tower (then the tallest structure in the UK), the iconic Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Headquarters and the Stansted Airport Terminal
  • Chairperson of the Ove Arup group (1977 – 1984)
  • Co-Chairperson of the firm globally (1984 to 1989)
  • The Jack Zunz Scholarship was established to provide advanced study opportunities for talented young engineers globally.
  • Knighted (Knight Bachelor) in 1989
  • Institution of Structural Engineers Gold Medal (1988)
  • Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (1966)
  • Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers (1965)
  • Fellow City of Guilds Institute (1990)
  • Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (1990)
  • Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (1983)
  • Honorary Member of the Architectural Association (2011)
  • Oscar Faber Silver Medal (1968) and Oscar Faber
  • Bronze medal (1988)
  • Honorary Fellow of Trevelyan College, Durham University (1996)

 

Prof. Guido Bozzoli
BSc (Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Wits)
Honorary Doctor of Science in Engineering, Doctor of Law

  • Developer of high magnesia slag cements
  • Wits University Vice Chancellor

 

Dr. Max Coleman
BSc.(Eng) in Chemical Engineering (Wits)
Doctor in Chemical Engineering (Wits), Doctorate in Chemical Engineering (Imperial College)

  • Anti-apartheid activist
  • Represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly from (1994 – 1995)
  • South African Human Rights Commission from (1995 – 1996)
  • Awarded Coleman the Order of Luthuli in silver (2021)
  • President Ramaphosa made a video address at his memorial.

 

Jules Fejer
MSc degree in Electrical Engineering (Wits)

  • One of a group of ionospheric physicists brought together by Henry G. Booker to start what became the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at the University of California, San Diego.
  • Elected a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 1990 and continued work with graduate students until 1995.

 

Prof. Colin Caro
Bachelor Of Science With Honours (Wits)
Doctor of Philosophy In Medicine (Wits)
Honorary Doctor of Medicine

  • Emeritus Professor of Physiological Mechanics and Senior Research Investigator, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London 2007 - present
  • Emeritus Professor of Physiological Mechanics and Senior Research Fellow, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College 1991-2007
  • Chairman, Cardiovascular Technology Network, Imperial College Institute of Biomedical Engineering 2005-06
  • Chairman, Mechanics & Modelling Group, Imperial College Imaging Science Centre 2003-05
  • Chairman, Advisory Board, Imperial College Imaging Science Centre 2003-07
  • Chairman, Steering Committee, Imperial College Imaging Science Centre 2001-03
  • French Government (DGRST) Committee on Vascular Disease 1975 -81
  • Royal Society Visiting Research Professor, Weizmann Institute, Israel 1978
  • Tokyo Women''s Medical College (First Awardee Invited Professorship) 1981
  • American Institute of Medical & Biological Engineering (Initial Awardee Foreign Fellowship) 1994
  • International. Academy of Medical & Biological Engineering (Founding Fellow) 2000
  • Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (Honorary Fellowship) 2002
  • International Society of Cardiovascular Medicine and Science (Arthur Guyton Award) 2003
  • Caro Research Studentship, created by Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London 2007
  • Colin Caro award for Most Distinguished Student in Bioengineering, created by University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2007
  • Winner, The Engineer Outstanding Achievement Award, The Engineer Technology and Innovation Awards 2007
  • By invitation – The Annual Harveian Lecture at the Harveian Society of London Lecture. Title: ‘The Circulation within the Circulation: Something Harvey may not have known’ 2011
  • Consultant, NIH/NSF-supported research programme on atherosclerosis, Columbia University, New York 1976-80
  • Member, Advisory Board, Japanese International Symposium ‘Role of Blood Flow in Atherogenesis'' 1987
  • Adviser, Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare Programme ‘Hemodynamic Mechanisms in Atherogenesis'' 1987

 

Prof. Lewis Wolpert
BSc. (Eng) in Civil Engineering (Wits)

  • Positional-value concept in biological developmentFrench flag model Hamburger prize for education – American Soc.Dev.Biol.Michael Faraday Prize (2000)Royal Medal (2018)

 

Prof. David Mayne
BSc.(Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Wits)
Master of Science in Engineering (Wits), Doctor of Science in Engineering (Imperial College London)

