We started this Fund in her name,
because we wanted to create something that
felt true to who she was.
Empowering South Africa’s next generation of leaders through education.
She believed deeply in education, in South Africa, and most of all in people - in what could become possible for someone when they were given the chance to grow, to learn and to believe a little more in themselves.
She spent her life doing that in ways both big and small.
We can’t imagine anything that would have meant more to her than helping a young person build a future they might not otherwise have had the opportunity to build.
So this is for her.
And, we hope, for many others because of her.
Contribute (opens the Wits giving page in a new tab)
There are people who leave an impression, and there are people who leave you feeling different about yourself. Simone Segal was one of those people.
About Simone.
A graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand, she had an extraordinary gift for making every person she met feel that they mattered. She listened with her whole attention, asked thoughtful questions, and had a warmth that drew people in. There was nothing performative about her kindness — it lived in the way she noticed people, remembered them, and quietly stepped in wherever she could make life a little fairer, a little kinder, or a little more hopeful.
She believed deeply in the power of education — not as a qualification, but as a way of unlocking possibility.
Whether she was teaching teenagers in a classroom or helping professionals find the words to express ideas they already carried within them, she delighted in seeing people grow in confidence.
She loved South Africa with open eyes and an open heart. She believed in its people, cared fiercely about their dignity, and found quiet ways to stand alongside those whose potential was too often overlooked.
Her reward was always seeing someone else stand a little taller.
The Fund
The Simone Segal Higher Education Endowment Fund has been established at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in her memory — to extend her belief that
education unlocks possibility,
and to ensure that financial circumstance does not determine a young South African's future.
The Fund is administered by the University of the Witwatersrand Foundation, a registered Public Benefit Organisation, under the auspices of Wits' Development and Fundraising Office.
Donations to the Fund qualify for tax deduction in terms of Section 18A of the Income Tax Act — a Section 18A receipt will be issued to every contributor.
Who the fund supports
The Fund awards scholarships to South African students enrolled at Wits across any faculty or field of study.
Recipients are selected on the basis of the following criteria:
- South African nationality
- Significant financial disadvantage — priority is given to students from households experiencing genuine hardship
- Outstanding academic achievement
- Demonstrated character and leadership, evidenced through community involvement, civic engagement or school leadership
- A sincere commitment to remaining in South Africa after graduation and contributing to the growth, development and future of the country
The Fund has no management and/or administration fees, ensuring that all funds donated will be used exclusively to fund student education.
We are looking for young people who, given
the opportunity, will stand a little taller —
and in doing so, help others to do the same.
The Fund gives preference to first-generation tertiary students and to students from rural, peri-urban and township communities. Awards may cover tuition, residence, prescribed materials and transport.
How to contribute
The Fund welcomes contributions from family, friends, and anyone who shares Simone's belief in the transformative power of education. There is no minimum contribution. Every gift, of any size, goes directly toward supporting a deserving student.
Please use your name as the payment reference so that we can ensure your Section 18A receipt reaches you.
We will share periodic updates on the Fund's activities and the student/s it supports.
Bank transfer
| Fund name: | Simone Segal Higher Education Endowment Fund |
|---|---|
| Bank: | Standard Bank, Braamfontein |
| Account holder: | The University of the Witwatersrand Foundation |
Administered by the University of the Witwatersrand Foundation
Wits Simone Segal Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund
| Account number: | 002900076 |
|---|---|
| Reference: | Simone Segal Fund — [your name] |
| Tax deduction: | Section 18A receipt issued to every contributor |
| Contact: | Peter Bezuidenhoudt | peter.bezuidenhoudt@wits.ac.za | 011 717 9701 |