Senate House to be renamed

While we’re all aware of the various changes that have taken place across the universities in the country, this one is less publicised but just as significant.

The Rhodes statue has fallen in Cape Town and now, in Johannesburg, the University of Witwatersrand will also undergo a meaningful change to a famous building on their campus.

Senate House is in the process of being renamed, possibly after the iconic struggle hero, Solomon Mahlangu.

The building, which is the tallest on campus, was named on completion of the building in 1977 and is the location of meetings of the university’s senate and management.

It has also become the place that has become closely linked to the protests initiated by Wits students, as this is where they convene to be heard by those who have the power to change university legislature.

Communications manager at Wits University, Shirona Patel explained the renaming process. “There have been proposals put forward to the Naming Committee as a part of the transformation plan of the university,” she said.

She explained that the name has not yet changed because there are a series of university structures and alumni through which the proposal must make its way before the renaming is approved.

The committee is also interested to hear commentary from the university’s stakeholders regarding the name change. In two months, the committee will take all feedback into consideration and make their final decision.

Regardless of the fact that the building’s name has not officially been changed, students of the university have already implemented the change in their daily lives and on social media.

It seems that Senate House is destined to become Solomon Mahlangu House, so anticipate the change because new things are coming.

Details: www.wits.ac.za