Cyril Ramaphosa’s University of Science and Innovation vs. Solidarity’s Afrikaans-Only Campus: A 2026 Update

As South Africa grapples with expanding access to higher education, two contrasting university projects have emerged as focal points in national discourse: President Cyril Ramaphosa’s proposed University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni and Solidarity’s privately funded Afrikaans-only university campus near Pretoria. While both aim to address educational needs, their progress, funding models, and linguistic policies reveal starkly different trajectories.

Solidarity’s Afrikaans-Only University Campus: Construction Underway

In stark contrast to the stalled government initiative, Solidarity’s Afrikaans-only university project—known as Akademia—has made tangible progress. Construction officially began in August 2025 on a novel campus located on Boschkop Road, east of Pretoria. The project, branded as part of Solidarity’s “Toekomsbouer” (future builder) initiative, has already secured R3.2 billion in private-sector investment, marking one of the largest such commitments in South Africa over the past decade.

The campus is being developed in partnership with Kanton Realtors and is designed to serve as a state-of-the-art facility for first-year student registration by 2028. Akademia has grown significantly since its inception in 2012, expanding from pandemic-era distance learning to a nationwide network of study centres. The new Pretoria campus represents the movement’s most ambitious infrastructure project to date, reflecting sustained demand for Afrikaans-medium higher education among certain communities.

Ramaphosa’s University of Science and Innovation: Still in Planning Phase

President Cyril Ramaphosa first announced the government’s intention to establish a University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni during his 2020 State of the Nation Address (SONA). The proposal was framed as part of a broader strategy to increase access to higher education, particularly for students from disadvantaged communities, and to align university offerings with national skills needs in science, technology, and innovation.

More than five years later, the university remains unrealized. As of early 2026, no construction has begun, and the site reportedly consists only of undeveloped land and a dilapidated existing structure. Despite repeated directives from the president to the Ministers of Finance and Higher Education to develop a proposal for new universities and TVET colleges with specialized foci, no tangible progress has been reported on the Ekurhuleni project.

The initiative has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, including EFF’s Julius Malema, who accused the government of using the announcement as a political tactic during an election year. While supporters acknowledge the merit of expanding access to technical and vocational training, concerns persist over implementation delays and bureaucratic hurdles.

Key Differences: Public Vision vs. Private Execution

The divergence between the two projects highlights broader tensions in South Africa’s higher education landscape. Solidarity’s Afrikaans-only campus benefits from private funding, clear timelines, and targeted linguistic and cultural objectives. In contrast, the government’s University of Science and Innovation faces challenges typical of large-scale public infrastructure projects, including funding allocation, interdepartmental coordination, and prolonged planning phases.

While Ramaphosa’s vision emphasizes inclusivity and national development through science and innovation, its realization remains pending. Meanwhile, Solidarity’s project moves forward with defined milestones, appealing to a specific demographic seeking Afrikaans-language instruction in a residential university setting.

The Road Ahead

As of April 2026, the status of these two initiatives underscores a critical gap between policy announcement and execution in South Africa’s higher education sector. Solidarity’s Afrikaans-only university campus is on track to welcome its first cohort in 2028, backed by substantial private investment and clear developmental phases. In contrast, the University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni remains a promise unfulfilled, with no ground broken and no definitive timeline for completion.

For students, policymakers, and educators, the contrast raises important questions about how best to expand access to quality higher education—whether through state-led initiatives focused on broad accessibility and skills alignment, or through culturally specific, privately driven models that can move swiftly from concept to campus.

Key Takeaways

• Solidarity’s R3.2-billion Afrikaans-only university campus near Pretoria began construction in August 2025 and aims to open for first-year students in 2028.
• The campus is part of the Akademia network and represents one of the largest private-sector investments in South African higher education in recent years.
• President Cyril Ramaphosa’s University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni was announced in 2020 SONA but has seen no construction progress as of early 2026.
• The government project remains in the planning phase, with only undeveloped land and a dilapidated structure present at the site.
• The two projects reflect differing approaches: one linguistically and culturally specific with private funding, the other a broad-access public initiative hampered by delays.

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