In 1924, the Department of Business Management opened its doors with two students. Today, the department has more than 8 000 registered students, with our alumni making a significant contribution to the responsible management of businesses across the world.

• 15 September 1924: The Department of Business Management is founded. Prof CGW Schumann is appointed as senior lecturer.

• Student numbers (both undergraduate and postgraduate) through the years:
  • 1924: 2
  • 1940: 112
  • 1950: 177
  • 1960: 415
  • 1970: 962
  • 1980: 1294
  • 2021: More than 9000

• Department heads since inception:
  • 1924 – 1960: Prof CGW Schumann
  • 1961 – 1969: Prof Jan van der Meulen
  • 1970 – 1983 (except in 1976): Prof Awie Scheurkogel
  • 1976: Prof Rias van Wyk
  The following staff members also served as chairpersons of the department:
  • Prof Izak Lambrechts
  • Prof Marius Leibold
  • Prof PG du Plessis
  • Prof FJ Mostert
  • Prof Johann de Villiers
  • Prof Nic Terblanche
  • Prof Laetitia van Dyk
  • Prof Christo Boshoff

• 1985: Academic and administrative staff numbers have grown substantially. Some courses are now being offered part-time. New subject areas such as Distribution Management, Short-term Insurance, Property Investment and Financing, Futures Studies, and Production and Operations Management are added.
• 1994: The name of the department changes from Business Economics to Business Management at a gala event at Oude Libertas, Stellenbosch.
• 1997: The staff complement (academic and administrative) has grown to 18.
• 15 September 1999: The Department of Business Management celebrates its 75th anniversary. Well-known alumni include the athlete Elana Meyer, former rugby captain Morné Du Plessis, and business leaders such as GT Ferreira and Whitey Basson.
• December 2021: The department has 27 full-time faculty members and 5 support staff members. Student numbers exceed 9 000.