Habib officially welcomed at Wits University

The ceremony was presided over by the chancellor of the University, Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, and the chairperson of Council, Dr Randall Carolissen.

Habib, who was joining Wits in its 91st year, announced a brand new equality scholarship programme aimed to attract the top disadvantaged learners in the country.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, was the keynote speaker.

He said, “I believe that Professor Habib will lead Wits to confront our common social and economic realities in new and direct ways, contributing to a brighter future for our country and helping us realise the vision in the National Development Plan.”

Dignitaries in attendance included the Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ayanda Dlodlo, the former vice-chancellor and principal of Wits, Dr Loyiso Nongxa, Justice Richard Goldstone, and vice-chancellors from universities in South Africa and Africa.

Habib is an academic, activist, administrator, and a renowned political media commentator and columnist.

He has more than 30 years of academic, research, institutional and administration expertise. His experience spans five universities and multiple local and international institutions, boards and task teams.

He served as the former deputy vice-chancellor for Research, Innovation, Library and Faculty Coordination at the University of Johannesburg.

Habib said, “We will introduce the vice-chancellor’s equality scholarship targeted at the top students in quintile one and two schools, those that are the most marginalised and depressed in the country. Top students from these schools – merit is still retained – will be given a similar fully funded scholarship, to ensure that talented students from economically marginalised communities are also given access to Wits.”