South Africa’s newest R3.2 billion private university breaks ground

Construction has officially begun on the R3.2 billion Akademia campus outside of Pretoria, built by the Solidarity Movement in partnership with Kanton.

The ambitious project is one of the largest private-sector investments in South Africa over the past few years and was first announced in August 2024. The project comes at a time when fixed investment in the country remains subdued and well below historical averages.

Over the past five years, fixed investment has averaged 14.2% of annual GDP – far below the average in the mid-to-late 2000s, when it peaked at 23% of GDP.

It is also a far cry from the government’s investment goals, with the National Development Plan envisioning fixed investment of 30% of GDP when unveiled in 2011.

Data shows that private companies are sitting on nearly R1.5 trillion in cash which they are hesitant to deploy into a stagnant economy.

Elevated levels of uncertainty in South Africa have also dampened the private sector’s appetite for investment, hindering economic growth and employment.

Despite this, some significant private-sector projects have been announced over the past year, including plans for a R18 billion ‘city’ just outside of Sandton in Johannesburg.

One of the largest investments is Solidarity’s Akademia Campus Development project in Pretoria, which was launched as part of its Toekomsbouer (future builder) campaign.

The project officially started construction on 11 August 2025, with head of public relations at Afriforum, Ernst van Zyl, sharing a video of what the site currently looks like.

Akademia’s newest campus is set to be completed in time for first-year students to register in 2028. The development will be located in Pretoria, eight kilometres from Solomon Mahlangu Drive on the Boschkop Road.

The project, in partnership with real estate development company Kanton, will provide accommodation for 5,000 full-time undergraduate students and about 1,500 postgraduate students.

Four men’s and four women’s residences will accommodate 1,500 students on campus.

Kanton serves as a vehicle for financing the development of the new Akademia campus. Kanton approached institutions and wealthy individuals to finance the initial investment.

This marks a significant expansion for Akademia, which has been using interim solutions since 2012 and only launched its full-time campus model in 2021.

There are currently two Akademia campuses, four residences, two-day houses, and an administrative head office in Centurion.

Akademia said that the new comprehensive residential campus east of Pretoria will allow the institution to consolidate its growth over the past decade.

It will also give its future campus students a fixed address where they can experience an active and exciting student life.

The development will also include various restaurants and cafes and extensive sports facilities for rugby, cricket, tennis, athletics, and swimming.