A strong breeze and a sunny sky were the perfect recipe to enjoy the Wits’ Annual Night Run.
The Run started at the Wits Club on West Campus, where dozens of runners convened to get their hearts pumping and blood rushing in the 5km event. The sound of feet against concrete, music blasting and the excitement of Wits’ Kudu mascot set the tone for an evening of fun and excitement to kickstart the new year. The running trail spanned across the university’s large campus, ending right back where it started at the Wits Club. The first runner to make a dash past the finish line was Rebaone Obotseng who finished his run in 17 minutes and 27 seconds. “I’m definitely coming back, especially since next year is my last year at the university, I want to run faster next time and finish under 15 minutes.” Following him shortly after was the first female runner to cross the finish line, medicine student Thering de Bruin who finished with an impressive time of 25 minutes and 37 seconds. “I joined with my hockey team, because I play hockey for Wits, and I enjoyed it. I think it’s nice having these races because in Joburg there aren’t many chances to run, so having university runs in a safe environment is quite nice,” she said.
The run was open to anyone within the Wits community, from first-years to postgraduates and staff, there were no limits to Witsies who could join. Fezeka Sibisi, a functions and events coordinator at Wits Sports joined the run with her daughter to prepare for their future sporting events this year, and to connect with the Wits community. “As sports people, we know the importance of community, and outside the classroom and family, knowing there are people you keep active with and socialize with on a different level. It’s important for community building and to ensure that we are well-rounded individuals who grow holistically,” she said about the significance of these events at the university. These events are a great opportunity to socialize and enjoy time with the university community prior to the hustle and bustle of the academic year. This year’s event was held in partnership with Campus Central, aQuellé and Suzuki, among others. A representative of aQuellé spent her afternoon giving complimentary drinks to all runners who finished the race. “There are lots of students involved and it is a nice community event, so we thought it was worthwhile investing in this event,” she shared of the company’s motivation to sponsor the run. Likewise, one of Campus Central’s representatives, Refentse Masia, a fourth-year law student, shared her thoughts on the importance of the event and the company’s partnership with the event. “We wanted to show the incoming first-year students and returning students that there is community in varsity, and that community can be found at Campus Central… sport gives you a community of people who share the same values as you and that can be really hard to do in such a big university, so these types of events make it easier,” she said. The significance of community and activity cannot be understated, especially in a university context. The Wits Night Run is one example of bringing these two worlds together and allowing the students to thrive in this new world.
Wits has spirit, yes, they do!
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Face paint, blue shirts and posters adorned the Wits Rugby Stadium in celebration of this year’s Wits Spirit Game.
Music blasted and cheers rang across the stadium as the Wits football team took on Orlando Pirates in their annual opener of the academic year. The day was filled with festivities, activations and excitement to usher in the new academic and footballing season. Tensions were high with both teams creating thrilling chances in the first half. The game went to half-time with a score line of 0-0 before Pirates secured a lead early in the second half. This goal granted the Buccaneers some confidence, allowing them to showboat to their hearts content. This excitement subsided when Wits scored an equalizing goal that led the game into a penalty shootout. The penalty shootout was equally filled with drama and excitement as both sides had their share of goals, misses and saves. Wits was trailing in the shootout, but it ended in a 7-6 to victory on home ground, a testament to their skill and their goalkeeper’s abilities after he saved numerous goals. The Wits football team gave their all on the pitch, from trailing in regulation time to solidify a win, due to the team’s tactics, preparation and a bit of luck in the penalty shootout.
“Pirates led due to the changes we made at halftime so there was a bit of a disconnect, but as soon as we regrouped, we pushed and got ourselves back into the game; we piled onto their center-backs and that is how we managed to get our goal. Penalties are a lottery and all we could do was hope for the keeper to make his saves and he managed to do that and give the team some hope, which put us back in the game,” said Kgaboditsebe, Wits’ first team’s assistant coach about the structure of the game and the teams’ performance. This was a game filled with numerous ups and downs, making it a treat for the supporters, and a welcome way to bring in the new year and revel in the Wits Spirit.