  • Giorgio Quazza Medal, 2014
  • IEEE Control Systems Award, 2009
  • Hon. DTech Lund University, 1995
  • Hon, Fellow Imperial College London, 2000
  • FIEEE – 1981
  • FRS – 1985
  • FREng – 1987
  • Fellow, International Federation of Automatic Control, 2006

 

Dr. Tingye Li
BSc.(Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Wits)
Honorary Doctor of Science in Engineering

  • Director of 26 prominent companies
  • Chairman of 7 companies
  • IEEE Baker Prize (1975)
  • OSA Frederic Ives Medal (1997)
  • IEEE Photonics Award (2004)
  • IEEE Edison Medal (2009)

 

Dr. Denise Scott Brown
Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) (Wits)

  • Co-Chair of the Urban Design program of the University of California, Los Angeles in 1965
  • Jane Drew Prize (2017) European Cultural Centre Architecture Award (2016)
  • AIA Gold Medal (2016; with Robert Venturi)
  • Edmund N. Bacon Prize, Philadelphia Center for Architecture (2010)
  • Design Mind Award
  • Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards (2007; with Robert Venturi)
  • Athena Medal, Congress for the New Urbanism (2007)
  • Membership, American Philosophical Society (2006)
  • The Carpenters' Company Master Builder Award (2005)
  • Harvard Radcliffe Institute Medal (2005)

 

Pancho Guedes
Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) (Wits)

  • Authored the following books: Manifestos, Papers, Lectures, Publications, Thirteen Architectures.

 

Dr. Clive Chipkin
Bachelor Of Architecture (Wits)
B Arch degree (Wits)

  • Anti - Apartheid activist
  • Authored Johannesburg Style: Architecture and Society 1880s to 1960s (David Philip, Cape Town, 1993) and Johannesburg Transition: Architecture and Society from 1950 (STE Publishers, 2009)
  • Engaged in the overall industrial planning at Cape Gate, and designed a series of industrial and social amenities buildings at Vanderbijlpark (1984-1998)
  • Clive was a contributor to special Johannesburg editions of ADA 14 (1996) and Bauwelt (Berlin, 1997)
  • SABC 3, created a two-part TV documentary series in 1997 on his book Johannesburg Style

 

Sir. Terence English
BSc. (Eng) in Mining Engineering (Wits)

  • Pioneering First Successful Heart Transplant Programme in UK
  • Cardiothoracic surgeon and contributed to Cardiac transplantation research
  • Lifetime Achievement Award from Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in GB and Ireland 2009
  • Member General Medical Council, GMC, 1983-1989
  • President of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 1984–1985
  • President of Royal College of Surgeons 1989–1992
  • President of the British Medical Association 1995–1996
  • Lifetime Achievement Award from International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation 2014
  • Ray C Fish Award for Scientific Achievement in Cardiovascular Disease from the Texas Heart Institute 2014
  • Lifetime Achievement Award from Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in GB and Ireland 2009
  • Lifetime Achievement Award from International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation 2014
  • Ray C Fish Award for Scientific Achievement in Cardiovascular Disease from the Texas Heart Institute 2014.
  • Books and publications: ""Follow Your Star"" From Mining to Heart Transplants – A Surgeon's Story (Author House 2011), Principles of Cardiac Diagnosis and Treatment – A Surgeon's Guide, edited by Donald Ross, Terence English and Roxane McKay Springer-Verlag (Second Edition, London, 1992), 23 chapters contributed to book and 118 peer reviewed articles.

 

Prof. Geoff Blight
BSc. (Eng) in Civil Engineering (Wits)
Doctor of Science in Engineering (Wits)
Honorary Doctor in Engineering

  • The textbook Geotechnical Engineering for Mine Waste Storage Facilities AND the Guideline to Design and Construction of Mine Waste Disposal Systems published by the Chamber of Mines
  • South Africa. served technical committees of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) on unsaturated soils and residual soils (former Chairman)
  • SAICE elected Honorary Fellow in 1997 and made a Life Member of the ASCE in 2000.

