Coded History News Today

What South Africa’s “Grand Geek” Barry Dwolatzky - engineer and programming pioneer who died in May 2023 did for the world.

To some of his former students, Professor Barry Dwolatzky was the “Grand Geek” – a name of which he was very proud. But Barry, who passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa on 16 May 2023, was much more than a computer geek. He was also a leader and a visionary in the field of software engineering in South Africa. At the time of his passing he was 71 years old. He was by then retired from academia and held the title of Emeritus Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand (...

Barry Dwolatzky was much more than a computer geek. He was also a leader and a visionary in the field of software engineering.

Many speak fondly of how Barry Dwolatzky took them into a derelict disco and enthusiastically explained the tech co-working space he envisioned there.

The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has announced the passing of Wits Director of Innovation Strategy Professor Barry Dwolatzky, who was the founder and director of the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE), as well as the founder of innovation hub the Wits Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct. He was also instrumental in conceptualising, developing and imagining the Wits Innovation Centre, which was launched in April.

Professor Emeritus Barry Dwolatzky passed away this morning after a brief illness.

Barry Dwolatzky's memoir tells the story of a man who, from a middle-class white suburbia, became involved in the fight against Apartheid while also becoming a respected software and electrical engineer.