Wits honours Motaung, Msimang
- Wits University
Honorary doctorates to be bestowed on Kaizer Motaung and Mavuso Msimang.
Wits University will confer honorary doctorates upon two distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding contributions to South Africa.
The honorary degrees will be awarded on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, as part of the July graduation ceremonies taking place from 14 – 18 July 2025. More than 2 045 graduates will be capped this season, including 129 PhDs and the two honorary doctorate recipients:
- Mavuso Walter Msimang – Doctor of Commerce; and
- Kaizer Motaung - Doctor of Commerce.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Wits University, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi FRS, says: “These distinguished individuals have made lasting contributions to sport and public intellectual life in South Africa. They are both leaders of change in South Africa and have advanced society for good. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and welcome them into the Wits community.”
Mavuso Msimang is outspoken on issues of public interest such as social injustice, corruption and maladministration. His life has been shaped by resistance to apartheid, from his teenage years of activism and self-sacrifice in pursuit of genuinely noble ideals, in fighting for and then building democracy, to serving with distinction and maintaining a sense of moral conscience as a public official. Read the citation
Kaizer Motaung is an excellent footballer, a successful businessperson and soccer administrator, a philanthropist and a proud political activist. He has contributed to the betterment of South Africa, the development of soccer in the country, and the uplifting of disadvantaged youth, amongst his many other talents.