5 New Universities to Open in South Africa, 2 Government and 3 Private
- Five new universities are slated to be created in the next 10 years across South Africa
- Three of these will be placed in the capital city of Pretoria in Hammanskraal, Faerie Glen and Boschkop
- Currently, only government-owned institutions can call themselves universities
Online South Africans did not greet the news of five new tertiary education institutions with excitement or anticipation. Instead, they questioned whether we need more universities, given our unemployment rate.
Source: Getty Images
Government universities
There are currently 26 government universities in South Africa. Only government-owned institutions can use the word 'university'; private institutions are requesting this to be changed.
Plans for new facilities include:
PAY ATTENTION: stay informed and follow us on Google News!
1. University of Policing and Crime Detection – Pretoria
Initially, this was a higher education institution, but plans have progressed to make it a fully-fledged university.
Its primary mandate is to build capacity and professionalise the policing and crime prevention sectors.
Hammanskraal is the university's identified location.
“Technical planning work is currently underway to provide the government with detailed plans to enable the long-term development of the new academic institutions and it is expected this work would be completed in 2024,” Blade Nzimande said at the beginning of 2024.
2. University of Science and Innovation – Ekurhuleni
Boksburg is the site for this government-owned land, and there will still be space for expansion in the future if necessary.
It hopes to create an iconic identity for the city, as it is on higher ground and will look down on Boksburg.
Private tertiray instititutions
These are privately owned higher education providers registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training.
Future facilities include:
3. Akademia – Pretoria
The R3 billion private Afrikaans university in Pretoria is the project of Trade Union Solidarity.
It's located on Boschkop Road in the east of the city and hopes to have capacity for 5,000 full-time and 1,500 postgraduate students.
4. Stadio – Cape Town
Located in Durbanville, Cape Town, the JSE-listed Stadio will start operating in the second part of 2024.
This will increase its properties to seven across the country.
5. Advtech Vega campus – Pretoria
A new purpose-built Vega campus is underway in Pretoria. It is adjacent to the Varsity College in Faerie Glen, which is deemed more suitable than their existing location.
Expansions to three of Rosebank College campuses are in the works.
Online community responds to increase in universities
Facebook users believe a different approach would be more beneficial.
Sanele Madikizela identifying what's needed most:
"Two things are needed most: Skill trade centres and factories."
Siphiwe Mshengu agrees with Sanele:
"It would have been better if we were building five new manufacturing industries. It's going to produce more unemployed graduates. Eish!"
Rinette Enslin wants useable skills, not knowledge:
"We need skill development, not universities to be supported."
Molefi Wa Malefane begs the question regarding what students do after qualifying:
"Where are they gonna work? Why not open technical skills colleges?"
Ian Rob asks where the other matriculants go:
"Oh great.... more universities for the 30th percentile."
Res student shares sad meal she ate at university
Briefly News reported in a related article about a student residing in a university dormitory who shared what she had for dinner. The meal from the dining hall included a portion of mashed potatoes and a single sausage.
Social media users in the comments accurately identified the university the young woman was referring to.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
