Rand Afrikaans University Explained

Rand Afrikaans University
Native Name:Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit
Type:Public university
Established:24 February 1968
Closed:2004[1]
City:Johannesburg
Province:Gauteng
Country:South Africa
Language:Afrikaans, English
Colors:Green and Grey

The Rand Afrikaans University (Afrikaans: Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit) was a prominent South African institution of higher education and research that served the greater Johannesburg area and surroundings from 1967 to 2004. It has since merged with the Technikon Witwatersrand and two campuses of Vista University to form the University of Johannesburg.[2]

Origins

On 5 November 1968, 468 delegates at a conference unanimously accepted a motion to establish an Afrikaans university. An act of Parliament was promulgated on 4 August 1965 to establish such a university in Johannesburg. Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) was founded as an Afrikaans language university in 1967 with just over 700 registered students. The first campus was situated in a brewery in Braamfontein. The RAU was officially opened on 24 February 1968. The first chancellor of the university was Nicolaas Diederichs[3] (then Minister of Finance of South Africa) and the first rector was Gerrit Viljoen.

Over time the university evolved to a dual medium institution, offering nearly all degree courses in both Afrikaans and English.

Faculties

The faculties of the RAU were as follows:

Location

What was the main campus is now the APK Kingsway Campus Auckland Park of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and is situated in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, South Africa. Satellite campuses in Auckland Park, Soweto and Doornfontein are now APB, DFC and SWC campuses of UJ.

Leaders

Rector of the university

align=center Surnamealign=center Namealign=center Fromalign=center To
ViljoenG. vN.19661979
de LangeJ. P.19791987
CrouseC. F.19871995
van der WaltJ. C.19952001
BothaT. R.20022005

Chancellor of the university

align=center Surnamealign=center Namealign=center Fromalign=center To
DiederichsN. J.19661978
MeyerP. J.19781983
ViljoenG. vN.19832000

Merger

On 1 January 2005, Rand Afrikaans University, Technikon Witwatersrand and the Soweto and East Rand campuses of the Vista University ceased to exist as such, when they merged to become the University of Johannesburg, as part of a broader reorganisation of South African universities.[4] [5] [6] [7] The outgoing and final vice chancellor of the university was Roux Botha.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Rand Afrikaans University opens. SA History Online. 8 December 2017.
  2. Book: Brink, Elsabé . University of Johannesburg: the university for a new generation . 2010 . Division of Institutional Advancement, University of Johannesburg . 978-0-86970-689-3 . Johannesburg.
  3. Web site: Klee . J.N. . May 2017 . The establishment of the Rand Afrikaans University . 8 August 2023 . North-West University.
  4. Web site: Asmal . Kader . 14 November 2003 . Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 OF 1997) Merger of Higher Education Publications: The Rand Afrikaans University and the Technikon Witwatersrand . 8 August 2023 . South African Government.
  5. Web site: Higher Education Act: Merger of Rand Afrikaans University, Technikon Witwatersrand and East Rand and Soweto campuses of Vista University: Comments invited South African Government . 2023-08-08 . www.gov.za.
  6. Mouton, N., Louw, G,P. & Strydom, G.L. . 2013 . Restructuring and mergers of the South African post-apartheid tertiary education system (1994-2011) : A critical analysis . Journal of International Education Research . 9 . 2 . 127–144.
  7. Web site: THE University of Johannesburg . 2023-08-08 . CO South Africa . en-ZA.

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