A new year at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) is not just about resuming lectures; it is a catalyst for personal reinvention and professional impact.
As the academic year kicks off, we spoke to members of the Wits community about their goals for 2026. Their answers reflect a profound commitment to education, innovation, and social impact—reminding us that the most meaningful achievements are built slowly, through persistence and purpose.
Here is what is top of mind for Witsies this year.
1. Coleman Mathonsi: The Year of Educational Focus
Role: Lab Assistant, Department of Chemistry
After four years of supporting high-level research and ensuring the safety of chemical handling, Coleman Mathonsi has declared 2026 his “Year of Focus.”
Working closely with first-year Chemistry students has ignited a passion for teaching that Mathonsi is determined to pursue. He aims to leverage his background in Biotechnology to transition from the laboratory to the classroom.
“I really, really love to teach and I want to do more of that. My goal for this year is to improve my academic qualifications to become a Senior Phase teacher, continuing to be useful to the institution and helping students reach their potential.”
2. Candice Burt: Cultivating Legal Voices
Role: Lecturer and Academic, Wits Writing Centre
Candice Burt has spent years transforming how law is practiced, helping legal professionals and firms adopt “plain language” to ensure transparency and justice. In 2026, she is expanding her influence beyond writing.
Having recently completed a Master’s in Leadership Coaching at Stellenbosch University, Burt is pivoting to help young lawyers find their voice in a complex legal landscape.
“I have a lot of things that I’d like to achieve in 2026. I want to be ‘the lawyer coach’ that people go to so I’m working on my skills and putting in the hours to achieve this.”
3. Prof. Ashraf Coovadia: AI for the Future of Paediatrics
Role: Academic Head, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health
With a career dedicated to child health since 1998, Professor Coovadia maintains that innovation is the key to longevity in academic medicine. For 2026, he has two primary goals: mentoring the next generation of clinicians and pioneering Artificial Intelligence (AI) in clinical care.
“I would like Wits to be at the forefront of AI research in various spheres. I would like to be one of those leading in the clinical sphere—exploring how we use AI in managing patients and in the training of doctors to make them better.”
4. Tsvakai Mary-Joyce Samakomva: Building Inclusive Futures
Role: Gauteng Provincial Coordinator, HI HOPES (Centre for Deaf Studies)
‘MJ’, as she is affectionately known, manages a critical early intervention programme supporting families with Deaf and hard-of-hearing children. In 2026, she aims to deepen the impact of HI HOPES through both personal development and community action.
Her immediate goal is to improve her sign language skills and advance her leadership capabilities. Furthermore, she is calling on the Wits community for support.
“My greatest wish is to see Witsies nominate HI HOPES as the beneficiary on their Woollies app purchases. In our thousands, the nominations will be hugely helpful to assist interventionists and Deaf mentors to travel and provide services to all the deserving families.”
