Class Book: Wits University Electrical Engineering Class of 1975

1975—2025

50th ANNIVERSARY GRADUATION IN B.Sc. ELECTRICAL

FOREWORD

Almost 50 years have passed since we last sat together, confronting our final exam papers before packing away pens, pencils and slide rules and heading out into the Johannesburg summer to celebrate. Later to embark on our last holiday before the weight of the working world settled on our shoulders. Yet it didn’t seem in the least weighty at the time: the world was ours for the taking.

Now, a half-century later and older than the vast majority of people alive today, yet with a wealth of experience under our belts, we are in a position to reflect on what has been as well as look to the future. Some of us have ventured far, others stayed close, some have disappeared, and some will have the opportunity to meet once more at the reunion to celebrate—not so much the 50 intervening years as how we have developed over this time, and how much we have been marked by our education and experiences at Wits. As well as have fun matching grey hair and lined faces with those youthful memories of classmates. If we can remember much at all!

Our thanks to all who have contributed to this booklet and who have helped to ensure the reunion weekend can take place. A special thanks to Prof Nyamupangedengu, Peter Maher and Peter Bezuidenhoudt for easing our way on campus.

List of Graduates

Alberti, John Transvaal

Bancroft, Colin Israel

Bawa, Bhagoobhai Vereeniging

Bell, Ronald Gqeberha

Berriman, Colin Melbourne (Aus)

Biabani, Abbas Los Angeles (USA)

Bodart, Jean Golfe-Juan (F)

Boddington, Dennis Johannesburg

Brigg, John Lorentzweiler (L)

Carter, Geoffrey Pretoria

Davis, Keith Queensland ( Aus)

Dehrmann, Bobby Deceased 2009

Dwolatzky, Barry (Prof) Deceased 2023

Ehrlich, Stanley Ramat Beit Shemesh (Is)

Essman, Erich Deceased 2011

Ferreira, Jorge Deceased

Gerber, Peter Johannesburg

Goedhals, Anton Halfway House

Goldblatt, Martin Deceased 2022

Griggs, Terrance Germiston

Heydenrych, Peter Kalamunda (Aus)

Heymann, Steven West Pymble (Aus)

Holmes, John Benoni

Jackson, Selwyn Johannesburg

Jagger Ivan USA? Canada?

Jeffrey, Neil Cape Town

Levin, David Dowerglen

Levy, Colin Brisbane? (Aus)

Mackay, Kenneth Deceased 2017

Mauchle, Alfons Johannesburg

Meintjes, Martin Oakville (Can)

Middleton, Ian (Dr) Bedfordview

Nelson, Thomas Horsham (UK)

Pattrick, Kenneth Roodepoort

Place, Sidney Johannesburg

Pohl, Emmanuel (Dr) Robina (Aus)

Rabins, Richard Weston (USA)

Rachman, Julian Dallas (USA)

Rachman, Yigal Calgary (Can)

Rampf, Peter Burnaby? (Can)

Romano, Amato Oriel

Ruch, Stanley Deceased 2000

Ryan, Kevin Deceased 2017

Schmarr, Alex Olifantsfontein

Smith, Jevan Boland?

Taback, Vivian Johannesburg

Tatlow, Gavin Plettenburg Bay

Truter, John Secunda

Turner, Martin (Prof) Sydney (Aus)

van Coller, John (Dr) Johannesburg

van Selm, Ivan Sydney

Vella, Michael Johannesburg?

Warner, Peter Johannesburg

Williams, Clive Deceased 2021

Winstanley, John Durban

Wyatt-Mair, Gavin (Dr) Lafayette (USA)

Yan, Low Kwong Deceased 2001 Untraceable

Welcome to your alma mater!!!!!

Prof Cuthbert Nyamupangedengu PhD(Wits) Head, School of Electrical and Information Engineering

Vision: Solving 21st century problems by developing World Class Engineers for Local Impact

Values: Sustain a culture of esprit de corps (good spirit) for the best School to work for, the best to graduate from, and the best to collaborate with.

“Once a Witsie, always a Witsie.” The return of the Class of 1975 for reunion is a testament to the indelible mark this institution leaves on its students. Since your time here, the School has continued to evolve in its mission to solve problems with empathy and for the good of society. As has the curriculum, in response to changing local and global contexts.

An Electrical Engineering Curriculum built for critical thinking and problem solving with lifelong learning agility

Our unique undergraduate pathways, comprising the mainstream BSc Elect Eng and Info Eng degrees, and the 3+2 programmes, BEngSc in Digital Arts and BEngSc Biomedical Engineering, are designed to prepare students not just for jobs, but for lifelong learning. With a foundational pyramid model that balances depth with flexibility, we produce graduates who thrive across diverse sectors beyond engineering, such as banking and insurance.

This is the kind of school I am proud to lead. It is my privilege to continue a line of visionary leadership; Bozzoli, Hanrahan, Landy, Reynders, Jandrell, Takawira, Trengove, and others, who have each contributed to Wits EIE’s status as a continental leader.

At the start of our second century, we continue the legacy started in 1922, with inclusivity. The present and future are something we engineer through the various research thrusts in the School as outlined below.

Reconfiguring for a Just Transition: Can we transform power systems to be environmentally just, globally competitive and inclusive to energy access enablers?

The transition from fossil to renewable energy is perhaps South Africa’s greatest technological and ethical imperative. Our researchers are addressing this challenge on multiple fronts—from integrating renewables into national grids using state-of-the-art simulation labs, to developing envi-

ronmentally sustainable nanotechnology-based insulation materials. Driving this research and making a real-world impact through scalable PV microgrid technologies is the Centre of Excellence in High Voltage. A successful spin-off PECO Power (credit to Prof Willie Cronje) enables clean electricity to underserved communities.

Continental Leader in Lightning and Grid Resilience: What protective technologies can arise from a deeper understanding of lightning physics?

South Africa ranks among the highest globally in lightning incidence, and our Lightning Lab, led by Dr H Hunt and Dr C Schumann, is a world-class hub for lightning physics. Using high-speed photography, their research is contributing to further international understanding of lightning behaviour.

Mobility Engineering, Control, and Intelligence: Our control systems and electric vehicle researchers are at the forefront of intelligent mobility, designing the technologies that will drive future cities and industries. Our mechatronics and AI systems researchers are building bridges between the digital and physical worlds designing smart systems. Mechatronics will soon be a full-fledged specialisation in our programme, an initiative being passionately driven by the EBE Dean, Prof Thokozani Majozi.

The information age is dependent on efficient connectivity: the Next Leap: Will the next global communication standard carry a Wits imprint?

From our storied history in radar and telecommunication inventions to current breakthroughs in 6G and optical wireless communications, the EIE School continues to lead. Our researchers are advancing secure, ultra-fast networks powered by AI and light-based data transmission. Our Antenna Research Lab, managed by Prof Alan Clark, continues to support industry breakthroughs like POYNTING Antennas, a proud Wits spin-off.

Biomedical Engineering Innovation and Human Impact: How can we leverage AI to make healthcare more human-centered and accessible?

We are the only school in South Africa with a dedicated undergraduate programme. Our researchers are building prosthetics, diagnostics, and healthcare technologies that are efficient, affordable and smart.

Software, Cybersecurity and Ethical AI: How can we ensure that AI systems uphold ethical standards and serve the public good across contexts?

The “Information” in our school name is foundational. With AI, highperformance computing and deep learning at the forefront, our software engineering team is helping shape the information era. We are deeply engaged with the ethical implications of AI and will play a central role in the Faculty’s Centre of Excellence in Cybersecurity, in partnership with CSIR.

Ron Bell

My thirty odd years as a briefcase

My life started in 1980 as an anniversary present.

Hardly had my lock codes been personalised than my owner, Ron, and his wife, Ann, travelled to Zimbabwe. They took a camera and a book on the Ruins of the Great Zimbabwe written by a professor of architecture at Wits. Due to the sensitive political situation in Zimbabwe, they disguised the dust cover with Disney wrapping paper.

Ron and Ann took as many vacations in South Africa as they could and went on about twelve trips to see their country through tourists’ eyes.

Ron sometimes travelled to Belgium for business and each trip was always different, always fun. I heard some amazing stories of the Belgian Congo.

In the early 1980s, Ron and Ann got married in Stockholm because the date coincided with a trip home from the USA for the best man and the bridesmaid, his wife, who then accompanied Ron and Ann on their honeymoon through Finland, Sweden to Norway. Ah, those fjords!

Later, Ron and Ann both received an offer from a company in Sweden and went for four years. They learned to speak Swedish and grew to love the country, its people, its food, its music and even some of the winter activities. In 1989 they brought me back to South Africa.

Later, I spent eighteen months with Ron and Ann in the USA, in Muncie, Indiana, and in 1992, visited Toronto and the Niagara Falls.