 

Alan Levy
BSc. (Eng) in Civil Engineering (Wits)

  • Director of the design division of Roberts Construction
  • Worked on the $2.5-billion Northeast Corridor (Rail) Improvement Program (NECIP) for the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) at Ralph M. Parsons: Washington, D.C
  • Led the Bridge Renovation and Replacement Division as required on the NE Rail link between Washington, D.C. and Boston
  • Group Vice-President of the mid-Atlantic construction management division at CRS Sirrine
  • Marketed and managed a $150-million replacement hospital for the University of Virginia over 31 months; an 11-school renovation programme for the New York City Board of Education; and two correctional facilities for the New York State Office of General Services
  • Vice-President of construction management, marketing, and operations of its mid-Atlantic divisions at Sverdrup Corporation
  • Managed several projects for the National Institute of Health; the $106-million Baltimore Orioles Stadium; an 11-storey mechanical/electrical/plumbing renovation of a building in Richmond for the Federal Government; and a $75-million renovation of a 26-storey renovation, also for the Federal Government, located in Lower Manhattan

 

Prof. Mickey Milner
BSc.(Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Wits)
Doctor Of Philosophy in Engineering (Wits)

  • Extensive research into the gyro theodolite
  • Rehabilitation Medicine
  • Founding Director Ontario Rehabilitation Technology Consortium

 

Prof. John Burland
BSc. (Eng) in Civil Engineering (Wits)
Honorary Doctor of Science in Engineering

  • Head of its Geotechnical Engineering Division at the British Building Research Establishment (BRE) in 1966
  • Known for development of Critical state theory of soil mechanics
  • Stabilisation of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
  • Supervision of the Underground Car Park at the Houses of Parliament, 1972 – 1974
  • Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), 2005
  • Honorary Fellow of Cardiff University, Cardiff University, 2005
  • Fellow (FIC), Imperial College, 2004
  • Honorary Fellow, Emmanuel College Cambridge, 2004
  • ""Commendatore"" of the ""Ordine della Stella di Solidariete' Italiana"" (OSSI), President of Italy, 2003
  • DSc Honoris Causa, University of Warwick, 2003
  • DEng Honoris Causa, University of the Witwatersrand
  • ""Commendatore"" of the Royal Order of Francis I of Sicily (KCFO), 2001
  • DEng Honoris Causa, University of Glasgow, 2001
  • DSc Honoris Causa, University of Nottingham, 1998
  • Fellow (FCGI), City and Guilds London Institute, 1998
  • Fellow (FRS), The Royal Society, 1997
  • DEng Honoris Causa, Heriot-Watt University, 1994
  • Fellow (FREng), Royal Academy of Engineering, 1981

 

Prof. Peter King
BSc.(Eng) in Chemical Engineering (Wits)
Master of Engineering (Wits), Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (University of Manchester)

  • Peter King Minerals Processing Laboratory at Wits University named after him in 2017
  • An accomplished metallurgist who served as the head of the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering for over a decade from 1976 to 1990 at Wits
  • Published more than 150 scholarly papers on fundamental aspects of mineral processing
  • Authored or co-authored five books

 

Dr. Trevor Wadley
Doctor of Science in Engineering (Wits)

  • Significant design of Tellurometer, Wadley loop, ionosonde
  • Frank P. Brown Medal Award

 

Prof. Igor Aleksander
BSc.(Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Wits) Doctor in Computer Design

  • Introduced the first stereo plotting instrument in SA at Wits
  • First holder of the Kohler Chair in the Manage- ment of Information Technology at Imperial College
  • He has published over 100 papers and nine books.

 

Dr. Solomon Lefakane
BSc. (Eng) in Civil Engineering (Wits) Master's degree in Civil Engineering (Stanford University); Junior Medical Degree (University of Arizona); Master of Medicine (Medical University of South Africa)

    Order of Baobab, for those who have contributed to community service, business and economy, science, medicine and technological innovation (or his pioneering contribution in the field of civil engineering. He inspired many people behind the scenes to take up engineering).

 

Rob Pullen
BSc. (Eng) in Civil Engineering (Wits)
MSc(Eng), MBL (Wits)

  • Major contributor to the practice of water resources engineering in South Africa
  • Award of a Gold Medal by the South African Institution of Civil Engineering in 2001
  • National Science and Technology Forum Award in Category C
  • Gold Medal from Wits

 

Allan Greenberg
Bachelor of Architecture (Wits)

