Welcome to Wits and welcome to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management.

Those of you starting your journey at Wits should know you have been awarded a coveted place at one of the top universities in Africa.

Welcome to Wits and to CLM, and for those of you from out of town, I should also welcome you to Jozi. Many people who don’t live here think of Joburg as a concrete jungle of high energy and danger. But let me tell you, Joburg is wonderful. This city of migrants, at its best, opens its arms to newcomers. You will find a generous energy here that very few other cities have. And the city, like our campus, is beautiful. Besides the huge forest, there are parks, hiking and cycling trails, theatres, live music and great food. We urge you to make the most of both what Wits and Joburg has to offer. There are also many clubs and organisations on campus, so you can find something to join and keep your life balanced over the course of your studies.

This is an exciting time to be starting your university journey and an ideal time to be thinking about the role you will play in a future South Africa, one that is both dynamic and equal. Wits celebrated its 100-year centenary in 2022 when we reflected on our proud history. We are excited to add you to our illustrious alumni who have made their mark in the world.

Our School of Accountancy maintains its SAICA level 1 accreditation and offers SAICA-accredited programmes alongside developments aligned to other accreditation bodies, such as ACCA. Our School of Law produced the first two Chief Justices of a Democratic South Africa, continues to drive the 3+2 LLB model and runs the Wits Law Clinic, which is one of the biggest clinics of its kind in South Africa. Our School of Economics and Finance has partnered with industry to launch an innovative fintech programme, alongside other offerings including a joint PhD with SOAS in the UK. Our School of Business Sciences offers access to unique programmes in areas such as insurance and risk management. The postgraduate Wits Business School is renowned for its flagship MBA programme being accredited by AMBA and AABS and a PIM partner. Our Wits School of Governance continues to be at the forefront of policy debates and a leading school in solving pressing development challenges.

So, whether you have joined us to study law, accounting, economics, business or management, your time will be interesting and challenging. We encourage you to explore and pick up new courses and new areas of interest. Our students excel in many areas. Our job is to give you the best guidance, teaching and mentorship possible, and it is also our responsibility to give you as much support as possible. Wits has excellent support structures to help you. We have counselling, study support, tutors, psychologists and medical people. We have staff dedicated to helping you navigate the personal and academic challenges that come with studying at university. These resources are all at your disposal to make your journey through Wits as smooth and enjoyable as possible. We want you to be healthy and have balance; to be enriched by your studies; to make new friends and meet interesting new people; to try new activities and stretch your minds.

You should know that we have great expectations of you. Your leadership role does not just begin when you graduate from Wits. We expect you to be leaders now. And we want you to use that leadership to effect positive change in our society, our city, our campus, in your classrooms and in your residences.

I wish you well. I hope your journey here with us will feel enriching and valuable. Congratulations on choosing to study at Africa’s top university and may you be inspired to make your mark in this world and continue the proud tradition of our heroic alumni.

Let me congratulate you again on your admission to Wits, and let me implore you to use every opportunity you get to build a better future for all of us.

Welcome to Wits and to CLM.