In the middle of 1993, when it was time to return to sunny South Africa, the times they were a-changing. The Rainbow Nation was starting to take shape and Ron persuaded the powers that be to grant him permanent employment in the National Electricity Utility.

Now, a little more than thirty years on and showing signs of age, we have both retired. I hear Ann and Ron discussing the events of the day and their enthusiastic engagement in yoga, quilting and book -club, and restoring LPs, cassette tapes, 8mm films, digital video tapes and more to CD, DVD or computer files. And then there’s the veggie garden!

I can truthfully say that so far, it’s been quite a ride!

Editor’s note: Sadly, the story has a bumpy end, for Ann passed away just a few weeks ago.

Colin Berriman

What a journey it has been. Johannesburg, Oranjemund, Welkom, back to Johannesburg, then Durban and now finally Melbourne, Australia. Still working in Engineering, but finally thinking about retirement, and all made possible by those first four years spent at Wits. The campus experience could not have been too bad as I returned a few years later and did a GDE in the evenings over two years.

Memories of the campus are many; the basement engineering library, cycling to lectures in the highveld winter (training for pedal car racing), watching demonstrations on Jan Smuts Avenue, boat races on the quad, and the engineering labs all spring to mind. I had a strange experience recently on a trip to Palo Alto in the States where a museum proudly housed an IBM 370 Main Frame as well as various HP-35 calculators – all on display behind glass! Remember the afternoons punching cards in first year?

I had a bursary to study from De Beers who sent me to a diamond mine in Oranjemund, in what is now Namibia, for a few years and then on to a gold mine in Welkom. The daily trip underground did not fill me with joy, so I left and joined a consulting engineering firm in Johannesburg. They in turn transferred me to Durban where I started my family and spent the happiest time of my life to date.

In Durban I was able to set up my own consulting practice which kept me out of mischief for over twenty years. For a variety of reasons, I decided to pack the family up and made the move to Australia just after the turn of the century. We settled in a country district on the fringes of Melbourne and have been happily developing our small acreage ever since. It has been quite a challenge.

Wits has never been far from my thoughts – I value the education and the experience highly. Having worked professionally in a variety of countries in Africa, the Middle East and Australasia I have never once felt inferior to Engineers who trained elsewhere including Europe and the USA.

I am deeply grateful for my time spent at Wits – have a great reunion.

Abbas Biabani

It was the best of times!

I was accepted by Wits University as a foreign student the first from Iran. It took the university a while, but once accepted, I received my student visa and could finally begin this new chapter. My brother and his family were already in Johannesburg, which was the main reason I chose South Africa over England. It was the best decision of my life.

I arrived on a Friday, and by Monday I was already in class jet-lagged, lost, and unsure where I was going. It was overwhelming, yet strangely inspiring. Perhaps it was the spirit of the campus, the grandeur of the buildings, or simply the energy of thousands of students moving about. Whatever it was, I felt proud instead of discouraged. I belonged. I was now part of this mighty university.

By the next day I was better prepared with a marked-up campus map in one hand, a list of classes in the other, and a pocket-sized dictionary in my bag. Navigating to the right classes felt like a major victory. Slowly I made friends. My classmates noticed I was a foreign student and went out of their way to help. Before long, I felt completely at home.

I’ll never forget the morning I was rushing to class when a friend shouted across the courtyard, “Hey Abbas, Physics is this way! You’re going the wrong way again!” That moment sealed it. People knew my name now! I was no longer just a visitor; I was a Wits student. And I always will be.

Wits shaped me. It educated me, introduced me to new ideas, and taught me resilience and problem-solving. With that foundation, I graduated and began working in Johannesburg, designing control equipment for a private firm. A year later, family obligations took me back to Iran. Saying goodbye to Wits and my friends was one of the hardest days of my life.

Back home, my Wits degree and the confidence behind it opened doors immediately. I joined a consulting firm, met my future wife (a coworker), and eventually we moved to Los Angeles, where I earned my professional engineer’s license and started my own consulting firm. More than thirty years later, it’s still going strong, although I’m nearing retirement.

I still keep my framed graduation photo from 1975 on my office wall. I look at it every day with pride. It reminds me how Wits through its curriculum, dedicated professors, and welcoming students prepared me for the challenges of life. Yes, I am a Witsie. And a proud one.

Jean Bodart

How My Wits Education Turned Me into an Accidental Global Tech Nomad

Fifty-odd years ago, I strutted into the University of the Witwatersrand blissfully unaware that my engineering textbooks would become my passport to cultural confusion worldwide. While most students were calculating stress tolerances, I was unknowingly developing my own stress tolerance for navigating French bureaucracy and Russian winters. My engineering professors never mentioned that "thermal dynamics" would involve sweating profusely during meetings in Gabon while wearing a full business suit. The MBA program prepared me for international finance but conveniently omitted lessons on explaining South African rugby rules to confused Danish colleagues over frosty Carlsbergs.

In those days, the School of Electrical and Information Engineering was busy transforming students into tech pioneers – though nobody warned us that the "Information" part would explode into an entire career field. My ICT expertise became my global calling card, though my actual business card required increasingly smaller font to fit all those international phone numbers. My involvement with Alternative Technology projects seemed quirky at the time – much like the Centre for Alternative Technology's early experimental work with sustainable solutions. Yet these "fringe" interests would become mainstream, positioning me ahead of the sustainability curve decades later. Those weekends helping construct schools in remote areas through the SAVS program provided unexpected training for my future career. Building a classroom In Lesotho taught me more about cross-cultural communication than any textbook. When negotiations stalled in Ivory Coast years later, I simply channelled my inner student volunteer: patience, flexibility, and knowing when to accept a strange-looking local beverage.

Ultimately, my Wits education taught me that engineering isn't just about building circuits and systems – it's about constructing relationships. From Oman to Brazil, Iran to Nigeria, my technical foundation from Wits helped me bridge cultural divides, one circuit diagram at a time.

John Brigg

The irrational selection of chance

Chance has played an important part in my life. I didn’t know what or where to study after school, but a random meeting in the army with an electrical engineer from Wits persuaded me to apply. A door opened. After graduation, I did a 4-month AIESTE exchange in Toronto where my contacts there had cousins in Luxembourg. On my way back to SA, I stayed with those cousins and through them found a temporary 3-month position with a local consulting engineering company. This led to a permanent contract and remaining in Luxembourg.

My initial work was in coordinating electrical installations on building projects, gradually encompassing HVAC and architectural works until I was managing complete projects. I loved the job as every day was different, results were immediate and I met with owners, architects, contractors, and workmen of every discipline. Wits never gave a course in this, but did teach me how to approach problems and find a way of solving them. And there is always someone who can help you.

It was on a building site that I met a civil engineer who ran a small theatre company working in Luxembourgish and I offered help. I did the lights for them, acted badly, I’m know and directed. A theatre summer school had moved to Luxembourg from the UK and I attended and am now, 36 years on, chief organiser of that school which in 2026 will celebrate 100 years of existence. That door my colleague opened has influenced me hugely and I have since been heavily involved in theatre in all aspects, both technical and artistic which has led me on to writing, producing, giving workshops and organising festivals, besides directing and acting.

Both work and theatre require organisational and problem-solving skills, as well as tolerance and the ability to listen, all of which I learned at Wits, some in class, but much also on campus and in active student life. Wits opened my conscience to social iniquities white crosses on the Library lawns to commemorate Sharpeville, for one which has allowed me to realise the importance of respect and communication. For this, and a stimulating education, I am grateful.

Geoff Carter

After Wits, I worked for NIDR (National Institute for Defence Research), which became Kentron, then Denel Aerospace Systems, then Denel Dynamics. At the age of 65, I was retired, just before Denel was destroyed by the Gupta saga. At 72 years, I started working for Halcon from home in Pretoria, and am still working. Keeps me mentally healthy and active.

At NIDR, I was involved with guided missile systems. Mainly with the electro-optical aspects of the weapons. To understand what I was doing, I did a BSs (Hons) at Tuks in electro-optics, radar, and system engineering. Wits demanded much more self-discipline than Tuks.

Tuk’s advantages were the subjects I wanted to study, this as a result of the university’s connections to the defence industry.

The Angolan conflict introduced me to a variety of weapon systems. From the USA: AIM-9B and AIM-9L air-to-air missiles. From the UK: Tiger Cat surface-to-air missile, From France: Cactus surface-to-air missile system and MATRA-550 air-to-air. From Russia, SAM 7 shoulder launched missile, SAM 8 radar guided, SAM 9, 13 and 16 IR guided surface-to-air missiles.

At Kentron and later Denel Dynamics, I was involved with a variety of weapons which required that I learn new technologies. I enjoyed the constant changing and learning.