Wits team manager, Langelihle Biyela shared his thoughts on the significance of these types of games in welcoming new students every year. “This game serves as the introduction to the culture of the university and the Wits football culture, it’s good to come to the stadium and even as a first year with no friends, you can come here and meet a friend, which is the importance of games like this.” In addition to the class football, the day was filled with celebrations and activations by various partners including aQuellé, Steers, Campus Central and Suzuki. In addition to the stellar football, one of the most showstopping moments was an appearance by the Orlando Pirates first team captain Thapelo Xoki, who took some photos with some lucky winners of the activations as a treat to the audience. This was a unifying event before the closing of O-Week and a showcase for new students of the fun and exciting culture that is part and parcel of the Wits University experience.
Wits Rugby Take on the Varsity Shield!
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The Wits Rugby Team has taken off with a dramatic start against Walter Sisulu University in the 2026 Varsity Shield campaign.
The Witsies charged forward and secured a draw after coming back from behind against the home side. The game ended with split points between the two teams after a 27-27 draw at Sisa Dukashe Stadium. Tensions are high and the excitement is palpable as the second-round dawns on the team, and captain Latica Nela shared his thoughts on the campaign.
Nela is the first team captain and full back of the of the rugby team. He captained the club through their preparations and first game of the tournament and he handled this role with the precision and care that it needed. Him and the team took the prep time seriously and used it to ensure that they were a well-oiled machine prior to the first game.
“The preparation was extremely hard. We had a 4-and-a-half-month preseason which challenged the boys both physically and mentally. Having said that, the boys took the challenges that were given and worked extremely hard at becoming better individually as well as within the team setup,” he said.
The team showed this preparation by completing their first clash with a draw, after trailing at halftime. This show of character is something they are hopeful to bring forward into their future games. They committed themselves to relying on discipline, work rate and attention to detail over just talent, and this was their recipe to finding their footing in the campaign.
“Our takeouts from the game last week Friday were that if we aren't on top of our game every single minute of every single match, we'll find ourselves chasing a lot of the games. Having said that, I have to give credit to my boys for how they fought back in that last 20 minutes, it showed a lot of character and determination to not accept the situation we were in. The way we fought back in that last 20 minutes is exactly what people can expect from us going forward for the remainder of the tournament. That was a big wake-up call and trust me, we woke up.”
Prior to the clash against Fort Hare University, the team is feeling enthusiastic and prepared. Having noted their areas of concern and rectifying them, they are ready to take on the challenge and highlight their expertise and training.
Nela and his team aim to take on their competition with tenacity and passion, showcasing their own unique brand of rugby and forcing their opposition to join them. They have solidified their vision and they are dead set on staking their claim in this Cup and the ones that follow. We wish them luck ahead of their future clashes at the Varsity Shield and beyond.
Wits Rugby Snatches the Shield!
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A sold-out Wits Rugby Stadium saw the Blues lift a much-deserved Varsity Shield trophy.
The atmosphere was electric as students, lecturers, and people from across the country tuned in on TV, and sat in the stands, to see the final of the Varsity Shield. Wits captain, Latica Nela, led his team to an exciting victory that earned them a spot in next season’s Varsity Cup. Nela told Wits Sports about the story of the team’s season, their trials, their challenges and what they hope for the future.
The team made a massive splash in the Shield and ended the tournament as champions with an unbeaten streak. This came after months of preparation and could only be achieved with a cohesive, well-oiled machine on and off the pitch. Nela mentioned that the team was aware that the season would be a long one, but the team had two goals that kept them moving in a winning direction, to be promoted to the Varsity Cup for next season, and to win the Shield. They started the season with a draw against Walter Sisulu University (FNB WSU), but as the matches kept passing and the wins kept piling, their two goals felt closer than ever before.
“In many ways, I felt like we needed that draw, because a part of us came into this competition being complacent… and that draw was a wake-up call for us…” he said. And the team took it in stride and dominated the rest of the tournament. The synchronicity in the squad was integral to their success, and this balance helped to ensure that each player could shine. One such player was Lindani Dweba.
Dweba ended this exciting season as the top try scorer of the tournament, a feat that is far from easy, and a testament to his skill and hard work. “We came into this season knowing he was most likely to have a great season because of how he prepared… so it was no surprise that he was top try scorer,” Nela shared with pride, as both Dweba’s captain and roommate. “His overall performance was remarkable, and I am very proud of him.”
