New Sol Plaatjie University In Northern Cape Opens For First Learning

The new Sol Plaatjie University in the Northern Cape opened its doors for the first time for learning on Monday.

The university has 105 students on its books, instead of the anticipated 120.

The institution was launched in Kimberley last year by Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Blade Nzimande.

It is one of the two new universities in the country. The other university is in Mpumalanga.

Currently, the university provides for a bachelor of education, a diploma in information technology and one in retail management.

Once completed, the university is expected to enrol about 5 000 students.

At the moment, lectures are being delivered at the National Institute for Higher Education in Kimberley.

Meanwhile, the Mpumalanga University is expected to open its doors for students on Wednesday.

According to the university's chairman and head of academic affairs, Professor Ramaranka Mogotlane, the institution has already admitted 160 students.

Lectures will take place at the Siyabuswa College of Education in Siyabuswa and Lowveld Agricultural College in Mbombela.

The establishment of the new universities will also go some way towards contributing to the National Development Plan goal of achieving an increase in higher education enrolments by 2030.