Examples of these weapons were air-to-air (V3C), air-to-surface (H2 glide bomb, Mokopa SAL anti-tank missile and Ingwe ACLOS anti-tank missile), surface-to-air (Umkonto).

I focused on the electro-optics sub-systems used for target tracking, missile tracking and proximity sensing for the fuzing. The components used were lasers, detectors, TV sensors and IR cameras.

As a result of all these experiences in the defence industry, I was employed by Halcon, a part of the Edge group, in Abu Dhabi. There I mentor young engineers and assist with the development of modern technologies. This is keeping my brain and body active and healthy. Working from home in Pretoria is good.

Family: A wife, and a daughter who is a practicing veterinary.

Keith Davis

From Wits to the World: A Journey in Engineering and Innovation

Keith is an engineer and business leader who has worked in health, laboratory, and tertiary education. With an MBA from Macquarie University, he built a reputation as a strategic thinker, client-focused professional, and collaborative leader with a passion for delivering innovative, sustainable solutions.

After graduation in 1975, Keith left South Africa to “go on holiday” a decision that changed his life. He spent four years in London, gaining experience and broadening his professional and cultural horizons. In 1979, he moved to Australia, joining Addicoat Hogarth Wilson (AHW) in Sydney. He rose to become Director and later established the firm’s Brisbane office, specialising in healthcare and education projects. In 1988, he acquired the practice. AHW (Queensland) Pty Ltd became one of states’s most respected consulting engineering firms, earning multiple national awards.

Keith later became a Director at S2F Architects & Engineering Consultants, helping to integrate architecture and engineering into a unified practice model. In 2005, he joined Norman Disney & Young as Group Director of Health Services, leading the health division to national prominence. He directed the $1 billion Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, widely recognised for its innovation and teamwork. His leadership also contributed to major projects such as the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, the Perth Children’s Hospital, and the Bendigo Hospital.

Keith has presented at international conferences in London and Brisbane. Although retired, he continues to mentor young professionals and advocate for innovation in healthcare design.

Today, Keith lives in a seaside village with his wife of twenty years, Bronwyn, enjoying coastal life and reflecting proudly on a career and a journey that began in the lecture theatres of Wits, where his curiosity, courage, and global outlook first took shape.

Editor’s note: 6 years ago, Keith suffered a catastrophic stroke. While his brain remains sharp, he still has major motor, visual and speech disabilities, but is committed to a full recovery, as is Bronwyn, always ready to help.

Stan Ehrlich

I was interested in programming from the time we first put finger to keyboard back in 1972, as we submitted our FORTRAN programs on packs of punched cards to the Computer Centre, to be run on the IBM 360 and later via the ‘golf-ball’ typewriter terminals.

If I had to choose from scratch, there is no question that I really would redo electrical engineering as we learnt how to solve’: initial conditions, brainstorming, concept refinement and final product. That the result was a software program and not some device with lights, bells and whistles, was not relevant – we got a great grounding and there were wonderful moments spent together with special people.

After graduation, I got married and took my first job at ESKOM, programming CDC Cyber computers in FORTRAN. ESKOM were very‘pro’ additional studies, and I used to go off to WITS every week until I got a Diploma in Computer Science.

This led to a job at Systems Programming Ltd, working in COBOL. I used to give extra maths lessons to make a little bit extra on the side and then moved to EDEN College, programming their micro-computer and giving maths and computer classes.

I joined a startup company TELEK SYSTEMS which specialised in software for insurance brokers. This later merged with the consulting arm of Kessel Feinstein, writing accounting suites for many of their clients.

In 1994 I started my own company SYSTEMS DESIGN and INTEGRATION, writing turn-key software in many different spheres. This led to a partnership in a debt collections company. I was able to keep my other clients, so when I sold my shares, I went back to working on my own.

The ability to be able to help people by making their lives easier with computer programs has been my biggest joy and even in retirement, I still program, helping my community, and even an old client for whom I wrote their software some 38 years ago – they are still running the original.

I retired in 1998 at age 56 to emigrate to Israel. I have three children (two boys and a girl, all married) and ten grandchildren.

Peter Gerber

After graduation I was lucky to get a job in Cleveland, Ohio in 1976. As John Brigg was discovered to be working in nearby Toronto, we met up to travel the USA together in a camper van. From Cleveland We travelled through many great national parks to Tijuana, Mexico, then up to Vancouver, across the Canadian Rockies and down to Kansas City where I stayed for work. John returned to Toronto, then moved to Europe with a stint in London before settling in Luxembourg.

The following year I worked in Switzerland.

When I returned to Johannesburg it was suggested that I apply for membership of the Society of Professional Engineers and sign up with the Engineering Council of Engineers. Its funny how success breeds success. I was almost immediately accepted to both, so I thought why not try to sign up at the London Institution of Engineering. Once again with a Wits degree and 2 years’ experience abroad, my acceptance was straightforward.

I married in 1982, and we had 2 girls and a boy. My 2 daughters live Zug, Switzerland. My son was 12 when his mother died and he lives 1 km from me in Oaklands Johannesburg.

Nowadays I am trying to retire and work only 60%, using my free time to rebuild cars and to cycle. I have restored a number of Alfa Romeos over the last 15 years and these days, I have a panel beater, an upholsterer and an assembler come to the house every Saturday. We are completing 1 car almost every second year.

I remarried 12 years ago. My wife was born in Salisbury and she sees what happened there repeating itself in South Africa. As her mother lives in Portugal, we try to visit her at least once a year and/or my daughters in Switzerland.

Anthon Goedhals

In the words of William Shakespeare (Julius Caesar):

There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries.

I arrived at Wits as an electronics hobbyist, and paid little attention to proper engineering subjects. It turns out that the grounding we were offered would have been not only useful, but indeed interesting.

At the end of 1981, after I was fired by Wits as an amateur lecturer, I spurned an offer to study in the US, and played electronics at Marconi SA–which promptly disinvested from SA and formed ESD (Pty) Ltd. There I helped develop a prototype monopulse tracking radar for the SA Navy.

In 1987, I joined 4 other ESD colleagues as part of a small electronic warfare start-up company Sysdel CC. We had some success with developing Electronic Support Measures, Electronic Intelligence gathering, and radar jamming equipment – primarily for the SA Air Force and Navy.

In 1998, prior to Sysdel landing a big contract, I left to found my own company, Taurus Manufacturing, and worked primarily on sub-contracts to Sysdel: radar and navigation equipment. These days I still repair some, mainly for the SA Navy, (i.e. as a specialised power supply mechanic).

I now recognize that hobby electronics is like an addiction, including variable pay-off/reward. This obsession has had a cost in terms of relationships and family, exacerbated by secrecy requirements.

Some may remember Anne Cuthbert who was in our class in 1972/1973, and graduated as an electrical engineer in 1976. She moved to the US with her husband, Mike. Professor Anne Stringfellow eventually retired as senior lecturer at the University of Arizona.

Some postgrads may remember my later girlfriend Maire Eltringham whom I met at Wits 1980. We married in 1989, and divorced in 2000 (no children). Maire was subsequently helped in her Nedbank work by the very kind Barry Dwolatzky.

Since early 1994, I continue to live in "The Ruin" in Kyalami Walled Ghetto. Can't move, too much electronic junk hoarded!

Peter Heydenrych

I recall with fondness the early influence of the Wits liberal values confirming and building on my basic philosophies. This campus influence was amplified by being in Men's Res – the lifelong friendships forged there are with me still. In particular, I treasure meeting my soulmate, Pandora.

This broadening of horizons, coupled with the catalyst of the birth of our first daughter, led us to move to another continent in 1988 we emigrated to Perth, Western Australia and are still thoroughly enjoying the lifestyle here. One of the highlights of living in Perth is the Swan River, providing not only the opportunity to regularly sail in weekly races every summer season but also to sail out to the islands off the coast.

Following my bent towards control systems during my studies, then a career in process control and safety systems, I retired just before turning 60. I have been able to resurrect my student hobby of building speakers. The ability to use those seemingly obscure engineering tools such as convolution, FFTs and simulation in practice in these applications was something I had never contemplated on my earlier speaker projects.

After we retired (both on the same day), Pandora and I have enjoyed travelling around the world. We especially love roaming around Australia in our slide-on 4WD camper — fishing, enjoying amazing places and wandering wherever we wish.

Steven Heymann

A good life

Grew up in Johannesburg, followed my wife to Australia at 39. Will soon be 78 — half my life here, and content.

Very happily married for 50 plus years with two kids who became famous in their fields. More successful than me.

Travelled a fair bit in Europe and Asia. Spent a year in England and about six months in the USA. Work visits to China.

Financially stable and still healthy: no serious illnesses and no serious accidents. And still pretty active. Go for reasonable walks and swim most days in a nearby lap pool.

