A well-known former dean of the Faculty of Education and vice-rector at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus, Prof Dewey de Wet, passed away in the early hours of Saturday, 2 July in his house in Potchefstroom.

Prof de Wet studied at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE), now the NWU, where he obtained his BSc degree in mathematics and science, UOD, BEd, MEd and DEd degrees, as well as a BScHons degree from UNISA. 

Prof de Wet was also an exceptional student rugby player and captained the university’s first rugby team in 1954 and 1955.  In 1955 he led the first rugby team to a 16-3 win against Kovsies during the annual Intervarsity, which has been described as the most famous victory in the Intervarsity history.

After his studies he started his teaching career at Rustenburg High School (1956 to 1963), where after he became deputy principal at Shawburt High School in the former Transkei, before joining the University of Fort Hare as a senior lecturer.

He joined the Faculty of Education at the then PU for CHE in the late 1960’s as one of only six professors, and was responsible for the Empirical Education subject field, which was later changed to Educational Psychology.

His successor, Prof Hannes van der Walt, credited Prof de Wet with at least four major renewal initiatives in the Faculty of Education during his term as dean (1980 to 1987). He convinced the faculty in the early 1970’s to implement a part-time postgraduate diploma in education, presented over 18 months. This programme provided in the needs of numerous teachers in the Potchefstroom area.  He also encouraged the expansion of educational programmes at the Vanderbijlpark Campus.

Prof Van der Walt described him as an academic giant. “He was borrowed to us, and he delivered an energetic contribution at the right time and the right place.”   Another former colleague, Prof JL de K Monteith, described him as the father of research at the Faculty of Education, and fondly remembers the research seminars that he hosted, as well as publishing a textbook about research methodology in educational sciences.

In November 1987 he was appointed as vice-rector and campus head of the Vanderbijlpark Campus, a position that he held until his retirement in 1994. 

Apart from his major academic achievements, his lasting legacy will however be the establishment of the beautiful gardens and trees, as well as the well-known wildlife which until recently could be seen on the Vanderbijlpark Campus.  

Prof de Wet was honoured in 1994 for his work when the most beautiful section of the campus was named after him.

Prof Dewey de Wet