    Major Projects:
  • State Library and Supreme Court Building, addition (in association with Russell Gibson von Dohlen, Hartford, Connecticut, 1970)
  • Superior Court Building (Manchester, Connecticut, 1979–1980)
  • Bergdorf Goodman, new façade (New York, New York, 1983–1984)
  • Treaty Ceremony Room, Antechambers, and Reception Rooms, United States Department of State (Washington D.C., 1985–1986)
  • Offices of the Secretary of State, United States Department of State (Washington D.C., 1987–89)
  • The News Building (Athens, Georgia, 1988–1992)
  • J. Wilson Newman Pavilion, The Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Virginia, 1988–1990)
  • Tercentenary Hall (now McGlothlin-Street Hall), College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia, 1989–1995)
  • Gore Hall, University of Delaware (Newark, Delaware, 1995–1998)
  • Tommy Hilfiger Flagship Store (now Brooks Brothers) (Beverly Hills, California, 1995–1997)
  • Unicorn Mining Headquarters (London, Kentucky, 1997–1999)
  • Humanities Building, Rice University (Houston, Texas, 1997–2000)
  • Supreme Court Historical Society, renovation (Washington, D.C., 1998–1999)
  • DuPont Hall, University of Delaware (Newark, Delaware, 1998–2002)
  • Aaron Burr Hall, Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey, 2003–2005)

 

Dr. Rory Byrne
Bachelor Of Science (Wits)
Honorary Doctor Of Science

  • Byrne-designed cars have won ninety-nine Grands Prix, seven constructors' titles and seven drivers' titles.
  • Third most successful Formula One designer, behind rival Adrian Newey and Colin Chapman
  • His adaptable design allowed Ferrari to achieve pole positions and lap records in many races - took Scuderia Ferrari to their first Constructors Championship in 1999.
  • Drivers Championship for Schumacher from 2000 to 2003

 

Prof. Berthold Horn
BSc.(Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Wits)
Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (Wits)

  • Thesis entitled ‘Heterodyne techniques in specialised radio instrumentation’ in which he included his world-renowned work on radio, ionospheric radio propagation, and most famously, the Tellurometer
  • Author of two books and over 300 articles
  • His research is focused on Machine Vision, Computational Imaging, Suppressing Traffic Flow Instabilities and Indoor Navigation

 

Cliff McMillan
BSc. (Eng) in Civil Engineering (Wits)

  • Retired Principal of Arup New York
  • Past-President of the SA Institution of Civil Engineers
  • Past-President of the Association of Consulting Engineers
  • Winner of a FOYSA (Four Outstanding Young South Africans) award
  • Anti – apartheid activist and part of the Consultative Business Movement during the political transition years
  • Founder and active Chairman of PROTEC (Program for Technological Careers)
  • His prominent projects include the major refurbishment of the Lincoln Center campus and the 5-mile Hudson River Park in New York.
  • Led the engineering efforts with Technological Resources for Industry (THRIP)

 

Dr. Kurt Strobele
BSc. in Engineering cum laude (Wits)

  • Chairman And Chief Executive Officer of Hatch
  • Responsible for the development, design and construction of several major plants in North America, Australia, and South Africa
  • Written and co-authored more than 20 technical papers, published in several languages
  • Member of the Canadian Academy of Engineers
  • Member of Professional Engineers of Ontario
  • Member of Engineering Institute of Canada
  • Member of Institute of Mechanical Engineers (UK)
  • Member of AIME Iron & Steel Society.

 

Graham Mackay
BSc. in Engineering (Wits)
Bachelor of Commerce (Wits)

  • Chairman of SABMiller
  • Mackay held a number of senior positions in the group, including executive chairperson, and oversaw a period of growth and expansion in the US, Eastern Europe, China and South America.
  • Mackay oversaw acquisitions that helped build the maker of Grolsch and Peroni into the world's biggest brewer after Anheuser-Busch InBev NV.
  • Takeovers included Colombia's Bavaria SA and Italy's Birra Peroni SpA. SABMiller now has a global footprint spread over major fast-growing markets including Latin America, China and Africa, as well as across Europe
  • Engineered the A$10.5-billion takeover of Foster’s Group in 2011
  • Between 1995 and 2003 he was deputy chairperson and then chairperson of Standard Bank Group.

