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FACULTY OF HUMANITIES

DEAN: PROFESSOR G STEVENS BA (Cape Town) BA Psych (Hons) MPsych (Western Cape) DLitt et Phil (Unisa)

Master of Education

BIOWE, Oluchi Maureen

Education RESEARCH REPORT: A critical multimodal analysis of gender representation in South Africa and Nigeria English language school textbooks

DEWA, Nokuthula Ntombiyelizwe

Education RESEARCH REPORT: Investigating 4th year student teacher preparedness for teaching inclusively in diverse Grade R classrooms

LEICHER, Sable Hillary (with Distinction) RESEARCH REPORT: Exploring the experiences of adult carers of siblings with severe autism spectrum disorder

MATSHEDISHO, Knowledge Rajohane (with Distinction)

Education

RESEARCH REPORT: First-Year Students’ (Pre)Writing Experiences: Knowledge Schema and Authorial Identity

NKOSI, Nobuhle

Education

RESEARCH REPORT: The effectiveness of integrating ICTs in the teaching of Mechanical System and control in a Grade 8 Technology subject: a case of two township schools.

RADEBE, Nomfundo Knowledge

RESEARCH REPORT: Exploring Pre-service Physical Sciences teachers’ experiences and perceptions of learner-learner talk in the classroom

Education

RYK, Johan (with Distinction)

Education RESEARCH REPORT: Exploring transitions from youth skills development programmes into economic activity in the National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC) Programme

SALOOJEE, Nasreen

RESEARCH REPORT: The prevalence of traditional bullying and cyber-bullying among university students

SEEDAT, Zaheera

RESEARCH REPORT: Comparing the performance of English First Language and English Additional Language children on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for children (2nd Edition) knowledge scale

SEEKO, Limakatso Marcelina

Education RESEARCH REPORT: Silent exclusion (of learners) and democratic classrooms in post-apartheid South Africa: a critical analysis of inclusive education policy

SINGH, Michel'le Tegan

RESEARCH REPORT: Links between the father and the Development of Childhood Psychopathology: Psychotherapists understandings

TSHUMA, Trace

Education

RESEARCH REPORT: Exploring Servant Leadership at three schools in Johannesburg East District: perspectives of teachers and school principals

TURUSIDA, Pauline Education

RESEARCH REPORT: The Role of Toy Librarians in Gauteng Province in Promoting Inclusive Education

Bachelor of Education Honours

ABELSON, Talia Tzivia

AHMED, Aqeela

AKOOJEE, Maryam Bibi

AMANJEE, Safiyyah

ANOOP, Sanjul

AZAR, Bronwen Theresa

BALELE, Raudina Madina

BALOYI, Akani Debra

BERKMAN, Ariela Rachel

BODHANIA, Aneesa (with Distinction)

BOTA, Sandisiwe

COTSHANI, Sinenhlanhla

CROWDER, Sameega Gairoenisha

DANIELS, Raeesah

DEANE, Delara

DIPALE, Onalenna Emmanuel

DLAMINI, Senamile Rejoice

DUBE, Ntokozo Nduna

DUMA, Angeline (with Distinction)

EBRAHIM, Raeesa

FIKIZOLO, Nolwethu

HANNA, Tarryn Tayla

HASSAN, Fahmida (with Distinction)

HATTINGH, Jeanine

HLATSHWAYO, Bongiwe Noluthando

HLONGWANE, Sithulisiwe Louise

HO, Mark

HOOSEN, Aadila

HOOSEN, Tasmiyah (with Distinction)

JUQU, Ntando Fortunate

KANYINJI, Timeyo

KHUMALO, Menzi Michael

KOHLER, Wesley Werner

LAHER, Safiyyah

LIAU, Neo Thomas (with Distinction)

