Global Witsies

In Sydney, more than 40 Witsies met for sundowners and socialising at the Cabana Bar, North Shore, on Friday 11 October. Alumna convener Karen O¡¯Keeffe wrote, ¡°Conversation was easy; there was a lot of reminiscing and shared stories; lots of laughter and a fantastic turnout from many generations of Witsies.¡± Although scheduled to finish at 8pm, most people stayed on longer. ¡°Six people stayed on for dinner, leaving only after 10pm!¡± she added.

CANADA: Toronto chapter launched

The Alumni Office hosted reunions for Witsies in Vancouver on 27 August and in Toronto on 29 August. An alumni chapter has now been established in Toronto and the conveners had their first meeting on 23 October. Witsies in Toronto can email Fazela Haniff to get involved.

Witsie Natalie Knight (BA 1975) curated the We Love Mandela: Art Inspired by Madiba exhibition, which ran from 3¨C16 October at South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London. The exhibition featured the work of 22 artists, including alumni, and pay tribute to Mandela through the media of painting, sculpture, drawing, bead work, photography and cartoons. ¡°Most artists depicted Mandela as a metaphor, portraying different facets of him,¡± says Knight. In attendance were alumnus Alan Demby, Executive Chair of The Scoin Shop/SA Gold Coin Exchange, and UK Country Manager, International Marketing Council of South Africa, John Battersby.

UNITED STATES: Wits Fund Inc.

Chairman of the Wits Fund Inc., alumnus Stanley Bergman, and his wife Marion, hosted a breakfast for alumna Helen Zille at their home in New York. Zille is leader of the opposition in South Africa ¨C the Democratic Alliance ¨C and Premier of the Western Cape. Zille¡¯s visit to New York coincided with the opening of the United Nations General Assembly. Other board members in attendance at the Wits Fund Inc. breakfast included Bruce Hubbard and alumni David Schneider and John Teeger, and other Witsies.