 

Bart Dorrestein
BSc. (Eng) in Civil Engineering (Wits)

  • Chairman of Legacy Hotels & Resorts Legacy Group Holdings
  • Owner of Ritchie Midgley Consulting Engineers,

 

Prof. David Limebeer
BSc.(Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Wits) Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (University of Natal)

  • Regarded as one of the world’s truly gifted electronic engineers
  • Post-doctoral fellow at the University of Cambridge (1980 to 1984)
  • Awards: FREng, IEEE
  • Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering the Institute of Electrical Engineers, the South African Academy of Engineering, the City and Guilds of London Institute
  • Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

 

Sir . Michael Bear
BSc. (Eng) in Civil Engineering (Wits)
Honorary Doctor of Science

  • 683rd Lord Mayor of London
  • Honorary Fellow (Hon FREng)

 

Prof. Nigel Middleton
BSc.(Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Wits)
Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering (Wits)

  • Senior Vice-President of the Colorado School of Mines.

 

Stanis Smith
Bachelor Of Architecture (Wits)

  • 30 years of experience in corporate governance and complex building design leadership
  • Joined architecture firm Architectura (now Stantec) and served in positions of increasing authority until becoming Chief Executive Officer.
  • Led airport projects in cities that include Chicago, Edmonton, Nassau Bahamas, Santiago Chile, Toronto and Vancouver.
  • Chair of the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) Advisory Committee since early 2017

 

Neal Froneman
BSc.(Eng) in Mechanical Engineering (Wits)

  • Chief Executive Officer of Sibanye-Stillwater
  • 2021 Brigadier Stokes Memorial Award by the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM)
  • Primarily responsible for the creation of Uranium One Incorporated (Uranium One) from the Aflease Gold uranium assets.

 

Colin Coleman
BA in Architecture (Wits)

  • Anti-Apartheid activist
  • Business Statesman Award from Harvard Business School in 1994
  • Business Insider named him one of the 11 Most Impressive New Partners At Goldman Sachs
  • Chief Executive Officer Pledge of South Africa

 

Duncan Wanblad
BSc.(Eng) in Mechanical Engineering (Wits)
Graduate Diploma Engineering in Mechanical & Industry (Wits)

  • Group Chief Executive of Anglo American
  • Chairs the Group Management Committee since 2009
  • Chairman of De Beers
  • Former Chair of Anglo American Foundation.

 

Paul Brink
BSc.(Eng) in Mechanical Engineering (Wits) Masters in Management Studies (Oxford University)

  • President and Chief Executive Officer of Franco-Nevada

 

David Frankel
BSc.(Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Wits)
BSc.(Honours) in Electrical Engineering (Wits), Masters in Management Studies (Harvard University)

  • Co-founder and managing partner, Founder Collective
  • IT Executive of the Year award from the Computer Society of South Africa in 1998
  • Technological Achiever of the Century by the Financial Mail, Board of directors of Rand Merchant Investment Holdings in 2018
  • Previous member of the Rand Merchant Bank board, Frankel served as the founding co-chairman of the Internet Service Providers Association of Africa (ISPA)
  • Held a central role in the 1997 lawsuit that kept Telkom from monopolizing internet access in South Africa

 

Bob van Bebber
Bachelor Of Architecture (Wits)

  • Lead architect in building Soccer City stadium while at Boogertman and Partners
  • South Africa Professional Services Awards (SAPSA) Architectural Professional of the year 2019
  • Boogertman+Partners Professional of the Year –Architecture 2018/2019

 

Alan Dickson
BSc.(Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Wits)
Master of Science in Engineering, Master of Business Administration (Wits)

  • Chief Executive Officer of electronics and electrical engineering group, Reunert.
  • Became Executive Director of the Reunert board in 2013
  • Appointed Managing Director of the CBI-electric business in October 2012
  • Reunert Appointed Commercial Director in 2007 before becoming Managing Director 2009

 

Dr. Robert Fleming
BSc.(Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Wits)
Doctor Of Philosophy in Engineering (Wits), MBA from the Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania)

  • Corporate Vice President and President of Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems sector
  • Vice President and General Manager of Space Systems’ Strategic Space Systems division
  • Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Space Systems
  • Led Strategic Force Programs business unit as Vice President of Programs for the Payload and Ground Systems Division
  • Vice President of Emerging Systems and Strategic Initiatives for Mission Systems sector’s Land & Avionics C4ISR division

 

Ms. Mamongae Mahlare
BSc.(Eng) in Chemical Engineering (Wits) MBA (Havard University)

  • Executive Chairperson of Takealot Group (Previous CEO )
  • Previous Managing Director of Illovo Sugar South Africa
  • Board of Governors appointed by the University Council to manage the Wits Foundation
  • Previous Channel Development Manager at Coca Cola
  • Previous Marketing Director at SABMiller
  • Previous Consultant at Bain & Company
  • Previous Process Engineer at UNILEVER
  • Mahlare was also on the board of RMB Holdings Ltd. and Rand Previous Merchant Investment Holdings Ltd.