LORGAT, Aaliyah

MABELANE, Magate Phoebe

MADITSI, Theto Veronicah

MAGCAYI, Sincedise

MAGWAZA, Sthembile Lebohang

MAHOMED, Sabeehah

MATHIBE, Lerato

MBATHA, Nothando Nomusa

MC BRIDE, Janine Sabrina

MHLANGA, Agnes Tsakane

MKHWANAZI, Mpho Albertina

MKHWANAZI, Sifiso Phineas

MOCWALEDI, Bokamoso Tshegofatso Desiree

MOFOKENG, Palesa Mary

MOKONYANE, Frank

MOLOSIWA, Matselana

MORAPEDI, Kgomotso Josephine

MORARE, Bonolo Otsile

MOSELANE, Salaminah Mmankokoti

MURINGANI, Plaxedes

MUSHAGASHA, Balungile Vennessia

MUSTAFA, Seemal

MWELASE, Nokwazi Nokuvela

NADAS, Che Imane (with Distinction)

NAIDOO, Reena

NDAWONDE, Nondumiso Ziyanda

NENE, Nomfundo

NGEMA, Kwanele Adequate Peabo

NKABINDE, Nonjabulo Portia Nadia

NKOME, Maponto Rosalina

NKUNA, Mary

NTHIBELI, Moleli Zakaria

NTHOPO, Gift Rebone

NTSOANE, Moditi Samuel

ODUSANYA, Oluwayemisi

O'GORMAN, Megan Clansie

OLUBODUN, Julius

PAPIYANA, Siphe

PETERS, Zena

PHUNGULA, Ayanda

PRIMROSE, Guy Bruce

PUQA, Lwazi

PURMASIR, Yadir

RAMOSHABA, Mpho Eunice

RAMPERTAB, Nishika

ROSA, Roxanne Pereira

SANGWENI, Charmain

SHABANGU, Bongani

SHABANGU, Nokuthula

SIBANDA, Londiwe Rithabile

SIBISI, Jemima Thandi

SITHOLE, Irving (with Distinction)

SIWELA, Lindokuhle

STEENKAMP, Marcelle

STEGGINK, Dominique Sarah (with Distinction)

SULIMAN, Ameena

TALANE, Tshegofatso Milicent

VARACHIA, Sabeeha Yusuf

VILJOEN, Aspenn Blue (with Distinction)

WESTPHAL, Jade

YUNUS, Luthfiyah Qoodisiyah

ZIVUKU, Reginah

ZWANE, Sanele

Bachelor of Education with Honours

DUBE, Nkazimulo Keith

KHUMALO, Cynthia Smangele

MARCON, Bronwen

Bachelor of Education

SOKHASI, Sonelise

Postgraduate Diploma in Education

ADEWUNMI, Yewande Adetoro

AGUIRRE DE CARCER GIRON, Nuno (with Distinction)

AJOODHA, Ritesh (with Distinction)

DLAMINI, Sitsabo Samuel

DUKHAN, Shalini (with Distinction)

FOTHERINGHAM, Christopher

HEWLETT, Lynn (with Distinction)

JADHAV, Ashwini Mohan (with Distinction)

JOFFE, Avril Louise (with Distinction)

Postgraduate Certificate in Education

ZINI, Sithembiso Eugene

MAUBANE-NKADIMENG, Manoko Stephina

MOTUBATSE, Kgobalale Nebbel

NKOSI, Thulani Gift

OWEN, Gavin Ray (with Distinction)

SEBEHELA, Tumellano

SOLOMONS, Yvette Frances (with Distinction)

TSHESANE, Thelma Machoene Johanna

WILLEMSE, Sonia (with Distinction)

Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching

ABDULLAH DAWOOD, Sabeehah

ABREU, Leandra Imilia (with Distinction)

ALEXANDER-FOX, Nicole Sara

AMBROSIUS, Jadene

BATEMAN, Kari-ann (with Distinction)

BHOWANDAS, Ajay

BISMILLA, Maleeha

BISSE, Sindisiwe Nteyas

BLOEM, Nadene Michelle

BOEHM, Candice (with Distinction)

BORTHWICK, Hannah

BROWN, Christopher John (with Distinction)

BUTHELEZI, Fanele Grace

CHAUKE, Dumazile

CHUMA, Oupa Senator

CORNEELSEN, Timara

CROSBIE, Tyla Catherine

CROWN, Taryn Leora

CULVERWELL, Danielle Megan

DA ROCHA GONCALVES, Mariza Loureiro (with Distinction)