The team faced numerous ups and downs, which is part of the course in a tournament of this nature. One challenge that Nela and his team were determined to improve on was their consistency, stating that for every good performance there was a bad one, and the team sought out to rectify that. This was clearly amended as the season progressed, as the team managed to put on exciting displays that solidified their place in the competition and put them as a team to beat.
This exciting feat is one of many, and the team is excited for what the future may hold. “Like any other team, we are goal-driven, and two of our goals have already been achieved… so next is just building on what we’ve done this season and that’s to be a closer squad and to work even harder in the preseason,” Nela shared. More specifically, he mentioned that one day the team hopes to make it into the playoffs of the Varsity Cup, which would be a grand achievement.
With the team in such high spirits and their future path clearly defined, it is not too hard to imagine that the Wits Rugby team is moving in the right direction to achieve what they desire to strengthen the team, and university as players in the big leagues.
McCabe is En Garde Ahead of the Senior African Fencing Championships
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Fencing is no easy feat, but you would never be able to tell when watching Sacha McCabe.
McCabe has been fencing for 10 years and in those years, she has staked a claim for herself in the fencing world. Competing in national and international competitions, she has made a home for herself in fencing, and with the Senior African Fencing Championships approaching at the end of May, she is preparing to represent South Africa with the hopes of bringing home a medal.
“I first began fencing as a child, my parents thought it would be a fun and unusual extracurricular activity. I loved it from the beginning,” she said of her experience as a fencer. What started as a playful and fun activity as a child, has led her down the path of a serious athlete.
Representing your country is a dream that many athletes have, and it is not something that comes without effort. “I feel honoured and very proud to be able to represent South Africa at the Senior African Championships alongside my fellow team mates who all share my love and dedication,” she shared. Fencing has been a huge part of her life, and having the chance to take her dreams to the next level is an exciting challenge.
“I am very excited for the opportunity to display my abilities on a world stage. Africa has some very strong fencing nations and I am very excited to see how I will face up against the talented athletes competing in this tournament.”
When she is not travelling to show off her fancy fencing, she is a student at Wits University studying Psychology and Philosophy. This makes her achievements even more exciting as a student athlete. Juggling school with sports can be a hassle, and in a sport like fencing, it can also be isolating, so competing as a team may be an exciting new venture for McCabe heading into this new competition.
“I am also very excited to compete in the team events, in an individual sport like fencing, team events provide a very different and engaging dynamic,” McCabe shared.
This is a new venture that requires work, effort and dedication, all of which she pours into endlessly in preparation for this tournament. With her eyes set on a medal and a drive to have fun, McCabe is ready to leave it all on the piste.
Wits Rowing Reaches the Podium at South African Championships
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Wits Rowing team produced stellar results at the 2026 South African National Championships, and the excitement is palpable.
The team, led by a fierce and committed President, Shannon Reid, has achieved great things in a very limited amount of time. From a fourth-place finish in the Boat Race with Coach Lwazi a year ago, to a third-place finish at the South African Champs this year, the team has shown growth and commitment, and with a President like Reid at the helm, this boat will always stay afloat.
Reid has been President of the Wits University Rowing Club for three years, as well as an active member of the club. This has given her a unique perspective that is an incredibly important factor in her team’s performance in recent years “I get to experience Wits Rowing from both ends, the leadership and the water. It’s a role I take enormous pride in, particularly because I’ve been part of this club long enough to witness firsthand just how far we’ve come,” she shared.
These results did not come without challenge and difficulty, both in terms of physical effort and resources. According to Reid, in past years, Wits Rowing has faced difficulties with getting adequate funding and enough resources to prepare for competitions and this has influenced their previous performances. This year was different, with resources and a dedicated coaching staff, the results kept coming in, and the stakes kept rising.
This difficulty also lit a fire in Reid and her team and allowed them to fire themselves to the top. “When you’re trying to compete at a national level but fighting basic resource challenges at the same time, it takes a toll on your confidence as a club. But we kept going, kept pushing, and kept believing in what this programme could become,” she said. This belief, and the support of Wits Sports and their coaches, has allowed the team to work hard and see the fruits of their labour.
The team had to adjust to new conditions in the lead-up to the South African Champs due to having USSA Sprints the week before the Champs. This change from a 1km sprint straight into a 2km race was a huge physical demand that the team had to fight through. “In the past, challenges like that might have broken our momentum entirely. But having two dedicated coaches now, with Thabelo Masutha leading the women’s programme, meant that even in a compressed and tiring week, we had direction, structure, and belief.”