 

Simon Baloyi
BSc. in Engineering (Wits)
Master of Science in Engineering (Wits)

  • President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Sasol from 1 April 2024
  • Held various management positions over two decades at Sasol

 

Prof. Matthew Rabinowitz
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Aeronautics and Astronautics (Wits)

  • Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Natera (NTRA)
  • Consulting professor in Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University
  • Visiting faculty in Genetics at Harvard Medical School
  • His technologies have generated over 100 patents and peer-reviewed publications.

 

Mpumi Zikalala
BSc.(Eng) in Chemical Engineering (Wits)

  • Chief Executive Officer of Kumba Ore
  • Appointated De Beers Group Managed Operations Manging Director in 2019
  • First female General Manager at the De Beers Group in 2007

 

Shakir Mohamed
BSc. in Engineering (Wits)
Master of Engineering (Wits)

  • Research Director at Google DeepMind, TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence (AI)”, published on 7 September 2023
  • Co-founded the Deep Learning Indaba in 2017

 

Ryan Canin
BSc. (Eng) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Wits)

  • Founder and CEO of DocFox
  • DocFox attracted Silicon Valley investment from some of the most prominent individuals in FinTech which propelled the company on a path to where it is now.
  • He put on a rollicking masterclass in front of a packed house at the African FinTech Awards at the Finance Indaba Africa in October 2017
  • He was named The Creative Counsel Young Jewish Entrepreneur Award (2017)
  • DocFox won Best RegTech Startup in 2022 FinTech Breakthrough Awards

 

Pelonomi Moiloa
BSc.(Eng) in Biomedical Engineering, BSc.(Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Wits) Master in Science (Tohoku University)

  • Chief Executive Officer of Lelapa AI, IME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence (AI)”, published on 7 September 2023
  • Completed a double major in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering at Wits because she was fascinated by artificial organs and limbs.

 

Prof. David Glasser
Honorary Doctor of Science in Engineering

  • Holds four patents, including patents for improving chemical plant efficiency, improving carbon efficiencies in hydrocarbon production and the production of synthesis gas
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa (1997)Associate Editor of the Chemical Engineering Journal (1980-2002)
  • Editor of the Kluwer international book series on chemical engineering (1988-2003)
  • Bill Neale-May Gold Medal from the South African Institution of Chemical Engineering (2000)
  • Inaugural Harry Oppenheimer Memorial Gold Medal (2001)
  • Science-for-Society Gold Medal from the Academy of Science of South Africa (2006)
  • “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the National Science and Technology Forum (2012)
  • Fellow of the South African Academy of Engineering
  • President of the South African Institute of Chemical Engineering
  • Founder and director of the Centre of Material and Process Synthesis at WITS
  • Fellow of the South African Institute of Chemical Engineering

 

Knighthoods and other UK honours
  • Sir Edward Philip Antrobus
  • Sir Michael David Bear
  • Sir Winfried Franz Wilhelm Bischoff
  • Sir Walter Bodmer
  • Sir David John Burrows
  • Sir Terence Alexander English
  • Sir R S Garfield Todd
  • Sir Donald Gordon
  • Sir Bob Alexander Hepple
  • Sir Francis Hinsley
  • Sir Raymond Hoffenberg
  • Sir Andrew Huxley
  • Sir Sydney Woolf Kentridge
  • Sir David Anthony King
  • Sir Aaron Klug
  • Sir Ivone Leite
  • Sir Maurice Sydney Lipworth
  • Sir Ian Stewart Lloyd
  • Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt
  • Sir Henry Mclorinan Mcdowell
  • Sir Alastair Robert Newton Morton
  • Sir Charles Wilfrid Newton
  • Sir Ernest Oppenheimer
  • Sir Basil Ferdinand Jamieson Schonland
  • Sir Michael Leonard Sinclair
  • Sir Mark Aubrey Weinberg
  • Sir Thomas Williams
  • Sir Gerhard Jacob Jack Zunz
  • Dame Janet Suzman
  • Lord Joel Joffe
  • Sir Daniel Lincoln Bethlehem
  • Professor Jeffrey Lipman
  • Dame Helen Hyde
Canon Collins scholars

