October 2025
The US Witsie
Read more about Wits today. IT’S FALL Y’ALL…or autumn as we used to call it. Do you also switch between “sidewalk” and “pavement” , or “robot” and “traffic lights”? Hope you also see our ability to switch between cultures and languages as a strength, part of our shared identify as Witsies in the US, looking for ways to give back.
US Witsie is “Master of the Moment” – Medic turned Photographer Extraordinaire   Master of the moment Norman Seeff (MBBCh 1964) traded his physician’s coat for a camera and spent the past five decades photographing some of the most iconic creatives. With a subject list that reads like a Hall of Fame, including The Rolling Stones, The Jackson Five, Alicia Keys and Steve Jobs, he has found a way to disarm them all. ✨ How has he turned photo shoots into sessions of self-discovery? Read more here in the latest edition of the Wits Review. As we feel gratitude for the blessings in our lives, one way to pay it forward is through making an impact in a person’s life that will uplift them, and their familes, for generations to come. DONATE HERE Don’t miss out on the Oct 2025 Wits Review click here Urban oasis From koi to campus cats, bees to blossoms – a focus on the wild heart of Wits Archives Crafted musical treasures from the Hans Adler Memorial Music Museum still resonate with stories Books What makes Joburg a port city? Urban planner Tanya Zack shares a hopeful story about the inner city Socials Nuclear physicists from the Schonland Research Centre gathered to reignite old bonds Global Witsie No mortgage, no permanent address. A glimpse of Xan Rice’s “mildly interesting” life as an international correspondent. Braamfontein: A Space for Art, Light, and Prosperity  Braamfontein gets a fresh new look with Ameshoff Street. The upgrade supports art and life in the City, with Braamfontein being one of the key gateways to the vibrant social, intellectual and cultural life in Jozi. The R3 million upgrade features striking new lighting installations, public benches, and a mosaic watershed fountain at the foot of the entrance leading to the Joburg Theatre. The design aims to foster a sense of belonging and pride among residents, workers, and visitors, while encouraging greater pedestrian activity and nighttime safety. Situated near Wits University, the Liberty offices, and a network of creative and cultural spaces, the corridor now offers a refreshing and inspiring environment for students, professionals, and residents alike – capturing the energy that defines Braamfontein’s day-to-night identity. Read more here.  Wits Sports Stars Shine, on and off the Field  The 2025 Wits Sport Awards were a celebration of sporting excellence on and off the field. Applause, lights and a much-earned red carpet time were the name of the game as the Wits Sport Awards on Thursday, 7 October 2025. Wits Sport hosted its annual awards ceremony to celebrate and honor athletes for their stellar achievements throughout the year. The Sturrock Park Hall was filled with athletes, staff and supporters as they celebrated the heights that the Wits sporting community had reached over the past year. The ceremony was themed ‘Rising Stars’ in recognition of the rising athletes in the Wits community. This was a night filled with entertainment, energy and passion that brought the community together and highlighted the rising stars that power the university’s sports. Read more here. Alumni Corner: Wits Medical Grad Publishes Memoires  US Witsie Dr Norman Nathan (MBBCh 1970) recently published his biography, a “powerful memoir [which] offers a deeply personal journey through a childhood shaped by privilege and shadowed by injustice. Norman Nathan shares intimate and often startling recollections of growing up in Johannesburg during the 1950s and 60s: from idyllic suburban scenes and schoolyard adventures to witnessing brutal acts of racial violence and navigating a society divided by law and prejudice. Through vivid storytelling, Nathan introduces readers to the people who shaped his early life – African caregivers, family members, and classmates while chronicling the stark realities of military service, political awakening, and the slow unraveling of innocence.” Read more here. WATCH | Wits in 60 Seconds Wits and Joburg Water have partnered to improve access to sustainable water in informal settlements while a global report highlights that the world has reached a critical climate tipping point. The new Africa Data Drive platform is helping support data-driven decisions for sustainable development and conservation across the continent. We visit the Cross-Faculty Symposium where postgraduate students showcase their research across disciplines. Wits researchers help discover a new Jurassic reptile species, revealing links in the evolution of lizards and snakes. Read more here. See Wits University in Action! Want a closer look at life on campus? For a Virtual Tour of Your Old Haunts, Click here. The University of the Witwatersrand Fund, Inc. is a corporation under the Internal Revenue Code, section 501 (c) (3). Donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. The Wits Fund IRS EIN number is: 13-3902012. Vision To ensure that Wits University remains one of Africa’s – and the world’s – pre-eminent research-intensive educational institutions, with top academic standards, committed faculty, and supportive alumni. Donate Today Love this newsletter? Have some suggestions? Want to tell us your story of how you got here? Please write in and tell us: https://witsfund.org/contact/ Missed one of the previous newsletters? Here they are, on one page: https://witsfund.org/latest/ |
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To include The University of the Witwatersrand Fund Inc (#13-390 2012) in your employer’s matching gift program, please follow your company’s corporate matching guidelines. Donations can be sent to:
The University of the Witwatersrand Fund, Inc.
PO Box 7101
New York, NY 10150