DAWOOD, Azraa

DENDAR, Shameez

DEYSEL, Dominique Claire

DICKSON, Shanaaz

DOCKRAT, Zainub Mohammed (with Distinction)

DODSON, Thomas Jack Keightly (with Distinction)

DUDULA, Africa Zweletu

FRANDSEN, Megan Louise

GANASEN, Shenay (with Distinction)

GANESS, Daelene Noelle

GATUKE, Gugu Pergy

GELESE, Ayabonga

GOMES, Andrew Jared (with Distinction)

GOVENDER, Yashoda Tamryn (with Distinction)

GQABE, Kayakazi Sipokazi

GREYLING, Deidré

HEALD, Chrissy Anastasia (with Distinction)

HLONGO, Nyiko Cute (with Distinction)

ISMAIL, Layla

JANKELOWITZ, Gila (with Distinction)

JANSE VAN RENSBURG, Ilanka

JONKER, Anerique

KELLY, Lara Jacqueline

KEYI, Zukisa

KEYTER, Lee-Ann

KGARUME, Atlegang Modiegi

KGOWANA, Mankoana Neo

KHUMALO, Tshengisani Maritha

KODISANG, Tsholofelo Lydia

KUALI, Tsitso

LATHA, Adela

LEGAE, Rebaone

LEKOLOANE, Meriam Motlalepula

LETSOALO, Precious Mmatshepo

LOCKYER, Stephanie Rosemary

LONG, Graeme Darryl

LUCIOLI, Keegan Jay

MABOTE, Makhotso

MABUNDA, Elizabeth Nxobile

MAGANE, Tarcia Mamothibedi

MAHAPA, Tumisang

MAHLASELA, Ditiro (with Distinction)

MAHOMED, Faheem

MAKAMU, Ruth

MAKHASI, Ntuthuzelo Ntuthu

MAKHINGI, Ripfumelo

MAKONYE, Chido

MALL, Yaseerah (with Distinction)

MALULEKA, Ntombifuthi Precious

MANGERA, Waheeda

MANGERA, Zaahira

MAOMBE, Avhafunani

MAPHUTHA, Mmachidi Reginah

MAROGA, Lentutse Hellen

MASEHLELA, Mmapule

MASEKO, Nompumelelo Patty

MASEKO, Zonela

MASEMOLA, Mahlatse Pearl

MASHIANE, Ramaesela Lizza

MASIA, Chiara Gina

MATEZA, Lusanda

MATHER, Muneer

MATHIBENG, Never

MATLALA, Tsebo Nompumelelo

MAYET, Azraa

MBADALIGA, Tshilidzi Hilda

MBOWANE, Bronley

MCHIZA, Aphiwe

MKHWANAZI, Zakubo Nomathamsanqa

MLANGWANA, Ntombifuthi Elmah

MNISI, Sikhumbuzo Simphiwe

MOAHLOLI, Bongiwe

MOCHAI, Precious Letjoba

MODIBA, Leshate Piet

MOLALE, Maki Emily Yolanda

MOLEPO, Mosehlana

MONNAMME, Lesego Beverley

MOODLEY, Lemishka

MOOLLA, Yaseera (with Distinction)

MOTAUNG, Prudence Ntombifuthi

MOTLOUNG, Lucky

MPOFU, Thubelihle

MQUQU, Bonginkosi

MSHUQWANA, Fern Neliswa

MTHETHWA, Nolwazi

MTHIMUNYE, Nonkululeko Marcia

MUSHWANA, Chayeza

NCUBE, Bongani Mduduzi

NDLOVU, Senzokuhle Fezile (with Distinction)

NDOU, Tshimangadzo Pennelope (with Distinction)

NDZWANA, Ntandokazi (with Distinction)

NGOBENI, Mahlatse Joseph

NICHOL, Thomas Edward

NKUNZI, Mziwanele

NOGUDA, Thembakazi

NTIMANE, Sandile Goodman

NXUMALO, Olwethu

NZIMANDE, Nomonde Samantha

OSATO, Alexia

OYEJIDE, Aderemi Oyewunmi (with Distinction)

PACHECO, Alice Araujo

PARRATT, Bronwyn Ann

PATEL, Zainab (with Distinction)

