Howzit Witsies! Your time is precious and we’re grateful for you spending some of it with us, reading our monthly newsletter. So many of you have also taken the time to write in and tell us how much you enjoy the stories we curate for you: thank you, you make it all worthwhile.

WITSIE WINS AN EMMY

Lesego Vorster (BA FA 2013, PDipArt 2016) received the Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for Character Design for Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (Disney+) at the 3rd Annual Children’s & Family Emmy® Awards in Los Angeles in March 2025.

Vorster is a former lecturer at Wits and at The Animation School and he studied at the prestigious Gobelins l’ecole de l’image in Paris. Despite the lure to stay in Europe, he  returned to South Africa with a clear mission to share what he had learned with others. Vorster took time out from his busy schedule to respond for a quick chat with Wits Alumni Relations:

How did this project with Disney come about?
Potential directors from all over Africa were invited to pitch for an afro-futurist anthology with Disney. More than 150 individuals were initially contacted, and the projects were narrowed down to the 10 that finally made it into Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire on Disney+. 

What are your memories of your time at Wits? Are there any abiding values that are still with you?
My time at Wits was truly formative and I would not exchange that experience for anything. The biggest thing that stuck with me from my Fine Arts degree is accountability. The lecturers at Wits used to treat us like adults who were responsible for their own time management, lecture attendance and making time to be in studio. This was the first time I had to be accountable for how I used my time to such a degree, so much so that in my first year, I had a hard time with balancing my academia with the fun times and the fun times almost won me over. I received a reality check after almost failing, then I became dedicated to my practice, enjoyed it even more, learnt how to say no to distractions and flourished until the end of my degree.

Read more here.

Watch a trailer from “Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire”, which features Witsie Lesego Vorster’s award-winning work.

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 families, for generations to come.
DONATE HERE

WITS COUNCIL APPROVES R22 MILLION TO BRIDGE FOREIGN AID CUTS

Wits University has made available R22 million in emergency funding to immediately support postgraduate students and key research staff in the Faculty of Health Sciences affected by the sudden termination of major international health research funding from the United States government.

It is envisaged that this emergency funding will assist approximately 75 postgraduate students to complete their degrees and will provide gap funding for key research active staff members for up to six months. During this period, researchers and the University will actively pursue alternative grant funding.

“We welcome this funding, which will go some way towards plugging a critical gap for students and staff who have been impacted by the US funding cuts,” says Prof. Lynn Morris. “However, this is just a drop in the ocean. Without intervention, Wits through its subsidiary, the Wits Health Consortium faces the retrenchment of 2,479 staff, the loss of more than R1.8 billion in potential funding, and the dismantling of vital scientific assets such as longitudinal cohorts, biobanks, global health surveillance and clinical trials platforms. We are actively seeking alternative sources of funding.”

Read more here.

WITS RESEARCHERS MAP OPTIMAL SITES FOR REFORESTATION

New research maps optimal locations for climate-fighting reforestation

New research from the Future Ecosystems for Africa program at Wits University has created the most accurate maps yet of where reforestation can effectively combat climate change.

The study identifies 195 million hectares globally where tree restoration will deliver maximum climate benefits without harming communities or ecosystems.

The study, published in Nature Communications and drawing from 89 previous research projects, provides the most comprehensive mapping yet of areas where reforestation can deliver optimal climate benefits while supporting wildlife habitat, food production, and freshwater availability.

The 195 million hectares identified – roughly equivalent to the combined area of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe – is a 71 to 92% drop in previous estimates of the total land area available globally for reforestation projects. However, it represents a substantial and realistic opportunity for reforestation to contribute meaningfully to climate goals while protecting communities and ecosystems.

“Previous studies often failed to address how afforestation could have negative effects on biodiversity and human well-being, especially for poor people living in remote rural areas often targeted for reforestation,” says Professor Sally Archibald, who leads the Future Ecosystems for Africa (FEFA) program at Wits. The research emphasizes that negative impacts are more likely when communities lack secure land rights and depend heavily on natural resources.

Read more here.

WITSIE IN HBO’S “TASK”

Watch out for multi-award winning Witsie, Thuso Mbedu, who is starring alongside Mark Ruffalo in HBO’s new crime drama series Task this September. She plays Sergeant Aleah Clinton, who wants to end violent robberies in Philadelphia. Watch the trailer here.

PODCAST | #HackYourFuture | Ep.4: More Than Just a Career
Careers aren’t just job titles—they’re opportunities to create impact. Psychologist Kerry Gordon, activist Candice Chirwa, and Professor Karen Hoffman share how resilience, passion, and adaptability shaped their unexpected career paths. Tune in to explore the power of purpose beyond profession.

Wits Virtual Tour

See Wits University in Action! Want a closer look at life on campus? For a Virtual Tour of Your Old Haunts, Click here.