WITS UNIVERSITY SPEAKS ON ITS SUSTAINABILITY PLANS

Written By: Tasha Siziba

In 2008, Eskom’s implementation of load shedding led to chaos in the country.

South Africans were informed about planned rolling blackouts to maintain the national electricity grid, but this was seen as a temporary measure, and load shedding has become a daily occurrence.

Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, the vice chancellor and principal of the University of the Witwatersrand, has expressed concerns about inadequate infrastructure, power outages, and water shortages.

Vilakazi argues that the university faced significant challenges, including infrastructure issues, which nearly led to its collapse.

He was discussing the advancement made by Wits University with Xolani Baloyi, host of Vow’s Breaking Ground.

“You must have heard countless complaints from students, about the water crisis, not just water, but, electricity as well. That was the lows where we had those issues, which threatened the entire academic project. So myself and the deputy vice chancellors for infrastructure and others would spend time strategizing around that.”

“But now the infrastructure issues are the ones that almost broke this university to the ground.”

Vilakazi reports a satisfactory period of working with students and managing challenges faced by the university.

Wits initiated its Energy Efficiency Programme in 2016, allocating 10% of annual utility expenditure for pilot projects, including replacing fluorescent light bulbs with more energy-efficient options.

The university plans to install more solar panels and geysers in anticipation of the increased enrollment for the 2025 academic year.

Vilakazi is advocating for a smaller carbon footprint and less reliance on fossil fuels, which he says it is their 2050 mission as the University

“We will work very aggressively towards greening the campus by adding more solar panels, and solar geysers. Wits University intends to lessen its dependency on Eskom and City Power by utilizing its astute engineering”

“So, therefore, all these utilities must be able to self-govern without having to depend too much on the city of Johannesburg.”

In light of the suitability and development, the university will be reopening the Wits Anglo Digital dome “a multidisciplinary facility of infinite possibilities that will forever change how South Africans teach, research, and engage with science, technology, business, sport, the humanities and the arts”

Professor Vikalazi also highlights that the growth of the university will be seeing through the launch of the biggest sporting complex at Wits Education campus in the next few years.

In wrapping up the academic year, the VC wished all students the best of luck with their exams and expressed that those who are stressed and and anxious must seek help from the office of the Dean of Students Affairs or seek help from the Counselling and Careers Development Unit (CCDU).