History University of the Witwatersrand

1 history

1.1 years: 1896–1922
1.2 open years: 1922–1959
1.3 growth , opposition apartheid: 1959–1994
1.4 post-apartheid: 1994–present
1.5 coat of arms

history

the great hall, on east campus, graduation ceremonies, ceremonial lectures, concerts , other functions held.



east campus seen north of campus. senate house , high-rise buildings of braamfontein visible in background.


early years: 1896–1922

the university founded in kimberley in 1896 south african school of mines. 8 years later, in 1904, school moved johannesburg , renamed transvaal technical institute. school s name changed yet again in 1906 transvaal university college. in 1908, new campus of transvaal university college established in pretoria. johannesburg , pretoria campuses separated on 17 may 1910, each becoming separate institution. johannesburg campus reincorporated south african school of mines , technology, while pretoria campus remained transvaal university college until 1930 when became university of pretoria. in 1920, school renamed university college, johannesburg.

open years: 1922–1959

finally, on 1 march 1922, university college, johannesburg, granted full university status after being incorporated university of witwatersrand. johannesburg municipality donated site in milner park, north-west of braamfontein, new institution campus , construction began same year, on 4 october. first chancellor of new university prince arthur of connaught , first principal (a position merged of vice-chancellor in 1948) professor jan hofmeyr. hofmeyr set tone of university s subsequent opposition apartheid when, during inaugural address principal declared, while discussing nature of university , desired function in democracy, universities should know no distinctions of class, wealth, race or creed . true hofmeyr s words, outset wits open university policy of non-discrimination on racial or other grounds.

initially, there 6 faculties—arts, science, medicine, engineering, law , commerce—37 departments, 73 academic staff, , approximately 1,000 students. in 1923, university began moving new campus, vacating former premises on ellof street first completed building in milner park: botany , zoology block. in 1925, prince of wales (the future edward viii) officially opened central block (which includes great hall).

the university s first library, housed @ time in meant temporary construction, destroyed in fire on christmas eve in 1931. following this, appeal made public ₤80,000 pay construction of new library, , acquisition of books. resulted in rapid construction of william cullen library; completed in 1935. during period, great depression hit south africa, university faced severe financial restrictions. nonetheless, continued grow @ impressive rate. total enrolment of 2,544 students in 1939, university grew 3,100 in 1945. growth led accommodation problems, temporarily resolved construction of wood , galvanised-iron huts in centre of campus (which remained in use until 1972).

during world war ii, wits involved in south africa s war efforts. bernard price institute of geophysical research placed under union of south africa s defence ministry, , involved in important research use of radar. additionally, elite force of female soldiers trained on university s campus.

in 1948 national party (np) voted power south africa s white electorate on platform of apartheid (afrikaans separateness ). np s aim create artificial white majority in of south africa depriving black majority of citizenship, making them citizens of homelands associated ethnic groups instead. these were, in theory, self-governing , , in 4 cases later granted independence . in reality, lack of economic infrastructure left supposedly independent homelands little more south african puppet states. policy of grand apartheid accompanied extension of racially discriminatory measures within so-called white south africa , including segregation of universities. wits managed remain open institution, 1956 np government began push full implementation of university apartheid. in response, in 1957, wits, university of cape town, rhodes university , university of natal issued joint statement entitled open universities in south africa , committing principles of university autonomy , academic freedom.

in 1959, apartheid government passed extension of university education act, achieved enforcement of university apartheid. wits protested , continued maintain firm , consistent stand in opposition apartheid. marked beginning of period of conflict apartheid regime, coincided period of massive growth university.

growth , opposition apartheid: 1959–1994

west campus, formerly milner park showgrounds, acquired wits in 1984.



the gavin reilly green on west campus.

as university continued grow (from mere 6,275 students in 1963, 10,600 in 1975, on 16,400 1985), expansion of university s campus became imperative. in 1964, medical library , administrative offices of faculty of medicine moved esselen street, in hillbrow district of johannesburg. in 1968, graduate school of business opened in parktown. year later, ernest oppenheimer hall of residence , savernake, new residence of vice-chancellor (replacing hofmeyr house on main campus) both established, in parktown. same year, medical school s new clinical departments opened.

during course of 1960s, wits acquired limestone cave renowned archaeological material located @ sterkfontein. farm next sterkfontein named swartkrans rich in archaeological material purchased in 1968, , excavation rights obtained archaeological , palaeontological purposes @ makapansgat, located in limpopo province.

the 1960s witnessed widespread protest against apartheid policies. resulted in numerous police invasions of campus break peaceful protests, banning, deportation , detention of many students , staff. government funding university cut, funds meant wits being channelled more conservative afrikaans universities instead. nonetheless, in words of clive chipkin, university environment filled deep contradictions , , university community no means wholly united in opposition apartheid. stemmed wits council being dominated highly conservative members representing mining , financial interests , , compounded fact mining industry provided major financial support university. entrenched [c]olonial mentality @ wits, along high capitalism, new liberalism , communism of south african kind, combined entrenched white settler mores (particularly in engineering , science faculties) ... university ... arena of conflicting positions contained within polite academic conventions .