Always liked learning but struggled at school and only just made it into Engineering at Wits. Struggled with that too. Improved later, though, and did a post-graduate diploma in Industrial Engineering at Wits and one in Technology Management at Deakin University, Melbourne, as well as many other courses. A semester at NSW University, Sydney.

Many years working in electric motor factories. Top job was Engineering Manager at GEC Small Machines. But then I left for Australia and never saw the likes again. China is too close to Australia and the electric motor manufacturers could not compete so most closed down. In my fifties I took a job in Quality Assurance with a major retailer in charge of checking electric appliances for performance and compliance with regulations.

Became involved in a number of national standards committees and clocked up 35 years’ service, for which I received official recognition.

Still working in product safety compliance. Many products, but in particular, children’s toys. Ran a small test laboratory within the Woolworths group and was one of only four people in Australia accredited to sign off on tested toys. The most interesting thing I did then was to build a machine to detect the velocity of darts fired from toy guns, for which there is a definite limit to avoid eye injury.

Have kept up various technical hobbies and interests and taken out 3 provisional patents. Am an enthusiastic 3D printer. Built an early makerbot. Now onto my fourth.

John Holmes

The Life and Times of an Electrical Engineer

I obtained my degree with difficulty and never thought I would make it or be good as an electrical engineer! How many of us remained true and lived, breathed and enjoyed electrical engineering? Well, I did! And surprised myself in doing so. Now in my seventies, I feel sad that it’s mere fading memories, while technology passes like a meteorite with so much new, exciting stuff.

I joined the GEC group (later Alstom) as an engineer in training in their electric motor factory in Benoni and stayed with them from “Cradle to Grave”. Forty-five plus years except for 5 years as GM of LV Switchgear and a brief stint as Chief Engineer at LV Transformers.

After a year at the start to understand the design and manufacture of motors, I went to the GEC factories in the UK to learn the full design principles. From single phase fractional horsepower to 3-phase 20MW beasts. Single speed to multispeed. From LV to 22kV. All as AC. But design was more exciting doing DC, from military turret motors to mine winders to flameproof oil rig platform motors…. Yes, also the Mosgas oil platform motors!

The cherry on top was a Fortran program to design a DC motor, on magnetic cards off a HP 45! Remember the software test we had to pass in the “Computer lab”, and the girls on campus who typed our input sheets?

Many trips to UK, one to promote a Drop-out line fuse link that I designed from synthetic material that also took me to Canada. But travelling was part of the fun, the years dotted with trips to Germany, Italy, China, India.

What was great was how the few strange courses we had at Wits came in handy: Metallurgy [bearing & shaft failure, “plastic” components]; Fluid and Thermodynamics [fans, heat exchangers, motor-frame heat sink design]; and Chemistry. Problem solving techniques were absorbed with interest from the theories of Kepner Tregoe and put to use with great success.

Memories of Wits? The boundary wall outside the Elec Eng building for winter warmth, the smell of gum trees by the “bike shed”, the dingy, downstairs, tiny Engineering shop that sold the first HP35’s at R183 in a calf skin leather case! I still have mine!

My life is now that of a widower in retirement, with a fantastic and brilliant son, and a companion that I love dearly, that complements and completes my life to eternity.

Selwyn Jackson

Wits didn’t teach us everything, but it did provide a most important foundation: how to find information, tackle difficult tasks, and approach challenges knowing that nothing is impossible.

When I began my MSc, only one project was left: microprocessors. That turned out a blessing, as it placed me at the ground floor of a field that shaped my career. I worked for companies designing and building products in South Africa, and was fortunate to be part of pioneering teams that developed the first local electronic cash registers, credit card terminals, cheque-issuing kiosks, TV audience participation systems, voter registration devices, and even criminal identification technologies.

Over the years, my work expanded across a wide range of technologies: fingerprint and iris biometrics, RFID, cryptography, barcodes and smart cards. I even built a fingerprint reader using prisms and holograms and more recently branched into renewable energy. As a Pr Eng and now a qualified installation electrician I can sign off my own solar systems.

Outside of engineering, rowing became an unexpected passion. My daughter started the sport in Std 5, and our weekends soon revolved around dams, rivers and boats. I eventually qualified as a national and international rowing umpire and joined the World Rowing Events commission which took me around the world. In 2023 I had the privilege of helping host the first international regatta ever attributed to an African country, with 820 masters rowers from 43 countries — a milestone event and proud moment for South African sport.

My family has been at the heart of my life. My daughter is an industrial psychologist (Wits) and teacher working with the Gauteng Lions Rugby team; my son is a trained chef who moved into IT stock market systems and now works with crypto exchanges. My wife Beth runs a spring-making business, though retirement is planned. We’ve a house in Sedgefield, which may one day become our permanent base. Our three grandchildren love going there.

Rio 2016

Looking back over 50 years, my life has been a broad tapestry of technology, sport, family and all much rooted in the solid grounding we received at Wits.

Neil Jeffrey

When I joined you guys first at Wits, I was already a qualified electrician, wireman and electrical technician from Wits Tech. The day after we parted, I married Clare, in my kilt, with the Transvaal Scottish Pipe Band playing at my wedding (I’d played in the band for almost a decade), that was quite special!

I worked off my Jhb Council bursary and became a Pr.Eng., then again went through all Jhb Electricity Dept branches such as power stations, overhead lines, etc. I had a keen interest in electrical safety, and witnessed colleagues being burned or even killed from flash overs, so in 1976 I designed and developed a tiny electric field sensor to test for HV electric fields. I won a mayoral award for that.

I left Jhb in 1981, and took my young family to Cape Town, where I joined RECI (Radar Electronic & Computers Ind, 1981-1985), designing and manufacturing microwave instruments to measure distances over 100km to an accuracy of a couple cm. I wrote all software ~40000 lines, in Assembler, including 32bit math pack for the 8bit micro.

1986-1990 saw me at UEC Projects as Engineering manager developing Naval combat suites... then peace broke out, and SA was shifting big, so I started my own company, Sure Engineering, and got divorced. Ouch!!

I designed and developed electronic safety test instruments for the power industry (www.suretech.co.za) and sold/sell them on five continents from the Westlake Business Park building I designed and built in early 2000s. I’ve also lectured in electrical safety to the power industry in Southern Africa.

Unfortunately, my main SA customer base (municipalities) has become defunct through the actions of the government!

Some round-abouts and bypasses along the way:

• A Rotarian for nearly two decades, instrumental in setting up EarlyAct in Rotary district 9350.

• CNC production machines has been a passion: designed / made a trans former winding machine for my instruments, that winds 10000 turns of 50micron Cu wire onto a tiny bobbin.

• All my automated BON (Bed Of Nails) test jigs.

• Off-grid solar at work and home for a decade.

• Bitcoin a thing of beauty, run my own block-chain for 15 years!

Dave Levin

At Wits, I learnt to study and reason, particularly in 3rd year, when I had to get some Firsts. It was hard work, and my fondest memories are from this time. We had wonderful razzles, holidays and experiences. I remember the paper glider competitions, initiation, beers at the Dev, formal dinners and initiation at Residence. We had great teachers. Many of us are still friends and I have worked with and for quite a few people that I studied with.

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to demonstrate in the laboratories while doing my MSc — I can recommend doing some teaching work. We talked of solar power and improving the environment, never suspecting that it would be many years before we would generate our own electricity.

I began work as an engineer in training at the Johannesburg electricity department and registered as a PrEng, then I was a consulting engineer at a consulting firm. I worked mostly in the aircraft industry in systems engineering, starting as development manager of an aircraft, which I enjoyed the most. I am a registered CEng and was privileged to serve on the local network committee for some 10 years.

I recall my grandmother, born 1878, walking me in a stroller and telling me that it is a different world from when she was growing up. I thought she was crazy, the clouds and sky were the same, but now we can say that it is a different world from when we were young. We have been through many changes. Nevertheless, I have lived in Edenvale since 1981 and count my blessings every day.

The photograph was taken this August, under 2 years after I fell off a roof clutching a ladder. I had blood from my left toes up to my left ear and 7 broken or cracked ribs.

Alfons Mauchle

Straight after we handed in our Thesis, I flew off to the USA and Europe. I got straight into the working of CMM’s (co-ordinate measuring machines). The next year I was bought out of the bursary with Siemens and did the MBA.

Then straight into the family businesses, precision engineering business and a distribution business with over 40 agencies mainly in measuring equipment for length. We took on CNC machining, and I was introduced to CNC programming on George Fischer machines. It was a hectic time as we doubled the machine park and undertook building expansions.

What followed was the landing of the major contract for Mercedes Benz W204, where we made most of the safety critical items. This necessitated an expansion to a new factory in Clayville Midrand, of 6000 square meters. The business grew and grew, with many hiccups along the way.

