A Visit to Wits

Wits is one of the oldest universities in South Africa. Its pronounced 'Vitsvatersrand ' since W ihas the sound of a V in Afrikaans. Our host was Prof. Ewa Krukowska of the Department of Chemistry. Dr. Mason gave a seminar on analytical methods used for mercury speciation. We also got to meet to meet Dr. Krukowska's students who were very lively and social. The group has done some interesting work on acid mine drainage, a real problem in the country due to the extensive mining activity. Afterwards we spent some time at the Origins Centre where there were exhibits on the evolution of the human race. There were exhibits of stone tools and replicas of various fossils found in southern africa and elsewhere on the continent. Another aspect of the exhibition was a section on the San/Bushmen of this region. The museum refers to them as the San since bushmen is a word with negative connotations in South Africa. However, in other parts of southern Africa, they are referred to as the San since Bushmen is a negative word.Therefore the correct word to use when one refers to them depends on where one is. They were a hunter-gatherer community. They painted beautiful rock art depicting their way of life and what was important to them. Their culture is endangered and most of the rock art has been destroyed and what remains is valuable and fragile. The eland, an antelope that one might see on the African savanna was an important animal for the San, and it features alot in their paintings. The pictures below show a replica of the fossil 'Lucy' and eland spotted at the Cape of Good Hope Nature reserve.