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�������ý celebrates 99 years of excellence

4 October 2021 - �������ý University

�������ý launches global appeal, former �������ý SRC President donates $100,000 to support students

The University of the Witwatersrand celebrates 99 years of academic and research excellence, social activism, and the advancement of the public good, on Monday, 4 October 2021.

�������ý was born out of the School of Mines and was formally inaugurated on 4 October 1922. The University will through the , and invites all staff members, students, alumni, donors, and members of the extended �������ý community, both local and global, to participate in events, reunions, fundraising drives, a homecoming weekend and other activities in the coming year.

“We stand on the shoulders of over 200 000 illustrious graduates who have made their mark on society,” says �������ý Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi. “We remain the home of talented scholars, staff and students, and look forward to shaping the next 100 years. We invite all friends of �������ý to participate in our celebrations, and to support our activities, including the �������ý Global Appeals which will launch soon.”

R3 billion Centenary Campaign

One component of the �������ý Centenary Campaign is to raise R3 billion to fund academic and research activities, infrastructure, and students. The University has raised approximately R2 billion to date, and is grateful to the donors who have come on board in recent months to contribute to the campaign through various projects. Some of the major donations include:

• A $150 million donation from alumnus Natie Kirsch to support ‘missing middle’ students,
• A commitment from alumnus Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong to invest in cancer and vaccine research at �������ý,
• R54 million for research and academic activities in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment from Sibanye-Stillwater, including renaming the Amic Deck to the Sibanye-Stillwater Infinity Bridge,
• R16 million for a bespoke student endowment from Mark Lamberti,
• The Roy McAlpine Charitable Foundation donated R70 million for a new state of the art burns unit at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital,
• The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust donated R15 million towards the African Future Studies Initiative led by Prof. Peace Kiguwa,
• R15,7 million from the Claude Leon Foundation for two research chairs and a research programme to tackle South Africa’s water crisis,
• R60 million for the new �������ý Surgical Skills Laboratory, and
• An invaluable book collection from Jack Ginsberg to the �������ý Art Museum

Former SRC President donates $100,000 to help students

Former �������ý SRC President (1971), Rex Heinke pledged $100,000 to aid students and challenged other presidents to support the campaign.

Priority Areas

�������ý is fundraising for projects in eight priority areas: digital transformation, global health and sustainability solutions, entrepreneurship and innovation, governance and social justice, future proofing our national treasures, funding the next generation of staff and students, and finding support through our local and global alumni. There is also close collaboration with �������ý’ fundraising offices in the US, UK and Australia and many Schools already have their own �������ý100 plans underway.

Global Appeal

�������ý alumni around the world, together with staff, students, parents, and friends of �������ý, can play a significant role in ensuring the success of the Centenary Campaign through small, affordable donations. Alumni can make monthly, annual, occasional or once-off donations to a discretionary endowment fund for student support; teaching, research and innovation; and campus infrastructure and improvements .

It’s your campaign

Read more about how you can get involved in the #�������ý100 campaign:   �������ý. For Good.