Dr Tjaart Johannes van der Walt, regarded as a pioneer of digital banking on the African continent, was awarded an honorary doctorate by his alma mater Stellenbosch University (SU) on Thursday (26 March 2026) at the institution’s March graduation. Van der Walt received the degree Doctor of Engineering (DEng), honoris causa, at a graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Engineering.

SU bestowed the honorary doctorate on him for his pioneering contributions to engineering, digital technology, and data science; his role in developing globally relevant and socially responsive financial innovations; and his continued commitment to mentoring future generations of innovators.

In his acceptance speech, Van der Walt expressed his deep gratitude to SU and the Faculty of Engineering for bestowing the honorary doctorate on him. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I've been fortunate to receive awards, always a result of the courage, the credit and the innovation of so many people surrounding me. I accept this award, the greatest honour that I could receive, on behalf of them all, and also the millions of people that we have been and are privileged to serve. To receive this honour from my alma mater as one of the top universities globally, makes it so special.”

Van der Walt emphasised the importance of leadership, technology, and relationship equity. He also highlighted three traits of effective leaders: pure intent, unquestionable execution ability, and genuine care for growth. 

Van der Walt urged graduates to develop deep technical skills and build long-term relationships, predicting that young engineers and data scientists will play a crucial role in the technological revolution

He also underlined the quality of their degrees. “Being a graduate of SU is your passport to work with the best in the world. It's your passport also to compete against the best in the world. Never forget this. The world is waiting, and it needs you more than it knows.”

Quoting Roger Federer, he stressed the importance of treating every point as if it matters and moving forward with full commitment.

“You have won this match. You have earned an invaluable degree and today we celebrate it. Now, let's reset tomorrow and move forward into the very next match. Play free and live a meaningful life with joy.”

It was a memorable day for the Van der Walt family when Tjaart’s niece, Rita van der Walt, received her PhD in Electrical Engineering at the same ceremony. Rita said “it is a privilege to graduate with my uncle Tjarrie. Seeing how my research and his life's work both contribute to a more accessible South Africa – in our schools and in banking – is special and certainly a proud moment for the whole family.”

More about Van der Walt

Dr Tjaart van der Walt co-founded TymeGroup in 2012. He led the sale of it to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in 2015 with his co-founder, and later its return to South Africa in 2018 with African Rainbow Capital. South Africa’s first fully digital retail bank, TymeBank, launched in South Africa in 2019 under his co-leadership, using an innovative distribution model that brought banking services to millions of previously unbanked South Africans. TymeBank was followed by GoTyme Bank in the Philippines, launched in 2022.

An alumnus of SU, Van der Walt continues to support the University’s development. As a student, he served as chairman of the Student Representative Council (1990) and received the Chancellor’s Medal (1992), SU’s highest honour awarded to a final-year or postgraduate student for academic excellence and contributions to campus life. 

Van der Walt holds a doctorate in chemical engineering from SU (1992), and obtained a BCom Accounting degree from UNISA (2001). His research focused on the development of new artificial intelligence algorithms. As a post-graduate student, he published widely on the subject of AI in leading subject journals in the early 90s. More recently, he helped launch the TymeCube programme – a partnership between TymeGroup and SU that offers mentorship and research opportunities to top postgraduate students in engineering, actuarial and data science.

A thought leader in the ethical application of technology for societal benefit, Van der Walt contributes to national capacity development by supporting and investing in high-impact entrepreneurs and mentoring emerging leaders in the technology sector. He also serves as a board member of Endeavor South Africa.