Question NW2967 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training

Reply:

(a) The total number of students that the 26 public universities can accommodate is 128 714.

(b) The new beds that are in the process of being built at institutions from 2018/19 onwards are 39 332, as shown in the table below:

University	Number of beds 2017/18	Beds being developed from 2018/19
Cape Peninsula University of Technology	7 817	250
Central University of Technology	944	500
Durban University of Technology	3 411	610
Mangosuthu University of Technology	1 910	612
Nelson Mandela University	3 507	2 000
North West University	9 881	1 760
Rhodes University	4 232	264
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University	2 985	2 500
Sol Plaatje University	1 021	320
Stellenbosch University	7 878	250
Tshwane University of Technology	10 614	250
University of Cape Town	6 589	551
University of Fort Hare	6 259	1 436
University of the Free State	5 755	515
University of Johannesburg	4 955	2 000
University of KwaZulu-Natal	7 184	500
University of Limpopo	6 435	3 500
University of Mpumalanga	634	250
University of Pretoria	8 771	300
University of South Africa	0	0
University of Venda	2 162	2 424
University of the Western Cape	4 756	2 680
University of Zululand	5 012	3 500
University of the Witwatersrand	5 999	140
Vaal University of Technology	4 385	1 836
Walter Sisulu University	5 618	384
Total	128 714	39 332

The total number of students that can currently be accommodated at TVET colleges is 16 927.

In the past, the Department did not receive funding for the development or maintenance of student housing infrastructure at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.

The Department received its first budget allocation for TVET infrastructure in the 2018/19 to 2020/21 Medium Term Expenditure Framework. The amount allocated in 2018/19 is R1.3 billion, which is set to increase to R1.484 billion in 2019/20 and R1.647 billion in 2020/21. Initially, this budget will be prioritised for the refurbishment of existing TVET infrastructure, including student housing. Once the maintenance and refurbishment backlog has been sufficiently addressed, consideration will be given to developing new TVET infrastructure. The Department is engaging with National Treasury and other stakeholders to source additional funding for the development of new residences at TVET colleges.