The institutions, whose combined estimated capital and operational investment stands at R16.9bn, are likely to feature prominently in the ANC's election campaign as successes attained during Zuma's term even though the president's back has been against the ropes.
Political scandals have befallen him - chiefly, the more than R200m of public money spent on his private residence in Nkandla - while the ANC hobbles into the elections next year with an image battered by myriad corruption allegations levelled against several of its leaders.
Zuma - alongside Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande and his deputy, Mduduzi Manana - addressed reporters on Thursday (25 July) at the Union Buildings.
The president revealed that 20,000 students would be enrolled at the new universities -15,000 at the University of Mpumalanga, in Nelspruit, and 5,000 at the Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley.
Zuma announced the universities' interim councils, under the chairmanship of Dr Madoda Mabunda in Mpumalanga and Jennifer Glennie in Northern Cape.
Starting off small, both universities are expected to expand their student population in the long-term.
Sol Plaatje's student enrolment is expected to grow to 10,000, while the University of Mpumalanga's numbers are expected to reach 40,000.
Next year, 135 students will be admitted in Northern Cape and 140 in Mpumalanga.
Construction in Kimberley begins next month and the first new academic buildings are expected to be completed next year - in time for the beginning of the 2015 academic year.
Classes for the 2014 academic year will be held at the existing National Institute for Higher Education in Kimberley.
In Mpumalanga, construction of new buildings at the current Lowveld College of Agriculture will begin in September next year.
For Zuma, the two institutions carry expectations for the future.
"The fruits of our investments will become visible soon, when these young people graduate and take our country and the economy to greater heights," he said.
In its planning documents, Nzimande's department says that access is constrained by distance and the lack of affordable accommodation in proximity to the new universities. As a result, on-campus residences in Mpumalanga will be provided for as many as 60% of the students and at Sol Plaatje, this will rise to 80%.
Source: The Times via I-Net Bridge
For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.
We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.
Go to: http://www.inet.co.za