The major change came in 1995, when the DTI, Alex Irwin introduced the MIDP. This immediately meant the OEM’s could import CKD packs of our componentry and basically killed a lot of the auto supply industry. Hence, we sold to Dorbyl.

I then joined Bosal for a very interesting 3 years doing Global Business Development, helping them land a R2 billion-rand order for jacks for their base car platforms: 4 million jacks per annum.

In 2004 I joined the Institute for Independent Business International (IIBI). This focused on helping Managing Director/ Owners with their businesses. A very tough but exhilarating period. Helped over 350 business in every field imaginable. Using my MBA skills mostly.

Set up companies in Germany, exported to 26 countries, worked on strategic development with most companies. Took a company through SAP One and helped them double their turnover. Still helping MD/O’s and working in the measuring instrument business.

Married to Anne nee-Cowan. Our 2 sons with their lovely families are in UK and Germany.

Martin Meintjes

Family Life: My wife, Sally, and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary in July 2025. Our son Christopher (who lives in Australia) celebrated his 40th birthday in August 2025. From 1980 to 2008 we lived on the West Rand and then Northcliff; after which I was transferred to Canada where Sally and I currently reside.

Recollections: I did my compulsory military service during 1971 and thought much about what I wanted to study at university. Maths intrigued me, so I decided to do engineering. Now, 50 years after graduation I can say it was the correct choice.

I was honored to be accepted by Wits for Electrical Engineering. The Lecturers and Professors were excellent. My time at Wits taught me to work collaboratively and respectfully with engineering professionals, an important aspect in my career.

During my early career, I participated in mining management meetings which ultimately enabled me to fulfil the role of Project/Area Manager for large mining projects. In all, I had 44 years experience: The first 3 years were on a goldmine in Blyvooruitzicht, then 15 years in the Rand Mines corporate house in Johannesburg where I went from Junior Engineer to Consulting Electrical Engineer. I was involved in numerous projects / feasibility studies and gained much experience in the mining related environment.

After that came 2 years with Gencor Engineering Technologies which was subsequently acquired by Hatch, a Canadian-based global engineering and consulting Firm. Altogether, I spent 23 years with Hatch, 11 of which were in Canada.

Retirement: From January 2000, Hatch retained me to provide Consultancy services. I have also been on the Board of Directors for the Condominium that we reside in, which takes up a large portion of my time.

Ian Middleton

After completing my BSc (Eng) at Wits, I continued at Wits with my MSc (Eng), and then went to UMIST at the University of Manchester to do a PhD. It struck me that, due to my Wits education, I had a much wider engineering knowledge than my fellow students from UK universities.

This more general engineering knowledge assisted me in my career in Systems Engineering back home, where I worked on electro-mechanical systems, including software, electronics and mechanics. Also, to this day, I often resort to using first principals to resolve Engineering problems. I still work part time on Systems Engineering.

My memories of Wits, besides studying, are pedal-cars and squash (which I only started playing at Wits). Also, as some may remember, I cycled to Wits. Over the years, I have continued recreational cycling with my family. Last March, my wife Jill and I completed our 22nd Cape Town Cycle Tour, most of which I did on an ageing steel tandem, mainly with Jill, but also with son Stephen, daughter Sarah, and some friends. Stephen did his 22nd this year. Also, about 5 years ago, Jill and I cycled from Amsterdam to Paris – a memorable holiday.

Jill and I have children Sarah and Stephen, and grandchildren Arthur, Amelia and Phoebe. Without any prompting from me, Sarah and Stephen both completed BSc (Eng) and MSc (Eng) degrees (Sarah at Wits, where she was the top engineer in her year, and Stephen at Cape Town). Stephen has since moved over to Patent Law (according to his Cape Town Professor, a move to the “Dark Side”). Sarah works on network utilisation and revenue software for cell-phone operators (which I consider the “dark side” of Engineering).

My Wits engineering degree set me on the above path, which has been great!

Tom Nelson

After graduation my first “job” was a year of military service, since I’d dodged that after high school. This was followed by a few years in a research lab working on communication technologies, where I was able to obtain a Masters. Then a complete shift of focus to the food and beverage industry, where I have found myself ever since. If you’ve ever consumed dairy products in South Africa, chances are they were manufactured in a factory that I was involved in at some time or another.

Electrical engineering became only a small part of my scope, and I developed skills in process, mechanical and manufacturing engineering along the way. After heading up an independent operation for a while, I joined a large British multinational in 2000 and emigrated to the UK in 2009. Since then I’ve withdrawn somewhat from senior operational roles and transitioned to an internal process consultancy role, which I still pursue today, though I’m seriously considering a long-overdue retirement.

I guess what struck me most in my early career was how quickly all the technology we’d learned about at varsity became obsolete, but how we’d learned to analyse a challenge and acquire the knowledge and skills to deal with it was the real value of a Wits degree. I don’t think I ever came across something that couldn’t be dealt with by applying some first principles and lucid thinking.

Today we live comfortably in a small house in the English countryside. We have been incredibly fortunate in that our children elected also to emigrate to the UK and they and their families all live nearby. I have a well-equipped engineering workshop in the back garden where I’m able to indulge my passion in making weird and wonderful contraptions. I’m sometimes asked if I miss South Africa. While I have fond memories and an enormous appreciation of the opportunities I was given, I find the UK to be a calm and stress-free environment where I can grow old in comfort (and I quite like the weather).

Kenneth Pattrick

I have always had interesting projects to work on, but what I remember the most is the people I met along the way and some of the incidents involving them.

One of our lecturers at Wits built a traffic simulator using TTL digital logic chips for his PhD project. He brought the simulator into class to show us. It ran on 5 Volts and drew 10 Amps. Someone piped up “Oh, so that’s what a half -ohm resistor looks like!” He was not impressed with having his PhD project referred to as a half-ohm resistor!

At the CSIR National Institute for Defence Research (NIDR) I worked on a missile project (secret and classified) for the Mirage F1 fighter jet. While working on it an article describing the project was published in an international magazine about the military (probably Jane’s International Defence Review). So the secret was out anyway!

One of the amusing (Afrikaans) guys I worked with was fond of literally translating from Afrikaans to English. He called his lunch sandwiches “little closed breads”. Once he got very angry about something and said “I’m so the thunder in I’m all through each other”.

A group of Wits engineering students once came to visit NIDR and one of the security guards asked the boss “Should we really let students from Wits in here? They’re all a bunch of communists.”

After NIDR I joined the Chamber of Mines Research Organisation (COMRO) where I developed instrumentation for monitoring mine seismicity. This is used to assess the risk of rock bursts from fracturing of the rock or fault slipping related to the mining.

When I left COMRO I started my own one man business called TechWare. I continued to work on mine seismicity which has been the major focus of my work ever since. I am now retired but continue to do occasional work for one of my previous clients, namely Impala Platinum mine.

Sid Place

The transition from school in Brakpan, with few English speakers and fewer with university ambitions. to studying at Wits, was a shock: all my classmates were smarter than me. Tuition happened at warp speed and I was not helped by a year of military service where the prime objective was to do as little as one could get away with.

Wits pressure cooker study across a wide range of disciplines was a wakeup call . The generalist grounding proved invaluable. One learned to solve problems by integrating technical knowledge with one’s own research and lateral thinking. By the time 4th year arrived, I felt sufficiently self-assured to join SEC as Editor of Fulcrum.

I read about engineers being underwhelming as managers, so enrolled for an MBA. A bootcamp then, it challenged my analytical mindset, making me navigate so-called “soft” subjects like psychology and law!

My MBA (cum laude) persuaded me to switch careers. As my dissertation was about optimization at Eskom to permit long term sustainable delivery of cheap and abundant electricity, I worked there until 1980.

Next was the investment division of the Liberty Group, working closely with founder Donald Gordon for 24 years — build this upstart into a giant global business, yet the futility of pursuing such goals is all too apparent in its subsequent diminution after it was sold to Standard Bank.

Then came 20 years with African Alliance, a boutique investment banking business. It was a blast, made all the more precious by the compassion of my boss, Tony de Castro, in keeping me on until 71 despite a nasty health setback seven years earlier.

For 50 years I have been involved in Anglican church music, as organist at St Mary’s Cathedral for 45 years and Director of Music for 33. My training has proved invaluable in the design and upkeep of pipe organs!

I met Margaret (MA) at St Mary’s and we married in 1981. We have a son (B Com Hons) and a daughter (PhD, MBA cum laude), and all still live in Mzanzi.

Manny Pohl

I was very fortunate to receive a bursary from the Chamber of Mines to study at WITS, followed immediately by an MBA both of which clearly set me up for life. So much has happened since Wits and without doubt, the core values of the University, “Through Knowledge and Work” always guided me. My first permanent job was with Sappi Ltd and at 25, I joined Reef Electrical, a subsidiary of Blue Circle, and became managing director.