This remarkable finish and the performance of her team, and herself across various races that she personally competed in, including the Eight, the double, the four and more, Reid was proud of the fight they put up. Their next goal is to dominate at the Boat Race in September in Port Alfred, and based on these results, that ambition is well within reach.
Wits Sport Welcomes Elite National and International Teams to Campus
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Wits University continues to attract elite national and international teams to its world-class sporting facilities.
Wits Sport's recent roster of visiting teams included the U17 Men's National Football Team (Amajimbos), the South African Women’s Cricket Team, and German Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.
The South African U17 Men’s National Football Team (Amajimbos) trained at Wits Sport between 30 April and 09 May 2026 as part of their preparations for the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Morocco. The continental tournament also served as a qualification pathway for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The South African Women’s Cricket Team also visited campus on 24 May 2026 as part of Wits Sport’s continued engagement with elite national teams.
Most notably, RB Leipzig visited Wits from 26–28 May 2026 as part of the club’s first-ever South African tour. The Bundesliga side has utilised Wits Sport facilities during their Johannesburg stay ahead of their international friendly against Mamelodi Sundowns on 29 May 2026.
The visit included a gym session at the Wits High Performance Gym, a closed training session, and a public training session that gave students, aspiring footballers and local supporters a rare opportunity to engage with one of Europe’s top football clubs.
The partnerships and bookings reflect Wits Sport’s growing status as a trusted venue for elite athlete preparation and international sporting engagement.
Beyond the sporting value, these engagements create meaningful opportunities for students and communities to experience elite sport up close while strengthening Wits’ role within the broader sporting ecosystem.
RB Leipzig’s South African tour also highlighted the increasing international recognition of South Africa’s sporting culture and Johannesburg’s role as a key destination for global sport.
Wits Sport continues to invest in facilities, partnerships and programmes that advance athlete development, student participation and sporting excellence.
Wits Women’s Rugby Welcomes a New Coach
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The Wits Women’s Rugby team has strengthened its leadership with the appointment of a new coach, bringing fresh energy, experience, and ambition to the club.
Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen, Golden Lion’s player, has been recently appointed as the Head Coach of the Women’s Rugby Team at Wits University. Tchogna-Njamen has a decade of experience in women’s rugby across various levels in the country. Including representing South Africa at an international level. She has been tasked with leading, developing and growing women’s rugby at the university in her new role as Head Coach.
“It’s a huge honour and a very humbling experience. Wits has a proud sporting tradition, and to be entrusted with leading the women’s rugby programme is incredibly special. I feel excited, motivated, and ready to take on the responsibility of helping shape the next generation of players,” she said about her new position.
Tchogna-Njamen is an accomplished and experienced rugby player with a drive to share her knowledge and expertise with the players and expand the heights of the Women’s rugby team. One such experience was her time spent with the Springbok Women team as a player. In this experience she learnt numerous lessons about professionalism, preparation, resilience and discipline. These are lessons that she is intent on imparting on the players during her tenure to ensure that they are well-oiled machines on and off the field.
She mentioned various areas of focus for herself and the team to push them further in this season and beyond, including a focus on their position as athletes as well as students. “My main focus will be on building a strong team culture, improving consistency, and developing fundamental skills across the squad. I also want to emphasize player development, conditioning, and game understanding, while creating an environment where players feel safe and supported both as athletes and as students.”
With a game plan and ideas to focus on, the team is in a position to work towards various goals throughout the season and further along in the future. Tchogna-Njamen stated that it takes some time to solidify a new programme, but to start with, she aims to create a strong foundation by creating a competitive, disciplined, and unified team. She wants to recruit new elite players while retaining their current players for squad depth. In the future, she hopes to lead her team to the Varsity Cup.
These goals and aspirations are a primary driving force, and Tchogna-Njamen takes them seriously. She shared that she is excited to work closely with the players and witness their growth throughout the season. She is excited at the chance to mentor young women, some of whom used to be her teammates in the Women’s Pick n Pay league. “It excites me that, whether on the field or now in a coaching role, I can continue contributing to their journeys in a meaningful and lasting way.”
With this enthusiasm and a thorough game plan at hand, the future of the Wits Women’s Rugby Programme is in great hands.
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