Albert Sharra (PhD 2021)

Albertina Rosa Mucavele (BA2002, MA 2006)

Amanda Tobo (BA Hons 2019)

Aneesa Peer (MMed 2000)

Barbara Chanda M'ule (BSc Hons 2006, MSc 2008)

Boitumelo Motsoatsoe (BA 2011, MA 2015)

Brian Murahwa (MA 2016)

Charity Mbileni (PhD 2006)

Charleen Rupnarain (MA 2005, PhD 2009)

Dzunisani Alucia Ndhambi (BPEd1991, BEd 1997, MEd 2002, MM 2007)

Earl Clayton Van Zyl (BSc 2000)

Edward Ndumiso Nxumalo (PhD 2011)

Elias Kodisang (PhD 2021)

Elizabeth Makhura (BSc Hons 2001)

Emmanuel Lekulana Kolobe (MSc 2007)

Eunice Imasiku (PhD 2015)

Evelyn Kalua (MMed 2012)

Ezio Fok (BSc 2011, MSc 2011, MSc 2014)

Geoffrey Kwenda (PhD 2010)

George Kalaba Kalebaila (MSc 2004)

Gillian Attwood (Med 1999, PhD 2007)

Gillian Chigumira (BA 2011, BA Hons 2012, BCom Hons 2013, MCom 2017)

Grames Wellington Chirwa (BEd 2008, MA 2009, PhD 2013)

Graunt Kruger (MBA 2007, PhD 2015)

Helga Machiridza (LLM 2020)

Hlob'sile Matsenjwa-Magagula (BEd Hons 2012)

Jan Suhla Thubana (Dip 1992)

Johan Motsamai Makhoathi (LLB 2016)

Joseph Kanyanga (MSc 2003)

Kagiso Nko (MA 2020)

Kakoma Luneta (PhD 2003)

Kashmira Doelab (BSc 2005, BSc Hons 2006, GDip 2010, MA 2011)

Ketulo Salipira (PhD 2010)

Kgothatso Nhlengetwa (BSc 2008, BSc Hons 2009)

Lebogang Stephen Montjane (LLB 2000)

Lefa Lekhula (BA 2004)

Lennece Walter Mkhari (BA Hons 2018)

Lillian Letele (BCom 1996)

Linda Linganiso (BSc 2004, MSc 2008, PhD 2009)

Lunga Simelane (MSc 2009, MM 2014)

M T Sehoole (BEd 1988, MA 1991, PGDip 2001, PhD 2002)

Machebane Roslyn Mothiba (BA 2004, MSc 2006)

Madidimalo Aaron Ramodumo (MM 2007, PhD 2016)

Mahao Amandus Mahao (BA 2001, MA 2003,PhD 2019)

Makgabo Hendrick Tsiri (BA 2004, MSc 2006)

Mannana Ntoampe (BSc 2005, BSc Hons 2006, MSc 2008, PhD 2012)

Marché Nonkululeko Arends (BA Honours 2016)

Maria Combrink (MSc 2017)

Mark-Andrew Sekhonyana Mosala (MSc 1994)                       

Mashudu Caroline Luvhimbe (BSc Hons 2005)                          

Mercy Mupavayenda (MA 2017)

Misheck Ndebele (PhD 2012)

Mkhululi Nyathi (LLM 2005)

Moipone Amelia Mantsebo Letsie (PhD 2015)

Moketse Teka (MA 2004)

Mokhwetha Daniel Mabula (BSc Hons 2008, MSc 2009)

Moren Stone (MSc 2006)

Musi Skosana (BSc 2000, BSc Hons 2004, PGDip 2006, MSc 2006)

Namhla Mxenge (Dip 1998)

Nathaniel Weuzani Banda Chimbatata (MSc 2009)

Natsayi Zanile Chimbindi (MSc 2008, PhD 2017)

Ndivhuwo Phathela (BA Hons 2000, MA 2002)

Ngoato Mikhoil Pitjadi (BA 2001, BA Hons 2006, MM 2009)

Nhlanhla Dlamini (PhD 2007)

Nhlanhla Ncube (BSc 2010)

Nicholus Nyika (PhD 2007)

Nikiwe Kunjuzwa (BSc 2008, MSc 2009, PhD 2017)

Nkgafeng Komana (MEd 2004)

