‘Billions’ needed for two new universities in South Africa
The Department of Higher Education and Training is set on building two new universities in South Africa, with plans to get the projects underway in 2025.
Earlier this year, the department presented an update on the development plan to the portfolio committee for higher education, noting that two sites for the universities have already been scoped out.
The department has spent the last few years conducting feasibility studies for the new universities— namely, the University of Policing and Crime Detection in Hammanskraal and the University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni.
The universities were first announced by president Cyril Ramaphosa in his 2020 State of the National Address, with phase 1 of the feasibility study launching soon thereafter. Phase 1 was completed in September 2022, the department said.
Further work was then conducted on the institutes, mainly related to the infrastructure and their academic offerings.
However, a big question mark around the new developments has been the cost.
According to the department, the exact pricing of building the universities is still to be determined, but ballpark figures given to the committee put it at “a couple of billion”.
This was the quote from Bhekithemba Mlambo, the department’s head of infrastructure support, presenting to the committee in February.
Mlambo told the committee that the universities would required close to R1 billion in ad hoc funding to ensure that the universities can stay afloat in their first 10 years of operation.
However, this funding is extra to the actual cost of building the universities, which is still to be determined.
“There is a question of infrastructure costs which are part of the second phase of the studies, which are not accounted for in the financial model,” he said.
He noted that the financing of the projects is a challenge, especially in the context of cost containment measures in government, but the department is pushing ahead with the planning stages of the universities so that it can properly determine these costs.
“The department is working on the planning part of the construction of the two universities…The concept design stage has started, which will give the department an indication of costing.
“We are looking at a couple of billion, really, to make sure that the two universities are built, renovated and are ready for commissioning in the years to come,” Mlambo said.
Below is the outline of the universities, where they would be located, and what they would offer:
University of Policing and Crime Detection – Hammanskraal
Initially planned as a higher education insitution, a decision was made to turn the project into a fully-fledged university.
According to the department, the university will be government-owned, stressing the need for the institution to build capacity and professionalize the police service and crime prevention sector.
The site in Hammanskraal has already been identified. It already has bulk infrastructure on location – though interventions are needed to address suppy shortages in the area.
It is proposed that the university offer the following qualifications:
| NQF Level | Qualification Type |
| 5 | Higher Certificate in Police Science / Policing / Police Studies |
| 6 | Advanced Certificate in Police Science / Policing / Police Studies |
| 6 | Diploma in Police Science / Policing / Police Studies |
| 7 | Bachelor of Police Science / Policing / Police Studies |
| 8 | Postgraduate Diploma in Police Science / Policing / Police Studies |
| 9 | Master of Police Science / Policing / Police Studies |
| 10 | Doctor of Philosophy in Police Science / Police Studies |
The department said that the university is predicted to grow to approximately 2,700 students and 276 staff over the first 10 years.
Financially, it is expected to trade at a deficit for “at least” the first 10 years of operation and record a cashflow shortfall for at least the first 12 years. This will require at least R400 million in ad hoc grant funding to cover.
University of Science and Innovation – Ekurhuleni
The University of Science and Innovation will be built in the City of Ekurhuleni, with a spot in Boksburg identified as the prime location.
This location is seen as idea as it is in a highly visible area with the “potential to establish an iconic identity overlooking the town”.
Key, however, is that the land is government-owned and offers enough room for future expansion.
The planned programmes at the university include:
| Programme |
| Higher Certificate in Green Energy Technologies |
| Higher Certificate in Technology-driven Agro-Processing |
| Diploma in Technology-driven Smart Transport & Logistics |
| Advanced Diploma in Air Trafic Control |
| Advanced Diploma in Aeronautical Information Management |
| Advanced Diploma in Technology-driven Smart Transport & Logistics |
| Bachelor of Information Communication Technology |
| Bachelor on Engineering Technology in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astro. Engineering |
| Bachelor of Engineering in SMART Manufacturing |
| Post-Graduate Diploma in SMART Manufacturing |
| Post-Graduate Diploma in Artificial Intelligence |
| Post-Graduate Diploma in Air Traffic Management |
| Master of Engineering in SMART Manufacturing |
| Master of Engineering in Artifical Intelligence |
| Master of Engineering in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astro. Engineering |
As with the University of Policing, the University of Science and Innovation is expected to require grant funding to keep afloat for the first decade of operation.
The department anticipates a trade deficit for at least the first five years, with a cash shortfall for at least the first nine years. This will require ad hoc grant funding of R420 million over this time, it said.
The university is predicted to grow to approximately 2,000 students and 180 staff over the first 10 years of operation.
Read: The one university that almost all South Africa’s billionaires went to
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