Patrice Motsepe, Africa's first billionaire grants $1 Million to Wits university for research

Patrice Motsepe pledged an R20-million ( $1 million) endowment to provide funding for innovation and research at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The funding is to advance innovation and research in the critical domains of water, energy, and digitalisation in South Africa.
Starting in 2024, the program will initially sponsor 10 postdoctoral fellows annually.

Africa’s 1st billionaire, Patrice Motsepe has joined forces with the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) to support postdoctoral research into water, energy and digitalisation at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg.

Motsepe, an alumnus of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and the founder of mining company African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) pledged an R20-million ( $1 million) endowment to provide funding for innovation and research in the critical domains of water, energy, and digitalisation.

What Motsepe said:

“Collaborating with South African higher education institutions is essential to our quest for knowledge, innovation, skills, and sustainable development.” “Public-private partnerships are essential for tackling the environmental and socioeconomic issues that our nation and communities face,” he noted.

“Partnering with South African institutions of higher learning is paramount in our pursuit of knowledge, innovation, skills, and sustainable development,” he said. “Public-private partnerships are crucial in addressing the socio-economic and environmental challenges confronting our communities and country.”

The ARM Postgraduate Fellowship Programme at Wits University aims to develop and sharpen a critical mass of skills in South Africa by supporting a new cohort of postdoctoral fellows who will specialise in water resource management, digitalisation, and work towards a just energy transition.

Starting in 2024, the program will initially sponsor 10 postdoctoral fellows annually. Selection criteria will prioritize academic excellence, research potential, and alignment with program objectives. The fellows will benefit from mentorship, networking opportunities, and exposure to industry best practices.

Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Zeblon Vilakazi acknowledged the significance of digital transformation in the mining industry and emphasized the imperative to cultivate the essential skills required to propel South Africa's economy forward.

“We recognise the importance of digital transformation in the mining industry, and the necessity to develop the critical skills needed to advance our economy,” Vilakazi noted.

“This investment is firmly located in the Wits University Mining Precinct and dovetails with our broader initiatives in quantum computing, fintech and innovation. We are confident that through more private sector partnerships like the ARM Postgraduate Fellowship Programme, Wits University can help make a real difference in developing the critical skills and research needed to secure the long-term sustainability of the mining industry,” he said.