PEARCE, Michelle

PEARSON, Thomas George

PEWA, Bonisiwe Junior

PHORA, Malebogo Lucia

QHOJENG, Nombulelo Grace

RADEBE, Neo

RADEBE, Zinhle

RADINGOANE, Speed Podile

RAMABULANA, Odwa Olive (with Distinction)

RAMOGALE, Kamogelo

RAMULWELA, Thakhani

RAPOO, Pinky Motlhapa

RATUNE, Reratile

RIEDEL, Stephen Siegfried

RIKHOTSO, Lungile

SALEE, Aisha (with Distinction)

SANDLER, Chantal (with Distinction)

SARTINI, Nicole

SEGODI, Tiisetso

SEHLABANE, Irene Matsatsi

SEQUEIRA, Shana

SHIPPEY, Caitlin Jenna (with Distinction)

SITHOLE, Mirriam Semola

SOAL, Savannah Grace

STRAEULI, Mareike Renate (with Distinction)

TADIELLO, Gianluca (with Distinction)

TLEANE, Mahlatse

TOOTLA, Shannon Lauren

TSOTETSI, Dimakatso Gladness

TURKEY, Zainub

VALLABH, Sheetal Heena

VAN ZYL, Abigail Rose (with Distinction)

VARIAWA, Saalihah

VILJOEN, Caitlin (with Distinction)

WAINSTEIN, Kelly Genna (with Distinction)

WELCH, Kayleigh (with Distinction)

WITELSON, Keith Jacques (with Distinction)

ZITHA, Shirly

ZONDI, Sithembiso Fraser

CITATION: BONISILE JOHN KANI

One of the pioneers of contemporary theatre in South Africa, John Kani's legacy is one shaped by an extraordinary command of language, storytelling and performance. It is a legacy that has been embedded in performance cultures, theatres and learning spaces across the globe - his body of work studied, performed and archived for future generations.

Kani's deft storytelling, emboldened performances and frank social gaze are a testament to the artist's broad expressive range, skilled delivery and insightful representation of reality. However, his mastery of acting, directing and writing does not alone encapsulate his significance as an artist; it is his chronicling of South Africa's historical journey through his art over the last five decades that is of even more importance to our country and beyond.

Kani's unwavering commitment towards social justice is rooted in his creative research through theatre, television and film, as well as his civil society engagements, providing a complex, humane socio-political critique of South Africa's relational landscape.

Bonisile John Kani was born on 30 August 1943 in the Port Elizabeth township of New Brighton, in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. His prolific career grew from performance to writing and dramaturgy, to directing in theatre, to television and, more recently, to working in film. Today, Kani is an internationally acclaimed actor and writer.

His first major encounter with theatre was through the ground-breaking Serpent Players in 1965 in New Brighton. Here, the formidable trio of Kani, Winston Ntshona and Athol Fugard took root, a relationship that saw the creation of Sizwe Banzi is Dead and The Island, which were first performed in the early 1970s. The works are the epitome of grand-scale storytelling, born of a rich tradition of what would come to be known as workshop theatre, a process of improvised, researched storytelling that culminates in collaborative writing. This rehearsal and writing method has had a lasting impact on successive generations of theatre-makers throughout South Africa.

Sizwe Banzi is Dead and The Island captured the heart of the devastating impact of apartheid. They were brave inscriptions of the systematic genocide of the human spirit and, ultimately, bold acts of resistance too.

Following the triumphant performance of the plays in New York and on other international stages, Kani and Ntshona both won a Tony Award in 1975 - a feat that only a handful of South Africans have achieved. On their return to South Africa, the actors faced detention, harassment and violence at the hands of the apartheid police. Kani survived an attempt on his life. His courage to speak truth to power through his art never wavered through this period.

Kani's extensive body of work boasts an impressive global reach and spans award-winning performances, significant roles across the performing arts spectrum, and creative collaborations with leading directors, playhouses and producers. Among his most prestigious engagements are performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Hamlet (2006) and The Tempest (2012).

