By Lebone Rodah Mosima

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) says it is fast-tracking long-delayed plans for a new university in Ekurhuleni, reviving a project first announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2020 and aimed at giving the country’s only metro without a university its own institution.

In a joint statement issued after a meeting in Pretoria this week, DHET Minister Buti Manamela and Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Alderman Nkosindiphile Xhakaza said they had discussed progress toward establishing a university in the city.

The project was originally announced by Ramaphosa in his 2020 State of the Nation Address, when he said government had decided to establish a University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni to expand access to higher education.

Manamela said the project would strengthen the post-school education and training system and help equip young people with the skills needed to participate meaningfully in the economy, according to the department’s statement.

“The meeting was constructive and focused on the commitments made by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 2020 State of the Nation Address, in which the government announced plans to expand access to higher education through the creation of new universities in underserved areas, including Ekurhuleni Metro,” the DHET said.

“These commitments were subsequently reinforced through budget announcements the same year, signaling the government’s intent to broaden the post-school education and training system and bring higher education opportunities closer to communities.”

The department said Xhakaza had appealed for the resumption of the university project, with an emphasis on science, technology and innovation, saying that Ekurhuleni’s position as a major industrial and economic hub made it a suitable host for such an institution.

“Minister Manamela welcomed the Mayor’s intervention and reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to fast-track and advance the project,” the department said.

“The Minister committed that the Department will revive the project and appoint a project steering committee led by an executive-level project leader to guide the next phase of work and ensure that the necessary institutional processes are put in place.”

The department said earlier phases of the project had already been completed and that the new steering committee would assess work done so far and determine how best to proceed.

It added that the committee would explore infrastructure options, including the possible use of existing facilities and the development of a multi-purpose campus model across the metro.

The department said such an approach could allow the institution to serve different parts of Ekurhuleni while aligning academic programmes with the city’s industrial and economic profile.

Xhakaza said he welcomed the outcome of the meeting and viewed it as a significant step forward for the city.

“This reflects the great strides we have made toward establishing a University of Ekurhuleni that will serve our people and shape the future of our city,” Xhakaza said.

Manamela thanked the mayor for his intervention and linked the effort to government’s current higher education expansion agenda.

“This project aligns with the President’s directive that, together with the Minister of Finance, we must build more universities and TVET colleges, with a strong focus on developing the skills required to drive economic growth,” Manamela said.

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