I married Gail Fink in 1978 and have three sons, Hilton, Jared and Jason, and three grandchildren, Annabelle, Daniella and Thomas.

After Potchefstroom University conferred a Doctoral Degree in Business Administration (Economics) on me in 1985 for my thesis on “The Social and Economic Consequences of Infrastructure Development”, I pursued a career in finance becoming Head of Research at the stockbroking firm Davis, Borkum Hare before emigrating to Australia in 1994.

I established Hyperion Asset Management which won many accolades during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis including Australian Equities Fund Manager of the Year in 2010. Since then, I have served on the board of a number of major corporations in Australia, South Africa and London as well as large not-for-profit organisations. I am now Chairman of EC Pohl & Co and ECP Asset Management, a funds management business I founded in 2012 and which was the winner of Australian Fund Manager Association award in 2024 for the Best Australian Equities (Large Cap) Fund Manager.

In 2014, I established the Pohl Foundation which has provided funding for various projects including the restoration of several iconic artworks, a hospital for native wildlife and financial support for injured rugby players.

In 2015, I was admitted as a Freeman of the City of London and in 2019, was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for my service to the finance industry and appointed Member (AM) of the Order of Australia. In 2024, I was recognised as an outstanding professional by SAICA in their South African in Australia Awards.

I have fond memories of Wits and participated in many student activities, a highlight of which were the pedal car races. An interesting postscript: my final year dissertation topic in acoustics was on assessing the annoyance of fluctuating noise, and recently, I used entropy to solve an investment management problem involving cash and equities (noisy assets).

Richard Rabins

Richard Rabins

I am very sorry to be missing this re-union. It is beyond hard to believe that 50 years have passed. The Wits days were definitely intense and formative, but also happy. Wits provided a truly excellent education that equipped us all very well for the future.

I am very sorry to be missing this re-union. It is beyond hard to believe that 50 years have passed. The Wits days were definitely intense but they were also happy and formative. Wits provided a truly excellent education that equipped us all very well for the future.

I was lucky enough to make some very good friends at Wits (but will not name names to protect the innocent).

I was lucky enough to make some very good friends at Wits (but will not name names to protect the innocent...).

I have lived in Boston since 1977. Family wise, I have a wonderful wife who grew up in New York, and two very special, caring and talented daughters who live nearby in a suburb of Boston – and of course we have a wonderful (albeit exceptionally badly behaved Irish Setter, Winston) who is male, in the interests of hormonal balance in the home.

Since 1977, I have lived in Boston. Family wise, I have a wonderful wife who grew up in New York and two very special, caring and talented daughters who live nearby in a suburb of Boston – and of course we have a wonderful (albeit exceptionally badly behaved) Irish Setter called Winston, who is male, in the interests of hormonal balance in the home.

Even though I have lived longer in the USA than in SA, I still regard myself as South African and am an avid supporter of the cricket and rugby teams. Professionally I don’t want to talk about myself but this is what Chat GPT says about me.

Warmest Regards.

Even though I have lived longer in the USA than in SA – I still regard myself as South African and am an avid supporter of the cricket and rugby teams. Professionally I don’t want to talk about myself but below is what Chat GPT has to say. Warmest Regards, Richard.

Richard Rabins is a seasoned technology entrepreneur best known as the cofounder and CEO of Alpha Software Corporation, with a career spanning over three decades in software development, strategy, and leadership.

Richard Rabins is a seasoned technology entrepreneur best known as the cofounder and CEO of Alpha Software Corporation, with a career spanning over three decades in software development, strategy, and leadership.

• Master’s degree in System Dynamics and Business from the Sloan School at MIT

• BSc in Electrical Engineering and MSc in Control Engineering from Wits

• BSc in Electrical Engineering and MSc in Control Engineering from Wits

• Master’s degree in System Dynamics and Business from the Sloan School at MIT

• Worked as a management consultant at Management Decision Systems, Inc.

• Worked as a management consultant at Management Decision Systems, Inc.

• Served as project leader and consultant at Information Resources, Inc. (IRI)

• Served as project leader and consultant at Information Resources, Inc. (IRI)

• Co-founder (with brother Selwyn—Wits EE) and CEO of Alpha Software, a company focused on low-code and no-code development platforms.

• Served as CEO of SoftQuad International from 1997 to 2001

• Co-founder (with brother Selwyn—WITS EE) and CEO of Alpha Software, which focuses on low-code and no-code development platforms and has been instrumental in helping businesses digitize workflows and build enterprise-grade applications without deep coding expertise. Emphasis is on strategy, global growth, and organizational scaling, with strong focus on mobile and web app development platforms

• Served as CEO of SoftQuad International from 1997 to 2001

• Served as President and Chairman of the Massachusetts Software Council (now Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council), the largest tech trade organization in Massachusetts

• Was President and Chairman of the Massachusetts Software Council (now the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council), the largest tech trade organization in Massachusetts

• Contributed articles and insights to platforms like Fast Company, Tech News World, and DZone, often discussing trends in mobile technology, digital transformation, and software innovation

• Contributed articles and insights to platforms Fast Company, Tech News World, DZone, on trends in mobile technology, digital transformation, software innovation

• Helped shape the low-code movement, making enterprise software more accessible and agile

• Helped shape the low-code movement, making enterprise software more accessible and agile

• Served on these Boards: Massachusetts Software Council; Tubifi (Commercial quality video production on the cloud); Legacy Systems (Enterprise Software Consulting); O3b (1st MEO satellite Internet Access with Global coverage acquired by SES for $2.5 billion); Alpha Software

• Served on the Boards of: Massachusetts Software Council; Tubifi (commercial quality video production on the cloud); Legacy Systems (Enterprise Software Consulting); O3b (1st MEO Satellite Internet Access with Global coverage acquired by SES for $2.5 billion); Alpha Software

Julian Rachman

As I reflect on my years at Wits, I ask myself: What made Wits so remarkable? The dedicated professors and lecturers who challenged us to think critically? The vibrant student body, with its energy and social conscience? The beauty and organization of the campus itself? The social life of camaraderie and lasting friendship? Or simply the spirit of the 70’s? In truth, it was all of these.

Wits provided us with a rigorous and comprehensive foundation. The emphasis on fundamentals and theory instilled both discipline and confidence, equipping us to solve problems of real complexity. That education became the cornerstone of my professional career. After graduating, life gathered momentum. Within a year I joined an engineering consulting firm, married, and earned enough for a one-way ticket to the USA, first New Jersey, and from 1979, Dallas, Texas. I joined a consulting firm and was able to work on major projects such as the Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport and AT&T’s headquarters and data center.

In 1989, a colleague and I took a leap and founded our own firm. What began as two engineers handling every aspect has grown into a 60-person company specializing in AI and high-performance computing data centers. In 2002, I established the Lone Star Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange, a forum to share expertise with now nearly 500 members.

My career has been deeply fulfilling, yet my greatest blessings have been personal. My wife of 49 years, our four children, and eight grandchildren have enriched my life beyond measure. Service to my synagogue community has also been a source of meaning and connection.

Wits profoundly shaped my journey. The education, friendships, and vibrant campus life prepared me not only for a career in engineering, but also for a life of family, community, and purpose.

For this, I remain grateful. It is a privilege to celebrate this our 50th reunion and to honor the enduring impact of our Wits experience.

Yigal Rachman

My time at Wits, aside from being a great learning experience and introducing me to so many interesting classmates, vastly developed my thinking and problem-solving skills. I became aware of these skills while an undergraduate student, but increasingly so once I entered my post-Wits career and started applying the skills to my everyday work.

Reflecting on my career, first as a greenhorn alumnus and later a Professional Engineer, the fundamental principle that has guided me is to never forget that safety and reliability are not negotiable, even if the customer feels otherwise. I still remember vividly our secondyear mechanics professor (I forget his name) drilling into us the critical importance of always double-checking our work, because the stuff we build can cause disasters. This credo has served me very well, especially in the oil and gas software industry, where malfunctions can cost lives and destroy very expensive equipment.

I will not regale you with the details of my career; the latter part is summarized on my LinkedIn page and easily found with a web search. Suffice to say that it has been a mixed bag, with many very satisfying moments as well as some deep disappointments.

Overall, I feel privileged to have followed the adventure I did, bumps and all. And Wits was the launching pad for the whole thing!

Editor’s addition (gleaned from LinkedIn):

Even years later, I often realise that most of my insight into data modelling comes from the relatively short time that Yigal and I both worked for Neptune. We discussed many things as well, from messaging to using pre-processors and some pretty arcane programming concepts - Yigal is surely the person who has most stimulated me to think wider and deeper about software development. Add a rocksolid experience, a wicked sense of humour and the fact that he's a great colleague: in short, and I'm absolutely serious: you'd be crazy to not hire him if you have the chance. (Maike Dulk, 2016)

Tommy Romano

It can’t be 50 years….that would mean that I am old! Okay, maybe I am old1 (although I prefer to say “very mature”). But I am very glad to be here and the journey to get here was certainly affected by my time at Wits.