He has worked closely with the likes of Janice Honeyman, Dame Janet Suzman and Sir Antony Sher. His recent film performance in the ground-breaking Black Panther (2018), directed by Ryan Coogler, has elevated his international stature. His film credits are growing rapidly, with the new iteration of The Lion King as the latest addition, and he also directed the film version of his award-winning play Nothing but the Truth.

Nothing but the Truth (2002), like Sizwe Banzi is Dead and The Island, stands out as a seminal work in the South African theatre landscape. Setting his play in post-apartheid South Africa, Kani set out to explore the complexity of truth telling, healing and justice in a family ravaged by the traumatic impact of the country's war for freedom. Kani, capturing the mood of the time, questions what it will take for black South Africans to reconcile. In 2003, he won three Fleur du Cap Awards and five Naledi Theatre Awards for Nothing but the Truth.

Kani's latest play, Kunene and the King (2019), promises to be of equal status. The play deals with the effects of apartheid 25 years into democracy through the relationship between two elderly men - one white, one black. Kunene and the King, according to arts critics, captures the critical reality that South Africa's contemporary socio-political relationships face.

In addition to his creative output and influence, Kani's active citizenry is notable. He has been a member of the University of the Witwatersrand Council. Prior to that, Kani was appointed as a Distinguished Carnegie Equity Scholar by the university's transformation office in partnership with Drama for Life. Kani's keynote address at the seminal Apartheid Archives Conference during this time demonstrated his mastery of storytelling as a catalyst for capturing the complex human experience.

Kani's extraordinary career has led to countless awards and honours, including honorary doctorates from the universities of Durban-Westville, Rhodes, Cape Town, and Nelson Mandela University. He has also received the Hiroshima Foundation Award for Peace, as well as Fleur du Cap and Naledi lifetime achievement awards (in addition to a Naledi International Impact Award). The Afrikaans community rewarded him with the kykNET lifetime achievement award, and in 2005 he also received a national honour from the South African president - the Order of Ikamanga in Silver - recognising his contribution in the struggle for the liberation of his country through his work in the arts.

Kani is a patron of the Market Theatre Foundation and, in 2015, it named the complex's main theatre the John Kani Theatre, in recognition of the critical role he continues to play in the creative industries. In 2017, Whites Road in Port Elizabeth's city centre was renamed John Kani Road. In 2018, he was awarded the JF Kennedy Gold Medal by the Kennedy Arts Centre for his service to humanity and excellence in the arts. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Sortugui Afrique Cinema Honour in Burkina Faso. Most recently, Kani was awarded the Voices in Freedom Award by Shared Interest in New York. Previous recipients include Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

In South Africa, Kani's written texts form part of the prescribed curriculum in high schools as well as in many university performance and literature departments. His legacy continues to be felt across all generations. It is fair to state that today, his voice remains as commanding, critical and forthright about our country's current social circumstances as it was in the darkest days of the anti-apartheid movement, and it is therefore befitting that the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, bestow an honorary doctorate degree on Bonisile John Kani.

GRADUATION ADDRESS: DR BONISILE JOHN KANI

Honourable Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Adam Habib, Chairperson of the Wits Governing Council, on which I served for eight wonderful years, the Senate, the President of the SRC, distinguished members of the academia, parents, invited guests and my fellow graduating colleagues. I greet you all.

When I was young, my grandmother told me a story of seven little frogs swimming in a pond somewhere in the middle of the forest, having a great time. Suddenly seven little snakes came to join them in the pond. The frogs jumped out of the water. “We cannot play with them, they do not look like us, they are different,” said the frogs. For a moment, there was a silence around the pond. On the other side of the pond, a similar conversation was taking place. The little snakes were saying the same thing. However, children being children, they started going into the pond again, as it was very hot that day. Soon the little frogs and the little snakes forgot about their differences and they all played happily together. There was great deal of laughter and joy around the pond. Even the birds joined in singing. The little snakes went home and told the papa and mama snakes about these wonderful new friends they had met at the pond. Papa snake said “Please invite them over for dinner tomorrow night – and they will be the dinner”. On the other side of the pond, the little frogs also told their parents about the new friends they met at the pond that day. Mama frog said “Gather all your things right now, we are relocating to a place far away from here. The snakes are our mortal enemies”. The following day the sun was shining, the birds were twittering in the distant trees, but the pond was empty and there were no children’s laughter. This story made a great impact on me – youngas I was. I swore that day with my grandmother that I was going to dedicate my entire life to getting those children back into the pond! I so wished that the parents had not burdened those children with all the problems from their past. That is why I became writer. That is why I became an artist.

