NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 2465
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 02/09/2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 27 OF 2011)
Dr J C Kloppers-Lourens (DA) to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training:
1. Whether he has been informed that the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) intends to establish a university city in Garankuwa with an estimated budget of R3 billion; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details of the project;
2. Whether he has endorsed this project; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW2874E
REPLY:
1. I have not received any submission from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) relating to the establishment of a university city in Ga-Rankuwa with an estimated budget of R3 billion. In terms Sections 20(5) and 40(3) of the Higher Education Act, 1997 universities require the Minister's approval in cases where there are leasing transactions or construction projects, respectively, exceeding 5% of the universities' average income for the preceding two years. TUT has not submitted any formal request in this regard.
2. A project for the development of a university city in Ga-Rankuwa has not been endorsed. However, as part of the DHET's R3 billion infrastructure grant for all universities over the period 2006/07 to 2009/10, 328 million was allocated to TUT of which R48 million was earmarked for the Ga-Rankuwa Campus for the Economic and Finance Faculty for upgrading and refurbishing lecture halls, security and landscaping, upgrading residences and upgrading support buildings and facilities.
During the 2010/11 and 2011/12 round of infrastructure funding amounting to R3,2 billion, TUT received R272 million mainly for infrastructure projects on the main campus in Pretoria and its eMalahleni campus. Any university may develop master plans for their universities/ campuses; however these need to be aligned to the delivery of teaching and learning programmes in the university.
The only information that officials in the Department of Higher Education and Training have seen is a presentation document on ‘The Vision for Garankuwa Campus Faculty of Economics and Finance Towards 2030 and beyond' which was estimated to cost R2 billion over time. Preliminary indications were that R309 million would be invested by the private sector and R248 million from TUT funding.
Issued by Parliament, September 27 2011
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