‘Billions needed’ for new universities in South Africa

Proposed sites in Ekurhuleni and Hammanskraal get thumbs-up, but money must still be found

Two planned universities in South Africa are likely to cost billions and require a decade of funding before they become fully operational, the Department of Higher Education and Training has said.

“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,” said Bhekithemba Mlambo, the department’s head of infrastructure support. He was speaking at a parliamentary committee hearing on 28 February to update MPs about the outcome of initial feasibility studies for the two institutions.