As part of Government’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the smooth transition of the Medunsa Campus from the University of Limpopo into a newly established comprehensive Health Sciences university, the Minister for Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, MP, together with the Minister for Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, MP, will, on Tuesday, 9 July 2013, visit the University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus) in Ga-Rankuwa.
During this visit, the Ministers will meet with key members of the university management and student bodies to discuss ways on how this smooth transition can be realised.
The two Ministers appointed a Task Team to review the merger that resulted in the establishment of the University of Limpopo. One of the key issues highlighted by the Task Team in its report is that the merger of the former Medical University of South Africa (Medunsa) and the University of the North has been unsuccessful due to various reasons. The report further recommends that because of the dire need for health professionals in the country, and Medunsa’s critical role in training these professionals, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, the campus should be strengthened to be functional and viable.
South Africa needs to train more health professionals. The National Development Plan estimates that, to realise the country’s community health care strategy alone, the country will need between 700 000 and 1,3 million community health workers. Given the shortage of almost all categories of health professionals in the country, the new university will be comprehensive in terms of the programmes that it will offer, and take into account the wide array of health and allied health programmes required for a vibrant health sector. Planning is consequently underway for the establishment of this new health sciences university.
A Technical Task Team has been appointed to advise the two Ministers on the process of “unbundling” the University of Limpopo, establishing a new public higher education institution and incorporating the Medunsa campus of the University of Limpopo in the competency of this new university. The Technical Team will provide advice on proper governance and management processes and transitional arrangements that will include setting up structures to ensure quality management and effective administration to guarantee the stability and sustainability of this new institution.
The details of the event are as follow:
Date: Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Time: 09h00
Venue: University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), Ga-Rankuwa
Members of the media are invited to attend. Kindly also find the attached programme for your convenience.
For enquiries, media can contact:
Ms Sibongiseni Dlamini
Cell: 082 770 9825
Mr Lwando Mahlasela
Cell: 082 440 5305