My hazy memories of Wits include playing soccer, partying, trying (and failing miserably) to play the guitar, and maybe some studying (all classic signs of a mis-spent youth). But we did learn that when the time came, we had to persevere, put in the effort and push through (in my case, barely push through). I then got married and Andreina and I continued our journey together.

I only did 3 years of electrical engineering. For the next 34 years I ran the company that my father had started. One important lesson that we learned from our time at Wits was how to solve problems, irrespective of the nature of those problems. That lesson helped me throughout my working journey. We also learned not to give up. Sometimes it was tough, but we kept going and completed our studies. That was a good life lesson. Of course we also continued partying, and did all the other things that are the classic signs of a mis-spent adulthood. These things I also learned from my time at Wits.

Andreina and I are now retired. I play golf, go to art lessons, and I am finally learning to play the guitar (… more or less). These are all signs of a misspent “very mature” age.

I think back on our studies and look forward to continuing our journey using the lessons we learned at Wits (especially the partying).

It will be good to see you guys.

1 Editor’s note: This implies we are all also old, but I beg to differ. Not as young as we used to be, or getting on a bit, perhaps. But ‘old’ ! … Okay, so things don’t work like they used to and, er, … now what did I want to say?

Alex Schmarr

I was privileged to receive a brilliant grounding on engineering principles at Wits as from 1971. That led to an electrical engineering career spanning 40 years in multiple locations in South Africa and abroad, a reality worthy of reflection. I have been on retirement for the last seven years following a nine-year overseas working sojourn. I am happily married and have five grandchildren.

Wits memories include interactions with many talented lecturers and fellow students that shared my formative years, years that culminated in two Wits degrees. Names such as Stemmet, Walker, Webb, Smolly and others must conjure up many memories for many readers. I am thankful for the support received from lecturers and fellow students alike.

Participating in the Student Engineering Council laid the groundwork for becoming the chairperson of a union for two years, this in parallel with daily engineering responsibilities. This formative experience helped generate the courage to take on anything and led to no two days ever being the same at work.

Private sector society contributions included participating in water reticulation projects including the Sishen-Saldanha railway electrification project. A short period included participation in a workgroup focused on the Software Copyright Act. Contributions to defence included participating in the development of test equipment for military equipment, the design and commissioning of unmanned aerial systems, also the subsequent earning of foreign currency for South Africa. Being a volunteer member of a Commando Unit in South Africa also provided opportunities for personal growth.

Working with computer hardware and software has remained an interest to this day (albeit focused on playing word games instead of designing products). It was satisfying to prove to a previous manager that microprocessor hardware did indeed have a useful place in industry (despite perceptions to the contrary at the time). :-)

Gavin Tatlow

Personal:

Married Dianne in 1984 still happily together

2 children, both living in London

4 grandchildren

Education:

BSc Wits 1975

MSc Cape Town 1977

MBL Unisa 1984

Work experience:

Worked as an engineer for 16 years: SA Railways, Marconi SA, Reutech Owned and managed a stationery import & distribution company (1994 –2018)

2018 : Sold my company and retired to Plettenberg Bay

Retirement:

Keep busy cycling, walking, playing bridge, paddling and travelling – a wonderful lifestyle

John Truter

As I look back to 1975, I remember these works with satisfaction and pride:

• High potential and current injection tests on a new 11 kV ABB air blast circuit breaker at Sasol 1 power station n° 2.

• Fault finding on Motorola UHF radios and Comco pagers with a Singer communications synthesizer.

• Attending the design review of the 132 kV Siemens SF6 substation in California.

• Attending the 650 kV BIL test on a 132 kV test piece consisting of an SF6 end termination, a 132 kV EPR joint and a 132 kV Oil termination in Chicago Illinois.

• Assisting the commissioning of 132 kV, 33 kV, 11 kV networks at Sasol 2 and 3.

• Managing a mechanical workshop on coal & ash handling & gasification (Sasol 3).

• Participating in the gasifier cooling jacket replacement program (Sasol 3).

• Repairing the ash sluiceways at Sasol 3 by replacing the lining with acid resistant furnace bricks laid on their heads.

• Programming four Siemens S7 PLC’s and one WinCC Scada for three reverse osmosis trains and one common equipment train for mine water desalination.

• Programming a Siemens S5 PLC with Citect SCADA for four polypropylene silos.

• Engineering for Substation M3-SS-09 with four 20 MVA transformers, two 6,6 kV switchboards, one 400V MCC, two UPS, two battery chargers, two air conditioners, and two 3000 meter runs of 33 kV cable.

• Design, purchase, construction, commissioning of 20 MVA, 33/11 kV transformer, 33 kV circuit breaker and two 33 kV busbar links for the Govan Mbeki Municipality.

• Engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of 33 kWp roof solar system with 100 by 300W panels, an ABB 33 kW inverter and Solar Log controller.

• Engineering, construction, and commissioning of polished water plant, including 33 kV breakers, 10MVA transformers, 6,6 kV MCC, 6,6 kV Rockwell VSD’s, 525V MCC, 400V MCC, two UPS battery charger, fast transfer panel, lighting & earthing.

• Basic Electrical Engineering package for Jilin Petrochemical Ethylene Revamping and Expansion Project in China with Linde Gas and Engineering Division.

• Carbotar Feed Preparation Plant electrical design, substation, transformers, batteries, UPS, HVAC, switchgear, plant lighting .

• ETAP load flow, short circuit and grading studies, and set of electrical drawings for a horizontal tunnel boring machine.

• Feasibility study for Dynamic Rotating UPS for COFCO Mill.

• Fulfil role of GMR2.1 appointment at Ummbila Emoyeni 150 MW windfarm.

Martin Turner

After graduating and working for a year, I returned to Wits Elec Eng to lecture 3rd year Instrumentation and Circuits, and do an MSc in Microcomputers, which was a fashionable subject at the time. I subsequently moved to the Chamber of Mines Heat Stress Research group where I worked on mathematical models of human thermoregulation. I then moved to a biomedical engineering position at the Johannesburg Hospital where I started on a PhD. I completed this while working again at Wits Elec Eng, teaching 4th year Measurement Systems. I think the attributes I obtained at Wits that I value most are the ability to think for myself and the ability to understand and reason, rather than memorize.

Irene and I married in 1980. We have four kids and five grandchildren ranging in age from zero to eleven. We migrated to Australia in 1998 after Irene was attacked while walking our dog in Emmarentia park. I obtained a contract position in the Anaesthetic Department of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney working on non-invasive methods for measuring cardiac output. I was appointed as a technical assessor for the Australian National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) to assist in assessment of calibration labs. The last few years of my working life were spent as a consultant in metrology.

Our eldest son, Jeffrey did Computer Science at Sydney University, worked for a few years at Atlassian and now does contract work. Alan did Electrical Engineering, also at Sydney University, and runs his own company doing power engineering work. Our daughters both did nursing. After graduating Brenda did some nursing work and drove ambulances for a while, but is now in an administrative position in the New South Wales Government. Jennifer works in an adult intensive care unit.

In 2021, Irene developed a chronic illness caused by a rare side effect of her asthma medication, so I stopped working to look after her. We don’t see three of our kids so often any more as they live two to four hours away, and housing has become very expensive in Sydney.

Ivan van Selm

I won an overseas industrial bursary and after graduating, from 1976, spent two years in the UK in real-time process control computing. Pursued that on my return to South Africa whilst completing an MSc (Eng) and then an MBA.

Departed for Australia in 1986 with my wife and 2 children. Spent the arrival-time in sales of process -control computing systems. Then moved into technology and technologystrategy consulting which propelled me into a listed high-technology firm for a stint as marketing director.

The final ten-year period in formal-employment was completed as a managing consultant in a multi-national management consultancy. The focus on complex business transformation working with teams at CEO level for business re-engineering and delivering major upside.

I am now pursuing a research and development project, seeking to make a significant contribution in the business intelligence space. The challenge is to extend Porter’s work, baselined in “Competitive Strategy”, into an adaptive AI. That using the inherent knowhow within the business crafted into considered management actions, and targeting sustained competitive advantage.

And Wits? Those “heady” days in the mid 1970’s. Where we challenged everything. For me they imbued a sense of free-wheeling independent thinking that has provided invaluable support throughout my career. Thank you Wits!

Peter Warner

Wits launched me on a varied career in electrical engineering, from FHP motors, protection relays, mine winders to large power electronic drives with motor mass over 600 tons. Now my wife and I are retired and live on the coast, with family in Brisbane and Mpumalanga.

