Former Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni will join the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) as an honorary Professor in the School of Economic and Business Sciences, from August 1.

He was also recently appointed as nonexecutive director of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, or Brics, grouping’s New Development Bank.

"I am delighted to be associated in such a meaningful way with Wits, its students and faculty. As one of the leading institutions located in the heart of the financial markets in South Africa and on the continent, Wits has an important contribution to make through its academic endeavours in these relevant areas," Mboweni said.

He currently also served as an adviser to Goldman Sachs International and as nonexecutive chairperson for Nampak, SacOil Holdings, Accelerate Property Fund and the African Center for Economic Transformation.

He was also a nonexecutive director of Discovery and PPC, while being a member of the advisory board of Total Oil Marketing’s strategic consultative committee for Africa and the Middle East and a member of the African National Congress’s National Executive Committee.

“It is an honour and a privilege for us to welcome Mboweni to Wits University.

“His knowledge, expertise and political and economic savvy will add value to our teaching and research programmes and will be hugely beneficial to our staff, students and members of the Wits community. We look forward to many debates and robust interactions going forward,” Wits vice-chancellor and principal Professor Adam Habib said.

“Given our current economic circumstances and Africa’s role in the global economy, we require many more intellectuals of Mboweni’s calibre to influence young minds and to develop our future leaders,” he added.