Government Pushes to Increase Critically-Needed Student Accommodation at Universities and Colleges
The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande says the government is making a major push to ensure much greater availability of decent, affordable student accommodation at the country's public universities and colleges.
Speaking today after answering a question on student housing from the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the National Assembly, Minister Nzimande said DHET was seized with this initiative because the government realised that empowering young people for the future with knowledge and skills had a much greater chance of success if they had a decent, safe, affordable and accessible place to live while studying.
"The challenges faced by tertiary institutions in providing lodgings for as many of their needy students as possible is an immediate result of the government’s successes in recent years in expanding access to post-school education.
"It is a simple matter of logic therefore that if we want these young people to realise their potential and contribute to the growth of our economy, we must assist them with housing while they are studying," he said.
"It is in this regard that in July last year we once again brought together students, universities, colleges, banks, pension funds and other long-term investors such as development finance institutions to thrash out a way forward.
"Our aim is to see accommodation for 300 000 students built in the next 10 years," Minister Nzimande added – adding that the total number of available beds at public universities stood at 115 040 in 2016.
Below are the available beds per public university in 2016, as well as student housing projects slated for completion by 2020:
Table 1: Total public university residence beds in 2016
|
University |
Number of beds |
|
1. Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
5 304 |
|
2. Central University of Technology |
975 |
|
3. Durban University of Technology |
2 837 |
|
4. Mangosuthu University of Technology |
1 910 |
|
5. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University |
3 197 |
|
6. North West University |
9 828 |
|
7. Rhodes University |
3 581 |
|
8. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University |
2 748 |
|
9. Sol Plaatje University |
746 |
|
10. Tshwane University of Technology |
8 189 |
|
11. University of Cape Town |
6 645 |
|
12. University of Fort Hare |
3 494 |
|
13. University of the Free State |
5 522 |
|
14. University of Johannesburg |
6 952 |
|
15. University of KwaZulu-Natal |
7 147 |
|
16. University of Limpopo |
7 265 |
|
17. University of Mpumalanga |
1 006 |
|
18. University of Pretoria |
8 297 |
|
19. University of South Africa |
0 |
|
20. University of Stellenbosch |
7 684 |
|
21. University of Venda |
2 165 |
|
22. University of the Western Cape |
2 517 |
|
23. University of the Witwatersrand |
5 560 |
|
24. University of Zululand |
3 984 |
|
25. Vaal University of Technology |
2 639 |
|
26. Walter Sisulu University |
4 848 |
|
Total |
115 040 |
Table 2: Student housing projects to be completed between 2017 and 2020
|
University |
Priority project |
DHET allocation R' 000 |
Number of beds |
Expected completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
Develop new residence on Wellington campus |
50 000 |
480 |
2019 |
|
Central University of Technology |
Bloemfontein and Welkom campus projects to be finalised in 2017 and funded from IEG |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Durban University of Technology |
Purchase and refurbish Transnet property adjoining Indumiso campus in Pietermaritzburg |
90 000 |
635 |
2019 |
|
Mangosuthu University of Technology |
Complete new residence on Umlazi campus |
25 000 |
620 |
2017 |
|
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University |
Develop new residence on Summerstrand campus |
141 600 |
1 000 |
2019 |
|
North West University |
Develop new residence on Mafikeng campus |
65 000 |
1 760 |
2020 |
|
Develop new residence on Vaal campus |
50 000 |
390 |
2018 |
|
|
Rhodes University |
Develop new residences on Grahamstown campus |
101 000 |
255 |
2019 |
|
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University |
Develop new residence on GaRankuwa campus |
190 590 |
2000 |
2019 |
|
Sol Plaatje University |
All new residences completed in 2016 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tshwane University of Technology |
Develop new residence on eMalahleni campus |
110 000 |
500 |
2019 |
|
Refurbish residences on GaRankuwa and Soshanguve campuses |
64 310 |
600 |
2018 |
|
|
University of Cape Town |
Develop new residence and decanted dining facility |
50 000 |
332 |
2019 |
|
University of Fort Hare |
Develop new residences on Alice campus; IEG allocation to be confirmed in 2017 |
0 |
2 046 |
2020 |
|
University of the Free State |
Develop new residence on rural South campus |
40 000 |
225 |
2019 |
|
Develop new residence on rural South Campus |
50 000 |
270 |
2017 |
|
|
University of Johannesburg |
Develop new residences on Soweto campus; additional IEG funds to be allocated in 2017/18 |
50 000 |
3 000 |
2020 |
|
University of KwaZulu-Natal |
Develop new residences, and refurbish residences on Edgewood, Medical School, Howard College, Pietermaritzburg campuses |
100 000 |
1 000 |
2020 |
|
University of Limpopo |
Develop 3 000 beds on Turfloop campus, subject to resolving claims on campus land |
90 000 |
3 000 |
2019 |
|
University of Mpumalanga |
Develop multi-purpose building (residence, clinic and sports facilities); budget to be finalised. |
0 |
150 |
2019 |
|
University of Pretoria |
Refurbish residences on Hillcrest Campus |
43 000 |
480 |
2020 |
|
University of South Africa |
No student housing |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
University of Stellenbosch |
Extend existing residence |
30 000 |
120 |
2020 |
|
University of Venda |
Develop new residences and refurbish existing residences on Thohoyandou campus |
132 994 |
634 |
2017 |
|
University of the Western Cape |
Develop new residences on Bellville campus |
200 000 |
2 680 |
2020 |
|
University of the Witwatersrand |
Develop residence on Wits Rural campus |
40 000 |
110 |
2019 |
|
Extend and refurbish residence on Braamfontein campus |
55 200 |
253 |
2019 |
|
|
University of Zululand |
Purchase and refurbish block of flats for Richards Bay campus; develop new residences on KwaDlangezwa campus |
120 000 |
2 350 |
2020 |
|
Vaal University of Technology |
Develop new residences on Vanderbijl Park campus |
90 000 |
3 500 |
2020 |
|
Walter Sisulu University |
Develop residence on Mthatha campus |
82 000 |
300 |
2020 |
|
Total |
1 794 094 |
28 690 |
|
|
Enquiries:
Busiswa Gqangeni
Email: Gqangeni.B@dhet.gov.za
