University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa — Ranked #1 in sub-Saharan Africa for Innovation Performance (2025 Global Innovation Index) and a core partner in the BUCABUMA programme.
WITS University
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg — Africa's Top Innovation UniversityBUCABUMA partner since programme launch
The University of the Witwatersrand is one of Africa's most distinguished research universities, ranked in the top 1.5% of universities worldwide and recognised as sub-Saharan Africa's leader in innovation performance by the 2025 Global Innovation Index. Through its Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (EBE) — home to seven specialist schools including Architecture & Planning and Construction Economics & Management — WITS brings exceptional research depth and professional rigour to the BUCABUMA programme's work on circular natural building materials and sustainable construction.
Partner Profile
About the Institution
WITS University traces its origins to 1896, when it was established as the South African School of Mines in Kimberley to serve the booming gold and diamond industries. Having relocated to Johannesburg in 1904, it was formally granted full university status on 1 March 1922 and has since grown into one of the continent's most influential centres of higher learning — ranking among the top 1.5% of universities globally and home to 381 NRF-rated researchers and over 400 award-winning academics.
The university's location in Johannesburg — Africa's economic and industrial powerhouse — places it at the intersection of industry, policy, and urban development in ways that are uniquely relevant to BUCABUMA. WITS is a co-founder of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and maintains active collaborative projects across more than 50 initiatives on the African continent. Its Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (EBE) is the largest and most research-intensive faculty at WITS, and serves as the institutional home for BUCABUMA participation.
The research unit anchoring the BUCABUMA project at WITS is the Next Frontiers in Advanced Materials Laboratory (NFAML) Research Unit, located within the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering. NFAML draws on a multidisciplinary team of experts from several schools within the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment to implement the various aspects of the project. These include the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the School of Construction Economics and Management.
Notable alumni include Nelson Mandela (Law, President of South Africa and 1993 Nobel Peace Laureate), Nadine Gordimer (Nobel Prize for Literature, 1991), Aaron Klug (Nobel Prize for Chemistry, 1982), and Sydney Brenner (Nobel Prize for Medicine, 2002) — a legacy of intellectual courage and impact that continues to define the university's culture today.
Who to Contact
Contact Persons
For enquiries related to BUCABUMA participation at WITS, reach the relevant contacts below. Note that postgraduate applicants must confirm supervisory availability with the relevant School before submitting a formal application.
John Moffat Building (Architecture Building), East Campus
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Apply Through the BUCABUMA Portal
WITS applicants must submit their applications exclusively through the BUCABUMA digital portal. The process is fully paperless, transparent, and centrally administered. Remember to confirm supervisory availability with SoAP or the relevant school prior to your formal submission.