In 1994, I saw the children coming together again under a wonderful leader. Since then there have been a lot of challenges and we, as country, are very much a work in progress.

For years, I was a cultural activist but today I speak as a concerned social activist. As an artist and a writer, I am able to hold up a mirror to my fellow citizens and what they see is a true reflection of who they really are. This past decade has not been easy for our country. The cracks of a rushed political settlement in the ’90s have manifested themselves in much more racial polarisation than was ever imagined. Over the years, we have seen an increasing number of racial outbursts from our people towards our own people and, although this has led to laws that are supposed to protect the majority against racism perpetuated by a minority, the racial slurs and confrontations continue to occur.

In addition, sexual and gender based violence has now become a national scourge resulting in daily media headlines. As artists we have marched and leant our support to the various movements –Not in my Name, Men against SGBV, and the Me Too movement – which may have assuaged our guilt and non-action in some way but all that has made little difference to the amount of the violence continuously perpetrated on our women and children. Despite our efforts, we, as a nation, have still not come up with a radical and effective plan of action to address this dire situation. And, unfortunately, until the perpetrators of this violence suffer immediate consequences for their actions, very little is going to change.

We believe as artists that it is a duty for us to speak openly about the many challenges our country faces – racism, reconciliation, sexual and gender based violence, lack of humanity, Ubuntu, a redistribution of the country’s wealth and resources and an inclusive economy. However, action is needed more than just words. Now is the time for all of us artists, who have the luxury of a public platform, to campaign openly against what is wrong in our country – just as we did against apartheid – and hopefully contribute towards building a brighter and more promising future for all who live in this wonderful land of ours. If we ever achieve that, we would have finally fulfilled Madiba’s dream for the land he was so committed to.

Thank you again to the Wits University community for this doctorate. I am indeed very proud to be the recipient of such an honour.

Dr John Kani

GRADUATION AWARDS

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES

Prize to be presented at the Faculty’s prize giving ceremony

The John Earle Prize: For Excellence in the teaching of Geography Shenay Ganasen

OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY

Chancellor

DR NJ DLAMINI MBChB (Natal) DBL (Unisa) MBA (Witwatersrand) IEC (USA)

Vice-Chancellor and Principal

PROFESSOR A HABIB BA Hons (Witwatersrand) MA (Natal) MPhil PhD (City University of New York)

Chairman of Council

MR I SHONGWE BA (Wesleyan) MPhil(Oxford)

Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Postgraduate Affairs)

PROFESSOR Z VILAKAZI BSc (Manchester) MSc PhD (Witwatersrand) MASSAf FAAS

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)

PROFESSOR R OSMAN BA (Witwatersrand) HDipEd BEd (Unisa) MEd PhD (Witwatersrand) MASSAf

Registrar

MS CG CROSLEY BA HDipEd (Witwatersrand) BEd (Hons) (Unisa) MEd (Witwatersrand)

Chief Operating Officer

MR F SIBANYONI BSc(Eng) (Natal) MBA (Cape Town) PrEng SMICMEESA

Chief Financial Officer

MR PC DESAI BCom (University of Durban, Westville) BCompt. (Hons) (Unisa) CA (SA)

Dean of Student Affairs

MR JAP SEPTEMBER BA MPhil (Cape Town)

DEANS OF THE FACULTIES

Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management

PROFESSOR I VALODIA BCom (Unisa) BCom Hons (Natal) MSc (Lancaster) DEcon (KwaZulu-Natal)

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

PROFESSOR IR JANDRELL BSc(Eng) GDE PhD (Witwatersrand) IntPE(SA) PrEng FSAAE FSAIEE SMIEEE

Faculty of Health Sciences

PROFESSOR MG VELLER MBBCh MMed(Surg)(Witwatersrand) FCS(SA)

