Solidarity’s private Afrikaans University Academy and property development company Canton have broken ground on a new R3.2 billion residential full-time campus in the Pretoria East suburb.
A sod-laying ceremony was held on Friday at the Moyplatz site on Boschkop Street, about 8 kilometers from Solomon Mahlangu Drive, marking the start of the project’s first phase of construction.
The academy said this project is the largest in the history of the Afrikaans language and culture community in terms of higher education.
The first phase of the R1.8-billion project will form the core of the future campus.
Ground preparation has already begun, and full-scale construction work is scheduled to begin in January 2026.
The first phase will include the construction of a number of state-of-the-art auditoriums, advanced laboratories, dedicated research and staff spaces, and various support facilities.
“The design will further emphasize the integration of innovative space, technology and fluent human relationships,” the academy said. Other infrastructure highlights during this phase include:
2,500 m2 student center housing for approximately 750 students (later the capacity will be expanded to 1,500 in the second phase) A large entrance to the academic campus called Di Porto (“Gate”). It consists of eight arches, each 18 meters long. Amphitheater with capacity for 1,500 people Chapel square surrounded by waterways and gardens Glass and steel dome structure 20 meters high with a diameter of 32 meters
The project will require the relocation of more than 220,000 cubic meters of land and 7.1 million bricks for buildings and other structures.
Supporting infrastructure includes 30,000 square meters of paved roads, 23 kilometers of underground pipes and 19.3 million liters of water storage capacity.
40 kilometers of new fiber optic cables will be deployed to facilitate internet connectivity. The prime contractors for the first phase will be JC van der Linde and Venter Bouers.
These companies were also instrumental in the successful realization of the Sol-Tech campus, which was completed quickly and within budget.
Canton’s Managing Director Henk Schalekamp said the experience, expertise, discipline and shared values of the selected main contractors validated their appointment as the team to handle this complex development.
Home for Afrikaans students
The first phase of the campus is expected to be completed within two years, with on-site academic activities expected to begin in 2028.
Academia managing director Martinus Visser said the campus would be a hub for future generations of students who want to learn and live Afrikaans.
The development is funded by donations and the Toekomsbouer campaign. The Toekomsbouer campaign is a collaboration with Akademia and was announced in August 2024.
Mr Schalekamp said the campus was not only a good investment but also a commitment to continuing Afrikaans higher education as a living heritage.
“Canton’s role in this development is based on a proven model in which a partnership between culture and capital creates a win-win situation,” said Scharekamp.
9 years development period
Akademia was founded in 2012 and has grown to five faculties offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, diplomas, and certificates.
The institution currently has more than 3,800 full-time and part-time students and multiple distance learning centers and campuses in Centurion and Pearl.
Planning and development of the campus dates back to January 2017, when Academia began identifying suitable locations and land for the project.
Development due diligence was completed in August 2019. Development and environmental rights acquisition took another four years.
Concept development took place in 2024. In May of the same year, land for the campus was purchased for R50 million.
Capital raising and financing began in November 2024, with major earthworks beginning in June 2025.
The first phase of construction is scheduled to be completed by December 2027.
