Success
Research & Consulting
We connect the research expertise of Wits researchers with the organisations that need it.
The University of the Witwatersand, Johannesburg is rich with expertise from world-renowned researchers. Wits Commercial Enterprise connects these researchers with government departments, development agencies, private sector companies and international funders.
Our role is straightforward; we manage the business side of research and consulting projects so that researchers can focus on the research outputs, and clients can focus on research outputs. We create an environment that streamlines the access to academic excellence while reducing the red tape. Our systems are unparalleled and over 80% of our clients prefer to work through Wits Commercial Enterprise.
Our role is straightforward; we manage the business side of research and consulting projects so that researchers can focus on the research outputs, and clients can focus on research outputs. We create an environment that streamlines the access to academic excellence while reducing the red tape. Our systems are unparalleled and over 80% of our clients prefer to work through Wits Commercial Enterprise.
How it works
Deep research expertise across Engineering and Built Environment, Humanities, Commerce, Law and Management and Science.
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg has deep research expertise across every faculty: Health Sciences, Engineering and Built Environment, Humanities, Commerce, Law and Management and Science. Through Wits Commercial Enterprise, that expertise is made accessible to external partners through structured, professionally managed projects.
We are the ecosystem that makes research projects with the number one university in Africa work efficiently. We walk the process with both academics and project funders from proposal development, budgeting, contracting, compliance, financial management and reporting from start to finish. For clients, this means a single accountable point of contact. For researchers, it means the administrative and commercial complexity is handled on their behalf.
Projects range from short-term technical advisory engagements to multi-year, multi-million-rand research programmes funded by national government, development finance institutions or international agencies.
We are the ecosystem that makes research projects with the number one university in Africa work efficiently. We walk the process with both academics and project funders from proposal development, budgeting, contracting, compliance, financial management and reporting from start to finish. For clients, this means a single accountable point of contact. For researchers, it means the administrative and commercial complexity is handled on their behalf.
Projects range from short-term technical advisory engagements to multi-year, multi-million-rand research programmes funded by national government, development finance institutions or international agencies.
Who we work with
Our clients and partners
We work across four broad groups.
Government and public sector
National and provincial departments, public entities and regulatory bodies that need rigorous, independent research to inform their strategies, evaluate programmes or build evidence bases for strategic decisions.
Private sector and industry
Companies seeking research-led insight to navigate complex challenges, whether that is understanding a new market, evaluating ESG risks or accessing specialist technical knowledge that does not exist in-house.
Development agencies and international funders
Foundations, multilateral organisations and bilateral funders commissioning applied research, skills development programmes or evaluations tied to development goals in South Africa and the broader African context.
Wits researchers and academic units
Academics and research centres who need a professional partner to secure funding, structure engagements with external clients and manage the financial and contractual requirements that come with externally funded work.
Our focus areas
Many of the most important decisions facing government and business require more than data. They require interpretation, context and sector expertise. We support clients who need advisory work built on a credible research foundation.
Wits researchers have contributed to policy development across health, education, infrastructure, energy, urban planning, finance and more. Our role is to structure those contributions as professional advisory engagements that meet the governance and accountability standards our clients require. We have built depth in three areas where we see strong and growing demand, and where Wits' research strengths are directly relevant.
ESG Solutions
Environmental, social and governance considerations are reshaping how organisations in South Africa operate, report and plan. Regulatory requirements are evolving. Funders and investors are asking harder questions. Stakeholder expectations are rising.
We support clients who need research-grounded responses to these pressures, not generic frameworks, but work that is specific to the South African and African context.
We support clients who need research-grounded responses to these pressures, not generic frameworks, but work that is specific to the South African and African context.
Enterprise & Supplier Development
South Africa's public, private and donor sectors are increasingly looking for programmes that connect skills development and entrepreneurship to inclusive economic growth. This demand is shaped by two policy priorities: Enterprise and Supplier Development under B-BBEE and corporate transformation, and Education for Sustainable Development aligned with the SDGs and national skills goals.
We provide end-to-end support across the full programme lifecycle. Our Research & Intelligence services include market scans and compliance analyses, while our Programme Design work spans corporate ESD models, curriculum integration and blended training. Through Implementation & Capacity Building.
We provide end-to-end support across the full programme lifecycle. Our Research & Intelligence services include market scans and compliance analyses, while our Programme Design work spans corporate ESD models, curriculum integration and blended training. Through Implementation & Capacity Building.
Digitalisation and AI
South Africa faces significant challenges and opportunities in the transition to more digitised, data-driven ways of working. Across health systems, financial services, infrastructure management and public administration, the questions around how to implement, govern and benefit from digital and AI-enabled solutions are complex and consequential.
We work with clients who need research-backed approaches to these questions, with rigorous analysis grounded in the realities of the South African operating environment.
We work with clients who need research-backed approaches to these questions, with rigorous analysis grounded in the realities of the South African operating environment.
Our services
Whether you are a client bringing a brief or a researcher looking for support to take an opportunity forward, here is what we provide.
Proposal and business case development - We help structure the technical and financial case for a project, respond to competitive funding calls and develop proposals that meet funder requirements.
Contracting and legal support - We manage the negotiation and execution of research and consulting agreements, subcontracting arrangements and partnership agreements.
Financial management - We manage project budgets, handle invoicing and payments, ensure compliance with funder financial reporting requirements and provide audit-ready financial records.
Project management - We track deliverables, manage timelines, coordinate across research teams and external partners, and provide regular progress reporting to clients and funders.
Compliance and reporting - We manage ethics clearances, institutional approvals and the reporting obligations that come with externally funded projects.
Get in touch
Tendani Nevondo
tendani.nevondo@wits.ac.za
Alexandra Flusk
alexandra.flusk@wits.ac.za
Kelahloko Mashiloane
kelahloko.mashiloane@wits.ac.za
Deven Reddy
deven.reddy@wits.ac.za
Kgotshando Mangole
kgotshando.mangole@wits.ac.za
tendani.nevondo@wits.ac.za
Alexandra Flusk
alexandra.flusk@wits.ac.za
Kelahloko Mashiloane
kelahloko.mashiloane@wits.ac.za
Deven Reddy
deven.reddy@wits.ac.za
Kgotshando Mangole
kgotshando.mangole@wits.ac.za