Transformation at Wits

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Employment Equity

The University is committed to the goals of the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, which was enacted inter alia to achieve equity by promoting equal opportunity and fair treatment in employment through the elimination of unfair discrimination.

Implementing affirmative action measures to redress disadvantages in employment as a result of past discrimination through apartheid. The University believes that the achievement of employment equity and diversity both nationally and at an institutional level will contribute to the achievement of its mission, vision and strategic objectives.

The University of the Witwatersrand is committed to implementing measures to ensure that we:

  • Pro-actively and systematically address the legacy of apartheid wherever this is reflected within the University
  • Eliminate all forms of unfair discrimination and harassment;
  • create an enabling and empowering institutional culture that generates a sense of ownership and commitment for all employees
  • Ensure equal opportunity and fair treatment in all aspects of employment including recruitment, promotion, training and advancement
  • Improve the participation rate of members of designated groups in all jobs and at all levels where they are under-represented and thereby capitalise on the range of potential available to us
  • Encourage the development of a diverse workplace

The purpose of the University's Employment Equity Policy is to create a framework for the implementation of employment equity within an environment that values diversity and is committed to excellence.

The Employment Equity and B-BBEE component of the Transformation and Employment Equity Office is responsible for the following:
  • Developing the University’s Employment Equity plan and its implementation strategies
  • Providing support to all divisions/ Faculties/ Departments/ Schools within the University, as well as to employees, on all matters relating to employment equity and unfair discrimination
  • Developing and ensuring compliance with social justice policies such as the Disability Equity policy
  • Providing advocacy and awareness on race, gender and disability, as a means of promoting diversity within the University.
Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE)

The Transformation and Employment Equity Office (TEEO) is responsible to ensure that the University complies with the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act. In order to drive this mandate effectively and efficiently, the office is expected to work in synergy with relevant stakeholders.

“Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act “ means the viable economic empowerment of all black people, in particular women, workers, youth, persons with disabilities and people living in rural arears, through diverse but integrated socio-economic strategies that include, but are not limited to-

  • Increasing the number of black people that manage, own and control enterprises and productive assets;
  • Facilitating ownership and management of enterprises and productive assets by communities, workers, co-operatives and other collective enterprises;
  • Human resource and skills development;
  • Achieving equitable representation in all occupational categories and levels in the workplace;
  • Preferential procurement from enterprises that are owned or managed by black people; and
  • Investment in enterprises that are owned or managed by black people.
B-BBEE Certificates:
University EE Reports covering the last five (5) years
Year EE Report DOL Acknowledgements
2024 EE2 2024  
2023 EEA2 2023 DOL 2023
2022 EEA2 2022 DOL 2022
2021 EEA2 2021  DOL 2021 
2020 EEA2 2020  DOL 2020 
Framing Legislation
  • Employment Equity Act
  • Employment Equity Amendment Act

See policies page

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