I remember on the eve of '74 pedal car race at Durban Varsity, the team from Knockando Residence (motto: "Abandon Hope") gathered in a pub on the beach front to build strength for the morrow. Suddenly the MC stopped the band, quietened the rowdy and read a telegram: "To the Wits Pedal Car team at the Fathers Moustache. Stop. Pedal like Hell. Regards, Ron Bell". Colin Berriman and I never found out how Ron knew where we would be.

Who can forget the patient, genius of our lecturers? I recall Prof Webb slipping both his hands under the frightening spaghetti of wires that were my attempt at creating a Hopkinson test (or was it a Ward Leonard amplifier?), passing into a trance and then springing to life and with a blur of hands reconnecting the cables to solve our problem.

A definite highlight was Prof Jan Reynders' technical skill and interest in people. He didn't use any notes to prove Maxwell's classic, defining equations. I also vividly recall him welcoming the class to the Electrical Faculty "at last". He discussed our time table, pointing out that we would now spend more time learning our core electric subjects. He pointed out that we never attended any electric lectures between 10:30 and 11:00, "because the faculty gathered for tea then. Well, not everyone goes for tea. You all know Professor McCormack (the Dean) has been dead for years many of the faculty simply go to observe the decomposition!".

Sadly, Jan left us on 16 April this year, at age 84.

John Winstanley

After varsity I worked at Iscor for a couple of years, having had a bursary with them. Micros were just in production and an open-minded boss allowed the newly minted engineer to build some of these into the control systems there.

Iscor was followed by Computer Sciences Corp, Altech and then an opportunity to work for a software company in Durban, where I have been ever since. My brother, Rob & I started a company doing control systems and specialising in traffic control, and this has kept us going for 40 years, although a plan is forming to slow down next year.

Along the way I got involved with offshore sailing and did a few Mauritius to Durban and Vasco Da Gama races along with various yacht deliveries up and down our coast and Indian ocean islands. Notable being the 1987 race which coincided with the Natal floods and forced us to sail through a lot of trees, animals, kayas and other rubbish, floating 40km off the Durban shoreline.

In more recent times I started cycling and have now done 21 CT cycle tours and a whole lot of other racing; but mountain biking is still my favourite way of exercising. Other achievements include a holiday doing a few stages of the Tour de France and then Ride London, just prior to covid. Snow skiing has also featured along the way in the US, Canada and Europe.

Family wise, I have a daughter who grew up figure skating and now works on the environmental side with a renewables company in Cape Town. Not renewable is my wife, who I lost to cancer a few years ago.

Some recollections from around the Wits time include the “betogings” on the corner in Braamies, Richard Hoyle directing traffic in Jan Smuts, the Dev, and many winter weekends skiing in Lesotho with the Wits-Maluti club.

Gavin Wyatt-Mair

Wow, 50 years since we graduated – it feels like yesterday. What a great class we had, what a great experience Wits was! I enjoyed it so much that I stayed on to do a PhD in Electrical Engineering. My research was in Control Systems, applying Kalman filters to the computer control of an autogenous grinding mill at Buffelsfontein Gold Mine.

In 1980, while presenting a paper in Montreal, I was offered a job by Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, so went in 1981 to the San Francisco area, where I met my beautiful wife, Nina. We have four children and five grandchildren—a productive time!

My work in the US has been primarily focused on development and control of aluminium casting and fabrication processes. In the late-80’s, having automated various massive and expensive rolling mills, my colleague Don Harrington and I invented a much more sustainable way to make high quality aluminium. We took out a series of patents, and Kaiser graciously provided funding and resources to implement the patent concepts, resulting in the Kaiser Micromill We built a research plant and proved the concepts, then a demonstration plant. In 2000, Alcoa acquired the technology and provided funding for a full-scale plant, installed in 2008-2010. I applied my Wits Control Systems education all over the process, including stability analysis, feedback and feedforward controls, and various Kalman filters. I retired in 2018, having held a variety of titles including Inventor, Technology Director, General Manager and Technical Consultant.

I have been fortunate to receive 19 USA and over 200 international patents for the unique Micromill technology which reduces the time to make aluminium from about 22 days in a conventional plant to 22 minutes.

I have worked with many top-notch engineers and scientists educated at prestigious Universities and can say without a shadow of doubt: Wits provided an equal or superior education to all of them, and I am extremely grateful to all our Professors: Hanrahan, Dewe, Cormack, Reynders, Landy, Walker, Jones, Prager, Mudaly, Flower, Garner, and King.

Our class of 1975 was fantastic! We worked and studied hard, found time to help each other, to be friends and have fun. I feel privileged to have been associated with you! Yay Wits!

SOME PHOTOGRAPHS

Waiting in the Wings

CONTACT has been made with the following graduates, who for various reasons, have been unable to contribute to the booklet:

John Alberti — lives in the Transvaal

Colin (Chaim) Bancroft lives in Israel

Bhagoobhai Bawa founder of BKB Engineering Services, lives in Vereeniging with his wife, has daughter Priya (MPh Wits)

Dennis Boddington lives in Glenvista, was Chairperson of the Johannesburg South Garden Club

Terry Griggs — lives in Germiston

Vivian Taback lives in Johannesburg, founded Itatec in the early 1980s specializing in time and access control

Dr John van Coller lives in Johannesburg, Associate Professor at Wits

Mike Vella lives in Johannesburg, worked in telecommunications, Interconnection Executive at Telekom

A NUMBER have remained untraceable beyond a certain point:

Ivan Jagger lived in Johannesburg and worked for Siemens, appears to have moved to USA or Canada

Colin Levy moved to Brisbane, Australia

Peter Rampf moved to Canada, general manager at Webb Electronics in Burnaby, British Columbia, then Operations Manager at Emercom, now retired

Jevan Smith lived in Boksburg, retired to the Boland?

OTHERS have passed away:

Bobby Dehrmann (2009) lived in Johannesburg, was a keen golfer, did consulting work for architects

Passed Away (continued)

Dr Barry Dwolatsky (Prof) (2023) voluntary exile to London in 1980, active in underground resistance to the Apartheid regime, diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia in 1987 and given 2 years to live, returned to SA in 1989, joined Wits, had a remarkably successful career. Married Rina in 1992 and had 2 children, Leslie and Jodie. Published an autobiography, Coded History, in 2022.

Erich Essman (2011) lived in Cape Town, owner Speedwell Engineering, 100m and 200m gold medalist in 1975 SA Athletics championship, ran 100m in 10,69s in 2009

Kenneth Mackay (2017) senior manager at ESKOM, emigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1993 and transferred in 1998 to the UK, Managing Director for VA-Tech Reyrolle, moved back to Toronto in 2004. Retired in 2010 after diagnosis with early-onset dementia. Married Jenny, children James and Lynne who finished school and went to university in the UK. James said Ken used to talk fondly of his time at Wits, and would have loved to re-connect withhold friends.

Jorge Ferreira (?) lived in Portugal, kept contact with B. Bawa

Martin Goldblatt (2023) — lived in Rivonia. Steve Heymann recounts that Steve’s son moved to New York while Martin’s daughter moved to Sydney, and that Steve now sees and babysits Martin’s grandchildren more than his own.

Stan Ruch (2000) married Adrienne, children Dalya, Darren and Marc, emigrated to Boston, USA in 1981, founded Camberley Systems developing software for the healthcare industry

Kevin Ryan (2017) lived in Johannesburg, worked in finance at RMB, married Gene, children Georgina and William, kept fit (water polo, cycling), heart attack cycling Camino trail in Spain

Clive Williams (2021) lived in Johannesburg, married Trish, children Connor, Matthew and Keenan, owner at Dellen Investments, visited Wits each year for Elec Eng open day

REUNION PROGRAMME

Friday 14th November

09:00 Meet at Origins Centre Coffee Shop

10:00 Tour of campus, including Wits Origins Centre, Homid Fossil Vault, Photonics Lab, Wits Science Stadium & Wits Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND)

Tour ends at Wits Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct – conceptualised and founded by Professor Barry Dwolatsky

12:30 Finger lunch and talk on Barry Dwolatsky

13:30 Walk to Great Hall steps

13:45 Group photograph

14:00 Tour of School of Electrical and Information Engineering

16:00 Tea at School

17:00 Hosepipe-blowing concert on campus (inside if rain)

17:45 on Drinks at the Post Graduate Club

Saturday 15

10:00 Wits Arts Museum and Jack Ginsberg Centre for the Book Arts

12:00 Walk to Wits Anglo American Digital Dome

12:30 to 13:30 Digital Dome show “The Sky Tonight”

13:30 Free afternoon

18:30 for 19:00 Reunion dinner at Turn ‘n Tender (Parktown North)