Nkosinathi Frederick Mpalami (BSc Hons 2006, MSc 2008)

Nnditsheni Madavha (BSc 2002, BSc Hons 2004, GDip 2007)

Noko Reshoketswe Mphahlele (BSc 2001, BSc Hons 2002, MSc 2004, PhD 2013)

Nokuphila Doreen Nkosi (Hons 1991)

Norman Mathebula (PhD 2017)

Nsangu Augustine Mwale (BSc 2007, MSc 2009)

Ntombenkosi Dyosop (MA 2016)

Ntutu Letseka (BSc 2005, BSc Hons 2006, MSc 2014)

Obed Grant Heitha (BEng 2001)

Palesa Promise Diale  (PhD 2015)

Peter Mukoma (PhD 2007)

Precious Paledi (BA Hons 1998)

Phuti Kgomo (BA 1998, PGDip 1999, MM 2008)

Punita Pitamber (BSc 2005, BSc Hons 2006, MSc 2012)

Rendani Charles Ramalata (HDip 1999, MSc 2000)

Rosalind Thomas (PhD 2002)

Rudzani Mulaudzi (BSc 1996, GDip 2000)

Sadhna Mathura (PhD 2013)

Salome Mashiloane (MA 2005)

Sanjay Lala (MBBCh 1990, DTM&H 1994, MMed 2000)

Shingirai Taodzera (BA 2013, BA Hons 2014, MA 2015)

Sibili Precious Nsibande (BEd 2015, MEd 2016)

Sibongile Ratlhogo (BSc 2004, BSc Hons 2005, MSc 2012)

Simon Sizwe Mayson (PhD 2020)

Sinah Makgoka Seeletsi (BSc 2001, BSc Hons 2003)

Sophai Ntinga Namukonda (MSc 2014)

Stephinah Mudau (MSc 2006)

Thabang Ntho (BSc 2004, PhD 2008, MBA 2013)

Thozama Lutya (MA 2001)

Tisaukirenji Tembo (MA 2020)

Thijessen Naidoo (BSc 2004, BSc Hons 2005, MM 2014)

Viwe Mxenge (MBCHB 1994)

Vongani Ngobeni (BA 2002, LLB 2005)

Wendy Zvakawapano (BA Hons 2013, MA 2014)

Wonga Mpho Hexana (BSc 2004, BSc Hons 2005, PhD 2009)

Wycliff Tlhalefang Moeletsi (BSc 2015, BESc 2016, MESc 2018)

Yolanda Tarisayi Chekera Radu (LLB 2010, LLM 2012)

Gold Medals

Instituted by the Council of the University to honour persons of outstanding distinction who have been important to the life of the University.

2000

  • Dr Joosub Hajee Suliman Ebrahim

2001

  • Mr Samuel Goodman
    Bachelor Of Science In Engineering (1941) (WITS)
    Master Of Science In Engineering (1981) (WITS)
  • Dr Malegapuru William Makgoba
    MBChB (1976) University of Natal Medical School
    DPhil in Human Immunogenetics (1983) (OXFORD)

2003

  • International Committee of the Red Cross

2004

  • Prof. Bruce Keir Murray
  • Dr Anvir Adam
    Bachelor of Medicine And Bachelor of Surgery (1964) (WITS)
    Diploma in Tropical Med and Hygiene (1986) (WITS)
    Diploma in Public Health (1988) (WITS)

2006

  • Brian Zylstra 
    Bachelor of Commerce (1957) (WITS)
  • Dorothy Zylstra 
    Bachelor of Arts With Honours (1964) (WITS)
    Diploma In Specialised Education (Remedial Education) (1975) (WITS)
  • Linda Givon

2007

  • Linda Givon

2008

  • Prof. David Blumsohn 
    Bachelor of Medicine (1954) (WITS)
    Graduate Diploma in Medicine (1959) (WITS)

2009

  • Emeritus Professor John Allan

2010

  • Dr David Mabunda

2011

2012

2013

2014

2016

2017

2018

2019

2022

2023

 

Wikipedia

Notable Alumni on Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_University_of_the_Witwatersrand_people

 

Ranker

Famous University of the Witwatersrand Alumni on Ranker

https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-university-of-the-witwatersrand-alumni-and-students/reference

 

Google

Google list of notable Wits Alumni

 

 

Edurank

Edurank list of 100 Notable Wits alumni

Share