the 1970s saw construction of jubilee hall , wartenweiler library, opening of tandem accelerator; first, , date only, nuclear facility @ south african university. in 1976, lawson s corner in braamfontein acquired , renamed university corner. senate house, university s main administrative building, completed in 1977. university underwent significant expansion programme in 1980s. medical school moved new premises on york street in parktown on 30 august 1982. additionally, in 1984 university acquired milner park showgrounds witwatersrand agricultural society. these became west campus, original campus becoming east campus. in 1984, chamber of mines building opened. large walkway named amic deck constructed across de villiers graaff motorway bisects campus, linking east campus west campus.

the 1980s witnessed period of heightened opposition apartheid, university struggled maintain autonomy in face of attacks apartheid state. wits looked anew open universities statement of 1957, university of western cape added voice. apartheid government attempted, through threat of financial sanctions, bring wits under firmer control, protest escalated culminating in general assembly of 28 october 1987, @ university reiterated commitment values underlying open universities statement.

university management came under increasing grassroots pressure implement change within university. wits-initiated research project, perspectives of wits (pow), published in 1986, revealed surprising disconnect between perceptions disadvantaged communities had of wits , image wits had been attempting convey of progressive opponent of apartheid. pow, had involved interviews members of organisations among disadvantaged communities in pwv area, international academics, students , staff @ wits, , meeting then-banned anc in lusaka, revealed many in surrounding disadvantaged communities, there perception of wits elitist institution dominated white interests. need identified further transformation of university.

however, instead of translating pow s proposals institutional plans transformation, wits reacted in defensive manner , refused acknowledge many of criticisms had been raised. within university community perception different—it felt wits on right track. contradiction between internal , external perceptions increasingly undermine unity of university community, progressive elements on campus began take more radical positions in opposition apartheid. internal debates about, among other things, international academic boycott of south africa , role of academics in anti-apartheid struggle led increasing division within university. university management increasingly seen isolated , out of touch, , began referred metonym eleventh floor , referring eleventh floor of senate house top management @ wits located.

nonetheless, university community in general continued uphold opposition apartheid , commitment university autonomy , academic freedom. remainder of 1980s saw numerous protests on campus, ended police invasions of university. in 1990, when nelson mandela released, students of men s res, on east campus, unofficially renamed lawn outside residence mandela square .

the science stadium, on west campus, completed in 2012.



in 2012 wits celebrated ninetieth anniversary of upgrade university status.


post-apartheid: 1994–present

on 25 february 2000, university management began implementing policy called wits 2001 under work deemed non-core functioning of university (such cleaning , landscaping) outsourced external contractors; university s academic departments restructured: university s 9 faculties reduced five, university s 99 departments merged 40 schools, , courses deemed redundant following mass review cancelled. wits management did, however, initiate programmes ameliorate of negative effects of wits 2001. these included implementation of retirement , voluntary severance packages minimise retrenchments. additionally, many of affected employees children studying @ wits @ time, , received bursaries part of parents employment contracts wits. university therefore continued offer bursaries them until completion of degrees enrolled, offering bursaries children of affected employees matriculated in 2000.

wits 2001 attracted widespread criticism workers , staff affected, students , other staff. arguments behind restructuring criticised badly reasoned, , policy criticised being regressive , neoliberal. then-vice-chancellor, professor colin bundy, said in defence of wits 2001 [t]his fundamental reorganisation of both academic activities , support services equip university challenges of higher education in 21st century . management issued statement on 30 may 2000 responding criticism of wits 2001 national education, health , allied workers union (nehawu), largest trade union among wits employees, in defended wits 2001 constituting outsourcing [of] contracts non-core functions, rather shift in ownership relations or governance contra nehawu s claims constituted privatisation. management further defended changes improving financial sustainability of wits, taking pressure off management , students, , allowing better academic , support facilities , services . along igoli 2002 in johannesburg, wits 2001 1 of policies implemented in 2000s resulted in formation of anti-privatisation forum (apf).

in 2002, johannesburg college of education incorporated university wits education campus under national department of education s plan reform tertiary education in south africa. in 2003, student mall, called matrix, opened in student union building on east campus.

coat of arms

the current coat of arms of university designed professor g. e. pearse, , edited professor w. d. howie correct heraldic inaccuracies, before being accepted state herald of south africa in 1972. design of coat of arms incorporates gold background in upper section of shield represent witwatersrand gold fields – on mining industry gave rise university based – along open book superimposed upon cogwheel, representing knowledge , industry. silver wavy bars on lower section of shield represent vaal , limpopo rivers form northern , southern borders of witwatersrand gold fields. above shield head of kudu, antelope typical of witwatersrand , university s mascot. university s motto, scientia et labore , meaning through knowledge , work in latin, appears below shield.

the badge of south african school of mines

the university s coat of arms evolved badge of south african school of mines. badge consisted of diamond shield superimposed upon it. prospector s pick , sledge hammer overlaid broken ore , mill appeared on shield. south african school of mine s motto same university s current one, , surrounded shield.