Witwatersrand

American  

[wit-waw-terz-rand, -wot-erz-] / ˈwɪtˌwɔ tərzˌrænd, -ˌwɒt ərz- /

noun

1. a rocky ridge in southern Africa, in the Republic of South Africa, near Johannesburg.

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Witwatersrand British  

/ vətˈvɑːtərsˈrant, wɪtˈwɔːtəzˌrænd /

noun

1. Also called: the Rand.   the Reef.  a rocky ridge in NE South Africa: contains the richest gold deposits in the world, also coal and manganese; chief industrial centre is Johannesburg. Height: 1500–1800 m (5000–6000 ft)

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Example Sentences

Previous waves of xenophobia were localized and universally condemned by politicians, said Loren Landau, a senior researcher with the African Centre for Migration & Society at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 28, 2026

South Africa is under pressure from global shocks and domestic policy failures, said William Gumede, professor of public management at the University of the Witwatersrand.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Scientists at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, working with collaborators from Huzhou University, have uncovered a surprising feature in one of the most widely used tools in quantum optics.

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

The group, from the University of the Witwatersrand, said the process is harmless to rhinos but will allow customs officers to detect smuggled horns as they're transported across the world.

From BBC • Aug. 1, 2025

I looked to my left and in an adjacent car saw Colonel Spengler, the chief of the Witwatersrand Security Branch.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela