The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, also known as Wits University, is a leading, internationally-ranked, research-intensive university located in Johannesburg, South Africa, the economic heartland of Africa. Committed to academic and research excellence and social justice, Wits generates high level scarce skills for a globally competitive world, while addressing local social and economic development. At the forefront of a changing society, Wits is a social leader, dedicated to advancing the public good.
Wits is known for its work in deep level mining, science, health sciences, accountancy, law, governance, and the humanities, amongst others. It houses five faculties which comprise 34 schools. Wits offers approximately 3 600 courses to about 32 500 full-time students, of whom about a third are postgraduate and 55% are female. Almost 65% of all doctoral candidates and about half of all enrolments are in the Science, Engineering and Technology fields. Wits has developed about 130 000 graduates in its 93 years of existence. It has a proud record in that about 87% of all publications are in accredited international journals.
Long breaks from school lead to learning loss, with maths scores being particularly badly affected - but a return to core concepts could be the answer to a pre-pandemic problem.
COVID-19 is shedding light on the impact of poverty, inequality and unemployment. This includes hardships women face and the burden placed on them to manage responsibilities every day.
There is no clear delineation of roles and responsibilities relating to the integration of clean water, sanitation, safe hygiene and nutritional status.
With the right leadership, mindset and policies African countries can achieve, even exceed, the growth and development successes of Asian counterparts.
Mills Soko, University of the Witwatersrand and Mzukisi Qobo, University of the Witwatersrand
Africa accounts for nearly 27% of the World Trade Organisation’s membership and 35% of members from developing countries, but an African has never run it.
There isn’t enough clinical research being done in Africa. This has had a lot of repercussions in terms of the timing when interventions become available and effective in high income countries.
Increased capital investment and productivity need not result in job losses. Government can use industrial policy to link investment incentives to job preservation and even job creation.
South Africa’s public health system has been allocated R21.5 billion more for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic but there’s no strategy to guide how it should be used.
Associate Professor in Physiology, Chair of Science Committee, South African Society for Sleep and Health, Member of the World Sleep Society, University of the Witwatersrand
Associate Professor in the SAMRC Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA (Priority Cost Effective Lessons in Systems Strengthening South Africa), University of the Witwatersrand