The student accommodation challenges faced by our Institutions of Higher learning and students, through the intervention saw building of new student accommodation to yield 2 000 beds at the Nelson Mandela University, 2 047 student beds at the University of Fort Hare, 3000 beds at Walter Sisulu University, and 1 000 beds at King Hintsa TVET College.

Rhodes University also plans to refurbish its Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Building, and is also planning to build an innovation and Nanotechnology Institute to house the exceptional and cutting-edge research work of Professor Tebello Nyokong and her team. The Department of Higher Education and Training will invest R569 million in building 4 new TVET campuses in the province, R166 million will build a new Ikhala TVET College campus in Sterkspruit, R122 million will build another new Ikhala Campus in Maletswai, R112 will build a new East Cape Midlands campus in Graaf Reinet, R169 million will build a new Ingwe TVET college in Ngqungqushe.

The ECPG is pleased to note that the four universities in the Eastern Cape are deeply committed to playing their part in building a more sustainable and prosperous Province. The four Vice Chancellors will soon meet with the Premier to ensure that research and other initiatives at these universities support the developmental trajectory and imperatives of our Province.