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By Alicia Mmashakana
The University of the Witwatersrand is making science more accessible to the public with the reopening of one of the world’s most important palaeontological areas, the Wits Sterkfontein Caves, under a new management structure.
“This reopening represents a significant evolution in how we share the story of human origins. Visitors now have unique opportunities to engage with active live science and research, all happening in real time,” Wits Faculty of Science Dean, Prof. Nithaya Chetty said on Tuesday.
Located within the Cradle of Humankind Unesco World Heritage Site near Johannesburg, the caves have yielded some of the most important hominin fossil discoveries including the iconic “Mrs Ples” (1947) and “Little Foot” (1997) in addition to the hundreds of other fossils of human relatives.
These discoveries have been crucial to informing the global understanding of human evolution and the origins of humanity.
Under the new management structure, Dr Job Kibii will serve as the head of the Wits Sterkfontein Caves, overseeing daily operations and visitor experiences. Prof. Dominic Stratford will continue to lead research activities as the research permit holder.
The university said in a statement that while previously serving primarily as a tourist destination and attracting thousands of international and local visitors, the reimagined Wits Sterkfontein Caves would offer a more immersive research and educational experience. This would bring visitors closer to the science that has defined the site for nearly 100 years.
Visitors will have direct interactions with scientists and students conducting research, behind-the-scenes access to fossil preparation laboratories and guided tours of the caves with enhanced scientific context.
There will also be education programmes focusing on human evolution and paleoanthropology, as well as other scientific disciplines in Earth Sciences, such as Climate Science and Geosciences, and exhibits showcasing the latest discoveries and research findings.
Inside the Wits Sterkfontein Caves Museum. Photo By: Brett Eloff.
Wits Vice-Chancellor Prof. Zeblon Vilakazi said: “The reopening of the Wits Sterkfontein Caves represents an exciting opportunity to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and the public’s understanding of science. By making science more accessible, we hope to inspire the next generation of researchers while helping everyone connect more deeply with our shared human story.”
The university said the reopening was consistent with its commitment to excellence in research and education, building on the legacy of renowned Wits paleoanthropologists such as the late Prof. Phillip Tobias and Prof. Ronald Clarke, whose work at the caves fundamentally advanced the understanding of human origins.
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