Faculty of Humanities

PROFESSOR G STEVENS BA (Cape Town) BA Psych (Hons) MPsych (Western Cape) DLitt et Phil (UNISA)

Faculty of Science

PROFESSOR N CHETTY BSc Hons (Natal) MS PhD (Urbana-Champaign) MSAIP MASSAf

President of Convocation

MS S BOLON BA Hons MA (Witwatersrand)

Emergency and Fire Plans during Graduations

1. In the event of an emergency and/or fire:

 The presiding official (Chancellor/Vice-Chancellor/Deputy Vice-Chancellor) will make an announcement requesting guests, graduands and staff to keep calm and remain seated;

 The Ushers will assist guests to proceed to the nearest Emergency exits in order to evacuate the Great Hall in an orderly fashion;

 Emergency exit signs are visible in red above all exit doors situated on your left and right hand sides as well as the back of the Hall;

 The Ushers will assist the elderly and disabled guests out of the building;

 The academic procession on stage must exit through the back stage door;

 Once outside the Great Hall all guests, graduands and staff must proceed to the main assembly point on the piazza.

2. In the event of a Bomb threat

All bomb threats will be treated as real in order to protect lives and property and the premises will be evacuated immediately.

HUMANITIES AT WITS

The Faculty of Humanities is a leading, vibrant centre of academic and research excellence on the continent.

Our students undergo rigorous theoretical and methodological training which imparts strong research and analytical skills and enables them to adapt, and often define, the constantly changing world of work. Our students learn to think critically – they are problem-posers, problem-solvers, and active social citizens who make a difference in society.

The creative suite of programmes on offer in the Faculty equips our students to compete globally and to act locally. To this end, the Faculty engages creatively and critically with its location in Johannesburg – South Africa’s most globally networked city – taking advantage of its dynamic political, social, economic and cultural links to the rest of Africa and the world.

The Faculty drives innovation in our undergraduate and postgraduate studies by encouraging multi-disciplinary, cross-disciplinary, interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary programmes that link the arts, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, health sciences, education and law. To this end, we have collaborative degrees in Digital Arts, E-Science, Institutional Studies, Public Health and Law. As a research intensive university, the Faculty is steadily increasing its post-graduate enrolments in order to innovate and service the needs of our fast changing world. The Humanities Graduate Centre is a home for collaboration and public intellectual activities where students are active participants.

The Faculty offers a wide range of research-oriented programmes including professional degrees. Collectively, our programmes impart skills that offer graduates access to a range of careers across a variety of professions in the public and private sectors, including, academia, research institutes and councils, governmental and non-governmental organisations, civil society, and corporate enterprises, amongst others.

Renowned for its distinguished academics and scholars, the Faculty is home to globally acclaimed and emerging scholars working at the horizon of the knowledge economy. Its cosmopolitan mix of international and local staff are located in a number of disciplines that are highly ranked across a range of global higher education measures. It is home to some 80 researchers rated by the South African National Research Foundation as having national and international standing. Our scholars are innovating at the leading edge of research in the areas of African art, area studies, cities and housing, human migration, diversity and difference, critical race studies, violence, gender and sexuality, cultural studies, translanguaging, narrative, and labour/work etc. Our mission is to develop and advance globally impactful scholarship on the questions that define and disrupt what it means to be human in the twenty-first century.

The Faculty boasts a number of prestigious research institutes including the Society, Work and Development Institute; the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research; the Centre for Researching Education and Labour; the History Workshop; the Centre for Indian Studies in Africa; the African Centre for Migration and Society; and the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies. To complement the research institutes, we host eight prestigious research chairs.

 NRF Chair in Local Histories

 NRF Chair in Critical Diversity Studies

 NRF Chair in Mobility and the Politics of Difference

 NRF Chair in Political Theory

 NRF Chair in Skills Development

 NRF/FRF Chair in Mathematics Education

 NRF/FRF Chair in Numeracy

 UNESCO Chair in Teacher Education for Diversity and Development

The Faculty of Humanities remains a dynamic hub of teaching innovation, research excellence and critical scholarship embedded in a local and global society. Our extensive list of renowned alumni provide inspiration for our current students and new graduates to leave their mark in society.